Maverick and Goose
by John Curnow, Editor, Sail-World AUS 3 Dec 2017 21:15 GMT
It is so often quoted. I almost hate doing it again, myself. It's the line as Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards walk across the tarmac in flight suits with helmets in hand. 'I feel the need. The need for speed!' Well we did too, so the Sail-World/Yachts and Yachting Online Tech Crew implemented our new system last week. Well done, team!
We made mention of it in the previous editorial, and newsletter service will resume momentarily. In the meantime, we're all web and social media based. Yet it is not just about speed, for there will be extra functionality in the next little while, but more about that when it occurs.
At any rate, enough about us, what about the recent reminder of Christmas time weather in Australia? In Tasmania it was 27/28 degrees Celsius. I was standing in the water at Wineglass Bay and almost, yes almost, contemplated having a swim.
The flight out of the Apple Isle touched down in Melbourne, which was enjoying an open oven door-esque 39 degrees, yet my final destination, a further two hours North, was indicating showers and 25 degrees. The next day on the Gold Coast it felt much more akin to Singapore, and it was certainly true, for every other person was making the same remark, as well.
Sail Melbourne was being run during all of this, and as a location, Huey did all he could to ensure that city's reputation has been irrefutably enshrined. Sailors were baked to a crisp, blown out to the next State, and finally dumped upon from great heights. As hard as that was, you feel even more so for the farmers of Sou'Eastern Oz, many of whom have lost up to 50% of their Summer berry crop.
At Sail Melbourne there was an amazing debut performance from Laser 2012 Olympic Gold Medallist, Tom Slingsby, in the immensely physical Finn class. After the first three days of racing he was second behind his Australian training partner Jake Lilley, who is five inches taller and 10kg heaver. In third place was Australian number two Finn sailor, Oliver Tweddell, ahead of current Finn World Champion, Max Salminen, and then British #2, Ed Wright.
We know from the Laser Class that a strong sense of competition from inside the squad is what has driven that sector of the AST onto numerous medals, and it would seem them very same Esprit d' Corps is being fostered into the Finn. Speaking of Lasers, the Tom Burton and Matt Wearn show continues to be some of the best viewing going around.
Now talking of storms, seems even having the Number 10 up may be way too much rag for David Witt of Scallywag, after their little Equator party. It could be that he may indeed need to wave said little white flag, rather than have it in the foil. With all of those Goddesses of the Sea singing from the same Christmas Carol sheet, World Sailing will want to make sure there are the correct number of seats for when the music stops.
Back to talking about Christmas once more, and it would appear a French solo sailor is going to give himself the Christmas present of all presents. I am not going to name him, so as to avoid putting the hex on him, but his is the only maxi-tri doing a full lap of the planet right now. If he does achieve this spectacular result, the existing record will not have even had 12 months for the ink to dry. What an achievement.
Talking of presents, the Mirabaud has been won, and weren't there some wonderful images. Christian Beck officially launches his 'new' present on Tuesday. The supermaxi built as Speedboat, and current S2H record holder as Loyal, is to be renamed InfoTrack. Turning right on Boxing Day with Christian and the crew are Grunter and Goobs, and they will all certainly be looking for hard charging conditions once more, which suit the boat perfectly.
Well then, it has to be that time, and just as Tim Shaw said, "But wait! There's more." Now you will have to go to the website for other news, for it has been yet another bumper week. Check out the links below as a sample of the articles, which include the Clipper, the 18s, ESS, Bird Island, VOR, Paris 2020, that wicked little boat from Beneteau – the magical Figaro 3, Sabres, Charles Maclurcan gave us a real insight into the Admiral's Cup (thank you), the great Kay Cottee, and much, much more.
Remember to keep a weather eye on Sail-World. We are here to bring you the whole story from all over the world...