On 23 Aug 10 I departed Port Stephens NSW and flew into Penang Malaysia. I picked up Rogue Wave, my Sigma 36, and sailed her to Langkawi for her re-rig and preparation for the long voyage home to the east coast of Australia.
Four and a half months and 4500 NM later, all of which was solo, I sailed her through the heads and into home waters. Check out the full details at Sailblogs. I will post photos and video in the near future.
http://www.sailblogs.com/ and search Rogue Wave for the full story!
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Sydney to Hobart
I am continually looking for crew that I consider have the attributes and determination to undertake the S2H 2011. I think I may have found one........now to coerce him into the fold!
In 2007 I was on course and fortunate enough to meet a group of young wannabe pilots. These young men were full of determination and focus......and all were young enough to be my daughters younger brothers! One of the young guns called Mark impressed with his mature attitude and common sense despite being the youngest on course. He has now progreesed through his training and about to embark on the most exciting part of his career to date.......transitioning to a F/A-18 Hornet.
Having a chat with Mark the other day I discovered he has been sailing most of his life.....and even better....competitively in dinghies. I broached the subject of the S2H 2011 and I think we may have a new crewmember! I will know for sure early in the new year when I return from Penang.
I plan to start racing regularly every Saturday rain hail or shine in Jul 11 at the Port Stephens Yacht Club. I will then post a list of races I want to do in the leadup to the 2012 Lord Howe qualifier. How we do in that race will determine if entry in the S2H 2012 is full steam ahead.
In 2007 I was on course and fortunate enough to meet a group of young wannabe pilots. These young men were full of determination and focus......and all were young enough to be my daughters younger brothers! One of the young guns called Mark impressed with his mature attitude and common sense despite being the youngest on course. He has now progreesed through his training and about to embark on the most exciting part of his career to date.......transitioning to a F/A-18 Hornet.
Having a chat with Mark the other day I discovered he has been sailing most of his life.....and even better....competitively in dinghies. I broached the subject of the S2H 2011 and I think we may have a new crewmember! I will know for sure early in the new year when I return from Penang.
I plan to start racing regularly every Saturday rain hail or shine in Jul 11 at the Port Stephens Yacht Club. I will then post a list of races I want to do in the leadup to the 2012 Lord Howe qualifier. How we do in that race will determine if entry in the S2H 2012 is full steam ahead.
June Malaysia Visit
Only 13 days until I fly into Penang to for some well deserved rest and get acquainted with Rogue Wave. My bags are packed full of gear to improve the old girls electronics.....think the excess baggage may be a little hefty!
Seventy three days to go until I depart for Penang to sail home.......but who's counting
Seventy three days to go until I depart for Penang to sail home.......but who's counting
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Oggin Cup
Today I received confirmation from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia (CYCA) of the requirements to compete for the Defence Force Oggin Cup that is contested during the Sydney to Hobart race: To be eligible to contest for the Oggin Cup the crew composition must have over 50 % of the crew being currently serving or reserves.
In 2009 no Australian or New Zealand Defence Force entry competed so the Oggin Cup has gone offshore to the UK RAF. I would like to lead the crew who will return the Cup to Australia.
Details of 2009 winner:
Oggin Cup - 1st Armed Services Yacht: Discoverer of Hornet, UK Ministry Of Defence
The Oggin Cup is awarded to the first yacht across the line sailed by an armed forces crew. Discoverer of Hornet is one of three yachts crewed by members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. Representing the Royal Air Force Discoverer of Hornet is skippered by a woman member of the RAF, Rebecca Walford.
David Thomas designed Discoverer of Hornet and the other two identical 20 metre LOA 1992 'Challenge' Yachts used by the UK Defence Force to race in the S2H and around the world this year. Interestingly the same David Thomas designed my Sigma 36.........Hornet and Thomas…………not sure.......maybe this a sign!
