Passion for Cruising

Yesterday, we moved into the Park Everly City Hotel, all free for two nights! Huge preparation day and we luckily acquired Judy and Paul from the yacht Meridian of Sydney { which has some minor engine problem} so instead of missing out on all the fun they are joining us as crew, this just for the few days of racing. After which they will fly back to Miri.
The first race was a typical around the buoys bay race, but with IRC, Fast cruisers, Slower cruisers, and fourth Ocean Multihulls, these all with 5 minutes between starts. You can perhaps imagine the chaos on the line as we started trying to get through the slow cruisers who had not yet even got to the line! We were completely baulked on the line , but we squeezed through a gap and were off behind Out of The Bag, a 44 foot Bob Oram racer. There was a good breeze, and we stayed in second all the way, This Way UP was third.
In the evening, there was a huge banquet in the hotel with all the local dignitaries and Ministers. This meant long speeches etc, but later there was cultural dancing, and a three girl pop group, who were far too loud to cover their mediocrity! Prizes were then awarded for the day before a very welcome sleep.