Big Andy

We had a good start with a steady Easterly breeze so a 12 nm beat across lake Wellington saw us into McLennan Straights at about 22.20 in 2nd place behind the Thompson 8, the wind had dropped out now and a J 24 sailed straight past us while we drifted with the current, bouncing of the banks on both sides at 0.4 Knts. About half way through we found having the jib back winded and the main right out was the best setting and our speed begun to climb to a blistering 1.7 Knts and we left the J 24 in our wake a mile or so before Hollands Landing. About 03.00 we got the kite up as we sailed into Lake Victoria and the 0-2Knt winds clocked right around the dial. As the dawn broke we got a steady breeze until the sun rose then the wind died again. Now we could see a couple of monos then Spud Gun then heaps of monos behind them. We battled on praying for a shortened race, our hopes built when a committee boat came out around us and then anchored near Point Turner. The Magic 25 had got past us but didnt get a blast as they passed so back to dispair. Then another committee boat arrived and a mad flurry for flags, as we passed Point Turner at 10.56 a hooter and it was over. 15 hours to do 30 odd nm on a warm March night!!! Thanks to a great crew of Geoff, Lisa and Lisa we made the most of a long night. Big Andy on Spud Gun did come 2nd this time. not bad at all.

Good to hear someone else found that sail trim in the straight made no sense. We let all the sheets out and the main did its own thing. every time we tried to trim the sails we stopped.
If we can get a second with a bigger fleet than 2 we will be happy. We diid here that this is only the second time ever that they have shortend the course anywhere other than paynesville.

Well that was a long night.
We had a max of 3knts of wind and an average boat speed for the race of 2.2 knts.
Frassld was 20m in front of spud gun off the start line and 30min in front at the start of the straights. The T8 was 800m meters in front of frassld.
Spudgun went into the straight an stopped for 3hrs going no where. once we got moving again we flew through the straights at 1.5knts. 5 hours after we came into the straight we came out. Comming out of the straights we started beating up the lake in less the 2knts and some how got into a battle witha magic 26 and a J24 (yes a j24?????).

As the sun came up we could see frassld parked up the lake. The magic managed to get close to frassled and spuddy and the j24 drifed around for a while. We crossed the line 26min after frassled and headed in to find out the T8 had finished 4hrs before us and had heaps of down wind sailing during the night.

At last count 37 boats out of 120 finished the course with in the time limit.

One race it will blow a steady 15-20, it has to

Here's a video of the finish last year Andy, I hope you have a bit more breeze this year. This is Mad Max finishing for the second time having
already passed through the finish line at Paynesville for the first time 5 hours earlier and then sailing around Raymond Island in very light conditions,
most of these boats withdrew and didn't attempt Raymond Island.

You can see spudgun already tided up at the dock.
How does that boat sail when the tel tails on the shrouds arnt flying? If you look at all the boats you passed, thety are anchored to stop them going backwards in the current

Unfortunately Mad Max is not a starter this year so this is your year Andy, no excuses! regards, Tony

I will do my best Tony. I am stuggling to find crew and only have 2 of us on board at the moment. Still searching for 1 or 2 more.

Those pesky T8's will be hard to beat in the light

bummer....had i known my hand would have been up.

There is still time to get here race dosn't start till saturday night

Unfortunately Mad Max is not a starter this year so this is your year Andy, no excuses! regards, Tony

I will do my best Tony. I am stuggling to find crew and only have 2 of us on board at the moment. Still searching for 1 or 2 more.

Those pesky T8's will be hard to beat in the light

Spudgun will be there, hopefully sailing better than the last few years.

The forecast look great......... 2knts gusting to 3knts.

At least the current will flow through the narrows. Last year that was 3-5knts. Quickest we went all night.
Have a great time Andy and remember your thermals.

I will pack a sleeping bag this time. It gets mighty cold sleeping on the tramp