Adventures in Oz Part 1

The owner and crew of Mistral CAN118 are competing in the Prince Philip Cup (Australian National Championship) which is being held in Sydney. We will be posting regular updates.

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I have chartered a 2000 Petticrows, with a new mast - the owner Richard Franklin broke it a year or so ago in  blow (something about dumping the mast foreward on a run while the mast ram was  still on and pushing the mast back).

The underdeck backstay wire rope is original however, and we broke one of them yesterday in 25 to 30 knots of breeze in the first practice race. We now have new Petticrows wire rope and fittings on both sides. The day before that the splice in the furler rope parted while we were just sailing around, also in 25 to 30 knots of breeze. I am touching wood as I write this, but I sure hope that we are through breaking things.

Today we had the first two races of the Prince Phillip Cup, and we placed 10th and a 13th out of 19 boats, respectable considering who is here - Olympics, America's Cup, Admirals Cup, Worlds and multiple PPC winners. The winds were in the range of 5 to 15 knots with very shifty conditions.

Richard is one of the top local Corinthian sailors and is in a solid 5th place overall at the moment.

The top 3 boats today are from Western Australia, South Australia and Tasmania (maybe not in that order).

Anne, you know Robert Campbell from Burnham on Crouch - he has finished second in this event several times, and sits in 6th place at the moment, but with a bullet in the last race.

Gordon Ingate, who is something like an Order of Australia (the fleet captain Nicholas Hogg respectfully refers to him as Lord Ingate) due to his sailing exploits, and is over 90 - he has won this event probably more than anyone else, including last year, but sits in 9th place overall due mostly to going back to pick up a crew overboard in the first race. He was 3rd in the second race.

The Ridgeways from Tasmania are here, and the elder statesman says that his boats have won more PPC's than any other manufacturer. We are tied with him and Nicholas in points.

The weather here is cold and wet, with day time temperatures in the mid-20's, and the odd shower. Sailing attire is shorts, long sleeve shirts with 50 SPF, free draining shoes, sunglasses and sailing gloves. And lots of sunscreen.

Keep warm, wish you were here (pronounced Hee ah in Australia),

Cheers,

Norman