Sunshine Sailing Australia has announced it will be competing in this years Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race! We are entering our Hanse 400e Eressea into this prestigious and famous yacht race. Anyone who has the desire to experience Australia's most noted race should contact us directly as spaces are limited. The race program will include a 10 day race training qualifyer early December, a Safety and Sea Survival Course, accomodation in Hobart and return airflight. Please contact our team at Sunshine Sailing Australia on 07 5478 2288.
Brisbane to Gladstone 2010
The Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race. How to pack a world of experiences into 3 days. An adventure not for the fainthearted. As the crew assembled on Eressea for the training the week- end before the race, we had no idea what we would share and achieve together a week later. Two days of practice on the bay and multiple gybes later and John deemed us ready to give it a go. As we left for the start line on the crisp Easter Friday morning and we joined the cloud of yachts in Bramble Bay, the adrenaline started pumping. We swapped greetings with friends, jostled for a place on the start- line and in no time were off, Eressea slipping effortlessly through the water. Frantic sail changes and a spinnaker hoist kept us occupied until we could pause to view the breathtaking sight of dozens of spinnakers hoisted around us on the sparkling bay. What followed can only be described as a blur of watch changes and helming the yacht through dark and light. Sharp squalls crept up on us in the dusk and along with many of the fleet we were rounded up and blew a spinnaker, relieved not to be carrying it later as stronger gusts hit us from the darkness. Crew members overcome with seasickness clung to the rails at the stern. John navigated us through the course with consummate ease, reassuringly popping his head up through the companion- way during watches and coming to our rescue when the conditions became too much for us. A vicious gust of wind broke our spinnaker pole and later a lifeline broke loose, Eressea starting to look less like a cruising beauty and more like a warrior, the crew wrestling with sails on the foredeck. We cruised up the river in the early light, crossed the line and into the marina, hailed by celebrating competitors and immensely proud to have arrived. Winning the cruising class and swapping stories with our sailing mates crowned the experience and the first drink with our team was savoured. Many thanks to Eressea, for carrying us and to John for guiding us so quietly through it all.
Wendy Milway
RYA Lord Howe Yachtmaster Ocean Qualifier
With 3 candidates onboard after just completing the Yachtmaster ocean shorebased course on celestial navigation, ocean meteorology and passage planning we set sail from Urangan, Hervey Bay toward Lord Howe Island. Urangan was chosen as our port of exit due to having to complete 600nm. Not only this was one of the criteria, we also had to be at sea for a minimum of 96 hours and complete the trip under traditional means, this being by compass, chartwork and sextant only.
The forecast was SE winds at 20-25 knots, decreasing over the next 24 hours and going east as we enter a Tasman high pressure system. It didso virtually on time and we had a pretty easy ride on port tack for the next 4 and a half days straight to Lord Howe Island. The weather was ideal, moon on the make, Jupiter setting in the evening with Venus rising 1st thing at dawn. Also stars at dusk and dawn with brilliant sunshine through the day. With all these options navigation was a breeze with Lord Howe Island popping up over the horizon on time and on the bow.
Lord Howe Island Maritime came out to meet us and guide us onto the mooring bouy just inside the fringing reef. A well-earned short shower washed of the unwanted sea salt that had found it's way onboard and we were here. There were 3 other yachts moored that were too happy to welcome us in. We hitched a ride ashore, had a quick stroll to find the obligatory beers and then eventually a meal with the other yachts and locals. A great night made special by the friendly and accommodating locals.
The next morning was spent preparation for the next tide across the fringing reefs. We slipped our mooring buoy and set sail for Mooloolaba 480 nm away. With sore heads we raised sails and pointed our trusted yacht northwards. The next day after motoring for 12 hours we picked up a gentle easterly, popping the kite and sailing for the next 48 hours practicing our traditional navigation by sextant. Again, perfect sailing conditions and navigation conditions with the moon, stars planets and our sun to guide us home.
Adam Thomson wins a $1000 of sailing with Sunshine Sailing Australia!
Sunshine Sailing Australia's display at the 2010 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show was a great success. We showcased our new Hanse 400e which will be our main training/charter vessel. With over 450 entries from across Australia & New Zealand entering our $1000 drawing this year making it the most successful drawing we've ever held. As you would expect, Adam is very excited & can't wait to come sailing with us. Adam has decided to put the $1000 towards the RYA Day Skipper qualification!
Sunshine Coast Sailing Academy Wins 1st in Brisbane to Gladstone 2010!
The Sunshine Sailing Australia new yacht Eressea, a Hanse 400e came 1st in the Cruising Division of the famous Easter weekend yacht race, the Brisbane to Gladstone.
The 2010 Brisbane to Gladstone ocean race will go on record as one of the more demanding light wind sailing tests in the 63 year history of Queensland’s premier blue water classic.
John Bankart, the Director of the Sunshine Sailing Australia were joined by Pat and Bronwyn James, James Weate, Chris Ryan, Rob Fry, Janice Grey, Wendy Milway and Julie Grantham. All crew are Sunshine Sailing Australia clients, a great bunch with plenty of enthusiasm and a sense of adventure. John's report follows:
"We had two days of training on Moreton Bay, perfecting sail changes, crew positions, kites jibes, hoists and drops and emergency drills. After the two days we were ready to go, both girls Wendy and Bronwyn took up residence on the foredeck and did a fantastic job jibing kites in all weather day and night.
The start was from QCYC (Qld Cruising Yacht Club). We set off in a very light breeze, 10 to 15 knots of wind; this was probably the most exciting part of the race, with yachts changing places due to currents and wind shifts. As we headed north and out of Moreton Bay we picked up a very nice breeze, which slowly set in and settled for the rest of the race from the SE. We had fantastic conditions all the way, SE breezes to 25 knots giving us an excellent spinnaker run all the way past Mooloolaba, Noosa, the North shore and right through to Breaksea Spit north of Fraser Island. We rounded this point in the dark and then set sail to Lady Elliot Island; once we rounded her we set our final course for Gladstone. And again another great day of sailing and high spirits. We arrived at Gladstone day break on the Sunday, taking just over 44 hours to complete. This was a perfect time to arrive as we had arrived as the party started to kick off again!
We came first in the Cruising division, a sensational result; the crew had come together at the last moment and jelled well, the girls on the foredeck had never been there before and came through with flying colours. Many thanks to the rest of the team, all sail changes, tacks and gybes, meals cooked and watches were professionally dealt with, a fantastic team and a fantastic race!"
Our Hanse 400e is ideal for match racing, team building and sail training
Our Hanse 400e is designed for optimal sailing performance but with the comfort of a 3 cabin layout, high quality & tasteful teak timber work & the latest fittings.
A deep draft 2.05m iron/lead keel, big suspended rudder, special mast & other racing equipment are standard. Overall length is 12.1m, Hull length 11.99m, waterline length 10.8m, beam 4.04m, 29Kw (40HP) diesel engine.