Let her eat.

Those windy days are a treat!

Windy Day!!??

Nice photos but... that's not a windy day...

This is a windy day....

Same Day...

a windy (and unusually cold) day in Key Largo at Rick's Place this January...photo credit Roy Laughlin.

AKA - the debut of Randy Smyth's reefed main for the Jav2.

Double trapped with 375+ lbs AND traveled/sheeted out? At least it was fun to watch while I waited for the epoxy to cure after getting hit...

Jake - you up for the Steeplechase this year?

I'm unfortunately out of vacation this year and for some reason I was thinking the Steeplechase was in January after Tradewinds (must be thinking of the Hogsbreath). I think I might do the Hogsbreath instead of Tradewinds this year - depends on crew/shore crew situation. And you?

I have crew issues, too (crew is currently in deployment with ARMY), but have made reservations in case I can find suitable "whipping boy"...uh..ahem... CREW. Steeplechase has always been my favorite (okay, Hogsbreath COULD have been except for last year's near dismasting at the start due to 'unexpected weather') distance race down there, as it always seems to be a cross between a barroom brawl (in Angelfish Creek), a poker game (west side day #2), and a backyard bbq.

I'm trying to make all the events down there (Steeplechase, Tradewinds, Miami-Key Largo, and Hogsbreath), just because I like the area, and it's easier to get people to sail in the winter down south...

So, hopefully we can shoot a beer and tell lies at Hogsbreath?

Hi Berthos,

Nice pics.... We love our windy days Down under in OZ

Here is some more pics of a good ol blow in the Great Southern Land

I remember, 39 degrees and blowing 20 knots brrrrrr! I had to go to West Marine to get foulies so that I could even think about sailing.....

And to think that I almost left my dry-suit at home because we were going to the Keys! Thankfully the crew hit me with the undisputable 'why not take it' logic just before we left.

G'day Stephen M,

Top photos. Your boat looks excellent too, very proffessional. Are you looking to knock Bundy and Forbes off their top spot? Good luck to you if you are (I'm being serious here not sarcastic). I'm sure Bundy would love to have another Aussie sailor snapping at his heels.

Do you have any overseas trips planned for the near future?

Rob.

Cheers Rob,

We are at the moment, fairly inexperienced in the big T with only 2 seasons under our belt. However Bundy, Forbes and their coach Fletch have helped us imensly bringing the boat up to speed in such a short time along with some competitive T fleet racing at our club, Kurnell.

Last time we sailed along side the champs at the Forster State Titles, we matched them speed for speed in most races finishing second to them in every race and always minutes ahead of the other Ts.

At the moment we are running Olympic sails on a new Marstrom mast, Marstrom rudders and larger beams on a 15 year old Reg White platform. The plan is to purchase a second boat (Late model Marstrom) and chase sponnsors to assist us with a European Campaign. Forbes plans to retire after Athens, but we would like to challenge Bundy for Beiging selection.

It will be a long tough road to travel, but has been something I have dreemed about for more than 10 years. Keep an eye out in Australian Sailing as there may be a feature artical on Tornado 'ALIVE' in an upcoming issue.

PS- Are there many QLD guys coming down for the Forster Wild Cat this weekend.

The fact that Forbes is retiring must be the reason that Glenn Ashby has been doing some crewing for Bundy I guess. Good luck with your campaign!

As for Forster I live in Far North Queensland just south of Cairns so it's a long way from here. I haven't spoken to anyone from here that's going to be there.

Rob.