Historic Victory

Brother of Westernsail Grant Rollerson took SLAM to first place in heat three of the Aussie 18-foot skiff nationals yesterday. According to this article it’s the first time a West Aussie boat has won one. Apparently it brought to mind memories of Scott Glaskin’s infamous 16′ skiff success and subsequent speech.

Sharpie Nationals

By Craig Mann:

It is 4am and we have just finished another arduous debrief.
Once again the Blur sailed impeccably in another day of 380 wind shifts to take out the title.
Vita Brevis had a podium finish after a series of promising starts and ordinary finishes.
Impact again well down in 13th place. Proving they have not an ounce of talent.
I should hit the hay so I can sleep in and miss my morning flight!!!!!
14 days of drinking is tuff on the system.
I get home and it is up to Lano for the Slalom and party.
What a mess

Sharpie Nationals

By Craig Mann:

Well it is on tomorrow.

Jack had another win taking it right up to Mal Higgins.

Dave Higgins is still an otside chance if the boys sail themselves off the track.

Impact had a good race but was OCS so shit score again.

Vita was 13 ish so need a good one tomorrow to be in the top 10.

that’s it for me

Sharpie Nationals: Layday two

By Craig Mann:

It is all SA in the top three with Bread Run taking the lead by one point with two races to go.
Blur is second and looks he most consistent so far. Blur’s big advantage is they are dropping a 5th while Bread Run has a 10th.
All Scoobed Out is the third boat with a big chance. Just three point from Bread Run and two wins to date she is right on the money.
The Tassie lads struggled a bit with the big Camel yesterday and will be looking for a win in heat 6 for them to have any chance.
Jess from QLD is 10 points away however warrants a mention as they won the first heat.

Today is a well earned lay day. Well possibly not well earned but well needed.
And like the previous rest day an absolute cracker weather wise.
It has been suggested we try and trick Hughie next time around in Tassie and sail our races on the lay days.

Sharpie Nationals

By Craig Mann:

Yesterday my boat was peeled open like a sardine can today we went around in circles for hours and other than those that retired we were last both races.

Vita Brevis is still hanging around 10th spot and is at least showing some ability.

Chug a Lug saw a bunch of reruns due to rule infractions. Tassie ended up wih the title.

I’m off to bed as I’m stuffed and full of piss again.

Sharpie Nationals: Heat Four

By Craig Mann:

We saw the Big Bear come over the mountain a few times today.

Our racing was postponed for an hour while the King of the Derwnent got under way.
As the breeze increased in strength and boats were getting flattened out on the water, we waited to be sent out.
Then the first of several half hour squalls clocked at 57 knots came through.

Unfortunately I had just had a shit and Dave was 10 feet from the boat, which was sheltered behind the yacht club.
Next minute Impact, the old girl, was in the air and making a mess of everything she could. End result a few holes and the back tank had been ripped off. 10 minutes later the postponement flag was down and the old girl was not in any shape to get on the water.

Anyway we riveted to deck on taped the holes and got ready to hit the water. That’s when the bear came over the mountain
again. Thankfully only Bread Run was on the water and we huddled behind the sand dunes watching spinakers get shredded and boats layed flat.

After an hour or so of the bear coming and going, racing was abandoned and the task of putting Impact back together was on.

Several hours later and many beers she has a few scars but is better than she was this morning and ready to fire up.

Off to the Taste of Tassie now and wash some of the epoxy out of my system.

Sharpie Nationals: morning update

By Craig Mann:

Hobart weather has arrived.

Cool overcast and Westerly winds 20 to 30 knots from the west are forecast.

One would suggest we will have a bit on this afternoon.

King of the Derwent is on as well so the water will be nice and busy.

No hiding in the flatter water we will be on the far shore heading back at Mt Wellington.

Sharpie Nationals: Lay day update

By Craig Mann:

Bruce,

It is another great day in sunny Hobart.

A few sore heads and tortured bodies will be enjoying a well earned rest day.

SE breeze at 20 knots on the Derwent looks a treat.

With a bit of luck we will have some more good weather over the next week.

The regatta is still wide open although the consistency of Blur and One Hump or Two seem the likely candidates to be at the pointy end come race 7. Jess from Qld has shown great speed and could be a dark horse.

Vita Brevis has shown potential to be around the top 5 while Impact has been all over the shop and here results are indicative of three talentless fools that put in a two race preparation.

The trip has not been a complete was for Impact as we have discovered that Cascade Draft washes the taste of the Derwent away very well.

Tony Aisbet managed to keep his boat together yesterday and finished the race. Good job in a 25 knot plus Northerly and 10 plus swims.

I am off to an AA meeting this afternoon. Then the 20/20 for a few beers!!!

Craig Mann

i14s

Looks like Big Rollo is updating his blog again. This time in reference to the i14 worlds in Sydney.

http://swelltime.blogspot.com/

And looks like Team Vita Brevis’ blog has also been updated.

Sharpie Nationals: Heat Three

By Craig Mann:

It’s 4 am and we have just finished another intense debriefing.

The answer is still the same one must uncleat the jib and not fall out of the boat to successfully complete a tack.

Especially in 25 to 30 knots.

Anyway after several minutes in the pond the old girl Impact resumed the race in last place. It was a long day however

by the end we had slipped by a few stragglers and found our way into 13th place.

Vita Brevis took a different approach, being amoungst the lead group early before several small gear failures slowed them down.

In the end;

1 Bread Run J Heritage by a mile.

2 One Hump or Two R Buchanan

3 Blur M Higgins

4 All Scoobed Out D Higgins

5 Jess A Wells

New Years was a ripper at Sandy Bay.

Great out door party with lots of ice cool beer.

Thankfully tomorrow is a lay day. The body is a little sore.

Craig