Flying Dutchman prepares for Nationals Nov 1-3

'Spreader adjustments AUS37' Bruce Hollis

The Murrays Craft Brewing Flying Dutchman National Championship 2008/09 is being hosted by Sydney Flying Squadron, McDougall Street, Kirribilli is on the 1st, 2nd and 3rd November 2008.

The Albert Gold Cup will be conducted not before 2.30pm Saturday afternoon, 1st November, followed by a free keg of beer for sailors at the club, generously provided by the sponsor.

Racing will continue on Sunday 2nd and Monday 3rd November with a planned three heats per day.
www.murraysbrewingco.com.au/

Come and watch one of the fastest mono hull dinghies race on Sydney Harbour!

AUS 37 sailed by Norman Rydge and Richard Scarr (pictured) have started back training after a rest following the European Championships in Croatia earlier this year (where we placed third). The first week back has seen a few breakages, but hopefully no more.

One particular incident when we were off North Head and the boat was capsized, I (Richard) was under the boat trying to fix a part while Norman was calling out to hurry up and get on the boat!

Why you ask? Well there was this fin swimming towards the boat at a rate of knots. Once I was sitting on top of the dinghy and wondering what all the commotion was all about, out popped a Dolphin just a few meters away!

After just reading a story from Laura Baldwin on Sail-World.com about sharks that day, it was not such a funny moment!!

Testing of sails and mast continues with Bruce Hollis from Ullman sails and we hope that we will be on the pace in New Zealand. With only 68 possible sailing days to go AUS 37 is planning to train 48 days.

The 2008 World Championship will be hosted by Napier Sailing Club, North Island, New Zealand - 31 December 2008 to 11 January 2009. There will be three 40ft container with 14 boats from Australia going over to take part in the event.

Be sure to come and watch the Nationals on Sydney Harbour - it will be close racing.