Yes, at long last it’s time to start the SharpieBabbling again! It’s been a long time since the site was updated and that’s all sorted now. Cheers for the support from afar to continue the good work of pointing out the delinquent behaviour around the planet! Even the press are onto us! – see the photo

So… how should I sum up the years since the site was last updated?… got married, settled down, got a dog, got a yacht, got a permie job (as opposed to the last 17 years of contracting), became an Australian citizen (yes, now I get to go to jail in a warm climate!)  and based myself in Brisbane then now Sydney. Times change, things move on. I kept most of that, only losing the married and dog bit. Great dog though.

  Tomorrow is the big day! Many thanks for all the interest that’s been shown around the world. I know there’s a fair few folk out there watching, so will update www.floppyflaps.com  when I can. Next update after this will be from Hobart.

Live news about the race and our progress can be seen on the official website http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/default.asp

As all boats now carry a GPS transmitter, you can also keep a real-time eye on our progress by using the yacht tracker on http://rolexsydneyhobart.com/yacht_tracker.asp. Our boat is Kioni, a Beneteau 47.7” Sail number 6146,  so add this one to your favourites to watch!

I’m all set at this end and today being xmas day, I’ve taken the opportunity to sleep in, have an afternoon nap and then doze for a a few hours too!! Lazy?…maybe…but I like to think of it as ‘stockpiling’ my sleep!   With the prospect of 4 hours on, 4 off in the day and 3 on, 3 off at night, I have no issues with getting as much extra sleep before then as I can.

Sharpie on Kioni

This year, I will at last complete one of those check boxes on the tick list of life – and hopefully it won’t be the only time. On December 26th 2009 at 1pm, the Sydney Hobart race starts, only this time I will be on it, sailing on Kioni, a Benneteau First 47.7” (there’s still a couple of places too!).

There will be 14 of us on board for that race – a watch system of 7 on, 7 off for the duration of hopefully 4 days or less.

The race is a great Australian Icon watched by thousands here in Sydney every year and watched by millions form around the world. It’s one of the gnarliest, toughest and most challenging races there is. This is the race that some folk died on some years ago in 1998. There are some Videos of Sydney Hobart Race 1998 – which I saw the start of – whilst thinking why would they be going out given the forecast? I guess the message is clear now about this – Corporate sponsorship and just sheer  enthusiasm should not exceed lives. The fortuitous result of what happened then is that there are now many more safety criteria in place. To compete now, crew require radio operators licence, have completed Survival at Sea courses, Senior First Aid courses (ever tried to fix a broken leg on deck in 40kn –  ie 70kmph wind?), along with qualification through at least one other Class I offshore race – and a whole bunch of experience around all that. 

Still, it’s not all Armageddon  take last year for example, when some of the crews were sunning themselves on deck during the race, whilst waiting for the absent wind to fill in.

You can monitor the race on the official Rolex site or the CYCA website and as the time draws closer there will be a whole heap of stuff on Floppyflaps about this great sailing event.

Simple really – Come out of the Harbour, hang a right, keep going for 3 or 4 days, then hang another right once you start running out the the land that appeared on your right at some stage!

This part of the site is dedicated to those snippets of fun stories and tales, not big enough to warrant a whole article, but funny enough to get some space here.
Got a funny for floppy flaps? Click here and tell us about it! and get your name on the list of fame to go here below. If you really make us laugh then we might just send you a floppyflaps T shirt for your trouble, so start tappin'!
Scottish Colin, the offshore oil worker;  Meg "Front Loader" Garven; Steve Mitchell; Frank "One Eyed" Rosser - Sydney Thirsty Hash House Harriers; Willy "Beach" Eaton

Big Mac and Fried Brain Please!
Those Ozzie girls have been at it again! This girl goes to do a bit of shopping with her Aunt, who asks to drive. Toward the end of the day, they decide to order at a drive-thro McDonalds. Her Aunt orders the usual Big mac etc., same for her niece.... only the order isn't forthcoming...because she has just placed the order with the rubbish bin near to the order point!
Source - TripleM Radio, Sydney

Marriage Can Be Bad For You!
A Malaysian woman who was due to be married died after being bitten by a 3 metre long king cobra. Family member said "When it was time for prayers, Arni took her nieces into the room to change their clothes. She did not see the snake on the bed and it bit her. She was buried in her wedding dress
Source - New Sunday Times, Malaysia