ONE OFF the list
Having been the artist on this mag for many years now it might come as a surprise to readers that I have never been on a catamaran before (well, not one that is moving anyway). I can almost hear the collective groans of “whats?” and “why nots?”. Now that’s not to say I haven’t sailed before …. I have .. and I loved it so when Louise emailed us at Multihull World magazine and invited me to be a part of the Lightwave Owners Twenty 10 Regatta in October it only took a heartbeat to reply “ooh, yes please”. I almost added that “I promise to be on my best behaviour” but thought this might indicate that sometimes I’m not.
SO OBVIOUSLY I HAVE DEALT WITH
Lightwave Yachts a lot in the past but it has been mostly by email, I have however, met Louise a few times and had a couple of chats with Linda over the phone but it occurred to me that I didn’t really know anyone.
So it was with, I must admit, a little trepidation that I joined Lightwave Yachts and the ‘Lightwavees’ at the Southport Yacht Club on the Friday afternoon.
As it turned out I had nothing to worry about of course, within 10 minutes Linda had made me feel quite comfortable and intros were made all round (thank God for name tags).
I had been invited onboard Axis Mundi, the new Lightwave 38 (featured in this mag issue #102) with Wayne and Donna from Robinson Cruises charter company out of Cleveland Bay (www.robinsoncruises.com or phone 07 3488 0050) and when I met them any remaining vestiges of nervousness slipped away.
That afternoon at the Take Me There Lightwave Cruisers Session (sponsored by SYC Sail Paradise) Peter Faulkner told the story of his and Penny’s four and a half year circumnavation of the world in their Lightwave 45’ Innforapenny II. Being a ‘globetrotter’ myself (albeit by land and air) I found his absolutely fascinating as did everybody else if the steady flow of questions afterwards was anything to go by.
Sponsored by Volvo Penta with Choice Stainless, dinner that night was a combo Dynamic Duo/Homecoming party for the intrepid sailors and was attended by plenty of A-Listers such as Homer & Marg; Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton, a Formula One Driver with his Miss Indy and even the Blues Brothers made an appearance.
The next morning, if by magic, the storm clouds of the past few days rolled away and Saturday dawned bright and clear for the Finlease Champagne Breakfast, deliciously provided by Russell from caterers Spits ‘N’ Pieces, fruit kebabs, pastries and well … champagne.
It was here I heard murmurs of “rough night in the marina” – “What? here?” I wondered. I had slept soundly in the oh-so-comfortable queen cabin and was totally oblivious to anything going on outside.
Breakfast was followed by the Power Protection Supplies ‘Mr Figurehead’ competition which was gallantly won by the guys from Red Undies – Lightwave 38 from Sydney and then it was time to hit the water for Marine Control Systems
‘Ladies at the Helm’ or in my case ‘rookies at the helm’ to Dux Anchorage at South Stradbroke Island. We weren’t first, but we weren’t last either, not that it mattered, it was a lovely day on the water and Donna and I got to know each other easily as women tend to do.
The Ronstan Barbecue and NCS Resins Sundowners on Straddie that night was a lot of fun and with some not yet ready to call it a night we piled back onto Axis Mundi, Wayne had Roger make a few modifications to the back deck and these provided ample room for the 10 or so of us.
After the briefing on Sunday morning (which I can’t tell you about because I didn’t make it), Wayne and Donna headed back to Cleveland and I jumped ship onto WaveDancer, the 40’ motorcat of Peter and Lorraine, who had Linda onboard as crew for a very enjoyable.
Raymarine Sea Patrolling Cruise to Paradise Point for the Yanmar Long Lunch, once again catered by Spits ‘N’ Pieces, this time a Five Nations Buffet Lunch. (Oh and thanks for the lift Russell).
It was a thoroughly enjoyable weekend, I do have a wish list, and it is now one item less, thanks to Louise and Roger, Linda (you’re a gem), Wayne and Donna, I think there is sympatico between you guys and Axis Mundi and of course all the other Lightwave owners, you’re a really terrific bunch of people and it was a pleasure to spend some time with you all.
