G'day Darren,

It was great to meet you in Milang. Greeeaaat photo of you powering along.

I'm glad someone did well and had a great day.

I missed the start badly only a minor problem really compared to the rest of the race.

Later in the race, I got buffeted off the side of the boat while on trap and fell towards the bow. The boat tipped over and I managed to grab it, I worked my way to the traveller and uncleated it and then began working my way around the hull to right the boat. I lost my grip on the boat and watched as it headed downwind on it's side at about 10 knots. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" /> I swam a couple of strokes but soon realised I could not swim that fast. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> A trailable/keelboat picked me up about 20 - 25 minutes later. Lucky for me they saw what happened and turned back for me. By this time my boat was about a kilometre down wind. The rescue boat took me back to my boat, which I righted and continued to sail.

The next incident happened in the narrows. Tired and cold my reactions were not as they might have been. I got hit with a big gust and was too slow to react and ended up over again. The mast popped its seal and top of the mast went deep into the mud. I tried to right the boat but couldn't. The boat had to be righted by the rescue boat with a lot of power.

After a total of about 3 hours I sailed into Goolwa. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I only found the mast seal had gone when I took down the mast and got pinned under it due to the weight. It took two of us to lift the mast onto the trailer. I've since managed to clean out the mast by removing the mast foot and using a pressure washer.

I have a tear in my sail and my tramp deck has pulled away from the beam. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Don't know who's the bigger wreck me or the boat. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Only the 2nd time I've sailed the mozzie in that much wind. Enjoyed it most of the time just these few little incidents which were sent to try me.

I'll be back better stronger faster. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />