RANSA Twilight Race
Position: Moored Rushcutters Bay, Port
Jackson An estimate came back from Noakes for repairs to the masthead earlier this week but the figure was much higher than I was expecting. Consequently I have decided to not go ahead with the repairs for the time being. The problem is with the masthead crane which supports the synthetic outer forestay, not the main 1x19 stainless steel wire forestay which supports the headsail, furling gear and structurally keeps the mast upright, so I am not concerned about the integrity of the rig. Instead we will make do with the jury repair I have already made and have a longer-term repair done when we get somewhere where rigging work is a little more affordable, likely Tasmania or Adelaide, after the Sydney to Hobart. The only other thing of note to report during the week is that Sylph competed in RANSA's twilight race last Friday. I had a new crew, Ian, Kate and Valenti, because my Sydney to Hobart crew has sailed off to Tasmania in his own boat. So we got away from the dock an hour before race start for a bit of training which paid off. Despite the light winds, which are definitely not suited to Sylph's heavy displacement, we got a place on the podium with a third and a bottle of RANSA red. Needless to say, with a crew of four, it did not take long to finish. And I have at last shaken the last of the lingering cough. All is well. |