Fremantle Bali Rally, Salty Dawg drama, berthing boon for solo sailors

by Nancy Knudsen, Editor on 14 Nov 2013 'What a bloody great day to go sailing...' Not very original perhaps but suggests the high elation of the crew setting out on the Rally from Fremantle to Bali. This annual event includes a race as well as a rally, but guess who's having more fun!

Antipodean sailors Andrew and Clare Payne this week describe their participation in the Salty Dawg Rally, which has caused consternation among American sailors this week in blogs and forums. Part of the 100-strong fleet ran into trouble when trying to cross the Gulf Stream between two fronts.

It's common lore among cruising sailors that the skipper is responsible for all decisions aboard any boat, including when to depart, so the Salty Dawg could rightly claim that each skipper was responsible.

However, one has to query in general whether inexperienced crews – and there were multiple distress signals which were reversed when the crew found they were able to cope – take more comfort from their participation in a rally than they should.

There has been an increasing trend for would-be importers of drugs into Australia to use the usually inconspicuous mode of a sailing boat. This could end up much more difficult soon, now that Australian Customs have linked up with the US Coast Guard.

Two New Zealanders are in the news because they are in their 70's and sailing round the world solo. Some others are setting off - again - to try to stop the oil drilling in the Tasman Sea. Two great stories.

Our product of the week is a very snazzy aid for solo sailors – 'One Sailor' helps you berth without assistance, easy, every time. Well, that's what they are promising, and while I haven't tried it, it looks so simple it would have to work. If you love sailing on your own and have to berth often, it's worth considering.

In other news, CYCA SOLAS Trusts have done it again. Now they have supplied the South Australian Sea Rescue Squadron with some valuable financial assistance; Beneteau, the benchmark for how the boating industry is doing, is this week reporting a loss for the financial year; and Coastguard Boating Education is offering new courses now that New Zealand is introducing a new suite of commercial skippers' qualifications.

I have just received my copy of the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) rigging handbook – what a wonderful production! You can order it online and it has excellent content for the DIY rigger.

If you are lucky enough to be out there, sweet sailing!