Fanging round a different kind of racetrack

These are V10 beasts boasting 580+ BHP...

As well as being keen on boats, some of our crew are also very keen on racing cars.

Here's a report on some interesting racing and fast-car driving in China.

The contact in China is here.

Anyone like to join me in a little jaunt to drive super fast cars in China?

Print out of the SCMP article below the fold...

"Harbour watchdog backs yacht club's proposal for racing facilities"

Quotes our Roger Eastham: 

Roger Eastham, the [Royal Hong Kong Yacht] club's marine services manager, said: "Our concern is the development will be made without consideration of these facilities."
Eastham said international organisations were genuinely interested in holding yacht races in the city but were discouraged by the lack of basic waterfront facilities, such as space for a viewing arena, a stage and electricity.
The club would take this opportunity to dispel the perception that sailing is only for the rich. "We just want to improve the waterfront from cultural, leisure and sport perspectives. It's not something we want to own or operate," Eastham said.....

Article below the fold...

New 3Di Main

From Stevo this morning, two piccies of the new North's 3Di Mainsail at its NZ loft.

Wow, those numbers sure pop!

Yum...
(Bit of roach there... will keep MC Danger busy waggling the backstay...)

Xena: Racing program 2013

I have just posted ideas of the races and regattas we may take part in next year.  Here.
Expressions of interest welcome!

Advanced Speed Tips: Mainsail Twist

The mainsail trimmer on Fez has depowered the main to
cope with a sudden gust of wind.  By including more
mainsail twist, the boat remains upright and sails faster.  Ref.

After posting the article immediately below on sea breezes, I created a new Label: "Sailing Lessons".
So, here's another one  from 2010, which will be of interest to some,  especially our esteemed Mainsail trimmer, MC Danger: "Getting a handle on mainsail twist ..."

"Four Ways to Win the Sea Breeze Game"

[Click to enlarge]

Thanks to Jamie from RHKYC BigBoatGroup, who says "cracking article".  I do buy the "back-door sea breeze" for the hole at bottom of Beaufort Channel in the RTI....  Said similar at the time on Tom's Vega: sea breeze battling the offshore gradient wind (which, probably having been "sideshore", likely made it a "back-door sea breeze"...).

Xena lying third in Asian Yachting Grand Prix Championship(!)

This is a Screenshot. It'll change over time, so I thought I'd
cement the placings as of today.  The site is here.

I didn't even know we were in this Championship....  And here we are just one point off equal first!
Hat-tip to Stevo for bringing to our attention.... The other regattas that count to the championship are King's Cup, San Fernando, Boracay and Samui.

Link here.

In Ao Chalong, Phuket

Arrived 9:00 pm last night, 13th November. Pos: 7 49'N 98 21'E. (Google Earth image)

Email from Grant, 21:00, 13 November:

Hi Peter and Jing
Happy to report that "Xena" is at anchor in Ao Chalong , Phuket with 11.7ft under Her keel.
Just about to inflate dingy then off into Immigration, Port Authorities to clear in.

When back will dive to check if we sustained much chain damage to the keel in Sanya, there is sure to be some, hopefully not too much.
From above,  the only chain scuff is right at the bow on the port side and that is pretty minor to the antifoul.
Was pleased that we were able to polish out 90 percent of the hull sratches.

Hot Hot here.

Cheers, Grant.

178 Miles to go....

Green: 09:00 12 Nov: 5 45'N 99 54'E.  (Red: this year; yellow: last year)

Email from Grant:

...
Light sea breeze here at present so taking opportunity to motor sail and reduce diesel consumption.

All OK onboard.

Cheers Grant.

Checked out of Singapore on way to Phuket

Green pin: 09:00, 10 Nov, 1 59' N 102 25' E. (Yellow pins: last year)

Email from Grant, 19:15, 9 Nov:

Hi Peter
Checked out of Singapore and now heading north.
Big rain storm here lots lightening.
All running smoothly at present.
Cheers, Grant.

AIS issue: needs new GPS unit on coachroof, PF to bring down from Hong Kong.
Sails: Main and J1: won't be ready to pick up in Langkawi, expected arrival there 26 November, so will be brought up to Phuket by Kukukerchu which will have just finished the Raja Muda at Langkawi.

Photos from Grant; still in Singapore

"Exhausted and wishing he'd stayed in Subic".  Oscar gets a rest after
typhoon Son-Tinh

"Exhausted but survived".  Noel gets a rest after the storm

"Typhoon Son-Tinh at Sanya Port"

"Ship that dragged onto us seen here as they move after worst passed"

"Too close but they are steel and don't care".  Dragging anchor in Sanya

The "boyz" still in Singapore, trying to sort out a few issues with AIS transmitting, Generator output current control, Tricolour light, cleaning up marks from the boats that dragged onto Xena in Sanya Port, changing impellers in Engine and Genset,  etc....

Heading into Singapore

09:00, 5 Nov: 1 19'N 104 12'E.

Xena heading into Keppel Marina... Grant's email this morning:

Morning Peter,
Been waiting for daylight just off Horsburgh Light at entrance to Singapore, now heading in.
Raining and looks like more to come.
Heading for Keppel Marina central Singapore for more fuel and few more fresh provisions.
Intend to service both the Main motor( motor surgging a little) and Genset ...change filters check impellers, etc.
Will also go up mast check Tri light bulb serial number.

Re the AIS issue (receiving, not transmitting):
Thanks for Ray's thoughts.
The GPS anteena next to the instruments and beside the pit Stb winch I believe is working correctly as indicated by its pulsing green light and it is giving us correct GPS co-ordinates at all times on the two plotters.
I have also loosened all the cables going into the TRX unit and moved around before tightening again.
No improvement...........when in the smoother water of Keppel Marina will remove all cables , clean and re-connect see if that will fix. However Iam wondering if it may be something internal with the circuit and maybe been like that for awhile?
If I can't fix would we want to fix here or wait till we get to Phuket...........Believe Mick of Octopus Marine is Phuket agent.
Not sure who is here , guess Ray would know ?

Have contacted Ray of Raymarine, for comments....

Update, 12:20, 5 Nov:

Nearly there.....2 Km to go....

Xena PosRep 3- 4 Nov

Red Pin: 09:00, 3 Nov.  4 46'N 106 20'E.

Light following winds.  6-7 Knots SOG, 206T, about 250 miles to Singapore.  "All well" says Grant. Getting Predict Wind updates by email, but Text only, no KML file, not sure why....
Update 4 Nov:

09:00, 4 Nov: 2 55'N 104 42'E

Approaching Singapore.  AIS not transmitting, so extra watches out, radar reflector up.
Email from Grant:
Have changed course heading out of the big traffic into the shallower areas off the coast where the big fast movers don't go. However will take us awhile to get in there.
In the meantime extra careful watch.........like a long tail cat in a room full of rocking chairs.

Xena PosRep 2 Nov

Bottom Red pin: 09:00 today. 6 53'N 107 34'E

Tootling along at 6-7 knots, 211T, in light Easterlies.  Same forecast for coming days.  Still in front of last year's run.

Leaving Vietnam waters

Bottom Red pin: 08:00 today 09 12'N 109 04' E. [yellow pins: last year]

Travelling along at 9.5 knots, 198T, in moderate following breezes.
The Boat Tracking is now working again.  Please go here to see how to log in and follow Xena on Predict Wind. [it's also in the Tab above, "Track Xena"]