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Hi, I have emailed the Qld sabre fleet to let them know I am home - text is below. It was a long journey.
John Nobbs once said "the further you go, the more fun you have"- I think there is some truth in that statement.
Couple of extra thoughts:
- I did an extra 60 or 70km due to a detour reslting from the accident on Newell Hway
- truck drivers are professional drivers
- I saw two vehicles pulled over by police just after the vehicles had each broken the road rules in my vicinity (2 x speeding, 1 x crossing double yellows to overtake)
- the open road limit in NSW along the Newell Hway is now 100kph
- my CD player was running for about 65% of the journey
- handheld CB radio so I could listen to truck driver comms was a godsend

I am loking forward to my own bed tonight.

Sue

Here is the text of my email to the Qld Sabre fleet ...

Hi everyone,
Just a note to let you know I am home! Arrived this afternoon – it’s a long way from Hobart to Brisbane.
I knew it was going to be good at the Nationals meeting up with people I had met last year or the year before, but on reflection, an unexpected highlight of this trip was joining in with a few of the other Sabre sailors on the Spirit of Tasmania on Monday evening – we were all heading home, but the sense of having just shared an event, its up and downs, was very special.
I ended up travelling 5048km in the car for the return trip, at an average speed of 71km/hr and 10.8litre/100km; with I think 65 hours engine time. These stats exclude the engine ‘down time’on the ferry to and from Tassie!!
The only “mechanical’’ problem I had on the journey was loss of the pin from a shackle holding the trailer registration label holder – the new rego sticker was in the car glove box, so I bought a new holder at West Wyalong and used some plastic ties to secure it to the trailer. Yep – that was the ONLY car/trailer problem for the whole trip!! Thank you to the guys at Bryan Burt Ford, Tingalpa.
Thank you to Bronwyn for looking after Sally and the house while I was away.
The 2009/10 Nationals results are on the Sabre website ( http://www.sabre.org.au/tasmania/200910SabreNationalsinHobart.html ) , and my own story is on my blog http://sueby1.blogspot.com/
The Tassie guys did a great job organising and running the event. They also taught me to scull oysters, and some of the interstate blokes, during dinner at the Waterfront Hotel at Bellerive revealed the formula for choosing a second wife – the Nationals is not just a sailing event!!! I have a new email buddy – Jane from Tassie – she sails Kit 2.
I made some HUGE mistakes during the racing – hopefully I have done some learning as well. I only wore my drysuit once – it turned out the race sessions were a bit long for me to be wearing the drysuit – the hikers and warm top clothing had to suffice – the wife of a Victorian sailor suggested I wear a continence pad under my drysuit – but I did not take her up on the suggestion!! Chris Keil could not believe me when I told him the suggested solution and he just grinned each day when he asked what I would be wearing!!
The next Sabre Nationals will be at Brighton & Seacliff Yacht Club, most likely 28 Dec 09 to 4 Jan 2011 – watch the Sabre website for confirmation of the dates.
Preparation for the 2010-11 nationals starts 14 Jan 10 for those who want to make participate and make the most of the event.
So now to the serious stuff ... the second half of the 2009-10 season ..... here is the calendar I sent in December, I hope to see you at these events and at club sailing,
Susan