Preparations
I am in the midst of upgrading the standing rigging, fitting a Slipstream SS folding prop, replacing the rudder bearing, fitting an Offshore Flare Kit, upgrading my First Aid kit to CAT 1 and antifouling prior to my sail back from Penang in September. On my return I will then look at seeking sponsorship for a cruising laminate sail wardrobe and spinnakers.
In 2009 no Australian or New Zealand Defence Force entry competed so the Oggin Cup has gone offshore to the UK RAF. I would like to lead the crew who will return the Cup to Australia.
Details of 2009 winner:
Oggin Cup - 1st Armed Services Yacht: Discoverer of Hornet, UK Ministry Of Defence
The Oggin Cup is awarded to the first yacht across the line sailed by an armed forces crew. Discoverer of Hornet is one of three yachts crewed by members of Her Majesty’s Armed Forces. Representing the Royal Air Force Discoverer of Hornet is skippered by a woman member of the RAF, Rebecca Walford.
David Thomas designed Discoverer of Hornet and the other two identical 20 metre LOA 1992 'Challenge' Yachts used by the UK Defence Force to race in the S2H and around the world this year. Interestingly the same David Thomas designed my Sigma 36.........Hornet and Thomas…………not sure.......maybe this a sign!
Preparations
I am in the midst of upgrading the standing rigging, fitting a Slipstream SS folding prop, replacing the rudder bearing, fitting an Offshore Flare Kit, upgrading my First Aid kit to CAT 1 and antifouling prior to my sail back from Penang in September. On my return I will then look at seeking sponsorship for a cruising laminate sail wardrobe and spinnakers.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Sea Safety and Survival
I completed the Yachting Australia Sea Safety and Survival Course in Jan. Small course of six was good. One guy spent years building a wooden yacht and on his maiden cruise north parked her on a reef at night and had to Mayday everyone off just south of New Guinea......he was a bit vocal and had a few strange ideas. Got to let some flares off and fire off a liferaft which was good as Rogue Wave has one. Overall I must say I have retained most of my previous Air Sea Rescue knowledge when it comes to safety.
If time and funds permit I will try to fit in my combined RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory qualification.....although over 10 days it will be difficult to fit in with work given my Long Service Leave has been approved for Aug-Dec.
If time and funds permit I will try to fit in my combined RYA Coastal Skipper/Yachtmaster Theory qualification.....although over 10 days it will be difficult to fit in with work given my Long Service Leave has been approved for Aug-Dec.
Malaysian solo
Plans are progressing well for the solo sail back from Penang. Formulating how to get gear over cheaply and ahead of time is a challenge when balanced up with a crazy workload that pays the bills.
Rogue Wave is now officially an Australian Registered Ship so I can legally bring her home........ or take her around the world.....don't tempt me, I had a crap day at work!! Insurance was another challenge that has now been sorted through Fastnet Insurance UK. They specialise in solo racers and will cover me during the voyage and up to 250M off the Australian Coast at a very competitive rate. Excellent to deal with and very prompt service.
Standing rigging will most likely be manufactured in Brisbane and I will freight over to Penang - jury still out on this until I measure and get a quote from the rigger in Langkawi. He buys all his gear from Allyachtspars however Langkawi is duty/gst exempt so should work out cheaper, depending on freight again.
I have been entering my voyage plan into my new SeaPro 3000 Navigation software and I am reasonably impressed as I stumble my way through. Not top shelf software but up there, and a little clunky in some areas but pretty damn good overall. It takes ENC and Navionics charts so I have more backups than you can poke a stick at......In the cockpit I use an RC400 Raymarine Portable Chartplotter (12v + lith battery backup) with Aust East, Aust Wide and SE Asia Navionics Compact Flash Chart Cards and at the Nav Station a Lowrance Globalmap 5200 with Nauticpath SD Aust Wide Chart, 15" Laptop with Raymarine Route Planner and Seapro 3000 Performance Sailing weather routing software and a 10" Netbook with the same software. The bloody Netbook has an amazing 11 hour battery life and uses very little recharge power. The Seapro software has a Performance Sailing option installed whereby I can insert my yacht performance polar diagram and it computes best VMG and target speeds. I can even specify sail combo. For weather routing it will be very useful to avoid trouble spots. Reports from the software give distance, estimated time and fuel used plus a million other features that will occupy me at sea.
