Skandia

Half way through Broken Bay week, John, Jason and I drove back to Sydney to go for a sunset sail on Skandia, the 98 foot maxi. Happy boys. We all got to steer and that explains the big smiles.
Lots of room in the cockpit

Big sails

We drove back to Cottage Point in the rain but we didn't care. We didn't even mind missing Laine's celebrated paella. We had a great time.

Broken Bay

Another great week has passed. Here are a few pictures until I get time to post properly.
We set off in glorious sunshine after taking hours to load the boat, get the dinghy on board and make sure we had enough alcohol.

This is what we woke up to the first morning.

John gets a push from Jason

The theme for the cocktail party was "f". We were the fuckarewes

Terina brought Firefly 2 along

The trip home was smooth sailing.

ASCC Regatta

Julie and I raced with Gavin in the 2009 ASCC Mardi Gras Regatta. And we won!!!

Here we are just ahead at the bottom mark

We won the first two races, then Gavin said " to win this regatta we just need to win three races". Then we came second - twice!

Heading for the windward mark we were determined not to be distracted by Quest (Sydney Hobart winner) trying to fly a spinnaker!

So going in to the final race it was a dead heat and we were battling against Gavin's nemesis and former crew member Dale who is also from Melbourne.

It was a hard fought race but we eventually passed Dale who got the better start and we held on to win.

The relaxed smile is only because this is crossing the line at the end of the last race

New Year's Eve

We had a great spot, fabulous view.

And had a lovely night.

2 Prizes in 1 Day!

Its been a long time since I posted anything but we have been sailing and winning. But not races.

The Balmain Regatta gave us another opportunity to bring out the rainbow flags. And this time our style was appreciated and rewarded with first prize for best dressed boat. Way to go girls!



And this is Tony Partridge who is Cruising Captain at Balmain with me, Terina and Julie accepting our prize.

And then after an interesting race we went ashore at the Balmain Sailing Club which was jumping with dinghy races, a band, beer and the prize giving. Sadly we did not do too well on handicap in the race but I did win the raffle! And am now the proud owner of a Walker 8 white plastic dinghy with blue seats. And it has a spot to put a centre board and a mast so I can sail it as well. Could be fun in Broken Bay.


Two other ASCC boats raced but not very happily. This is Leapfrog skippered by Scott Davis in the Classic division
Balmain Regatta results here
There are more photos here

Winners are Grinners

The ASCC Annual Prizegiving Dinner was held on July 4th at the CYC. Tony Tyson made a wonderful toast to the club and talked about how our club is not about a place but the people and the community spirit we share and foster.

Cheshire Cat won the winter series and we scored a very nice trophy. As it was the only series we entered we are pleased with ourselves.

I also won all three places in the photo competition! Mainly because Dayna didn't enter and Mike McCabe who also takes lovely photos didn't get his entries in on time. Still I'm not complaining. It was judged by Angela Catterns. She is obviously very discerning. The prize is a digital photo frame. It wasn't plugged in which is why it is blank black.

Third - Coming home after the winter series
Second - Chris Mugden's steam boat in front of Mathilde at Broken Bay
First - Early morning in Castle Lagoon, Broken Bay This is the one that I think most epitomises the club and the cameraderie we share. It didn't even get a mention.


And Helen and I presented the inaugural "HELP" Award to an absent John Harris for his seemingly endless willingness to hlp me and others out of difficulties on water. So congrats John.

This is Helen and I with the trophy - a lighthouse - in the background.

No Sailing

No sailing at the moment. Maintenance goes slowly.

But I found this picture of Michael bailing out after having let me drive the jet boat at Broken Bay.