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 did\so 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.

John Bankart and Itaru Matsunaga on 'Cocorin Interland' wins division and second on line honours!

COCORIN interland is the second yacht to cross the 2007 Melbourne Osaka yacht race finish line today, following a drawn out battle overnight and this morning with line honours winner, Alex, which finished the 5,500 nautical mile race at 07 hours 12 minutes 02 seconds (AEST) this morning and 21h 12m 02s (UTC) in the elapsed time of 32 days 18 hours 12 minutes 02 seconds.

COCORIN finished the race at 14 hours 51 minutes 22 seconds (AEST) on April 27 (UTC 04h 51m 22s April 27, 2007) with the elapsed time of 33D 01h 51m 22s.

On coming ashore, co-skipper John Bankart said:

 “Alex sneaked up on us in light airs. It’s a better boat for light windsailing.
When we came up into the bay last night, our main halyard broke and the main fell down. It happened between 9.00pm and 10.00pm last night, too dark to sort anything out, so we had to wait till this morning to fix it.

We still had our mizzen, but without the main we couldn’t get the height we wanted,” the Mooloolaba sailor said

“Once we fixed it, a high pressure system came through the bay and it was like glass, hardly a breath of wind. It was so still we were ghosting along doing only a quarter and half a knot of wind at best. It took forever to sail that last seven miles,
It was a bit disappointing having led the race for so long, but then that’s yacht racing and you deal with it."

 

Denise Jones of Wattle Glen, Victoria wins a weekend for two worth $1000 from the Santuary Cove Boat Show 08!

Sunshine Sailing Australia's display at the 2008 Sanctuary Cove Boat Show was a great success, with over 150 entries from across Australia & New Zealand entering our $1000 drawing this year making it the most successful drawing we've ever held. Denise Jones lives in Wattle Glen of Victora. As you would expect, Denise will be very excited & can't wait to come sailing with us!