Who is UGFzc3dvcmQ6?
I see UGFzc3dvcmQ6 a lot, enough that after about err 20 years I recognise it it looked familiar
A quick err duckduck ( see post about google sucking) and it was clear UGFzc3dvcmQ6 was not random, but it wasn't obvious till a few click through what it actually is:
If you base 64 encode the word 'password' you get 'UGFzc3dvcmQ6' try it here: https://www.base64decode.org
So all these years if bull shit scrolling down my log files I have finally worked out why UGFzc3dvcmQ6
Long live UGFzc3dvcmQ6 cos trying dumb stuff for 20 years still occasionally works!
FYI I run this server, if your reading this, and your AV is not going wild, assume my password is not 'UGFzc3dvcmQ6'
Garmin Classic Shell Island
“If I asked God to give me a perfect race this would have been it” – Misquoted from Simo, but close.
First we thankyou to sponsors Garmin and Navcom.
The wind was lighter at the start than we on Shaw Thing had expected. Stuart, our Race officer, had managed to secure Nightbird for a start boat, which was bigger than we expected. A healthy 5 Division one boats piled in for the start. Judging by the pictures supplied by Kacy the other starts were equally competitive.
With an outgoing tide, and relatively fluky wind it was a minefield off Larrakia, full disclosure, Shaw Thing went too far into Doctors Gully taking when the keel found mud. But it still paid. We were able to catch Joust by Stokes hill Wharf. Unfortunately Zanzibar near caught us at the same time.
The wind filled in about then, we all got powered up and headed up East Arm. The Off the Beach Cats elected to go the other side of the harbour, we couldn’t see much but Raketvapen was leading.
Shaw thing, Zanzibar and Joust went left. Even Karma went right. We were wrong. Even Karma stormed in into the top mark leading the monohulls, but the cats were already a round led by Rakevapen, in its inaugural race, followed by Lilith and Nautilus.
The South Easter, late to come in held for the down wind leg, we dodged Zanzibar who beat us to the top mark by a whisker and blasted off in pursuit of the big fellas.
It was a great run from East Arm to number 6 buoy 7.5 Nm as the crow flies, further as the Tornado sails. Ethan on Lilith has a track, I’ve seen 19Kns in a screen shot. 19 Knots is fun J It was an absolute romp on a Shaw 650.
The off the beach cats were well away, after rudder problems Rakevapen ceded the lead to Lilith, who rounded six buoy first. On Shaw Thing we clawed our way past Even Karma then Joust and right up to Nautilus. But beating back into Fannie Bay was a big boat game. Watching Joust come up on you on a beat is a bit like watching an oncoming train. There’s a certain inevitability about it. It was incredibly tight on the finish line, had it been much further Joust would have had line honors, if she or us made even a small mistake Even Karma would have caught the both of us. It was not just tight on the line, less than a minute separated first to third on handicap in div one.
LINE HONOURS:
Div 7 Tornado Lilith Ethan
Div 7 A-Class Launching Chris
Div 5 Tasar Tequila Sunrise Phil and Sarah
Div 4 S80 Calypso Fiona
Div 3 Stealth Nautilus John
Div 1 Shaw650 Shaw Thing Tom
HANDICAP:
Div 7 1st Lilith Ethan
2nd Raketvapen Peter
3rd Nemesis Morris
Div 5: 1st Tequila Sunrise Phil and Sarah
2nd Crackerjack 2 Michelle and Bern
3rd Scram Alva
Div 4: 1st Calypso Fiona
2nd Assassin Brecko
3rd Blondie Claire
Div 3 1st Nautilus John
2nd Cockatoo James
Div 1 1st Shaw Thing Tom
2nd Even Karma John
3rd Zanzibar Jenny
Kerryn won the Garmin $1000 prize. Deservedly so. She was on the Committee boat and did the results which are here
Massive thanks to the curry cooks, rescue boat and committee boat crew, Kacy and Scott for the awesome photos. Nightbird for being our committee boat, Stuart our race officer and especially Bob Stroud from Navcom / Garmin our sponsor.
Always take the big kite
Two identical boats went out for the Disney themed opening ceremony sail past. Mine and the other one with just a main and a mini mouse helium balloon on the forestay.
We had main, Jib and a masthead asymmetric spinnaker in board. I didn't actually expect to use the kite. But it's nice to have the option. I always take it in case the opportunity comes for a hoon. Or say the wind drops and your electric outboard has a hissy fit.
Turns out that despite the Disney theme the only princess was an E-Propulsion electric outboard.
Disclaimer: I have a torqueedo it's gone from princess to sleeping beauty and is in pieces in a cupboard.
Always take a trapezes harness too. I often take one even on rescue boat. Helps to right sodden catamarans,
I once had to take a sea sick helm off an F18. They were In limp mode with the jib rolled up. No harness's or kite. we swapped, I was wearing a harness so, we rolled out the jib bore of and I helmed her home off the wire. Nearly drowned Barry every wave. He had no harness he had to sit on the tramp. Serves him right for not putting the kite on!
Anyway the other boats electric outboard died, wind dropped and they needed a tow I shall remember the Rear Commodore Sailing 's quote as he launched a rescue boat, but not publish it here. I may have grown as person.
April