Jon

Good read CJ I think something here along these lines would be much more appropriate to cruising yachts heading offshore The current regs can seem overwhelming for the first timer

I'm totally with Matt on this one In the last ten years I've been involved with probably over 100 inspections both Cat 1,2,3 ans pre race checks Never once have I seen an inspector that wouldn't accept a rational argument to work around a particular rule that didn't work in that situation Farr 1104 ? Am I dead and you forgot to tell me, I've sailed one to Fiji If your talking about stability index ? They do pass we got the calc done and it passed.

Maybe we just need to change where we head to I'm planning heading to FP in April but just not for a couple more years yet

I know of a few yachts over the years that have had a false start and have been issued new paperwork on the same cert, "just in case they ask why it's taken you so long at the other end" If you ask it's probably not officially done but in the real world if your polite and don't take it for granted then your fine. The leaving part is BS really when you can enter and leave most countries around the world on the same day maybe days after you've arrived and days before your leaving The MPI and customs thing coming in is fine by me but the rest is a joke

RNI was on 6 o'clock news Also 3 local newspapers plus YNZ news, these all contacted me for updates during the race.

Getting someone to cover a one day event is quite easy For the RNI you need someone for a month, the race only takes 16 to 18 days but with the build up then wrap up plus prize giving your talking 25 to 30 days non stop. Sure it may only take half an hour to write something everyday but gathering that info and getting it out is what takes the time Leg two finish I got 3 hours sleep in the two days it took the fleet to finish (but I did find out that craft beer is as good as sleep on the beer tour) To get the good oil you really need to catch the sailors as the hit the dock (think the LS

Yes I was also wondering about the supply of pigs left in the country. Keep on with this as it's gold From SSANZ perspective investing your entry fees in a PR consultant when the race is fully subscribed isn't a great investment, we have tried this in the past and it didn't workout too well What we really need is an enthusiastic supporter, with the gift of the gab and can translate this into print Another thing to consider is an extra say $300 per yacht wouldn't make a bit of difference to a top end campaign but what makes this race special and something we really want to maintai

Baby steps Get the boat out of backyard Solo Tasman RNI

Ok KM seeing as it was only Splash Princes and myself plus inport helpers than ran this entire event with help from the SSANZ committee at some points plus from afar Your on, No wimping out and saying your doing it, first you need to cut the grass free from your hull and put it in the briny, but that's no excuses either Your now the offical SSANZ typed media corrrespondant from on and off the water Don't know how my liver will cope with two weeks on the road together but it will just have to man up and cope or hopefully you will enter then it will just be the stoppovers that will be push

"Back in my day they never did it like that"

I think you will find that it's less than 1/4 that aren't on bookface or access it via open pages like the SSANZ page Mayday? What mayday A little pig put out an advisory when they lay down for rest in cook straight And a couple of yachts called up to advise that a Wellington yacht put on a display leaving home But Mayday ? Maybe I missed that one !

Haven't used these guys myself but heard good things http://vinylboatwrap.co.nz/

As organisers we probably should have feed them the stories but we are all real sailors with real jobs trying to do our best by the real sailors that take on the challenge Every time I've approached the likes they only seem interested if we can provide advertising income for them, (when I approach them about our cruise back from Europe including dismasting they only seemed interested if I could provide produce placement links they could then hit up for adds So I just didn't bother) The best stories are the ones that you real sailors write and post here and on our website, of the challenge

Didn't fall asleep Nice little update thanks Mark

Oh no I'm agreeing with KM You only need to meet KJ to realise he's 110% the real thing, there are very few left but he's one of them

The rum I had on my boat until they spent last weekend on board That rum.

As for Duty Frees suggestion with the holiday being a Wednesday there is a chance to do a really long longhaul 2,3 or 500nm possibly starting Wednesday mid morning Then cruising 60nm and shorthaul 100nm starting Friday arvo with finish at GB Multis can organise themselves as usual. The key will be to get all yachts finished by mid arvo Saturday then lighting and generator again for a Smokehouse prize giving. What we need to know is there demand for a long race like this ? Or should we just run a shorter format and run it the weekend prior so them that wish can cruise back ? Easi

One other note tell the driver on the way back to take you to TGF (Thank God it's Friday) as there is a Balboa dock in downtown and we got caught with this once when we asked to go to Balboa Yacht Club Also do an evening in the old town for dinner, great restaurants and entertainment TGF is just across the road from the drop point for BYC

Provisioning is easy in Panama City Get a mooring at the Balboa Yacht Club, your agent maybe able to help but usually you have to just call up once your through and see what's available or just anchor on the edge of the mooring area. If your on a mooring you just call up and a water taxi will collect you. There are two marinas down the end of the river as you get out into the bay, I have stayed there but the moorings are better and cheaper Get all the contact details off your navionics charts on your mobile device if your running one. Once ashore there are taxi's waiting just up the step

We stopped in Aruba and Santa Marta in Columbia Both I'd recommend

San Blas is a must stop Galapogus Been through the canal twice now, once as skipper once as crew If you need any contacts re panama or further along email me and I'll send what I've got We hauled out and anti fouled in shelter bay, Tahiti is very expensive to do this. symaara@gmail.com

You can have ours Craig You may get two 1020's in it if they allow

Very close to essential in my opinion, especially if your having others join you I insist on everyone drinking 3ltrs of water per day in the tropics plus showering daily Once you've had one you wouldn't go with out This is going to cost me now I say this but other than the primary filter we haven't had to do anything and the only problem was that the capacitor on the 230v motor died mid Atlantic so we then could only use the 12v motor We do use it all the time and never fill anywhere as I've been told that chlorinated water can kill the membrane plus if you use it regularly you don't ne

No we got marina and other contacts from navionics mostly or as Jean said from other cruisers I'll send you a list of contacts that me made up plus were given as we were going along It looks much harder from here than it is, I promise

No one fits all solution In Europe start with Vodafone roam $5 per day Then if your there awhile get a Vodafone sim or similar for Europe, it will work all the way to the Cannery Is. Caribbean is a mine field, Vodafone Antigua won't work on Vodafone Sint Maarten (Dutch) and you will need a different one in St Martin ( French) but same Island Once you get to Central America and most of the pacific you can't get 3G so no internet or very slow The up side is wifi is available cheap lots of places and generally data/phone is really cheap and often cheap enough to buy a phone and run it f