Feature Story

Continued from last month…. (thank you Wazza)

Well, the old “Wreck in a paddock” has finally made it to Sydney.

On arrival yesterday the Green boat sailed in under the rarely used black and green spinnaker right amongst the multihull fleet that were racing in a stiff 20-knot northeaster. The wind picked up fast, and I was massively overpowered and had to get the kite down FAST!

Gaining control, I watched as the very fast “Quickstep” came screaming by (another Cairns built boat ) followed by the great looking tri, “Lukim Yu”. These boats were smoking along looking like huge balls of spray making the very expensive, and big, local racing mono’s look like slow semi-trailers.

 Catching up with Nolwenn who has crewed on “Barefoot” in Airlie, Cairns and Port Douglas was great, and it will be sad to see her leave the country for France… We’ll miss the arrogant frog!

Awesome Sailing moment….

Comanche sliding past Barefoot

We were motoring along Sydney’s Beautiful Harbour on the Double Gherkin when the fastest sailing monohull in the world comes by blotting out the skyline with its towering mast and sails while practising starting manoeuvres for the Sydney to Hobart race in a couple of days. This is an amazing boat and to see it powered up sailing this close was pretty cool.
The sound of the sheets being wound on was heard over 1000 meters away. Can’t wait for the start on Boxing day.

Next on the calendar will be going for a sail on “Panther” the ex “Cynophobe” from Airlie beach. The new owner wants to get her moving a bit quicker, so I’m going to share the things that I’ve learnt along the way.  Hopefully, we can squeeze some speed out of her. This will be followed by the boxing day spectator fleet for the Sydney to Hobart race then the fireworks for Sydney Harbour New Years Eve!!
The Sydney to Hobart yacht race, The second most significant day on the Harbour and the Green boat was part of the spectator fleet. 

Knowing how wild it gets at the start line we decided to go outside the heads to avoid the traffic, and it was awesome to have the big guys coming straight at you with overwhelmingly tall sail area and boat speed. Blackjack was first out of the heads and Barefoot sailed alongside for a few miles keeping a respectable distance when Wild Oats 11 came up behind, and I had to tack away to stay clear of the old girl.

The scene is pretty intense with the big powerful 100 footers and the out of control spectator fleet, big planing powerboats that push out large wakes and confused seas tossing you about. It sure was a spectacle that would be hard to beat.Was under Mainsail only and about to pull out the screecher like those guys had, but it was insanely rough, so I didn’t unfurl it. I’m sure I would have passed them with it. 

I wish I had the opportunity to take more pictures but hands were full.

Several friends had rung telling me that they had seen the Green cat on the TV coverage which was exciting as Cats aren’t actually invited to the party in this neck of the woods. Barefoot has not broken anything on this trip, and it will be good to do the same thing on the way home!Now for the big day on Sydney harbour….. New Years Eve fireworks!

Thanks to Kerry D for the photo

Its a fantastic party and it doesn’t get any better than being on a boat.

9th Jan 2018.

Sitting at Yamba on the northern NSW coast waiting for the next weather window to head north, Barefoot has racked up some miles, adventures, exciting mishaps and of course being in the best spot in Sydney Harbour for the NYE fireworks.
Freinds came down from Cairns and Melbourne, and we escaped the dramas of boats anchoring too close that is always a problem in the Harbour at NYE. It was happening all around us though with people losing control of their big expensive boats and crashing into the bows of other boats while others dragged anchors and picked up other boats’ anchors as they got blown with the wind. It was entertaining and sad at the same time.

Sydney harbour is such a beautiful place, but an unseen force was influencing the decision to head north so up came the shiny stainless steel anchor and Barefoot sailed out the harbour in light east winds heading towards home with no plan or timetable.
As we sailed past Pittwater, we saw the big Monos that were doing the Pittwater to Paradise race.
The wind had gone light northeast, and we were close hauled. The green boat jumped on the tail end of the race fleet and started catching the boats out in front, Wishing that all that cruising gear onboard wasn’t there so we could go a bit faster and was hoping a bit more wind would come in so she could lift her skirt. We got our wish off Swansea when the breeze freshened, and the windward hull started to fly (always exciting no matter how many times I do it) the boats in the race fleet disappeared in the distance and Barefoot was topping 14’s to windward! Oh yeah!
The excitement was shortlived though as a massive thunderstorm was rolling in and that suggested we bravely run away to the shelter of Newcastle while the race fleet stayed out at sea and I hope they didn’t get battered by the front too much??
Next adventure was breaking a rudder at 20 knots fully powered up, but I’ll save that for the next story.

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