Careel.com

[pdandy]

I feel like a fraud posting this- we whimped out about 9 pm. I hate thunderstorms....

All those who continued have my respect, I hope you had a good night.

As a bit of an insight into conditions, here's a couple of photos.

This one was taken motoring out the the start, about 5.45 pm- just as the rain started

[pdandy]

and this was 13 minutes later. By this stage we were surrounded by boats, we just couldn't see them. This was Marshals first time on a yacht.

[pdandy]

The start was delayed for an hour, so we dropped our anchor and helped ourselves to some apple pie (as you do). It was interesting to watch boats drift past us as their anchor dragged....

The lightning thankfully passed north and west of us, and things seemed to be settling down so we hoisted our main with a view to going for a sail, but as soon as it was hoisted another thunderstorm started developing behind the clubrooms. Down came our main and we watched. It settled, but I REALLY hate thunderstorms and it was getting darker, so we pulled the pin. I felt like a whimp, especially because some of the boats that had stayed ashore were heading out, but we all had nice warm beds 15 minutes up the road...

I hope the rest of you had a good nights sailing.

[Top Note]

Paul,

Dont feel bad.........

Thats Marley for you............. Its been known to bring the mother of storms out over many years.............................
We wait for the report of others.
cheers

from Paradise of the Lake

[Mick and Janine]

great sailors know their limits, congrats on your correct decision paul!

[IanLee]

Ultimately the skipper must make the decision to go or not go. That means that you did the right thing for you, your crew and your boat. From personal experience, I know that it can get pretty hairy in that race. Great photos.

[IanBlencowe]

I note the owner was warm & dry in the cabin
At least he made sure the crew was suitably attired in a wetsuit

[pdandy]

it was a waterproof camera and I was out in the cockpit. (at least once I'd finished putting teh keel down). Peter was getting changed in the cabin - amazing how long it took him!

Hope you had a good sail Ian.

I went and picked up the boat this morning, there were lots of boats in paynesville airing out their sails.....

[jamesw]

Yes, well done Paul - I think you made the right decision. May have been different if you'd travelled a long way!! There's nothing like sailing in a thunderstorm wondering if/how your boat is earthed. I can imagine some fairly serious holes between mast/chainplates and keel as the lightning seeks an earth (although apparently ligtning actually goes up, once the circuit has been made between air and ground).

Also well done to Pete C in Taz for line honours.

J

[maxm]

[IanBlencowe]

Well done Peter Craig & Crew of Taz
Line Honours is a great achievement
Also well done to all aboard Roobarb for not being far behind.
I thought the conditions would suit the slower handicapped boats and thats the way it turned out.

[maxm]

Sounds like you didn't cop the conditions they had in Melbourne at least!

[peter connor]

Good work Peter, Ist on scratch and 6th on handicap out of a fleet of 68 sound outstanding to me.

Also congratulations Don. 11th outright and 5th on Handicap for a Careel 18 in the same division well ahead or much larger boats is also outstanding.

Good work to all the participants, just starting shows a commendable level of enthusiasm.

Regards

Peter Connor
C18/370
The Smooth

[don47]

Many thanks to all the well wishers and for your congrats people.
Also, good on ya, on the Tazzy boat. Sorry to do ya on handicap !!!!!!!

PD, be content with your decision, you made the right one for you and your inexperienced ( as you state) crew, things certainly could have got bad and if they had, well, !!

HOWEVER, WHAT A GREAT EVENT IS THAT MARLEY !!!!

Richie and I ended up totally enjoying the over nighter and the trip as a whole, had a wonderful time.
It's not just the sail, (which is spectacular) but the other crews, the good company/mateship, the feed at the pub/club with some beers, etc.
For us two, it was also a good adventure and a get away.

We shared the driving and the skippering, almost were 9th home, but were passed by two boats with kites in the last 250 mtes or so, one in fact was on the finish line, just pipping us !
Oh, the event had its moment alright, when prior to the start, what was warned to us all at the briefing, looked a bit like possibly becoming reality and that was going to be hairy.
I/we thought this may get serious and so further prepared ourselves, just in case things did become nasty. The thunderstorms, wind, rain, lightning, were all about. Glad we'd donned our wetsuits prior, as we sure got dumped on.
Rich and I, chose to drop sail and dig the anchor in hard, away from the mob and wait for hopefully the all clear and the starters signals, which did come about after a lengthy delay.
After that, we had sailed in varying conditions right thru the night, finishing around 9am, de-rigged, had a shower, some breaky at the club and departed for Cann River where again, the beers, tucker and company in the evening were terrific !

[Pete C]

Thanks for the nice comments guys.

Pdandy, you were still part of the Marlay race dude!!!

What a great race, Lindsey and Bob did a fantastic job in the trying conditions. It was a credit to them both to put up with a hard task master.

The race and friendship over the 4 days made for a memorable experience

Well done Don and Richie for a outstanding result in your 18


Now back to cruising.............


Pete
TAZ