Day 7 – Pre-pre Race Preps

Well today was about getting ready to leave Wollwich Dockyard and get to the yacht club in time for the crew party. We succeeded! In the background Casey and Carla sorted out the pre-loading of food for incoming folks, Christmas turkeys and hams (not an easy find). And then Carla and Casey joing Joe and I for the delivery from Wollwich to the YC. I have sailed in a lot of places but to say Sydney Harbour is busy is a huge understatement. Ferries everywhere. Joe was driving, Casey and Carla on trim and I was full on pointing out ferry trajectories and races that we were about to sail through. We had Aussie 18s go by us like we were parked. So we gybed back and forth through the channels and past the Darling Harbour area (very cool) then the Sydney Bridge (so bummed  I can’t do it – you could see groups crawling along the tops, very neat). We could have used a few Jays to keep us safe but we managed to not get run over. We sailed out towards the heads and checked the rig and although Jason (very capable rigger) shortened the forestay successfully we think he may have gone too far. Will get sorted out next week with full crew and racing sails.

We then sailed very carefully into Rushcutters Bay where the YC is an managed to dock without incident. It is so cool to be amongst the big boys of this race and sailing history in general. After a brief cleanup we headed up the crew party. They had 4 stalls for food from different regions of the planet based on the away-participants. Carla and Casey bento-box Asian food collection while Joe had Paella then looked at my Aussie Beef Pie. I abandoned it (Joe was going to eat it anyways) and had English F & C. Some wine, lots of nice Aussie beers and great chats with several people who know us as the American boat . Super nice folks all. We got invited to sail on some Farr 40s, drive up the coats, be hosted at a Barbie, you name it. Eben met some related to Cyrus Eaton, a famous Nova Scotia of SALT Treat talks fame (I got to meet this giy in Chester back in 1976), Interesting and the weather today was gorgeous so it was fun to sit out and drink beer by the water. Heavy winds were forecast for 2100 this evening and I noticed the staff at the YC putting away the umbrellas before we left. Well our Uber home to Drumoyne was full on dodging branches, leaves, and anything else not tied down.

And here we are back at our nice AirBnB with a plan to swim after dark in the pool that now has surf waves. Just nuts, the whole condo building is vibrating. If we were in a boat offshore we would be hmmmmm. Focused perhaps!

And now various laundires are running with clothes, ruined Lindy shirt, stinky sneakers… you get the idea.

All else is good. There are various crew coming in over the next few days and snow events have been the great challenge in Canada with several delays, good luck all, hope the delays don’t dampen your spirits.

Fearless Leader checking for falling tourists before going under the Sydney Bridge

Cruise ships, ferries, private yachts, sea-planes… make Syndey a nuts place to sail. Throw in Christmas parties for a city that is all about boats and you see the problem…

Wouldn’t it be great to hear Dolly Parton sing here?