Sydney Hobart

Wild Oats XI won the Sydney Hobart in record breaking time.  Here's a look at what's under the waterline (must be teflon)

2013

I never really celebrate the passing of one year to the next. I always post my fireworks mind you.

This year there are 2 projects underway:

1. Make cockpit cushions - because my tuchus (תּחת ) can't take long hours on watch on hard seats. 
2. Make a cruising Spinnaker from a Sailrite kit. 

Well Done Sailrite!!!

I really get frustrated trying to find information on material and equipment we need for the boat.  case in point, we have a Sailrite sewing machine so we thought we'd make cockpit cushions.  The foam was easy enough.  A place not far from the marina called The Foam Shop has the material and recommended Evazote closed cell foam for the cushions.  It's the most expensive part of the exercise, but it was straight forward.

Next came the material.  Island Packet uses Phifertex material in the original equipment upholstery for the cockpit seat back rest.  Now you have trouble, you check out all sorts of Canadian suppliers and their web sites have no information or limited information.  One - JT's Top Shop - has a reasonably decent on-line shopping web site, but everything (in typical Canadian fashion) is considerably more expensive and the choice more limited.  Great free trade deal with the US and others.

So my suggestion - screw-em.  The BEST guys out there are Sailrite.  The on-line service is amazing, the web site answers questions, they have how-to videos and ordering material could not be simpler.  Once ordered, your confirmation e-mail has all the necessary links to keep track of where your order is - and they are FAST.  So they got my business and to hell with trying to find anything around here. 

Yesterday, I realized that Sailrite will build a sail kit for just about any sail for any boat.  they have an extensive database of boats.  Find yours there and you can see different sail types with a "Price This Sail" link on top of each.  When you click, you get an immediate quote with options.  I am looking to build an asymmetric spinnaker.  The price is easily 1/2 of what buying one would cost.  A little interesting sweat equity using our Sailrite Sewing machine and we'll have one. 

Common Languages

Mathematics and music seem to me to be universal languages.  Music in particular can capture the essence of the soul in a way no other expression can - including architecture and  literature.  Here is a beautiful version of the Mozart Flute Concerto No. 1 played by the Hayden Ensemble of Berlin with Emmanuel Pahud as flute soloist.  Listen to the cadenzas - brilliant.

Something All Architects Should Know

...but don't. 

Sydney-Hobart

Wild Oats XI is practically there, but here are the start highlights:

Wild Oats XI leads

Start Highlights

Sydney-Hobart

So just at the start the winds are 30 knots.  in this clip - at the 3:15 or so mark, you will see the narrow opening that leads from the immense many fingered Sydney Harbour into the open Pacific.

Sydney-Hobart - The Start and Controversy

So here is some shaky views of the race start in Sydney Harbour yesterday (today for us here in NA).

and from the water

plus some words from the skipper of the boat "Wild Card" which was not allowed to participate:

Sydney to Hobart

less than an hour to the start...

Sydney to Hobart

On "Boxing Day" - for all the non-Commonwealth types out there - a crazy group of sailors will once again set out from Sydney Harbour and race toward Hobart in Tasmania. In 1998, five boats sank and a total of 6 lives were lost when the fleet was hit with hurricane force winds from a storm that crossed their path to Hobart.

 

 

Snow

I arrived back from a rip to Winnipeg to be greeted by another storm - this time with snow.  BC Ferries has cancelled all sailings for the morning. 

Infrared satellite image

The Huron Carol

One of the most beautiful Christmas Carols ever written:

Spooky

I tried describing the airplane I used to fly years ago to a friend, so I looked up the make of airplane on the internet - a Mooney M20F and found a picture of the actual airplane I flew: C-FUZZ and the pilot looks suspiciously like me - very spooky

 

 Mooney M20F C-FUZZ (yes, people made fun of it).  

Very fast, beautiful aircraft to fly