Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race www.clipper-ventures.com - Übersicht 02.01.2006 Farewell Freo Jersey Monday, 2nd January 2006 Well after an enjoyable but frustrating stay in Fremantle due to delays in getting the yacht hauled out and repairs carried out, the start day dawned yesterday. All crew were onboard by 8am prepping the boat and finishing the mast repair. (We have been unable to hoist full index for a few weeks due to damage to our mast track) Customs arrived at 08:30 and efficiently identified everyone to their passports, unfortunately Monkey was still up the mast and as the customs officer succinctly put it "unless his passport picture is of his bottom (not the word she used) he would have to come down". We had an unwelcome suprise at 07:00 when I went to start the generator to charge the batteries only to find it had blown its head gasket and there was not enough time to repair it. Customs would not allow us to remove it to have it repaired and shipped to Singapore so we have no gen set until at least singapore Start vor dem Strand Parade der Clipperflotte in Freo On leaving the harbour having been rafted out 4 deep in the shallows I new it was very tight, Cardiff had returned to the dock with engine problems and we were instructed to cast off Cardiff also recast off leaving us nowhere to go and we hit the bottom with a bang. I felt nothing through the wheel and do not believe that our rudder touched. Unluckily Cardiff also hit the bottom damaging their rudder and have returned to Fremantle. After exiting the harbour we hoisted indexsail and paraded into and around the harbour following the training ship, Leewin. Now to the fun, to give the crowds something to look at the race committee had scheduled us a down wind start back into the harbour around various bouys and a beat out. Big decisions spinnakers - no!!! But what headsail? The start was at 13:00 and the winds light but we knew by 14:00 the Dr would be blowing and we could expect 30 knots on the nose. We were left with no option and went for the Yankee 1 hoping we could get clear of the initial race marks and bear away before we were too over pressed. Well Jersey had a cracking start for 400 yards, we were first across the line, pin end, but then were slow to drop the staysail and harden up which allowed westernaustralia.com and Qingdao to sail through us. We all had some ducking and diving to avoid hitting each other as we beat our way out of the harbour emerging at Buoy A the bare away mark in 5th place. Liverpool just inside us hit the mark with their SSB aerial and had to do a 360. Now to some more controversy, to pole out the number 1 or to go for a kite. My understanding of the class rules are that we are no longer permitted to pole out the Yankee 1. I had confirmed this with the race secretary the night before as it is a new amendment due to damage to mast tracks on the last leg. To my surprise New York poled out their Y1 I therefore radioed the race committee and once again had it confirmed that we were not able to pole out Y1. Joff New York’s skipper immediately came back saying no amendment had been received in writing and was therefore not valid and I have total understanding off his position which is why we have not protested them. We await to hear from the race committee. We then had a 8 mile spinny run up the beach in front of the crowds before we had to turn back down wind for a stiff beat to the fairway buoy. We therefore changed our Yankee 1 to a Yankee 2 and prep a reef. We started the drop 1.2 miles from the mark and were able to harden up and reef closing out Glasgow and Durban who were either slow to drop kites or reef. We had a great beat to the fairway buoy pulling up in to 3rd place. We initially poled out but then changed to the heavy weight kite for a broach filled night. It had always been my plan to go inside the Houtman and Abrolous islands off Geraldton to stay out of the current and pick up a sea breeze. However when the moment to gybe came it was dark and seas were very confused plus we had not experienced negative currrent so we stayed out. A bad mistake! How many times will it take before I learn to go with my instinct? Hopefully this mistake will not cost us too dear although Durban and westernaustralia.com both gybed inside. All is well onboard, a baptism of fire for Chris, Heloiese and Kelly who are all doing exceptionally well. It’s now 21 hours after the start and I am going to my bunk for the first time leaving Postie in charge as we sail at about 11 knots under full index, staysail and poled out Yankee 2. Mark Taylor Copyright © 1996-2016 - SEGEL.DE