Clipper

Spent last night getting ready. Cleaned bottom, jacklines on, coffee grinder charged up, bilges bailed, flash new halyard run.

its yet another example of unintended consequences. People wear their nice life jacket in dinghy when not needed. It gets wet, maybe it gets stolen ashore. Then not worn on way home or to next bay, when it otherwise might have been, or should be. I wear a LJ a LOT when sailing and always when shorthanded. They are good. But I dont (and wont) put my nice LJ on with my AIS inside and PLB strapped on, to go 100m to beach or the boat next door. In simple terms its more than a dumb rule. If it were actually enforced, i posit it makes boating more unsafe for some people.

Don't you just grab painter and jump over the side? No lifejacket required for swimming (or towing a dinghy) I assume

Im pumped. First racing in the boat since Northern Triangle. Spent Saturday unloading cruising gear and loading on race sails. Normal co skipper (wife) out for first 2 races, so have a super sub flying up from Nelson. Every night this week is continuing race prep. Last night was spent sewing a stronger lee cloth, now just need to fill diesel, audit safety gear, clean bottom, remove more cruising gear, fit jacklines, remember how to sail, tidy away tools, bail out the rain water, go to briefing, get some food (although not much, looks like a nice reach sail). And beer. Get some

Capsize!

I use GME with raymarine gear. Got from supercheap or repco.

So you are saying as we are all rich and can afford it, doesn't matter if they do a sh*t job?

looks like I'm up for a scrape back then, thats whats on my boat!

stopped red, or stopped altogether?

I just installed one of those on Saturday! im using the k mart version of a jetboil so had to redraw the design. Also into a starport. IMG_8928.mov

If I was looking for a new sail, I'd go Evos, Booboo (rogue) or seamtech.

Putting aside Petes Shocking starts, the event was epic. We took the boat out one day and went to the stands the next. The view from the stands was amazing, the action fast and furious. It was great, but I still think Lyttleton is a better venue (dolphins aside)

I was there. We were within VHF range to hear the Mayday off one of the boats. 2 closest boats stood by (and not that it would have helped, but interesting to hear one had a defib on board). From what I understand, both sailors were experienced, not paying beginners. Awful news to hear during a race, but damn good reminder re safety. I have never done a race where I was clipped on so often. It was windy, but not more than low 40s, so not too bad. But seas got very large and at times, very confused, so could have been easy to get thrown into a Chinese or the like. We had the helm washed of

US are doing this? Thats interesting. Yes, funding is an issue, but I think you might find people happy to pay to an organisation that is working for them. It almost feels like YNZ are against us presently (I know they arn't)

Damn, what a brilliant idea. Not a lot in common between racing a laser around the cans and getting a 40' raceboat safely to Fiji. Aside from basic rules and being powered by wind. I am just assuming the current custerfuck of YNZ/IVC/Cat 1/Polish registration has killed (or more positively 'put on hold') offshore racing from this country.