Okay all. I am in Airlie Beach Australia and have been since the morning of the 10th.  So, you ask, why have you not been busy on your blog!

Truth is the first two days we were doing the deep clean on the boat so I was up and down the mast doing the rig check, taping split pins, taking leather chafe off of one spreader to redo as it was becoming unattached when I checked it, taking off the port spinnaker halyard as it was about to explode in more ways than one and then going back up to silicone remaining split pins.

Yes I know that shouldn’t take two days.  So I also had to pull lines that need work, set up Yankee 2 for new Hank pulling string method( thank you Nick and Mark), get a new zipper sewn on the bag (thank you Mark), be sure staysail repair on Hank cover done ( thank you Mark), take the Code 2 spinnaker up the hill to open up and check all for new tears and old repairs that had to be redone (thank you Elaine, Regina and Mark).

Why am I messing with the sails?

Well, on leg 3 I happened to help with a repair and when our sailmaker left the boat at the end of leg 3 I got tagged to take care of sail repair along with Elaine.  Since she has program manager responsibilities, that has left me in charge.  But, I have discovered help in that area….Mark and now Judith!  So now that you have heard the sad saga of Linda being torn away from main job to other areas I will let you know about the 3rd day which was the beginning of our time off.

Started the day with an awesome hot shower!!! Then, though it is our day off, I have plans for work on projects that just need some quiet time and no interruptions.

 

Next on the schedule is to replace whatever was a safety from boom to clew of mainsail. In the process of doing this a few people stopped by boat and asked questions about the boat and the race.  Good person that I am I invited them on board and let them look around so they could ask more questions!  In doing that I met a neat couple, Sandy and Wayne that asked if I would like to go with them on a pickup the next day.

Not having my hearing aids in I said “sure just come by boat and get me.  I should be here working.”  Well this morning as I am making a safety from main sheet block around boom, Sandy appeared and asked if I could come.  Finishing my task as I was almost done, I jumped at the chance to do something different and different it was.  I had the pleasure and privilege of learning about:

Whitsundays

Now the next part of the adventure! I got to accompany Wayne as he dropped off some campers at one of the Whitsunday Islands and then do pickup of campers at two other islands. As we went I gathered information from him about the tide we were going through and local knowledge about the islands, some of the boats that used to be maxi racers and are now taking tourists for rides, and info on some of the islands.

Then on to their home to have a relaxing lunch followed by a tour of the area and all the best views of the ocean, the bay, sugar cane fields, sugar cane factory, coffee bean trees and all the local interests.  Back at the marina we were continuing our visit after placing 4 mangos from their trees on the boat when another couple started asking about the Clipper boats and the race.  Another interesting fact about Sandy and Wayne.  They were sailing down the Australia coast from the north and somehow didn’t make it past Airlie Beach after staying in the harbor here.  That was over 20 years ago.  Yes it has a magic flavor!!  Thanks for a totally wonderful day Sandy and Wayne.  It will long be remembered.

We enjoyed that conversation and after they left good buddy Judith from level 1, 3, 4 arrived to meet other girl crew for dinner.  Sorry that photo is on phone which does not transfer to iPad!  Yes I am using iPad since Surface is once again playing games with me.

Heading back to Marina ran into another half of the crew and had my Diet Coke with them and visited some more. Finally thinking I was on my way back to boat and sleep I came across some great musicians on keyboard just jamming and having fun.  One is actually a sax player.

All for now as I will retire for the night and plan my tasks for tomorrow.  Let’s see, doughnut on port spin block for safety and doughnut to attach to port spin block shackle, replace reef 1 antichafe, take antichafe off preventer for reef 1 or see if old starboard spin halyard outer layer will work as anti-chafe.  Oh well I will dream about it, get up, shower and the enjoy some quite moments with a cup of something to start the day and make the decision.

Good night for now and have a great day over in the US.