T minus 7 days...

So it’s T minus 7 days and counting….. We’ve arrived in Sydney for the start of the big race. It’s been a busy time preparing and getting everything in shape for our trip up here. But we’ve made it. J

A very funny Sunday morning was had before leaving to come up here. As we will be living in a house with a bunch of sailors and very little privacy, we decided to have our Christmas morning Sunday just gone.

We did everything the way would normally – Cup of tea to start (Mrs S just doesn’t function without this), turn on the Christmas tree lights (very weird – the sun shining through the large glass mass of windows in our lounge) and settle down to opening our pressies from each other. It was weird but we got through it. Then breakfast - poached eggs with Smoked Salmon and hollandaise on Rye Bread. Lovely!!

So, that was our Christmas – now for the job in hand. So, we’re here in the house loaned to us by Eclipse Computing (my employer – thanks Brad), preparing for later in the week when the rest of the crew arrive. The real issue is that it’s pissing it down (Cats and Dogs).

Anyway, the big race is getting really close now and I’m beginning to get excited and nervous. We went to CYCA to take a look at the boat and I picked up my official pass (another wave came over me at the boat).

I will try and post bits as we get closer to the big day. Stay monitoring this blog for more details.

The Kiss Goodbye to MS crew for the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race on boxing Day 2011

Follow us during the race at http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/yacht_tracker.asp?key=522

Tony (Tony) Warren  - the Skipper and owner of our illustrious vessel - A vertically challenged man who's enthusiasm is only top trumped by he vast sailing experience.  He's raced from Melbourne to Osaka in Japan a 5,500 nautical mile trip with only one other crew member no less then 3 times, not to mention is Sydney to Hobart and Melbourne to Hobart races. What he lacks in communication skills he totally pulls back in ability to fix anything on land of sea at the drop of a hat. Take note Mrs S, he really could be the last boy scout.

Ian (Mumble) Lindsey - our crew boss - A Scottish IP Lawyer enjoying the fruits of Melbourne with his lovely wife Karen. Ian has a rear quality on the boat - the ability to get the skipper to shut up and wind his neck in. Tony can a bit exited at times. Anyway, Ian organises the rest of us and handles all things official is the race side of things. Oh and he can sail too.

Bob Colman - Helm and Trim - Bob has loads of experience with his own boat Raucous in Darwin. Bob and Tony often disagree but we always get the best out of both of them because if this. Bob does has a few interesting views on life and the universe so is I even need entertaining I just need to start up a conversation with Bob. Oh ply him with red wine - it has the same affect.

Jimmy Wright - Helm and Trim - Jimmy is famous amongst us for his Chinese Gybe on the Melbourne to Hobart race last Christmas. Well, he also like a beer or too and is now often found in Mothercare. But that's another story. Jimmy also has a great honour of being the other Pom in the crew.

Paul Griggs - Main sheet Trim - Paul is one of the elder statesmen on the crew. He regularly can be seen with a video camera on his head (Paul is a professional Photographer - so he tells us), but we think he's really a drug baron. He owns a pub, amongst other things. All our provisions are organised by Paul - Surprise surprise!!

Bruce Hawken - Office and Navigation - Now for all you luddites the Office is the centre of the boat where all the hoisting is done from. So Bruce mainly manages all the halyards as well as provides us with our core navigation throughout the race. Bruce is also our communications king. He just loves getting on the radio and submitting our sched's (that is pre-arranged scheduled check in's with the race organisers.  Bruce also likes a drop of Sav Plonk - it can only take a sniff and he's turned from a grumpy old man to a lecherous goat. We love him really.

Johnathon (Jono) Goldsworthy - Trim and general all rounder - Jono is the newest member of our little band and is a Kiwi (but we don't hold this against him).  A seasoned boat delivery sailor and kite surfer Jono brings grunt and glamour to the boat - oh and some experience..

Ian (Doc) Law - Mast and Trim - Doc is our second Scotsman and is the reason we have renamed the boat Kiss Goodbye to MS and are supporting MS Research Australia. He has a diagnosis has a diagnosis of MS. He is fortunate to be at the easier end of the MS scale and is grateful that he is physically capable of engaging in such an endurance event. Doc has been here in Oz for 20 years and is still only my age. We do take the odd drink together (occasionally!!) .

