Crew Blog

WA goes POSH!

12 May 2008

westernaustralia2011.com's real aussie bimini

As a cruising sailor in my ‘other life’ I am constantly boring the WA crew with comments like “if I was on my boat now we’d have the air conditioning on” or “Where’s the bimini /sun shade?” and “What? No ice?”

But the truth of the matter is that we have made our racing yacht a little more comfortable and, as the Durbanites said the other evening, more “Posh”. Pete has lovingly modified our galley with cup & plate holders, shelving and ingenious slots to hold our cuppas when the boat is on a heel. We are also lucky enough to have a small portable fridge to cool our drinks.

If one wanders around our cabin area, one would also notice the storage bags at the end of every bunk. These are invaluable for plonking your gear in (so you can find it again!) as you hurriedly undress in order to get every precious minute of sleep. You’ll also see shower curtains hanging from each bunk, thereby preventing the odd splash disturbing a good sleep.

Our bathrooms have dispensers with full amenities, the likes of which one would normally find in a hotel. We also have a purpose made toothbrush holder to keep them out of harms way. In the saloon we have our iPod storage rack, several bookcases holding any number of books we have collected along the way, as well as a well stocked DVD library.

And today we created what can only be described as a God send! We now have a wonderful sun awning that fits over our boom from one side of the boat to the other, so suffering from heat stoke will now be a thing of the past.

Once I return to my cruising life, I wonder how many times I’ll come out with “On WA we had…”!

Judy Lawrence

1. Kerry Newton, On the Clyde 19 May 2008

Thought of you yesterday Trudy, we spotted porpoise following our boat yesterday - deffinately Porpoise and not a whale as Sophie announced! Think maybe she could have done with a shade on the cockpit, sun deffinately affected her vision!

2. Peter Lawrence, Melbourne Australia 19 May 2008

Jude, I’m already getting bored with “On WA we had ....!”, and have only read it once, not even heard you utter the line! Still, the BBB is looking more and more the salubrious gin palace we all knew she was. Here we are, in beautiful Port Antonio awaiting your winning arrival, and a quick but much awaited few days with you and the Clipper crews.
C’mon WA, lets see what sprinters you really are; we haven’t shlepped the two flags more than halfway around the world for nothing!! Have a great sail and a podium, please? Peter

3. Sharyn McCaskey, Rockingham WA 20 May 2008

You are all inspirational, awesome, smart, couragous, adventurous, and living life. GOOD luck on the race but you have already WON in my eyes. HAVE the time of your life.....

4. Margaret and John Heald, Great Eccleston 20 May 2008

Thought you were in for a podium dont let it slip any more golum.sorry that trouble will be upon you soon keep him at it.good sailing to you all we will be leaving you in peace for three weeks. god bless and take care but race hard. j & m.

5. Rick Palmer, Perth Western Australia 21 May 2008

Well Judy, your report could not come at a better time.

On Sunday evening of the 18th of May (WA Time) eleven new Western Australian crew members and their partners/friends met at The Cruising Yacht Club of Western Australia on the shores of Rockingham Beach, Cockburn Sound (just south of Fremantle) for our first crew get together. We have all signed up for the 2009/2010 event.

We were joined by “Anne” who’d just returned from the Fremantle to China leg. We were greeted by Commodore Rick Reghensani and his wife Linda. They were great hosts and the Club, of which I am a member, did us proud.

Anne regaled us with stories of the Sea, sun and the Galley. Her commentary on the training programme, short hours sleeping and long hours on watch had everyone sitting quiet and attentive. It was obvious that she loved the experience and her crew mates.
I am certain she is hankering to do it all again!

In any case, I am sure we are all pleased to learn that Westernaustralia2011.com has all the new creature comforts you describe. Even so, one has to ask, do these modifications make her go any faster?

Cheers

Rick

6. Linda, Kahlia, Brianna Wiese, Western Australia 24 May 2008

GO Australia!
Hope you win soon!
Kahlia

7. Anne Williams, Myalup, WA 24 May 2008

Hi there gang, Congratulations on safely reaching Jamaica and now just one leg is left!! But 4 races so everything to play for! Hope you’ve had some rest and a break from the seas. Well done to all of the RTWers- especially those who haven’t missed a race- just the 4 of you- amazing achievement all. Good luck for the next leg- will be following you all the way. Meeting up with our other crew mates here in Perth next Sunday so your ears will burn!! Take care - enjoy the rest of the trip - it’ll be over all too soon lots of love Anne and Dai xxxxxxxx

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