Lower repair

Luckly I repaired the compromised lower prior to racing, considering at times we were sailing in over 35 knts!
Below are a few of the pics of the new lug (straight from the Hinckley factory) and the old one.
Sealing the lug after it comes thru the deck is easy with a heap of sikaflex, thus the rubber boots, which Hinckley want $145 each for, are just cosmetic.

Oh, and thanks James Dawson for the tip on just drilling out the encapulated bolts, I might just do that where the headsail sheet turning block is and forget the rest.

Hammo result

Well it didn't all go to plan, course 11 was announced at 8:30am, so I programmed that into the head and the plotter, 11 miles arround Pine Island, easy I say. A huge out going tide meant 30 mins sailing per 100 meters gained to windward, tacking ES is not easy and with the drop in speed we lost a huge amount to leward.
Finnally rounded, then set off after the competition, which I had assumed had already gone right round the island, a nice sail home with the tide then into the marina, we were the only boat in! that heavy feeling sinks in, and sure enough when I go and check the phone (courses are sms'ed) at 9:30am the race committe decided to change course to number 12, a 23 mile course around two more islands.
A few things her to mind, never rely on the SMS only, check the flags on the start, and dont let your hand held VHF run flat so you didn't hear the course announcement prior to the start.
Considering I was the only goose that sailed the wrong course, I had zero chance of any redress, yet changing the course ahead of the start is unheard of! So we received a RAF score which means retired after finishing, and we then had an extra 19 points to our total, yet with a drop we were still in 4th place by a point, and just 4 to the leaders, so still in with a chance.
Race 6 didnt happen due to zero wind, combined with rain, fog, and a 3 knt current, 150 boats flopping in Dent passage for an hour was the only highlight.
Thus with only 5 races sailed, there are no drops, and our position fell to 9th overall, a bit dissappointing after we were looking at a podium at a minimum, and the Audi at the max!

Positive note is that the boom is repaired after consultation with the rigger, I must admin that Richard Brasher and myself did a fine job, it will last a bit longer than just a tempoary one too.

photos on boom cracks, look closely and new boom brake

Race four at Hammo from the Skipper, so all technical and not for girls!

How quickly fortunes can change in sailing, after out glamour start, everything came to an end after the presenter (as the first mate mentioned previously), and who I will add is the handicapper, said "she goes faster than she looks", our rating blew from .69 to .75!! Thus a 13th was all we gould manage in race 3. Race 3 needs a bit more discussion, 30-35 knts (should have been in Krakatoa 2) the jibes were very much in the 'hail Mary' type, ie turn the wheel and duck big time, one gibe at teh start and another at White Rock turning mark, I susspect the loads were too much for the profurl boom furler, and we have now a series of boom cracks, more on that later. Working back to Hammo with 30 on the nose and 1/2 a headsail out, we notine that the sail has a tear resulting in us having a sail the size of an Manly Junior sail! We struggled home, yet knew that our time was poor, our course home was a winner though, sailing inside islands that noone else did.
Back to 4th on the series score.
Mizzen booom vang gas strut has gone, aperantly they dont make the part anymore! we are now good friends with the guys and sydney rigging, who are sailing on Loyal, Loki and balance, Loki had a new main go bang on Tuesday, 65K worth!

Pic below is the jib track lifting, mmm, not good as the bolts are encapulated. Anyone have any advice?

Race four  was blowing 30 knts, we had decided not to race, then the committee decided the same four the fleet, thus our series score was protected.
Today the forcast was only 20knts, Brasher, hunters and a new crew member, Lauren, after Cahill went back to the financial markets.
The new boom brake which I was upsold by Wichard showed its worth at the start and the white rock gybe. (see following pic), yet the boom has decided to self destruct, I syspect out gyubes in race 3 were the cause, anyway my new friends at Sydney rigging have told me how the fix, albiet temporally.
Our performance has us now in second place with just one point to 1st! the Audi is mine (I did hit the garage cone on the drive day though! 400hp and someone elses car, had to be fanged as hard as one could)

Am sure Kirsty will fill everyone in on the pool party, our new dock friends and other side facts re Hammo.
Bring on race 5!

Winners are grinners!

ES, first after Day 2.

Who would have thought!

Day 1, crew comprising of Richard Brasher, Chris Cahill, Mark and Ali went out for the Lindeman Island race and came 3rd on handicap in their division - no spinnakers. We had no idea there was a prize giving so missed getting our trophy.

Day 2, after the boys told me it was dead calm and it was going to be sun baking all the way, I came out. Masses of water on deck, blowing over 20 knots we had a great start. Boys having a nice sail. They even had beers at lunch it was so relaxed. Unheard of on the racing bots they usually sail on. Heading to the finish line, two jets flew in, loads of tacking and boats so close to us (now I remember why I hate race boats).

