Just too much to tell and not enough time to put it in a post. Let’s just keep to the key events shall we. Following on from the end of August 2024…
September:
- Finally had a little holiday with Elyse in Margaret River in the Bird House.
- Got some riding done (getting ready for the TOMR)
- Got a quick camping trip away with Ki
- Raced the Pacer Challenge on a beautiful spring day
- Got a quick trip to Rotto in
- Coached Westsail
- Coached the learn to sail course in Esperance
October:
- Opened the season at Esperance Bay Yacht Club (never opened a season before so that was pretty cool)
- Busily arranged the “Esperance Camp”
- Got the team down for a lovely 10 days of training and racing
- Got engaged to my gorgeous girl
November:
- Raced in the Tour of Margaret River
- Started coaching Anja (Swiss National Team ILCA 6) and Pia (German National Team ILCA 6). They had come to Australia for a big 4 months of training and racing.
- Drive across the country to Melbourne to drop the rig off
- Flew to Mexico for a clinic with ISA (my 4th one this season!)
- Flew back with Landon who I picked up in LA to start coaching in conjunction with the girls for the Australian racing season, starting in Melbourne
- My RIB got flipped by a storm the first day I had put it in the water the night before the event got started. As you can imagine it was a pretty stressful time.
- Coached Sail Melbourne
December:
- Packed up my broken coach boat and headed to Albry to try and find a repair or replacement. Every place in either Melbourne or Sydney was fully booked until March.
- Stayed two days in Albury while a new engine was fitted.
- Continued the drive to Sydney late into the morning as we had a late departure.
- Stayed in Bondi and coached Landon privately for Sail Sydney
- Packed up again and on our way to Brisbane
- Extended training camp and racing for Sail Brisbane
- Flew home for a quick Christmas break in Perth with family
- Flew back to Brisbane for preparation of Australian National Championships
January:
- Coached everyone at the Nationals, it was a long and tricky event with hot days in the sun and tricky wind shifts
- Packed up the rig one last time and started the 4 day journey back to Esperance to get the RIB repaired. Luckily Elsye was an angel and came with me as my co-pilot
- Spent 4 days fiberglassing and re doing all the electronics on the boat. Was very happy with the finished product
- Drove one more day to Perth and unloaded the rig and got the boat in the water ready for coaching
- Back into the next block with Anja and Pia who are here until the end of February, one more month to go with them before they send off back home to Europe.
