Select to expand quoteSandS said..da vecta said..
I suppose Rambler is saying "we're the Fakawi" to Comanche.
thats gold !!!! 
Well, Ken Read set a precedent at Sydney Heads announcing on national television, "Okay, now let's get the f..k out of here".
This truly has been a beautiful race 
There were 2 Chinese Teams. Ark323 a TP52 that had a collision just after the start and retired. Also Shuguang Haiyang, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42i who seem to be on a leisurely cruise to Hobart, a certainty to take out the cruising division.
Select to expand quotetheselkie said..SandS said..da vecta said..
I suppose Rambler is saying "we're the Fakawi" to Comanche.
thats gold !!!!
Well, Ken Read set a precedent at Sydney Heads announcing on national television, "Okay, now let's get the f..k out of here".
This truly has been a beautiful race
yes that was a bit of a moment for live telly and the channel 7 boat was the one that was being f..ked off from
it was in context though as they rolled the big asser out and started surfing down a wave @ 25 nts what else could he say ??
i guess ..................
ok gents toodle pip ???.. 
may have gone down better with some viewers 
MB, surely it's more complicated than simple bad seamanship. If the guys pulling out were poor seamen, why did some of them win the Transat? Are people who do the two-handed Melbourne to Osaka truly crap seamen? Is Billy Ratcliff, an old-style S&S 34 sailor with 40+ Hobarts and a good finish in the tough '84 race, really a poor seaman?
If it's all about being a bad seaman in a bad boat and pushing too hard, why are cruising boats and boats that are probably not out there with any hope of winning also pulling out?
Whatever is happening out there, playing the "they are bad seamen and I know better" card probably won't get anyone anywhere in working it out.
Select to expand quoteSandS said..theselkie said..SandS said..da vecta said..
I suppose Rambler is saying "we're the Fakawi" to Comanche.
thats gold !!!!
Well, Ken Read set a precedent at Sydney Heads announcing on national television, "Okay, now let's get the f..k out of here".
This truly has been a beautiful race
yes that was a bit of a moment for live telly and the channel 7 boat was the one that was being f..ked off from
it was in context though as they rolled the big asser out and started surfing down a wave @ 25 nts what else could he say ??
i guess ..................
ok gents toodle pip ???.. may have gone down better with some viewers
Funny thing was, I heard it and it didn't even register that he had sworn until the commentators started kind of giggling and trying to cover it up.
I guess it's just the kind of thing that gets said aboard in yacht racing. It's what you get used to hearing so it's no big deal.
Yeah, "ok gents toodle pip" may have gone down better with the viewers who don't sail, poor loves. I feel for them 
Speaking of big assers and such. Did anyone see Adventures of a Sailor Girl's Casualty List of retirees? "Cougar II - Retired - Ass damage". 
I accept what you say. Not all retirements reflect poor seamanship. Winning a race on the other hand does not reflect good seamanship. These boats should be able to finish a race if sailed well. A 1998 S2H notwithstanding, far too many yachts can't finish this race in pretty average conditions. That means something.
Select to expand quoteChris 249 said..
Surely it's more complicated than simple bad seamanship. If the guys pulling out were poor seamen, why did some of them win the Transat? Are people who do the two-handed Melbourne to Osaka truly crap seamen? Is Billy Ratcliff, an old-style S&S 34 sailor with 40+ Hobarts and a good finish in the tough '84 race, a poor seaman?
exactly. even when we [ old fart amateurs ] race around the sticks and the wind gets over 25 knts consistently and gets up to 30 plus . the chances of something breaking or a sheet getting caught increase enormously........its dangerous ! and sometimes sh..t happens , but usually when sh..t happens an asshole has caused that !!
Watched Ken Reid from another boat during a J24 regatta many moons ago
The guy has sailing ability out of reach of us mere mortals, and seems a real nice bloke !
He'll win !
i heard on the news that both comanche and r88 have lost their starboard daggers and rudders !!!!! it will be interesting when they have goabout to port tack !!!!!!
Can Ragamuffin pull back 35 nm and win it from here considering both Comanche & Ramblers damage?
Thoughts?
Go IMAGINATION. 2nd overall but still a way to go. Not bad for a 2003 odd Beneteau 47.7. Owned and sailed by the nicest family you could ever meet. Crewed with them quite a bit when in Sydney. Skippered this year by son Hamish. Wishing you success all the way guys!
My heart is with 2 boats. Wild Rose, currently IRC 4th division 1st place, and Kayle-Sailors with Disabilities on which is my good friend Kristi.
Select to expand quoteMorningBird said..
I accept what you say. Not all retirements reflect poor seamanship. Winning a race on the other hand does not reflect good seamanship. These boats should be able to finish a race if sailed well. A 1998 S2H notwithstanding, far too many yachts can't finish this race in pretty average conditions. That means something.
