Although the crew could not do the Pittwater to Coffs Race, they did sign TIGA up for the Solitary Island Race, with the Offshore Pittwater yachts.
The day began over cast, as usual at tis time of year. There were discussions that there would not be enough wind, then there was going to be too much wind, but guess what they had perfect wind conditions for spinnaker racing.
TIGA was fitted with a tracker in the dead of night on the monday evening, so with all the paperwork in and signed off on the morning of the 5th, they began their racing.
The start was a timed start, therefore TIGA was the 4th yacht to start. It did not take long for her crew to get out of the harbour, and begin the battle in 3rd place, with "High Anxiety" on the windward leg to Solitary Island. High Anxiety was well ahead coming out of the harbour, but after some very good moves with the spinnaker, and their tacking and jibbing they soon caught up. They sailed bow and stern for a while until TIGA, finally ROARED and ducked and weaved behind South Solitary Island, passing the other yacht. Now they were coming 2nd to "Reverie". They sailed 2nd across the line after Reverie and also gained 2nd on handicap. Wahoo!!!!
Talk about happy tigers, weary but ecstatic none the less

Paul & Andrew finally took possession of 'Tiga' on the 5th September - She is a Flying Tiger FT10
She was in Southport Qld, and her journey to bring her home to Coffs Harbour began on the 6th September.
The crew consisting of Paul, Andrew, Sheryl & Graham, set sail to bring her to Yamba @ 1330hrs.
That was after putting in a compass - should have seen the look on Andrew's face when Paul started drilling holes in their new boat the size of a saucer to fit the gimbled compass. Thought he was going to need CPR, if not therapy @ the very least. But No! The hole was not thru the hull to water but thru the hull to cabin. Must admit the compass was well used on the trip to Yamba.
There was a lot of too-ing and fro-ing, a lot of chin scratching and head shaking, sheets to be sorted, sails to be recognised, EPIRP to attach, navigation lights to attach, Etc Etc Etc and on it went. Food brought on board and all four set off smiling and also in trepidation for the journey south. As the last rope was thrown off the dock, the obligatory rain shower had to come thru, but away they went into the late afternoon sun and night.
They arrived safely in Yamba 22 hours later, happy to be there and all very pleased with the yacht.
"She sails better than I expected" says Andrew; "She has the same type sailing motion as B52 only shorter" says Paul. So with that we can assume the two owners are HAPPY BUNNIES. She will come home to Coffs sson after a pull out in Yamba.

Very early start to the morning. Up @ 0330hrs to meet the Las vegas hot air ballooning people for yes your heard right, a ballon ride on the morning we are due to leave and fly for about 24 hours. Sylvia bought this for Paul for his birthday, and of course Graham, Francie & Alistair all came along. We met the tour company @ 0500hrs and watched the sun rise over the desert and Las Vegas strip as the balloons were being prepared. What a sight, yellow orange and red balloon material being filled out with BIG FANS and propane gas. The basket was righted and we all climbed in ready for the ride of our lives. UP UP AND AWAY in a beautiful balloon - there is a song about this. How awesome, to be sailing over las vegas, alongside red hills and over desert. We had no issues at all with the flying, but, the landing had a few issues. We landed on a rocky outcrop, which in itself is not issue, but the chase car who had to meet us, got bogged coming out to get us with a trailer on board, so we had to lift off again and fly onto a new landing spot. Once again we came down on a rocky outcrop, but a bit more accessible. So what should have been a 45 minute ride, turned into a 2 hour journey.
Back to the Vegas home to shower and get ready for the flights home. We leave @ 1400hrs and arrive back in Coffs 1200hrs 2 days later. Oh well we have enjoyed the journey and made many memories.

Once again we rose early to get an awful lot of travelling and sightseeing done. We had to be back @ Francie & Alistair's by 1700. Today the terrain was very different. We ravelled thru the Navaho Indian reservation area, and onto Zion National Park. This is a place where Graham, Paul and I could always come back to. It has so much to do in this area, and it feeds the soul.
The rock formations were very different here, more like you would see in the Kimberley's. They still towered above you with great height, and still very striated, but more boulder type. We had to travel thru 2 tunnels bored into the hills, one quite short and the other approx 3miles long. There were many camping grounds dotted along the way and the terrain followed the Virgin River.
We popped back out into traffic and people, when we arrived in St George, a mormon society in Utah. We had a personal tour of the tabernacle, and the chap who gave this to us discussed not only the history of the church and the tabernacle, but touch on some of the mormon history. Most fascinating, and good to be among someone who is a gentle soul.
With pedal to the metal, we travelled the freeways back to Las Vegas to have yet another BBQ with Francie & Alistair, Billy Bob and MaryAnn, with some more prize giving, before bedtime.

We woke early and decided to get moving, as we still had a big day ahead. So after a light brekkie in an Indian Diner, we set off. More time was spent in the Grand Canyon, with many more photos taken. Sylvia was a little thoughtful, when she came across the hotel that she had stayed in as a 9 year old on the edge of the canyon. Memories were mentioned and discussed and both Paul and Graham were supportive. So after walking about for a little longer we set off for the canyon rim downstream. Driving past Mesa after Mesa, plateau after plateau and rock formations after rock formations, we come across a lake in the middle of the desert, with a Marina. Yes you read right, a Marina. Shock of shocks, as it is surrounded by very tall rock escarpments. The journey continued with lunch in " Big Johns Texas BBQ" - that was an education. More driving brought us into Utah, where the first of the prairies could be seen with irrigated crops. Time for a quiet night before heading off again in the morning.

After the dam we set off for the long drive to the Grand Canyon. There are no words to describe this natural wonder. We arrived about an hour before sunset, and as we watch the sun set in the west, the minerals in the rock formations came to life. It is so inspiring to your soul, that not only do you feel uplifted, but also it make you aware of how small you are in the scheme of things. We have been so fortunate to be able to view this natural wonder.