Simon (it's your fault) Wastney - Foredecky - Simon is our second kiwi. He tests software for a living and obviously like to sprawl around on the foredeck amongst the water for fun. The nickname comes from our skippers incessant desire to shout and blame Simon for anything and everything that goes wrong. Simon has and needs an extremely think skin. It takes all sorts.

Only 9 sleeps before the big race now.....

Last Ocean race before the Big One!!

October was a funny month - anyway finished with an ocean race to Tasmania . Stanley to be exact. Stanley sits on the north shore of Tazzie and is 155 nautical miles almost due south from Queenscliff which was where the race started from. As normal we left St Kilda just after lunch on the Friday and I start on my latest sickness combatting attempt (Sturgeon) Thanks to Stella (sister) for smuggling bringing some over from the mother land. The plan is always to be to Queenscliff around 6ish coz Tony (the boat owner does not like to pay the mooring fees ). Anyway, this time the crew boss (Ian Ockhie Lindsey) put his foot down with a strong hand and we birthed amongst the fee paying (normal ) yachties . We dive off to the local pub for a hearty meal and a few (Light) beers them returning to get some shuteye before the planned 4AM race start - Yes 4 AM!! (it's normally 1AM). We're up at 2am because the skipper get over excited and everyone needs to be up and ready in plenty of time, only to be informed that the race has been delayed until 5AM.

Anyway, 36 boats have entered this mainstay event which is seem by many as the lead up race to the Sydney to Hobart race. We're geared up, alert and ready for the start. A few practice tasks and we're on the start line with the big boys and due to some nifty manoeuvring and good team work we have a great start. Is this going to be the good performance we've been working towards all year?

We seem to be going well with the only boats in front of us being the bigger ones. The wind is good and strong and most importantly it's not on the nose all the way. We're only making between 7 to 9 knots but we're looking good.

The watch system kicks in and I get some shuteye. When I return on deck there are only a couple of boats to be seen and there far enough away that I can't make out who they
are. Some boats had made the choice to go east on the plumb line thinking that when the weather changes they'll be able to turn for Stanley on a reach and other went for the directly opposite tact. With the two main weather forecasting sites conflicting each other we went for staying roughly on the plumb line (albeit slightly east of it) and see how we fare being hopefully
that the change will not be too detrimental to us when it comes.

The change was predicated to come in around midnight and it was going to be gusting 40/45 knots. Anyway in hit us around 12:30am. We had our number 1 headsail and full main up at the time and what is so great about Kiss Goodbye to MS (BO) is that she is so well balanced that she just healed more but didn't round up or give us a hellish time trying to control her. Other boats however were not so lucky - one we later saw in Stanley, rounded up so sharply that it was difficult to ease the main sheet and the boat ended up spinning and crash gybing and the boom snapped on half!! We however, got all hands on deck, changed the headsail to No. 4 and reefed the main without really loosing to much speed or time.

Finally, we approached the Stanley breakwater crossing the line to a big cheer just after 6am on the Sunday (some 25hours after the start back in Queenscliff). Rounding the harbour entrance we notice that there are not many yachts there. Thinking that most of the big once typically turn straight round and head for home without stopping.

It's still windy, but not too bad and we pull up beside a great big converted fishing trawler where we are greeted by the official photographer. "it's nice of you to come and take our picture we shout across at the man." he replies with " well to are third across the line". Well, the feeling was totally overwhelming, I was so emotional (Claire knows what I'm like) Whooping and air punching by everyone. What had happened - did everyone turn back due to the wind or were we just great? Well in all honesty, it was a bit of both. There were a few boats in front of us that arrived outside the bay and decided that the bay was too dangerous to venture into and some who turned back when the strong weather came in. but, we finished and they didn't.

So when presentation time came around the crew were sitting there waiting to see how we fared in the handicap races. We had had a few tines by them so we were not shy and were barracking everything and everyone who spoke or moved prior to the announcements. It turned out that we not only got 3rd over the line but 3rd in the International Rule Club (IRC) category and first in both the Performance Measurement System (PMS) and Australian Measurement System (AMS) categories..

What a race.. We were over joyed. In fact I would go as far to say that Jono was beside himself with happiness it was just a shame that he had to take the ferry back to Melbourne to catch his flight back to Perth to be able to make work the next day..

Watch out for the next instalment when I introduce the crew on Kiss Goodbye to MS…...