B00B00

I guess we could look at another division for that if there was enough interest.

Hobart is actually much harder if you are at the top end of the competitive racing fleet. Sitting on the rail for 3 days is not easy especially in a southerly buster. The level of competition is pretty damn high and its bloody hard work. Probably pretty easy if you are just doing it for the challenge and not pushing so hard. They are very different events, RNI really is an endurance event, you not only have to survive the sailing but also the stopovers.... And again its all about how hard you push (both on and off water activities). Some peoples perception of 'racing' is very different to

12nm to go to east cape for us. The wind lightened a bit for a while but now we are punching into 22kts again with a sharp chop. Been a challenging leg right from the start... Looking forward to bearing away in a few hours!

Yup delayed start. Zero wind for us.

The observations lied. There was no wind at kidnappers at all. 5 hour park up for us actually.... Good result for us though in the end.

Jet broke the main halyard apparently. Pretty tough leg, mostly light winds for us and we missed out on the hammering the boats got yesterday afternoon. Lots of damage done around the fleet. Nothing for us luckily.

What an epic achievement. Legend.

Yeah its sure looking like a driftathon. Should be some sea breeze in the afternoon I hope before the light SW fills in. The sunfast is fully loaded and ready to go now. Been a big few weeks of race prep! Now looking forward to getting out there.

She does all the weather briefings for the offshore races and does a very good job. Knows what she is talking about and I lean something everytime. Would be well worth going to.

Was that comment nessisary? Would you rather not have those boats racing?

So are you saying that alot of that stuff you wouldnt have done if you were just cruising? Life raft unserviced, alternative means of charging, first aid kit, drouge (certainly needed if going with a small crew), sat phone.... all sounds pretty reasonable to me. The only thing there that really looks like just an extra cost for the race is the $1000 entry fee, the other stuff surely is needed for any trip offshore?

Damn I will be halfway around the north island. I enjoyed the solo division last year. Pretty painfully light race but a great challenge.

Give me a call or text. 0212222143 They are up at my in-laws place at the moment but I will try and grab them for you soon.

Yup I have a wooden sunburst mast and boom. 5.4m long. You can have them. Pick up in stillwater.

You can get the windows off Keith from acrylic solutions. He's a boat owner too.

Pm sent with bobs number.

Was talking to my brother last week, he is on his way back from Antarctica at the moment on an aussie icebreaker and was bashing through some ice as we spoke. Sounded like it was tough going with ice often getting into the prop causing issues. He drives the smaller expedition craft for the landing parties. My mum and dad were on the Akademik Shokalskiy that got caught down there a few years back on their way back form an expedition. They all needed to be evacuated after the bow caved in. Then the Chinnese Ice breaker got stuck going to rescue them and the French and Yanks had to come and r

There is a good one in picton called KJL sails run by Kent Luxton. Maybe give him a call as he often goes down to Christchurch or you could send it up to him.

I must say I thought it was a brave move starting a race like that with only scrim sails (mylar film on both sides). Every other boat has taffeta on both sides or 3Di composite which adds hugely to the durabiltiy of the sails.

Thanks for the update Brendan. I brought a 50watt solar panel on trade me real cheap a while ago ready to go for my next boat. Actually should have set it up for this Christmas on the sun fast but didn't think I would need it. Good to hear that 50w does enough.

Yeah wpuld be good to catch up again. We Made it out to the barrier today. Left westhaven at 3pm and anchored in smokehouse just after 8.30. Pretty happy with that effort with the family on board. Top speed 17.8kts with full main and gennaker in 30kts! Kids loved it. Much more fun than wollowing our way here. Weather is looking mint for the mercy and backside of barrier for the next week.

Kevin, please give us a detailed view of what you think the life jacket laws should be.

quick question, do we start when our number goes up or comes down?

If you intentionally drove your car off a huge cliff into the ocean without a seatbelt or life jacket on, would the statistics say it was a fatality caused by lack of seat belt, no life jacket or suicide?

We will be at the mercs again with a 4, 6, and 8 year old team of boys on board.