The boys were pretty confident they were going to do well but they were really surprised when they got first. As we were celebrating back at marina we watched the Roulettes fly in formation over Hammilton Is and then when we went to our Presentation Ali and I had photos taken with these young pilots. Mark and Ali both went up and got the trophy on the main stadium. The presenter made the comment "she obviously sails much faster than she look". How rude !!!!!

Very happy after day 2. Tomorrow they are saying a high wind warning so might stay behind and leave the boys to it. Here's hoping for another good result.

Some pics of the past week

Trying to fish !



Top of Whitsunday Peak



Ali sailing Flash.

Having fun in the Bosuns chair

OMG, the water is divine !

Evening Star is ready for Race Week.

Just looked at the date of my last post. So sorry Guys.
So a quick summary of the last 10 days....

Left Brampton (just loved it there), so peaceful and no boats. Had an overnight in front of Lindeman and then the next day arrived at Airlie beach. For me, it was so weird coming up to the populated part of the Whitsundays and seeing people and so many boats.It made me appreciate the cruising we had been doing for the last 3 weeks. When I first got on the boat in Southport that used to freak me out that there were no boats around in case we got into trouble!
Mark got two days of racing in at Race Week on a Melges 32 with Col McKeith and friends. They had a ball both on the water and off. Ali and I hung out in Airlie at the lagoon pool, a fake beach pool they have built for all the hundreds of backpackers to hang around and sleep off their hangovers. Of course, a Marina visit isn't complete without a visit to the Laundromat and Coles shop. Mark says I should be taking photos of all the Laundromats I visit.

Mark and I were so glad to leave Airlie and get back out on the water. Had planned to go to South Molle island and pick up a buoy so we could go ashore with Ali and use their facilities. We both realized he was getting a bit stir crazy hanging around "boring parents". South Molle was too rocky so went over to Cid Harbour, on Whitsunday Island. Beautiful beaches and bays and really calm. So nice, we stayed for three nights. Just relaxed, finished another book (soon going to be finished all the books I brought from Sydney), cooked some yummy food, Ali sailed the Bic, bush walked to the peak of Whitsunday Island and Skipper Bunt did lots of jobs on ES.
So now we are at Hammo and registered for Race Week. For someone that only entered Race week so we could get a berth at the Marina, I am starting to get quite ambitious that we can race ES and do well. I am a little disturbed that people all around us are taking their bunk cushions off, clothes and the heavy stuff so their boats are not bogged down. As Mark says, don't worry Kirsty, we will have all the momentum with our 17 tonnes of boat and all the grog and food Onboard. Looking forward to Brasher and Les arriving tomorrow.
Have booked in for a much needed visit to the hairdresser tomorrow. I went into the only hairdresser on the island and asked for the next appoint which was going to be Sunday. I have no idea what the date or day of the week it is !!! I then asked did she know when the Owners Cocktail party was and she said tomorrow. I showed her my disgusting hair under my cap and she said to come in at lunchtime tomorrow. She wouldn't let me go to the party with my "a month at sea" hair. How funny ! Now all I need to do is something with my feet and finger nails. Cruising in all this sun and wind is definitely no good for the skin !

Well, I think it might be gin and tonic time now. Finished blogging and it's very pleasant sitting here with another beautiful sunset. Not as peaceful as last night out on the water, but pretty exciting being here with the hub of all the other boats.

Await your comments and feedback guys ! Seeya, Kirsty xxxx

Evening Star is in the Whitsundays !

Yippee, we are finally sailing the Whitsundays as of today and what a perfect day it is.

Currently we are anchored in Dingy Bay at Brampton Island. Alastair has been out for a sail in his Bic dingy already. What a lucky boy! There are no other boats out here and he had two bays to himself. We could hear him talking away to himself as he is sailing around. Apparently he talks to his boat, "Flash".

A little of what we have been up to since last blog. Sorry for being so slack but we have had intermittent internet coverage. I nearly died for 24 hours when I couldn't check emails or face book. After two relaxing nights at Port Clinton we sailed to the Duke Islands and stayed at Marble Island. For those of you on my Face Book this is where the boat ran out of beer. Oops, I didn't provision very well there. We do have a lot of gin, Pimm's and Campari though ! So the Skipper had to settle for a very lovely G&T, complete with ice (scraped off the interior of the freezer). You have to adapt out here! Won't go on about the pretty sunset, needless to say ABS (ha ha)....

Next night was Cerlew Island part of the Guard Fish Cluster. Boy, I try to recall this island/beach but they are all blurring into one. I do remember it was a rolly night and we didn't sleep very well so was out of there first thing the next morning heading for Mackay. Pretty rough first couple of hours with crew feeling queasy, but then we picked up for a great sail into Mackay. Managed some schoolwork and a Scrabble game. I am so proud of Ali. Most kids would be tearing their hair out with boredom with the long sailing days, but Ali amuses
himself playing in his cabin or reading. He is onto his third book at the moment.

