No idea, but just one…
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 5 Nov 2018 08:00 AEDT
Lisa Blair - New Caledonia Groupama Race © Zhik
Lisa Blair is on her Hick 50, ClimateActionNow, roaring across the Gulf of Carpentaria. She's doing about 8.5 knots, has sailed something in the order of 2150nm since getting underway, and seems to be regularly making 150-mile days.
Lisa is made of the right stuff, as she found out on her Antarctica voyage, so there must be many things going through her head, but given where she is, she won't have that much time to ponder them all, for there is many a navigation challenge to account for, and plenty of things to come, like massive tides and so forth.
Still, the wind is behind her for now, if due to go a bit light in the next little while. She'll be a lot warmer than the other trip, and is missing all of the Spring storms in the Bight about now. That's gotta be a bonus.
So her solo, and unassisted, circumnavigation of the biggest island on planet Earth continues, and I got to thinking about it all just last night. The reason was that I was doing a lot of 20-minute naps, which is what she is doing too. The only difference is she is doing it day upon day, in the light, in the dark, wet, dry and hot, or a bit less so, and on top of all of that, manoeuvring her vessel and navigating as well. I look forward to speaking with her soon...
Peel to the A4 now, and last week we broke the disappointing news that the RMYC had walked away from the 'new' Coffs race. Evidently, I wasn't the only one saddened by it, for I took quite a few calls and emails about it. Some of the ones I spoke to had also taken their share of calls with others, as well.
By and large, everyone saw that it is necessary to have a race to cut your teeth on, if participation is going to grow. It makes a lot more sense for someone to establish if they do indeed like the big blue doing a destination race such as this. Also, if you are 'time poor', then getting underway smartly, turning at the other end and being back pronto are also very redeeming features.
Yes there may have been just eight registered entries, but there is likely to have been something like that number again, or more, just sitting on the fence a little, or is that a flock of birds on a country power line? Yes, a Cat3+ does not need as much planning as the bigger ones, but ultimately, as the race winds up to assume its own stature, it needs the support of the owners and crews wishing to do it.
It is possible that someone may yet pick up the pieces, and run it for this year. If they do, and you are one of the ones who were looking to do it, but had not entered yet, then please jump on it, toot sweet. It is not that there are 15 boats competing this year that is important, but in around three years when there are 40. To get there it needs its formulative years to bolster, build a brand, and deliver on the original premise.
We will of course let you know the moment something does occur, but if the opera has not yet begun, now may be a time to secure some good seats in the dress circle? Just saying....
At the other end of the spectrum, in many a way, were the classics having their 12th regatta on Port Phillip. One of the craft had even come over from NZL to compete. They have a burgeoning scene over there, and put a lot of effort into the old-timers. Springtime in Melbourne can be a lottery, and they had that with grey skies, cool winds, sunshine, lighter wafty breezes, and a heap of results from some back-to-back racing.
Whether you are into timber, or need it to be all composites and epoxy, any fleet that can get some good numbers out there deserves support. So no matter where you lie, take a moment to absorb some full keels, gaffs, hanks, wooden spars, delicately steam bent bowsprits, cutter rigs, and cove lines.
Short one and in, with a gybe set. Thank you again to all of you. A bumper, record month for Sail-World.com is really, really appreciated. Our Managing Editor, Mark Jardine, informed me of the "big new readership record", which deserves a smiley face emoji. So a big thank you, from all of us here at the mighty SW juggernaut. Of course, none of it would be possible without our loyal and invaluable partners. So a big note of appreciation has to go to Musto, Jeanneau, Multihull Solutions, Ensign Ship Brokers, Zhik, North Sails, Harken, Navico, Multihull Central, Raymarine, Garmin, X-Yachts, Pantaenius Sail and Motor Yacht Insurance, and all of the rest. Without you, there is no Sail-World. QED.
Right oh - here today there are some gems for you to review. We have information about the mighty Macif heading off for Guadeloupe, other classes in the Route du Rhum, the Finns, intel from North Sails, American Magic's test craft is way bigger than Team INEOS' vessel, loads of stuff about the Event and Equipment Committees meetings, turn away now if you do not want to see the acronyms AC, AC75 or AC36, the Golden Globe Race, J/111s at Blairgowrie, Etchells Worlds Wrap Video by Mitch Pearson, the 18s, gear from Musto, quippy from Navico, the OKs, ORC and IRC hold hands, the very new CYCA, the Hobart closes of at 92 boats, and certainly there is much, much more.
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John Curnow
Editor, Sail-World AUS