Saturday, 29 December 2012
Aussie Nationals - Final Day
What a frustrating event. With 37 starts and seven finishes the race officer was most apologetic at the Aussie Nats presentation event.
With plans to run 4 races today the race officer was only able to get one away in the morning before bringing the fleet in for lunch. Corby/Keen finished in 2nd moving up the fleet from an earlier 4th at the windward followed by White/Wootton in 12th and D'Arcy/Barr in 25th.
Launching in good time the fleet and the race officer waited for a stable breeze. After two attempts to get them underway racing was abandoned due to time constraints. Overall the event was won by the Ukrainian 9905 Tasmanian Devil Oleksandr Izarov and Andriv Kalinchuck with 11 points. GBR positions were Corby/Keen 9th, Yale/Chatterton 11th, White/Wootton 21st, D'Arcy/Barr 47th. The other British boats did not compete in the series.
The Aussie Nats presentation was a very polished event with a 14 strong team selected for the Worlds in Hobart and 7 invited to make up the team going to Belgium.
We now have a lay day followed by measurement and registration and a practice race on the 29th. We are all watching the river for the first Sydney Hobart boats to arrive.
Wednesday, 26 December 2012
Aussie Nationals Day Three
Waiting for wind in the morning again! Seems to be a consistent pattern here. The race officer keen to get 3 races in, launched around 10.30am getting the first race away at 12.30 after a general recall and a black flag. The Ukrainian team, Oleksandr Izarov
and Andriy Kalinchuk pulled into the lead on the first leg and held it all the way finishing two minutes ahead of the Aussie placed second. First GBR boat Yale/Chatterton in 6th, followed by White/Wootton in 17th and Corby/Keen in 23rd
The wind filled in the afternoon and the race officer got the second race off promptly. Once again the Ukrainian pair pulled into the lead on the first leg holding off second by 1.5 minutes at the finish. GBR first boat home was Barr/Barr in 10th who later retired followed by Yale/Chatterton 12th with Corby/Keen 26th
Launching from the beach
The third race was abandoned and reset due to a wind shift to the right. Again the Ukrainians pulled ahead on the first beat and again held a lead of over 2 minutes at the finish. First GBR boat home Corby/Keen in 4th, Yale/Chatteron 17th and White/Wootton 28th.
Overall positions at the end of day 3
Yale/Chatterton 9th, Corby/Keen 13th, White/Wootton 20th, D'Arcy/Barr 54th
Tuesday, 25 December 2012
Christmas Day
Getting together on the beach for Christmas Day for a barbie on the beach is great fun and brilliant for team spirit. Playing cricket in the sunshine on the beach on Christmas Day is a new experience for all.
There were willing volunteers for the BBQ and yes, we did throw a prawn or two on there!
The children got to know new friends from Australia & Holland...
And finally a shot of Santa's little helpers hard at work, guess who....?
And finally again we have learnt the Aussie Jingle bells tune...
Merry Christmas All
Day Two Christmas Eve!
Spending Christmas Eve on the water - a novel and a frustrating experience for both the race officer Nick Hutton and competitors.
Launching with a forecast for the wind to fill in from west 18 to 20 knots in the afternoon which didn't arrive until after 3pm. The race officer made 3 attempts before lunch the first was a general recall followed by two abandonments halfway up the first beat due to spinnakers being pulled to reach the first windward.
Lunch was followed by a postponement eventually race 4 started but racing was once again abandoned for the day when on the second beat the wind shifted 90 degrees and increased suddenly from a force 2 to a force 5. This was exceptionally frustrating for Corby/Keen in 3rd and White/Wootton in 8th.
With Christmas Day a layday we are all hoping for better conditions on Boxing Day!
Monday, 24 December 2012
Aussie Nationals - Day 1
With 77 entries the Aussie Cadet Nationals made headline news today with an interview from the GBR team representatives Alex Corby and Robert Keen.
