Good Luck

Well Saturday looks very pleasant. 3kts of Easterly and 30 degrees. Ooops, sorry, just been looking at Bali. Which, alas, is where I will be.

Sorry fellow Jaffas, I have a family holiday next week so I will miss the race this weekend. By the looks of it at this stage, it may be a bit soft again. But at least better than last time.

I hope all goes well for you guys. Keep the boat fast!

Cheers

A day of extremes - Around the Sound Race

Sunday saw Jaffa take on the Around the Sound race and with winds forecasted to be at best light I didn’t arrive to the boat in great anticipation for what the day would hold. Jaffa made a good start in light airs and benefited from receiving what little pressure there was on the way down to the day buoy. From the there the race proceeded with the occasional and sporadic burst of pressure from under a rain cloud or the shore. It was therefore no surprise that the first of such spurts actually managed to blow around the boat allowing several others to move off while Jaffa was left lolling. Later on and toward mark on Garden Island’s northern end it was the Next Factor’s turn to suffer, as they struggled if only slightly more so than everyone else to reach the mark.

Heading east from Garden Island presented the opportunity of using the A3 to capitalise on a reaching run, allowing us to attain 5kts of boat speed in 6kts of breeze at 90 degrees true. Similarly poling out the A1 in slightly more breeze gave us the ability to catch up to the Next Factor. From then on however the wind returned to its old unpredictable self and with night approaching the intuitive prediction emerged that this was how conditions would likely remain.

Motoring back to the pen allowed us to try out the storm sails, practice some reefing and for Terry to again attempt contacting Jurien SR on the HF. All in all I think everyone enjoyed the day, however, because of the variable conditions since they often produced periods of excitement and action. That said, hopefully the action and excitement next time is a little more consistent.

Al.

change of plan

Le Chef de jour has made a truly french decision (that is, not giving a fuck about anyone else) and decided that there will be no catering tomorrow evening. This is due to the most recent advice that there will be no fucking wind and we may as well come in and have a beer!

getting closer

Yar Jaffa, the safety reg's can verge on tedious. But you cannot say that otherwise people think you are too cavalier with the serious subject that it is. I actually thought it was nigh on impossible to loosen the floorboards, let alone worry about them becoming dislodged.

Well it looks even worse for Saturday, now. The only thing that you can cling to for comfort, is that Seabreeze is nearly always wrong on Thursday.

As RC Catering, can I suggest that we self cater for lunch. I will knock up something warm for an evening meal. That way we can test the facilities.

Out for now

Safety.

I now know what safety is all about, it safely puts you out of circulation for a month. Last missive from the RPYC safety inspector is that the storm boards must be attached to the boat at all times. Does this mean having long pieces of rope running round the cabin for everyone to trip over?

Managed to find a location to store the boards where they won't get in the way but it is a bit agricultural. Over the top of the nav station.

Stilll waiting for a couple of things to come from UK but having the inspection tomorrow afternoon (Thursday) to get Jaffa to Cat 3 so we can at least do the first 2 races. Will need to do another inspection before Gero.

The big problem with all this is that you end up spending more time on this stuff and less on going fast.

We now have a bunch of shims for under the mast so we can confuse ourselves with how the mast is set up. Also some bags in the cockpit to keep everything neat. Lyle has a new main traveller rope which appears to have made the traveller run nice and smooth and a new winch handle which I hope is better attached to the boat than the last. Tightened the steering cables again after lock splicing them etc etc etc.

Did clean the connections on the HF aerial and we now have a clearer signal but will still get Cloughy to have a look if I can find him. Any ideas?

Thats all for the moment from the boat maintenance guy.

The importance of preparation

On Sunday Terry, Cooksey, Alistair and Stewart the new Gero recruit met on Jaffa to tinker, test and familiarise. Terry brought along a joblist, Cooksey a fully sik new video camera, Stewart, enthusiasm and Alistair his hangover. The plan had been to go for a sail, adjust the wind instruments, conduct a HF radio test with Jurien Sea Rescue and show Stewart around.

Unfortunately the lack of wind met that our doddle became somewhat of a flap and naturally without zephyrs, instruments are really just bits of plastic and wire. Terry was also lamenting the fact that after several apparently vain attempts to radio Jurien, a call on that heretical device the mobile phone found they could hear us but were busy eating sandwiches, or something. Still at least Stewart learnt how to push the prop down and then...Pull it back up again.

This weekend Jaffa ventures out for the around the Sound Race, be sure then to check back in on Monday for news, pictures and maybe even some fully sik footage.

Al.

saturday weather

looking a little light at this stage 5 knots SE/ESE but early in the week .

Sat'dy

Well it could change, but Saturday looks mild at the moment. Might be wet, tho'.

Jaffa preparation

All is looking good in preparation on and off Jaffa for the assault on the offshore season.The first training /racing session for the newly assembled crew and some not so new will be the around the sound race on the 19 th sept nice early start a 9.25 warning signal.The crew has taken on a number of roles and I am a bit worried when Con was put in charge of catering for offshore as I dont think he can cook an egg hope he is better at ordering.I am doing safety and have gone through this with Terry on the boat last weekend all is in order and progressing well to get to cat2 for Gero. Stew has managed to beat the rush for accommodation in Gero and got us into the freemasions Terry is already working on the secret handshake to get us in the door. Doug L (casper) must of kept his head down at job handout as he has managed to avoid any work but rockstars just turn up dont they doug.Lyle how are you going stealing the Charlotte bus they wont be using it due to the unfortunate encounter with a rock or was it a whale he he. Doug C two Dougs thats going to be interesting has the muster emergency sheets sorted and is getting his head round the cmaps

The boat has been rated and the new number looks good a couple of the crew are heading down to the boat this weekend sunday 13th to run a few HF instrument checks and some minor work
all are welcome

looking towards the 19th

Rude Racer