Final Training Day & Christmas Eve & Hospital Visit Day

Today was all about a final plan to sail through the start area and out through the Heads plus final safety issues addressed, the briefings and meetings for Fearless Leader and Jay as Captain and Navigator respectively. But the ultimate key plan was to go out and practice not pasting the only reef in the middle of the harbour, not run through the spectator fleet (3,500+ boats) and try and not be over early as they do not inform you that you started prematurely until 5 minutes AFTER the start. Yikes! As the only North American boat there is a little pressure not to pull an epic fail for the adoring Joe worshipers.

But the sail did not happen as we had a rash of illnesses running through the crew and support crew. Alex was out yesterday. Today Casey. Libby continues to be under the weather while Donna has been fighting her own bugs. Johnny was out a few days back but is now feeling better. Pete, who hacked his way through the previous week with a lingering flu was down and out again today and off to hospital under Celebrity Doctor Mele’s direction as Joe’s worry was we would be sailing with two crew, half a navigator, Donald as the new and improved Captain and the rest being whatever Uber drivers we could con onboard. Joe is a BIG hit with the Uber folks given his near-constant press coverage. And last but not least, Kent is now fully repaired after having been attacked by a dock-cart yesterday.

Thankfully Pete’s latest bug is sinusitis and treatable… The boat is now sorted… The safety meetings (very serious here compared to other venues) are done. Many folks seem to be rallying and as we prepare for Christmas dinner here at the Gem for 33 folks… the ham is now done, the veggies all prepped and the anorexic turkeys stuffed to the max. We should be good to go! Michael Buble’ is playing in the living room. The games are all set and a dance/song number or two has been rehearsed.

It should all be good. Tomorrow is actually Christmas but that is reserved for family time and some world famous Bondi Beach time. It is too weird sitting here writing this with Christmas tunes playing, parakeets flying by, a nice Pinot from Tasmania, the final sleds finishing their practice in the distance and so close to MELTING once again.   

Gotta go, folks arriving here, Merry Christmas to all…