Alex and Robert were joined this morning by Jack Wilson, Nick Sutton, Sam Yale with Harry Chatterton, Emma White with Ellie Wootton, Jess D'Arcy with Joe Barr, Molly Speirs with Livvy Bates, Izzy with Emily Speirs.
Overcast with light airs for the first race the team turned in a solid performance with Alex and Robert 5th, Emma and Ellie 12th, and Sam and Harry were 16th. The second race was a tough one with the wind swinging through 120 degrees throughout the course of the race causing some big place changes midway through and delivering a fourth for Sam and Harry. In the third race the sun came out and the fleet benefited from more stable conditions and saw Alex and Robert the first GBR boat in 11th place.
Overall positions at the end of day one:
Yale/Chatterton 7th
Corby/Keen 9th
White/Wootton 14th
Wilson/Sutton 32nd
Barr/Barr 40th
D'Arcy/Barr 45th
Speirs/Speirs 50th
Speirs/Bates 58th
Alex and Robert were joined this morning by Jack Wilson, Nick Sutton, Sam Yale with Harry Chatterton, Emma White with Ellie Wootton, Jess D'Arcy with Joe Barr, Molly Speirs with Livvy Bates, Izzy with Emily Speirs.
Overcast with light airs for the first race the team turned in a solid performance with Alex and Robert 5th, Emma and Ellie 12th, and Sam and Harry were 16th. The second race was a tough one with the wind swinging through 120 degrees throughout the course of the race causing some big place changes midway through and delivering a fourth for Sam and Harry. In the third race the sun came out and the fleet benefited from more stable conditions and saw Alex and Robert the first GBR boat in 11th place.
Overall positions at the end of day one:
Yale/Chatterton 7th
Corby/Keen 9th
White/Wootton 14th
Wilson/Sutton 32nd
Barr/Barr 40th
D'Arcy/Barr 45th
Speirs/Speirs 50th
Speirs/Bates 58th
Down Under in Hobart!
Team Briefing in the sunshine!!
Thursday, 13 December 2012
The first Aussie Arrivals!
As we sit here in freezing conditions at home we should spare a thought for the UKNCCA World team members making their way down under
Earlier this week we heard from Jack Wilson and Nick Sutton in Singapore - out for a gentle jog at 6.30 in the morning in 27 degrees of heat. Very impressive commitment boys!
Today we have heard from The Barr Family who have arrived safely in Sydney. The team are tired from the journey but happy to be basking in the Aussie sunshine and 20 + degrees. Clearly not feeling home sick yet then!!
Earlier this week we heard from Jack Wilson and Nick Sutton in Singapore - out for a gentle jog at 6.30 in the morning in 27 degrees of heat. Very impressive commitment boys!
Today we have heard from The Barr Family who have arrived safely in Sydney. The team are tired from the journey but happy to be basking in the Aussie sunshine and 20 + degrees. Clearly not feeling home sick yet then!!
Friday, 7 December 2012
The Container arrives in Hobart
Our container successfully passed through customs without the need for a full inspection and container delivered on Monday. This is great news.
Four reasons why
1. Excellent packing of container in the first place. Well done Matt, Phil and to all who packed their gear
2. Good information from all to say where etc. have sailed that allowed us to protest
3. Good contacts at Hobart on shippers
4. Liberal use of disinfectant throughout the container
We have heard the Dutch team are having a really bad
time trying to get clearance as they did not ship on a Carnet and at the moment the customs are insisting on a full unpack
for them…Nightmare!
A message from Jason at KWL Logistics, Felixstowe
"So our bit is now sorted for the import and it is now over
to you and the youngsters to Go
Get Gold for us.
Please wish everyone racing the best Luck we will all be
routing for them"
Our thanks must go to Jason and his team for all their hard work and good advice. We must also thank Paul Burnell (Cadet World Champion x 2) who was on standby to oversee the container unpacking by customs had it been necessary. Paul has also taken receipt of the container at Sandy Bay for us which is much appreciated and we look forward to meeting him on our arrival.
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