Winter is upon us and we've been training hard, on and off the water, recently buying nav lights due to having to train in the dark because of the sun setting so early!! But the cold and dark haven't put us off and we're super dooper excited to announce getting our new boat in the last weeks :) :) The Mackay, 55245 has only sailed a few regattas, in great condition. We're not super sure of its origins... (GBR sail numbers but IRL hull on measurement certificate....lol!!)

LOL took off from MYC on Monday morning for a fun little 'adventure'!! sailing from MYC to BYS, sleeping in Blairgowrie and sailing back on Tuesday :b Saw a big pod of dolphins (they were huge!!) off Mt.Martha on the way down. Had some nice breeze at times and put the kite up, also ran out a few times and had to be towed..!! Lol. Thanks Jasper and Mel for escorting us one way each in the rib :b - might have taken us a bit too long otherwise....!! And thanks to the Harding's for their hospitality :b 

After spending the long weekend out on the water at Sandringham Yacht Club, we've now completed the 2015 Victorian 420 State Championships.
We had light wind for 8 out of the 10 races, which was great to test all of our skills.

We're happy to say that our time in Perth is almost over, and it's been an awesome journey to Fremantle, WA to compete in the Australian 420 and youth championships. We were fronted with challenging conditions and tough competition but took them on wearing smiles and enjoying the experience. We saw constant improvements day by day but unfortunately after sitting in the top 10 multiple times during racing and winning some starts, day three of Nationals saw Ella break her hand and wrist. Regardless of this massive disappointment, the months of training on the water and fitness off the water still went to use and qualified us for the 2015 world 420 championships in Karatsu, Japan, which is very exciting.

Week 2 for the 2015 Australian Youth Championships

First week down in Perth, 420 nats over. Guess it didn't exactly go to plan...!! Had a promising start, rounding first mark top 12 in invitation race. Day 2, while the results don't show it, was a lot better than day 1 with an awesome first port tack start off the pin and inside top 10 for a few legs before kite tangles. On day 3 we were top 5 for a few legs before kite tangles again still finishing 17th. Going well for race 2 before a capsize which ended in a broken rudder box and Ella breaking her hand. (Most injured 420 sailors, us??!) Thanks to Sian Harding and Josh Copeland for stepping in for Elz. Jack Abbott filling in for youths :) Elzy and I hoping the new year will bring us a bit more luck!!

- Soph

Finally the time to pack up and send the boats off the Perth has come!! After all our hard training, we made it to Sandringham.Y.C for our last regatta before Nationals, Sail Melbourne. We spent the Wednesday training with Bunny and our friends/training partners and doing the last repairs on the boat. We had small session on the water in not a lot of wind, but it was good to test out the new sails.

We're training hard for Nationals, 3 times a week with Bunny as coach and Jack & Caroline as our training partner. We've had two awesome sessions on the water the past two nights, joined by a pod of about 10 dolphins last night!! Down to Davey's Bay and back tonight :) :) :)

Below: Good Pics, Thanks Bunny!!