Lap completed!
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 27 May 2018 15:00 PDT
Poppy Moore (Right) with Danielle Blackmore and Michaela Backes from Pantaenius © John Curnow
12 whole months ago, a small in stature but huge in heart sailor said she wanted to go around Australia. Her vessel was also somewhat small by today's standards, but off she went from Sydney, with a grand plan, a massive task, and the kind of fierce determination that both captivates and inspires.
She is the delightful Poppy Moore, and she is the one in the #PantaeniusCAPtains in the hero image today. Poppy always said there would be no cake stall for her, as she set about raising the profile of Parkinson's Disease, and also collecting much needed funds to help with research into this most debilitating and dignity-shattering condition.
We caught up with Poppy one year ago at the very same show in Sanctuary Cove, when she was just into the start of her lap, having made the Gold Coast from Sydney. Already she was ahead of her 'budget' for donations of $1,000 per month. Her father was incapable of leaving the UK, but always wanted to see Australia again. So Poppy did the next best thing and took the country to him. In doing so, Poppy ensured Chris and Wendy Moore certainly had dress circle seats.
Poppy had originally wanted to get around in 12 months, but considering she had to return to the UK three times in the last year to see her ailing parents, taking 13 months seems more than fair. She, and all her co-sailors and helpers, did completely excel in the cash department too, raising $15,000. "It certainly was a wonderful experience, and I am blessed that so many people came to join in and contribute. Pantaenius were terrific and gave me free insurance cover for 12 months, Gold Coast City Marine, as well as Mandy and the Dampier Volunteer Fire Service, who collected and exceptional $2,000! Mandy had never sailed before, and did the Kimberley coast with me, including arranging one of our rescues."
"Scaramouch now has a new owner, taking just three days to sell. It is a great story, for her new owner is going to continue to use her up and down the East Coast. Having everything on board, as well as some good provisions in her lockers to set sail right there and then, could well have helped."
Poppy went on to say, "In terms of highlights, I loved sailing up from Cooktown to Gove. Being self sufficient in the middle of the ocean, and also island hoping was wonderful. There was no one else around, and seeing crocodiles, whales and all manner of sea creatures was awesome."
"There are also bluer pastures for me to move onto now. Mick McFie cycled up to my boat in Darwin. Our bikes liked each other, so too our boats, and we got on famously as well. We sailed in convoy down to Perth, and then Mick came across the Great Australian Bight with me on Scaramouch. This was great, as it was his third voyage through those waters, and it helped me a lot. We are off to do some cruising around the world now, as soon as we get a bigger boat!" Maybe there is a lap of another kind to be completed next.
"It was lovely to have everyone come down to welcome me back into Sydney Harbour, and celebrate the completion of my goal. Mum and Dad loved the journey and especially got a kick out of talking with all my crew on the way, as he is completely housebound," said Poppy in closing.
Tacking. So if we started with a lap of the continent, then it only seems fair to now go look at a lap of the planet. No one ever saw the VO65s taking over from the venerable, and oh-so-mighty VO70s, but that is exactly what has happened. Well I'll be, huh?
Team AkzoNobel racked up 602.51 nm for the 24-hour run, averaging just over 25 knots in the process. Average. And this is a monohull (a very wet one at that, too!) It is like 52nm ahead of the previous record, and gunning into 6nm over what Ericsson 4 achieved in the 2008/9 iteration of the race. Brunel has also been in the fray earlier, with the two crews pushing each other into the 560s and 570s, before barrelling through the 80s and 90s to make the new mark. Things will settle down now with a ridge controlling the space, and not offering a lot for the crews to take on. Well done to Tienpont and crew!
Right oh - here today there are some gems for you to review below. We have information about GC32s, the Volvo, whales for the Clipper RTW race, 52 Super Series lights up, Gilmour and Turner in the 49ers, Finns, J/121s, J/80s and J/70s, windsurfers, Etchells, Rolex Middle Sea Race, Finns, news from Bavaria as they keep the building going, blowing boats not dogs off chains in Hobart, crewing with help from the MySail Team, and certainly there is much, much more.
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John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS