Hobart to Airlie Beach

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Hobart to Airlie Beach

It is incredible how quickly the tough bits of a race are forgotten when conditions become benign and pleasant.

Race start in Hobart was exciting as the boats jockeyed for position on the start line. We still had Martin as our skipper and his philosophy is to stand back, get clean air and take a run up to the line. It has meant that we are usually last over the line, but when there are over 1600 miles to go a couple of minutes shouldn't really matter. Or does it?

The scenery going east and north from Hobart was stunning with tall cliffs of columnar dolorite all along the south coast. As the wind picked up the seas became rougher and the boat heeled over further. Unfortunately there are lots of leaks from the deck fittings and conditions down below became quite uncomfortably wet. Five of the six cave lockers around my bunk filled up with water on a regular basis and had to be emptied along with the bilges - not easy when I had to clamber up onto the top bunk with bucket, scoop and sponge as we heeled over at 45 degrees in the wrong direction.

Conditions up on deck were wet and cold and I was able to get out the dry suit I had bought from Eddie when he left the boat at the end of Leg 3. Getting in and out of it wasn't easy but I think it will get easier as time goes on. Wearing it also gave me the confidence to go up onto the foredeck for the first time, though I am not sure how much use I was.

By the time we got parallel with northern New South Wales the days became drier and sunnier and with a following wind we were able to fly the spinnaker most of the time. Conditions on the boat improved and the wet and rainy days were forgotten as temperatures rose, fewer clothes had to be donned and getting up on deck didn't seem to take as much effort. The Australian coastline is stunning and it has been a real privilege to witness what few have seen. A few mishaps with various sails meant we slipped back in the fleet but at the end of the race we came in seventh which is probable where we belong - about mid fleet. The challenge is going to be to stay there when Jim comes back for the next Leg up to Da Nang.

My experience of Cloughy as our Skipper has been very positive. He has taught us a great deal technically and has lead us into a position where we are not last on the points table. He has lead by example and can be seen up on the foredeck helping with sail changes or down in the sail locker wooling spinnakers. He talks to everyone and doesn't seem to have favourites or to shy away from answering questions or discussing the weather and preferred tactics. Cloughy is a racing Skipper and
I am not sure Jim is. The bottom line is though is that Jim is coming back for the next Leg up to
China and we need, as a crew, to move forwards and deal with that decision. I think our position on
the finishing line will give a good indication of how it has been so let's wait and see.

All the boats got up to Airlie Beach in good time and arrived a couple of days earlier than expected. This has meant an eight day stopover, so a good break before we move onto the next race. Our welcome from the local community has been warm and generous and the stunning weather and sea scape is making it a stopover to remember.

I am sharing an apartment with three others, a fifteen minute walk from the marina, and close enough to the restaurants and bars in town to make walking home after a night out the preferred way of travel. There is a pool in the complex, a lovely place to wind down in after a day on the boat trying to get maintenance sorted, or,as this morning, somewhere to take that early morning swim.

I am going to sign off now by saying thank you for all your support and do continue to keep in touch.

Airlie Beach

Hi All
A quick post to let you all know that we arrived safely in the early hours of this morning, a good seventh place and just behind Ichorcoal. A few of us have found somewhere to stay, not far from the marina, so I won't be homeless for the duration of our stay.

A beautiful setting, wam and tropical, so it should be a good stopover.

More, once I get settled, but with eight days here there should be time to catch up on a few posts.

Sydney to Hobart - update

The Sydney to Hobart race was a spectacle from start to finish. We were down on the boat by 0800 hanking on the bright orange storm sails that are part of the conditions for racing in this iconic race. It was then out into the harbour for the traditional 'Parade of Sail' where we, the twelve Clipper boats, lined up one boat length apart to parade towards the bridge and Opera House and back again. It was a bit like crossing the M25 in rush hour with boats all over trying to avoid us. It was then storm sails up to parade past the committee boat so that they could acknowledge our adequate preparation for the rigours ahead. We then nearly collided with the committee boat as we tried to weave backwards and forwards across the middle start line. Nothing like the line on Frensham Pond which is a bit like a walk in the park in comparison. It was at this point, as Cloughy our replacement skipper floored the throttle to avoid the anchor chain, that the throttle handle came adrift from the boat. Good timing - not - as we then didn't have any control of the engine from the helm. Back to traditional means of communicating as the bridge shouted instructions to an intermediary who shouted down to the engine room where two crew members controlled the throttle and power. Not an ideal start to this iconic race.

We managed to cross the start line without further ado and sail out through Sydney Heads and on towards Hobart. The winds had already picked up but once past The Heads we were able to hoist the spinnaker and head south. It was a rocky ride and most people suffered a bout of seasickness that lasted a couple of days. Later that first evening the wind switched from northeast to southeast and were yet again beating into a strengthening wind. The Southerly Buster hit with force resulting in about thirty boats having to retire from the race. Not an option for any of the Clipper fleet so we battled on. High winds, rough seas, excellent helming, many sail changes, forays onto the foredeck to drop and raise sails. A couple of days later it became calmer and as we crossed the Bass Strait for the second time we were starting to be sucked into a wind hole. We avoided it in the main and had some good racing with other boats always in our sights. It was an exciting race and we changed position many times before finishing. We eventually crossed the finish line not more than a few hours after the first boat came in.

The throttle was still not fixed so submarine like commands were relayed back down to the engine room - slow ahead, neutral, etc. Cloughy did a magnificent job in getting us safely docked in the marina before the cartons of beer started to be loaded onto the boat. Thank you!!

The waterfront here in Hobart has been a hive of activity since we arrived, culminating in a spectacular firework display in the harbour last night to celebrate New Year's Eve. There was partying on the boat until the early hours, a shopping trolley hoisted half way up the mast on one of the boats, and the theft of helium balloons from a local bar. Janice and I eventually got back to the house we are staying in at about 2am, slightly worse for wear.

We are staying in a house two doors up from her cousin in South Hobart: a real luxury as we are not having to stay on the boat. I spent most of New Year's Eve working on the boat repairing bits in preparation for the next race up to Airlie Beach, leaving Hobart early on the 2nd. Today I have had
the privilege of going to MONA (museum of old and modern art) with her family. The weather has cooled significantly and it looks like it could be quite a windy start tomorrow morning.

As usual time has run away with me and I am going to have to sign off. But .........
A very happy new year to everyone and I'll be in touch when in Airlie Beach in about 2 weeks time.

Kate xxxx

Sydney to Hobart

Just to let you all know that we have arrived safely in Hobart. A tough start to the race saw us doing well but we eventually came in ninth. All the Clipper boats were close together, finishing before night set in on the 30th, so in good time for the partying. Weather has been fantastic for the past couple of days but it was a rough start with a 'southerly buster' that saw 30+ boats retire from the race.

We have a very short stopover, leaving on the 2nd but I will try and post something else before I leave. I am staying with Janice's aunt while here and I am looking forward to getting off the boat for a  few nights.

Happy New Year to everyone and keep in touch.

Kate xx

Sydney stopover - episode 2 - time with the family

Sydney Opera House

Anne, Patrick and Christopher came down to the boat after the UNICEF day to have a look around and then remove me out of Sydney. We stopped of at The Rocks where after a wander around and a trip down The Suez Canal we had good view of the Opera House and bridge. A delicious Chinese meal later we headed back to Richmond to the northwest of Sydney where they live for a few days of R & R.

Saturday morning dawned and weather wise it was a warm and beautifully sunny morning. The heat
hadn't quite hit yet! Breakfast of fresh mango followed by Patrick's homemade scones and strawberry
jam set us all up for the day. I love that the Australian family are all still so very English even after nearly 45 years of living out here. When we meet up it doesn't seem like ages since we last saw each other and it is wonderful to meet the next generation and to witness them growing up into such delightful young adults. The importance of family is highlighted and I know that one of the 'side effects' of this trip is that I will try and keep in touch with everyone more. I would love to come out
and spend a decent amount of time travelling around and catching up with everyone - two weeks, although ages in 'Clipper' time is not nearly long enough. It is lovely to be away from 'The Clipper
Family' for a few days and to get some sense of normality away from the pressures of having to get the boat ready for the next race.

The day continued with a very English tea of cucumber and egg sandwiches, strawberries, cherries
and a Victoria sponge, made by Caroline, followed by a viscous game of croquet. The setting was perfect and under the shade of an Angophra tree. Congratulations to Molly and Patrick who shot
round the course sending the rest of us skuttling in all directions whenever we were unfortunately
close enough to be 'roqueted'. Caroline and I came in a veritable third after having great trouble in
hitting the finishing pole. What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.

