T-Man writes some thoughts on SSANZ

Lynn sounds so organised. But good advice. (editors note - Richard is referring to an earlier article here).  It’s not until you have had a couple of big knocks that you realise that everything needs to be secured. Especially things like anchors and spare chain and all the loose items that get thrown around. The SSANZ series is a good one as the races get longer as your confidence builds and you will get a mix of conditions, usually in one day! One thing that I always wonder about is why the small boats want such short courses. When we first did this series ten or so years ago, in Crickey Dick, there was only a short-haul course. A real sailing adventure in a small boat in the middle of winter. Since getting to grips with the SR 26 we have gotten back into the short-haul courses and they are great fun and it makes me wonder why we ever entered the small boat courses. The other good thing about the short-haul division is that once you have category 3 you can enter races like the coastal and the Tauranga. The Southern 600 is the ultimate challenge and is only cat 3 with a couple of extras (a dan buoy $170 and a sat phone $100 to hire.) We did the series two handed  in 2009 – 2010 and had a real blast, the White Island Race being the ultimate 26’ challenge. Small boats offer real sailing challenge at an affordable price and sailing non-stop for a couple of days is a buzz, especially out of the sight of land for long periods.

I know the life-raft is a big expense but when I did the sums over a three year period, the survey period on the raft, it actually worked out cheaper to buy it than hire it for four to five races a year. During one sailing year we needed the raft for; the Race 3 SSANZ. The Coastal Classic, the White Island Race, The Brin Wislon Race and the Auckland to Tauranga Race.