These boats are designed to the limit, with very little factors of safety. Hence small mistakes can cause damage. They gamble on not hitting any floating objects, (particularly dagger boards and rudders) , and IMHO that is a big gamble in a long race. Add the high speeds, and pity the huge slow fish or whale/dugong or whatever that gets in the way.
Select to expand quoteYara said..MorningBird said..
I accept what you say. Not all retirements reflect poor seamanship. Winning a race on the other hand does not reflect good seamanship. These boats should be able to finish a race if sailed well. A 1998 S2H notwithstanding, far too many yachts can't finish this race in pretty average conditions. That means something.
These boats are designed to the limit, with very little factors of safety. Hence small mistakes can cause damage. They gamble on not hitting any floating objects, (particularly dagger boards and rudders) , and IMHO that is a big gamble in a long race. Add the high speeds, and pity the huge slow fish or whale/dugong or whatever that gets in the way.
Just heard skipper of wild rose say this years race conditions worse he has been in.
30% of fleet now retired .
10:00 am, 28/12/2015, Ragamuffin 100, 60nm adrift of the leaders for line honours so I'd say that there's not much chance of it making ground on either Comanche or Rambler
Select to expand quoteBananabender said..
Yara said..
MorningBird said..
I accept what you say. Not all retirements reflect poor seamanship. Winning a race on the other hand does not reflect good seamanship. These boats should be able to finish a race if sailed well. A 1998 S2H notwithstanding, far too many yachts can't finish this race in pretty average conditions. That means something.
These boats are designed to the limit, with very little factors of safety. Hence small mistakes can cause damage. They gamble on not hitting any floating objects, (particularly dagger boards and rudders) , and IMHO that is a big gamble in a long race. Add the high speeds, and pity the huge slow fish or whale/dugong or whatever that gets in the way.
Just heard skipper of wild rose say this years race conditions worse he has been in.
30% of fleet now retired .
I retired from a race once because one of the crew got really badly seasick. Well past green. There would be humanitarian grounds too that maybe we dont know about.
At least they don't call the race off based on weather. My crew and I when racing practiced especially in rain or wind and often had an advantage in bad weather because we knew when to take it easy and how not to fall overboard and there would be garanteed DNFs or DNCs.
But now I notice if its deemed "too windy" by the committee of many clubs they cancel the race. The last club I raced at introduced that "due diligence" they called it idea which immediately eliminated any advantage we had. So we stopped practicing in bad weather. Not a good way to turn out experienced sailors who can deal with wind waves and not break the boat!
A good friend of mine is sailing his last Sydney to Hobart in his 40 footer 'King Billy' which is currently showing as the handicap leader.
Just in case Bass Strait ends up as a parking lot for the tail enders, I have saved him a screen shot of the race results website:
Well done to the crew on Comanche ! to come back and finish with a broken rudder and dagger board is truly a great effort, and to win is incredible
you gotta love it !!!
Select to expand quoteShaggybaxter said..
Nic (Sailor Girl) has just uploaded her first vid from Constitution Dock.
David George suggested three day event two races each day Harbor challenge
A Big Plus one for that if it got off the ground
Select to expand quoteandy59 said...
The Mighty little Sand S 34 Quickpoint Azzuro is looking good for the win
Yep Andy. 46 years since an S&S34 last won the S2H. For their size they are a winner of a yacht. I often have a quick look at the photo of Morning Cloud as I walk past in the corridor at the CYCA. It should be two photos shortly.
Select to expand quoteJethrow said..
Can't hurt the resale value of the Morning Bird either, eh MB.
Similar hull Jethrow but quite different yachts. She is a MkII with the spade rudder and slightly different keel profile. Better for racing but arguably not as robust for cruising. I think the around the world S&S34 race being planned for 2019 might attract some sailors to MB.
Azzurro has 70nm to go and about 12.5 hours to do it. I make it 5.6kts. Provided the wind stays above 8 kts somewhere forard of the beam they can do that easily. If it goes astern they might need a tad more wind although they have a Code 0 to help.
I think this may be the first race since about 1962 or earlier that hasn't had a single 30/31 footer in it, so it's great to see a small boat win. Well, actually it's always good to see a small boat win IMHO, but this time it's particularly important for the future of Australian ocean racing as far as I can judge.
Select to expand quoteSandS said..
come on Azzurro !!!!!! hope the wind stays in for her !
Just messaging Alan Fenwick, possibly the most experienced S&S34 racer in Oz having done numerous Hobarts on his Morning Tide and won all Cat 1 races on the east coast except this one.
He is pessimistic, the wind is dying in the Derwent. Speed over ground is between 1.9 and 6.2, currently 3.9. 37nm to go. Has to finish before 0443 tomorrow.