Sunday dawned, another perfect day, and it was off to church for the early service before we went to a small cafe for a wonderful breakfast overlooking a stunning view. I am loving the closeness of the 'Australian' family and how they all seem to look out for each other. It would be great if I could live closer to mum and my siblings back in the UK - yet again it highlights the importance of family and how I need to make more of an effort when I get back.

Patrick, Anne, Caroline and I then headed up to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains where we visited
the Three Sisters, an eroded rock formation surrounded by spectacular views. Not too hot and enough time for Patrick to buy a Panama hat in a famous hatterie before we had to head back, Caroline and I to Berambing where I stayed with her for a couple of nights, and the others back to Richmond where Anne was taking part in a choral concert.

I then had the privilege of staying with Caroline for a couple of nights. John and Caroline have been building their beautiful house for an number of years now and although not yet completed the potential is enormous. Secluded, quiet and with beautiful views across the Blue Mountains. Caroline and I spent the next day talking, relaxing, preparing lunch for the  family, feeding the horse in the dark and generally catching up with each other. We last saw each year two and a half years ago when she visited Australia so lots to catch up on.

I needed to be back on the boat on the 22nd so it was a day out for the family and we all came down
to Sydney on the train so that they could visit the boat and see where their mad cousin/niece was spending the year travelling around the world.

I am now back on the boat but will be catching the train back to Richmond so that I can spend Christmas Eve and Day with the extended family. Boat preparation continues apace and I am hoping
that I can get away by about 2pm. Patrick and Anne will then bring me back to Sydney early on
Boxing Day so that I can settle on the boat in time for slipping lines just after 1000 hrs.

This will probably be my last post before the race starts as everything is going to get quite chaotic with Christmas and final preparations. So I would like to wish  everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I will be back in touch again when I get to Hobart. This will be a very short stopover so I can't promise I will b able to write much more than to let you all know that I have arrived safely.

Sydney stopover - episode 1

I am in the middle of a two week stopover in Sydney and have decided to try and keep this blog updated on a regular basis rather than wait until just before I leave.

The first few days after arrival were spent on CV30 carrying out various aspects of maintenance including mending and replacing various pieces of ropes (sheets, reeking pennants. and halyards), winch servicing and tidying up down below after everything got shaken about during the storms around Tasmania on our way here. There is also quite a lot of work involved with the Sydney Hobart race including radio checks, numbering sails, updating the medical box etc that is keeping us all pretty busy. I have been staying in an hotel about a five minute walk from the marina which has been really convenient, and with sharing a room not too expensive.

Last Friday a team of took out a number of staff from the Sydney UNICEF office plus their guests on a sail around Sydney Harbour, out through The Heads and back again. It was a perfect day for a 'Corporate' and gave me the opportunity to have a relaxed 'pootle' without the stress of racing. These days are often good fun as we get to meet lots of different people, some of whom have never been out on a yacht before. The variety of boats was stunning as we swept through the harbour on our 70 footer including some of the faster yachts in the race, including Ragamuffin, the older and the tiny, in comparison, Lasers.

After the day with UNICEF I left the boat to go and stay with my cousins up in the Blue Mountains - so more of that in Episode 2.

Albany

I have now got a system for transferring photos from my camera to the iPod and into my blog so I thought I would share some of the photos from the stopover in Albany.

We arrived too late from Cape Town for the crew party but this was compensated for by the arrival of my good friend, Linda, from university days and her husband, Martin. They had rented an apartment about a ten minute walk from the marina and were very generous in letting Janice, Neill (both RTWers) and myself stay with them. Linda arrived with her arm in plaster having broken her wrist a couple of days previously as she clambered over some rocks to take a closer look. That's geologists for you.

This accident is payback for when Linda suggested I put my feet on the axle of my bike 40 years ago as we cycled back to the caravan after a day's geological field work up in Shropshire. It was a good down hill ride along the A5 until my foot went into the spokes and I somersaulted over the handle bars, only to break my right wrist!

Martin was very helpful to Janice, our Chief Victualler, as he drove her around fetching and collecting shopping while Linda helped with the actual shopping. Thank to both of you for all your help.

When I managed a day off from working on the boat I spent the day with Linda and Martin. We went to the ANZAC centre where there is an inspirational display and memorial to those that travelled from Albany to Europe at the beginning of WW1. We then continued to the other side of the Bay to the old Whaling Station. Unfortunately we were too late to get into the museum but instead went for a lovely walk along the cliffs looking out towards the Southern Ocean and our route into Albany. M and L then stayed to wave us off as we left for Sydney a couple of days later - thank you.