Decepti · n proves a point . for pser Sails ..... Buying sails for your boat is top racing yachts in exception. We can show a big decision. To start with Australia. After considering many other yachts that have they're not cheap and to all the alternatives, John benefited from our services, coin an old cliche, they are chose Fraser Sails as his so if you're about to make a "the horsepower of a yacht" sailmakers. Bob Fraser and decision on sails for your and yet so many people buy his team worked on every yacht; don't be a creature of sails from habit without even aspect of the boat's habit. Give Bob Fraser a call ; considering the ·alternatives. performance - the results there is an alternative. John BleakleY., owner of speak for themselves. Deception, is one man who Deception ·was clearly the doesn't take decisions so top point scorer in the <:f,ra"e,-:., Sail" 6NEILD AVE ., lightly. John bought Southern Cross Cup RUSHCUTTERS BAY. Deception with one thing in selection trials. 0 PHONE:33-4836 or 33-4341. mind, to make her one of the Deception is not an OFFSHORE Number 51 December 1979/January 1980 Contents The '79 Hobart: weather and winner 2 Biggies' Column 5 Victory at Henley 6 Southern Cross Cup Roundup 10 Cooking at Sea 28 The Saga of the Navigator's Apprentice 31 Protest 33 OFFSHORE SIGNALS 37 Tatersall's Cup goes to the winner of AROUND THE SLIPWAY 40 the Hitachi Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race or, rather, to the Club nominated by the winner. An irreplaceable work of art, this magnificent trophy was de• signed at the suggestion of the late Walter Marks, who tried to foster a yachting event between Australia and New Zealand to be conducted along the lines of England's Lipton Cup; it never eventuated. The trophy stands 25 inches high with its plinth; for years Prouds kept it on show as an example of the silversmith's art. It was purchased by the George Adams 'Offshore' is published every two months by the estate only after Prouds were satisfied Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, New Beach Road, that the Sydney-Hobart Race would Darling Point, N.S.W. 2027. Telephone 32 9731, become an event of extraordinary Cables " SEAWYSEA" significance. The winner of this trophy himself receives a 'replica' in the form Advertising and Editorial material : of a model of the Derwent Light, The Editor, 'Offshore', C/ ~ .Y .C.A. commonly called the 'Iron Pot'. Subscriptions: Australia $5.50. Overseas $7.00. Photograph by David Colfelt. Air Mail rate on application. Editor: David J. Colfelt * Recommended price only Registered for posting as a publication - Category (B) OFFSHORE, December 1979-January 1980 - 1 197980 picking the weather and the winner by Tony Cable Here it is over five weeks before the do the Race. "Ha, ha," they say, "that (out of 150 or so starters!) but now, Hobart and the Editor has pressured mug Cable has stupidly not predicted in addition, he wants me to rank the me again for an article on what the our extremely hot boat to win", or five in order of handicap placing. weather will be and who will win "Fancy him picking that clunker the Race. He's priceless! Being not 'Saucy Sue' to win". I thought that this unreasonable Ed itor even an ocean racer's seaboot he com­ might have fired me after last year missions these long-range predictions Not only do I have to labour under when I really went dud in pred icting as he would a 'cooking at sea' article such difficulties, but every year he the weather. I had thought that it might without regard to how much this makes the job harder and harder. Last have got a bit fresh here and there, but writer puts himself up for ridicule year he limited me to only five choices, it turned out to be a calm luxury cruise, from all those famous yachtsmen who and this year the number hasn't changed with the fearsome Bass Strait hav ing 2 - OFFSHORE, December 1979-January 1980 no more ripples on it than your bath. The cook hasn't discovered yet that, you or you might trip over them on I was not too dismayed, however; even in the food locker, the top has come off bar-room floors. the weather bureau is occasionally the Bonox cind leaked into a bag of wrong, and I am confident that this sugar, and he won't find out for another Look at another nasty bunch on year I will be approximately 100 per two days, nor does he know that it 'Mirrabooka'; John Bennette is taking cent right. has also gone through the skipper's the likes of Mickleborough and Dudley wife's fruit cake. Burridge and Dole Munro, who last Weather-wise I can advise that you'd year retired from ocean racing - after better get the old spitfires and stays'I s The nav is a trifle seedy and a bit surly th is one he really will! out of mothballs; bring snorkels and as even more drips have found the wet suits and check that the hem is chart table, and ne knows now that he Next in evaluating the field be very not about to fall out of your oilskin won't win the ·Navigator's Prize be:ause severe in objectively deciding who tweeds. This year it's going to be so the ink has run in his logbook. will win. The older ·designs in an inter­ fresh on Boxing Day that even penguin national fleet will demolish the feathers will fly aboard - straight from You know, in visualising all this I 'Salacia 11 s' with their age allowances. the Pole. Some boats will not even thought that I should revive my idea Half-tonners will not win; their size is make Botany Bay, Kiama and Jervis of a 'Pull-up-to-a-Bumboat Service'. against them for a long trip. Also, Bay, let alone anywhere else, and With th is I would have boats stationed only go for top-form boats, ones that once again the fishing communities at five mile intervals east of Gabo have al ready been racing well. Like further south will, as a change from offering a sort of ocean racing fleet the Melbourne Cup, all the runners are tuna boats, see some partly exploded replenishment se·rvice. You could come triers and the horse with the best form ocean racers. I don't care what the alongside for warm showers and dry will take it. Bureau says; Hewey will not allow us to shoes, socks and underpants. There cross the Strait again without 40 bags would be piped-in soothing music It seems to me that picking the winner on the nose. After that we will get some (Moonlight Bay, etc) playing, and these days is rendered harder by the peace and quiet from the Tassie coast available will be a crew remotivation lack of survivability of the new boats. and give the spinnakers a go in some and counselling service to convince Designers, builders, riggers, etc., in I ightish northwest breezes which will those with saucer eyes that those big their quest for I ightness and so on have give the 1-tonners and such I ike (what's waves don't hurt all that much when sacrificed strength and reliability. The left of them) a chance to catch up a they hit you. Prices would not be new aluminium sections, fewer frames, bit. reasonable - rather hiked to what the carbon fibre (remember Kevlar sails?) market will bear at such times. and such things are all fine except that To give some further colour to what their whole purpose is lost when things this will be like, I can imagine it when So much for the weather. Who is going fall apart in the Strait. 'Bumblebee 4' 75 miles south of Gabo. Those miser­ to win? Last year I disregarded the lost her mast in the first few minutes at able for'ard hands up on the bow going Editor and chose nine to win rather sea the other day . 'Apollo IV' (one of chug , chug, chug up those big greenies, than his five, and No. 9 was 'Love And my predictions last year) barely got to pausing at the top and then seeing War' ... "well geared and strongly Botany Bay before her rudder went. I their I ife go before them ... they know crewed, she is a real danger." This fancy a couple of boats that have that, if the helmsman lets her drop, article being the fifth of the series, scarcely been launched, with the reserv­ they will be smashed down in the readers will know that I consider that ation that it used to be that a boat t rough just like Humpty Dumpty or, to pick the winner is dead easy as long should be worked up to get her going; alternatively, they will experience as you stick to a few essential guide­ now she seems to have to sail for an fighter pilot's 'red out' as she zooms lines. Firstly, be very circumspect initial period simply to find out which down, only to be revived by the seven ­ about the skippers and crews. Some of her new fancy equipment is going knot rush of cold water 5ft under the journalists and hot critics often ascribe to pack it in. next wave. (The only advantage of the fantastic abilities to some sailors who big waves is you have such a wonder­ by no means deserve them.