July 26 - August 1, 2015: Issue 224
Wild Oats XI and Raggamuffin In Iconic 48th Transpacific Trade Wind Race
Wild Oats XI crew and families - in Honolulu this morning.
Sunday July 26, 2015:,7.46am:
Australian maxi yachts Wild Oats XI and Raggamuffin have finished one of the world’s oldest and longest yacht races in record times.
Wild Oats XI completed the 2,225 nautical miles(2,560 mi; 4,121 km) Transpacific in 6 days 10 hours 37 minutes 02 seconds (Corrected Time: 6:12:37:38) while Raggamuffin 100 has completed the race in 6 days,17 hours, 26 minutes (Corrected Time: 7:07:00:41). Transpac tells us ‘There are no official results until all of the boats are in’ but Preliminary Results show these Australians have done exceptionally well in what has been a challenging race.
Australian yachts and yachtsmen have been competing in the Transpacfiic since 1949 a race whih is one of the oldest and longest in the world.
Monday July 27th (3:.49 am Sydney Time): WILD OATS XI WINS MERLIN TROPHY
More HERE
Raggamuffin 100 crew in Honolulu this morning.
Avalon Bulldogs Raising Funds for Club: Saturday Morning Volunteers
Avalon Bulldogs members have two customers in Avalon Soccer players - outside Johnson Brothers Hardware, Avalon.
Avalon Bulldogs rugby players have been working hard on Saturdays for the last several weeks - some are running Sausage Sizzle and Breakfast BBQ's at local events to raise funds for the Under 17's Samoa Tour while others are volunteering their time and culinary skills to raise extra funds for the club itself.
If you see them out and about, treat yourself to something good and support those who are working to support local sport.
Pittwater Girls Excel in 29er European Sailing Championship
Tash Bryant and Annie Wilmot - picture courtesy Traks Gordon
This week Newport teenagers Tash Bryant and Annie Wilmot commenced their international sailing careers placing 3rd women’s team in the 2015 29er Class European Championship in Medemblik, The Netherlands. Amongst the youngest in the event, Bryant (14) and Wilmot (16) were one of 25 all girl teams competing within the 129 boat open age championships and the sole Australian entry. 14 races over 4 days of competition decided the title in a variety of conditions between 5 and 30 knots. Most racing days ending at 6pm due to long weather delays.
The European Championship is one of 3 major international events the girls are embarking upon during a 7 week European racing and training program in preparation for the 29er Open World Championships in Pwlheli, Wales during August.
The 29er class is the preferred skiff equipment of aspiring Olympians and both Tash and Annie have their eyes set firmly towards international sailing careers and Olympic representation. To achieve this, the girls have undertaken a 4 day a week on water training regime over the past 12 months within the Objective Future Champions Program, a subsidised local coaching initiative with support from the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club. When not sailing their boat, the girls are required to spend an additional session a week maintaining and developing their equipment plus regular gym sessions. Add in school work and these girls are two extremely hard working and productive young athletes.
National Tree Day 2015: An Old Story of Wattle Trees for Children and Mid-Winter Gold Tinge on Plants at Present
It's National Tree Day 2015 today, and to celebrate these largest of all plants we'd like to share a short story written a while ago about one of our own Winter to Spring flowering trees, the Wattle, which also seems to herald that gold tinge you can see on many plants and trees at present.
National Tree Day for Children - HERE