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