Fogg

Why? Because they are not fully state-funded?

Might be easier to do this: Private Yacht Registration – Maritime Cook Islands

Why the removal of NZ from the name? They are a NZ-based team!

I’m not sure what the surprise is here. Like any other ‘big bucks sport’ it attracts the egotistical billionaires who rub shoulders with various corporate sponsors. But what I do know is that before NZ gets too puritanical about whether or not it is prepared to accept the sponsorship dollars of people with “dubious human rights records”, maybe we should clean up our own act first - like drag ourselves up out of the bottom of the global league tables for abysmal rates of child abuse / child poverty / child healthcare / education. And maybe then we would earn the right to start poi

That’s awful. Can’t believe this is the first I’ve realised this. So are we all saying that the marine wet weather gear market is effectively a scam? What’s the story with other sports that have similarly high demands for warmth & dryness eg serious mountaineering?

Yes I think so but this recent new effort to keep it onshore probably confused TNZ’s read of the NZ public mood - hence they probably felt the need to check ‘just in case’. But I don’t think the poll result would influence their decision in any way - it would only influence their PR spin on explaining their decision.

Yes but not at any cost. People are realising the last few weeks extra economic damage will cost taxpayers enough without unnecessary additions like a boat race. More interesting to me is the fact that TNZ even did the poll. As if they care what NZ public sentiment really says.

And are they happy with it i.e. does this kit work? Maybe you have to pay top $ but I struggle to believe that literally nothing works at all at being both dry & breathable!

What do the big-budget sponsored offshore racing guys use for the S Ocean? Surely they’ve got it sorted by now at that end of the scale (money no object)?

Yeah it looks great cruising up there. A refreshing change from the bikinis & reef snorkelling of the tropics. One of my fav sailing vlogs (NBJS) just had to abandon his passage towards Greenland and return to Haugesund after getting Covid somewhere between the Norwegian coast and the Faroes. Which goes to show even single-handed sailors cruising some of the remotest parts of world are catching it now.

You’re from Sweden - you must know Erik?

On bilge pumps I’ve just ordered one of these. Triggered by a feeling that the sea gods were sending me a message after 2 weekends in a row I was first vessel in attendance of slowly sinking boats whose average bilge pumps couldn't keep up with ingress. It has motivated me to upsize. I might even get a second one to give me 8,000 GPH. But hope I never need it. A bit like a life raft. But cheaper.

By my calcs if we average 50,000 jabs / day we could reach the 90% target in 10 weeks. So even if we were held at L3 until we reach this magic 90% then we could all expect to get a drop down to L2 and go boating again by late Nov / early Dec. It’s possible that L3 compliance might improve if someone would actually give us some specifics like this so we could reduce some of the current uncertainty - and see some light at the end of the tunnel in terms of Christmas & summer hols.

In-line filter / gauze?

It might need a separate question / poll but based on the responses so far, I’m assuming that if we were still at L3 going into Christmas (I think L4 is unrealistic) then a lot of people would defy the “stay at home” order and pack up & go sailing. I will / would.

I know it happened last year but this year the whole dynamic is different which is why I’m curious to gauge the new mood.

What do the Swedish fishermen use up there?

Anyone who sails at N59 deserves an honorary vote! Down this side of the world at S59 we have got literally no land!

No that’s the other 99% of the population. Run out of sailing videos to watch though - I’m up to date with all my favourite vloggers.

Jeez, I can’t believe I’m reduced to posting pics of my cat to the internet… The family call it “Star”. I call it “ABC”. Work it out.

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Ok cool thanks

I want to ask a Q via a poll - but can’t see it how to do it (from mobile)… anyone?

That was the plan ie. to get the damn thing acclimatised to boat living ASAP. I don’t need to tell you why that hasn’t happened…

So I caved. And we got a cat. No, not the kind with 2 hulls but the kind with about a million claws. Plus fur. At first I persuaded myself that I could turn it into a ‘ship’s cat’ and everything would be OK. But over the last few weeks I’ve been watching with growing dismay at the prodigious amount of poo & pee that the thing emits. And that is growing too. What am I going to do? How the hell do others cope?