Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December

Hair Bear Bunch

by John Curnow on 19 Jun 2016
Hair Bear Bunch Event Media
Way, way back in the day a certain club, Checkpoint Charlie, had lunacy nights that were all about celebrating the full moon. Whether that celestial event fell on the weekend or a ‘school night’ didn’t matter. The classic smiley face that is now better known as an emoticon, but if you’re old enough it is way more synonymous with original VW Kombis, was the mnemonic that told all it was time to party.

There were three guys that decided to take on the challenge of such a party and prepared for their trip with massive ‘fro wigs, huge MrT-esque style jewellery, oversize chrome sunglasses, paisley shirts and mohair coats. The second hand stores got a belting… They guarded their identity closely and certainly enjoyed their night immensely. It seemed their identity was the thing to discover, and even the lads’ girlfriends could not be sure it was them.



So whilst talking about Hanna-Barbera’s great cartoon series that originated in 1971 is a terrific conversation starter it is merely a segue for another Luna Sea. On Saturday evening, the Whitsunday Sailing Club had an almost full moon race around White Rock. Warm, not wet and enough breeze to get you around the track paled into insignificance against the majesty of the views and a night race you could do entirely in shorts and T-Shirt. Many thanks to John, Clay, Polly and Bob for including me on the Crowther penned tri, Aeolus.

Now thank God it was an evening race, for if it had stretched into the morning, then the racers would have been met my voluminous amounts of water and Westerly busters. Of course another East Coast Low has just given Southern Queensland and NSW another drenching, and to some it may be no surprise to some that we have just had the hottest May on record since records first begun in 1880.



Elsewhere in the universe, and Brazil first had to deal with Zika, as if that was not big enough of an issue. Then last week there were the papers on super-bugs that have infected the beaches and also the watercourses where Rowing, Triathlon, Sailing and other sports will be held.

Before that there was the impeachment of the President, Dilma Rousseff, adding more politics to the equation. Now as the country grapples with recession, the news that they are in deep water fiscally is probably surprising to no one at all. The State of Rio is struggling to meet its obligations in terms of infrastructure for the games, as well as basic human services like doctors and police.

They have gone to the federal government cap in hand for $900m! All that cannot be good, and no amount of bossa nuova can take your attention away from that magnitude of disaster. They are even calling it one themselves. So whilst a couple are struggling to get there, many learned souls have begged anyone who would listen not to send any of the athletes there in the first place. One group will be right, for time will tell, as it always does…



We also have stories, pics and videos from Newport Bermuda, and Round Ireland where the exciting Phaedo 3 will be showcasing a huge and eclectic fleet. Sticking with multihulls there are the Tornado Worlds and in monos, there is intel from the Youth Match Racing Worlds, Argentario Sailing Week, 2016 Griglia Rolex Cup and Stan Honey collected the Magnus Olson Prize. Here in AUS, Ian Thomson has the Round Australia bug going, and we think that is great, so there is simply the proverbial plethora of material for you to explore and review.

Now don’t forget to get your club or association to send in your news via the submit function, just up in the top right of the Sail-World home page. In the meantime, do keep a weather eye on Sail-World. We are here to bring you the whole story…

Selden 2020 - FOOTERHyde Sails 2024 - One DesignRooster 2025

Related Articles

Sailing and the summer solstice
Celebrating sailing and the longest day of the year If you love long evenings and early mornings, this is one of the best times of the whole year, as the summer solstice (Friday, June 20) and the entire rich expanse of summer are about to burst into bloom.
Posted on 17 Jun
Video Review: The Amazing Cure 55
Composite Construction meets Cruising Convenience It was two years ago at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show that I talked to Dave Biggar about his ideas and plans for the Cure 55. At the 2025 show I got to step on board the yacht and see how his ideas became reality.
Posted on 17 Jun
The Big Bash
Every summer the tournament rolls into town. A short format of the game. Fun and excitement abound. Every summer the tournament rolls into town. Local and international players. A short format of the game, run over a relatively compact six-week season.
Posted on 15 Jun
The oldest video footage of Kiel Week
A look back into our video archive at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s In our series of articles looking back in time through our video archive, we visit Germany. Kiel Week is been a crucial event on the world circuit, and here we look back at the Kieler Woche of the 60s and early 70s.
Posted on 15 Jun
Nick Olson on PredictWind's newest features
Nick Olson discusses PredictWind's newest features PredictWind has long been a leader in presenting high-quality marine forecasts. Nick Olson discusses the company's newest features.
Posted on 12 Jun
The X-Yachts Gold Cup Experience
A celebration of sailing, of X-Yachts and, most importantly of all, people Having just returned from Haderslev, Denmark - which is the home of X-Yachts and played host to the X-Yachts Gold Cup 2025 - I was left wondering if this was a racing event, a rally or a social celebration amongst close friends.
Posted on 10 Jun
Video Interview: Onboard the Excess 14
At the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show 2025 Excess have moved forward their designs with the Excess 13 and 14 cruising catamarans, so seeing the Excess 14 was high on the priority list, as well as talking to some exceptional high performance sailors on board to learn their thoughts.
Posted on 3 Jun
Getting excited for the Van Isle 360
Quoting a famous line from Pink Floyd's "Time" As I pack for the first half of the 2025 Van Isle 360 International Yacht Race, I find myself thinking about the last time I did this race, a certain Pink Floyd song, and the great adventuring, sailing and time with friends that awaits.
Posted on 3 Jun
The call of the mighty
See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action See the words Admiral's Cup and you immediately think approachable, real, hardcore action, braving the elements, and glory for the victorious. As an Australian, you have King Louie (the late Lou Abrahams), and the late Sir Jim Hardy as the poster boys.
Posted on 1 Jun
Where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment
Seats, hoists, etc for sailors with a disability Several organisations have contributed their knowledge regarding where to purchase adaptive sailing equipment such as seats for dinghies and hoists for wheelchair users to get into boats.
Posted on 1 Jun