J24 Australians, Day 1 (Jan. 9)

Getting ready for the first day of racing in the Australian Championships (one of my many long overdue, now outdated, posts that I've been wanting to make for days). Mess and Daniel make some final adjustments adding a skirt line to the genoa.

Mess....sewing, Daniel standing by....with bandages (just kidding):
















A Dingo approaches. Perhaps Mess pricked his finger and the smell of blood draws The Dingo near:























The Dingo spots fresh meat (Messenger's leg) and moves in to get a closer "whiff":
















The Dingo contemplates Mess's leg ..."Maybe the Dingo ate your leg":























But in the end, Mess's charm wins over The Dingo and they become friends. Kay, so maybe it's only half Dingo. The other half? German Sheppard:
















Soulmates:
















The boys get ready to race for Day 1 of the Australians:
















Leaving the dock:
















Heading out, the anticipation building:























But their first challenge? Far worse than shark-infested waters (and I'm not just talking about the big fishes) the boys navigate through optimist-infested waters. Thanks to Rossi's tactical skills, only the Opti's are bonking into each other. Rex breezes past with no issues:













Unfortunately I haven't been able to get on a boat to take pictures of the J's racing. I hope to soon. The only, um, "racing" I've seen are the junior sailors in their opti's practicing in the harbour. Which, in many ways, can be much more entertaining and educational:
















Mark rounding:








































I learn later that evening that while they managed to steer clear of the Opti's, one of the boats came up to them, bonked into them and said "Your Canadian.....say 'about' ".