Norwegian Blue

Mine is a very simple installation (12v only, no engine to start) and I have a Sterling 120AH with Victron mains and smart solar charger. Extremely happy with all the kit, and the battery state and consumption via bluetooth helps massively to manage consumption while there is only solar to top up while out sailing. The Sterling is pretty rugged and nice and light.

Are these tickets just for general access? We didn't have to pay to watch in Cadiz (other than the $20 burgers, but to be fair they were extremely good)

Any divers who regularly clean up at Gulf Harbour?

I am sure I have one of those but it will be in my locker at Westhaven and I won't be able to check for a while.

Yes, just the standard charging kit for outboards. I am thinking of putting the outboard into a well and making it electric start, so it would need a starter battery which won't play well with the LFP. And if I was charging a start battery, it would be nice to top up the LFP at the same time.

Would that be the same if you removed the alternator and substituted a regulator on an outboard setup? I am super chuffed with my 120AH LFP drop in, but only charge via solar or shore power at present which has some limitations.

I bought one off Ali Express for my SOTDMA AIS, which was about $40 delivered. I got a rail mount from Burnsco and have it on the pushpit. Worked far better than the built in GPS on the new chart plotter mounted in the cockpit bulkhead which lost signal fairly often. The AIS came with one of those small pucs which I had below but would show us doing up to 1kn when moored in the marina!

Certainly was a very regretful decision. All the PredictWind weather routes showed that as being the best route but we should never have split with the fleet there. It also didn't help that I have never sailed around there and in my mind the Mercs were a short nip up from the bottom end of Barrier. That was a most awful and unnecessary extra 30 mile beat I'd hate to think how far we sailed in that race. Lots learned and I am happy that we finished.

80mm waste pipe tucked in the corner of a rope bag lasts for ever, lashed or rivet in place.

Will be the biggest solo fleet in NZ history (or not). Like SSANZ, the other problem is only one person or the same family doing race management. Tough times for us all...

Likelihood of the race happening this year? Going to be challenging getting Cat3 sorted in time

Well that was 'Entertaining'. I decided from the start we would be conservative. I knew we were going to get the stuffing kicked out of us on the beat and I would not have dreamed of taking a 930 into that on purpose before so it was a case of 'see if the boat and me survive without any major drama'. Under a full main, we hoisted the fractional jenny at the start, and half way up wondered if it was the right call watching Niksen disappear with their masthead A5. I also decided to stay out and jibed just before The Noises which was a good call in the end. The wind seemed much more sta

It's a while since I had my last Cat 3 done. Pity they don't transfer as one was done for the current boat just before the CC last year. Any recommendations from the current list of inspectors or do I just send out a few emails and see who is available?

Ditto too if there are any left. Can collect tomorrow at the SSANZ briefing

Thanks Jon, that makes sense.