Life is never boring!

by Rob Kothe on 1 Apr 2006 Navigator Will Oxley reports from the supermaxi Skandia as the 98 footer leads the Sydney to Gold Coast fleet north tonight. Many of Grant Wharington's Volvo 70 Brunel crew are racing the 384 miles north to sunny Queensland ahead of their trip to Baltimore for their VOR re-start.

'You would think going downwind on one gybe in fantastic sailing conditions
and sailing fairly conservatively would be straight forward. But NO we have
had a series of adventures to keep us busy.

'First, on the approach to the start line with two minutes to go, the leg of
the engine (which retracts up into the hull when sailing) dropped down
leading to the prop spinning wildly with the engine out of gear. BUGGER!

‘GT (Graeme Taylor) rushed down and raised it again but with a leak in the
hydraulics it would slowly drop down again. So the boys fashioned a bit of
timber reinforced with carbon battens to stop it dropping. All good.

'We then decided it was safe to hoist the 500 sq m code 0 sail to replace the
150 sq metre #3 jib that was on the bow. Up it went and off WE went.

'Then at about 1500 hrs the lashing holding the code 0 at the top of the mast snapped and the 0 fell down on its stay.

'Mitch (White-the bowman) went up the forestay to try to sort it out but as we were re-hoisting it the sail pulled clear of the stay.

'Bugger! So we did a 'mongrel drop' (dropping the sail just like a normal headsail drop). This was a massive effort with the big sail but it all went well. We still were averaging 18 knots with just the #4 and full main All good!

'Then we hoisted our laminate chute (650 sq m) to get back to full pace. All
good!

'Then 30 minutes later we surfed off down a big wave and whilst doing 28
knots the bit of timber holding the prop up snapped and the prop dropped
back under the boat. BUGGER AGAIN!

'We dropped the laminate chute and slowed the boat to get the prop back up
and after some effort this was achieved. We are now working on fashioning a
new system for holding the prop up in the boat! We are now sailing with the
#4 and full main whilst we dead with it and are still averaging 16 knots SOG.

'Sugarloaf is 34 miles away so we are still on record pace for now. Let's
hope we can sort it out!’

Behind the stopping and starting Skandia, Leslie Green’s Swan 601 Ginger has been sailing sweetly and is only a mile astern of the leader.

In third place on the water and unexpectedly slow, is Steven David's Wild Joe another mile back, with Seriously Ten and Yendys close behind. In sixth place, Wedgetail is ahead of Loki.

While Skandia leads on line honours, Ray Robert’s Quantum Racing led the race at this afternoon’s radio sked.

First in Division B and the fleet overall on IC handicap, Quantum Racing was just 17 miles south of Port Stephens, while Anthony Paterson’s Mumm 30 Tow Truck, just four miles behind, was second overall and leader in Division D.

Brett Philby reported from Tow Truck; ‘It’s just a matter of going as hard as we can while there is pressure,' as the giant killer powered north under her Chicken Shute.

In third place overall after a stellar start and second in Division B, is Bill Wild’s Welbourne 42 Wedgetail, 15 miles south of Port Stephens.