Must say I was pleased to arrive at the Marina in Mackay as we had been at sea for 5 days and I was itching for some action (sadly I didn't find it at the Laundromat or the Coles), but we did have the best fish and chips. Haven't had any fish since Alastairs tuna.

So here we are now at Brampton Island in the Whitsundays. I cannot believe I have sailed all this way from Southport. I am so much more comfortable with handling the boat and chart reading and the GPS. AND, I think I have worked out the oven having baked a choccy cake and a dessert.

From the skipper at port Clinton

The first mate has already posted a blog today, I thought I would add a few thoughts. I organized a oil and filter change in Gladstone, very hard to find labour in the town as all the new projects at Curtis island are sucking up all the labour, big rates are over 120 per hour, vs standard rates at 95 per hour. Just in case you were thinking of moving to Gladstone, don't as there is no accommodation, even the old people's home has been converted to workers accom! Eating out for dinner made even Sydney look cheap!

Here are some pics of the work on Curtis Island, these are more for the my investment mates still in jobs, and also for anyone that owns Origin and Santos shares so you can see what they are spending your cash on.

Engine service went well, and I will now be able to do them myself in Future, it was good to watch the mechanic bleed the main engine after changing the racors, he was stumped for a while, and I even had to call the previous owner for advice. apart from a leaking gen water pump all is good.

first mate mentioned the narrows crossing north of Gladstone, this is a very small waterway between Curtis island and the mainland, apperantley origin or Santos want to build a bridge across which would stop all small craft from using it, until we used It yesterday I would have not given it a second thought, now though after using the crossing it would be crime to close it. Sure it is one of the largest projects in Australia at present and gives gillard and swan something to crow over, I say build a bridge big enough so yachts can fit under that way everyone is happy.

the crossing was fantastic, first mate put a photo up where the cows wait to cross, and I'm still pulling the mangrove leaves out of the rigging.

I'm not confident in the main yet as the luff keeps pulling out of the track on the hoist, so we have been sailing with genoa and mizzen, which in 20 knts is a great rig anyway, giving nearly 8 knts of boat speed, I need to keep reminding myself that one of the main lowers is compromised until I pick up a new lug and replace the shroud again.
It is great to be out here especially now that I hear that we are about to enter GFC2, which is kinda of why I am here anyway, and no I'm not short!
Avagoodweekend, and keep working

Vegemite Saves The Day !

Finally we left Gladstone Marina after having to spend an extra night. Mark had the engine oil changed yesterday by a local mechanic who found we had a very slow leak on the water pump on the generator. The mechanic advised we get it fixed so we stayed the extra night, only to be to the next morning that they didn't have the parts to fix it (of course they wouldn't, ES is an American boat)!!!!

The Crossing.

Mark decided to push on and we will keep an eye on. Time was of the essence this morning as we wanted to be up near the start of The Narrows (the inland way getting to the top of Curtis Island) for high tide. I was down below on the chart plotter and Mark had the GPS, charts and every book on the area. At a place called the Crossing it is completely dry at low tide for cattle to cross. The books say, 4 wheel drives are lined up at low tide and boats lined up for high tide. Our depth sounder would not shut for about 20 mins as we motored through in about 1.8metres. It was a great feeling to get to the other end.

From the top of Curtis Island we sailed to Great Keppel Island. Thought we were going to have a few days of relaxation here as the beach looked amazing but the swell picked up at sunset and it became so topsy turvey. I actually started writing this blog last night but had to abandon as I was feeling pretty sick. Mark had to take over cooking dinner as I couldn't face the galley. Ali and I ate a small dinner not knowing if it was going to stay down !!!! I doubt whether we got more than 3 hours sleep it was so noisy with all thhe saucepans and plates rattling, not to mention the non-stop Disney ride we were taking part in.

Today we set off very early to get out of the mess. Brasher we sailed past Pumpkin Island in the 2 metre swell, but didn't stop as at that stage Ali was really sick and me not much better. It wasn't such a good day. I was insisting to Mark we head over to the Marina at Rosslyn Bay as just wanted to get on land and a good sleep. Mark insisted we keep heading north to a sheltered spot about 4 hours away. It was an awful day as Ali and I lay horizontal in the cockpit and Mark had a lonely sail up to Port Clinton. We found a nice spot to put down anchor and the first thing Ali and did was make toast and vegemite. Yummo, so good for eating after sea sickness.

We had a lovely afternoon on the beach, sun baking until Mark decides he should move the boat as he reckons it's too close to the sand bar. So off he goes and moves the boat, Take 1. When we got back to ES at 5pm the swell is starting to come in, so we move the boat Take 2, all so we can get a decent nights sleep.

Ali @ Port Clinton

So thats it for today. We are now sitting back in the Rockefeller Lounge, watching a DVD and drinking a nice bottle of wine. Probs will spend another day here at Port Clinton to avoid all that swell. Nighty night. K xx