The rudder bearing will be replace this month and then in May I plan to head over and slip her, step the mast, Service the engine and impeller and prepare the hull for antifoul in August. Then I return in Aug it will be mast and new rigging in, new 2 Blade folding prop on, chartplotters wired in, HF Radio in, Autopilot fitted and antifoul on. Victual and head off for a few days test sailing.
Rogue Wave is now officially an Australian Registered Ship so I can legally bring her home........ or take her around the world.....don't tempt me, I had a crap day at work!! Insurance was another challenge that has now been sorted through Fastnet Insurance UK. They specialise in solo racers and will cover me during the voyage and up to 250M off the Australian Coast at a very competitive rate. Excellent to deal with and very prompt service.
Standing rigging will most likely be manufactured in Brisbane and I will freight over to Penang - jury still out on this until I measure and get a quote from the rigger in Langkawi. He buys all his gear from Allyachtspars however Langkawi is duty/gst exempt so should work out cheaper, depending on freight again.
I have been entering my voyage plan into my new SeaPro 3000 Navigation software and I am reasonably impressed as I stumble my way through. Not top shelf software but up there, and a little clunky in some areas but pretty damn good overall. It takes ENC and Navionics charts so I have more backups than you can poke a stick at......In the cockpit I use an RC400 Raymarine Portable Chartplotter (12v + lith battery backup) with Aust East, Aust Wide and SE Asia Navionics Compact Flash Chart Cards and at the Nav Station a Lowrance Globalmap 5200 with Nauticpath SD Aust Wide Chart, 15" Laptop with Raymarine Route Planner and Seapro 3000 Performance Sailing weather routing software and a 10" Netbook with the same software. The bloody Netbook has an amazing 11 hour battery life and uses very little recharge power. The Seapro software has a Performance Sailing option installed whereby I can insert my yacht performance polar diagram and it computes best VMG and target speeds. I can even specify sail combo. For weather routing it will be very useful to avoid trouble spots. Reports from the software give distance, estimated time and fuel used plus a million other features that will occupy me at sea.
The rudder bearing will be replace this month and then in May I plan to head over and slip her, step the mast, Service the engine and impeller and prepare the hull for antifoul in August. Then I return in Aug it will be mast and new rigging in, new 2 Blade folding prop on, chartplotters wired in, HF Radio in, Autopilot fitted and antifoul on. Victual and head off for a few days test sailing.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
...so how will 'Rogue Wave' perform?
The following daily sailing runs are from Marco Nannini's Blog (Blogstar) site updated during the 2009 OSTAR race. Should give you an idea of how we will travel if we sail as well as Marco! His average was 130.5M a day and only 2 days below 100M - not bad for a single hander in an old yacht. Should do Sydney to Hobart in about five (5) days in favourable winds and seas.
'Two True', a brand spanking new 2009 model Beneteau 40, was the Overall Tattersalls Cup S2H H/cap winner, was 41st across the line and winner of IRC Div 4!
To give you an idea of our performance potential, this years S2H race place getters that had hadicaps similiar to 'Rogue Wave' finished 7th, 14th, 19th and 25th out of 77 IRC yachts!
In IRC Div 4 where we would race the placings were 3rd (three hours behind 'Two True' on corrected time) 4th, 7th and 8th and finished between 5.6-5.9 days with an average speed between 5-6 knots!
Total Distance: 2860M
Distance to go: 250M
Day 1: 130M
Day 2: 123M
Day 3: 141M
Day 4: 166M
Day 5: 70M
Day 6: 150M
Day 7: 172M
Day 8: 162M
Day 9: 136M
Day 10: 110M
Day 11: 114M
Day 12: 126M*
Day 13: 115M
Day 14: 119M
Day 15: 89M
Day 16: 153M
Day 17: 139M
Day 18: 170M
Day 19: 125M
Day 20: 100M
Total: 2610M
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