Shearwater's Big Day Out on Sydney Harbour...

[khiemtran]

Writing about sailing adventures got interrupted this weekend... by more sailing adventures.

Comments

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

I hear it's really bad luck to break Mirrors...

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

It is! Although also the cheaper the boat, the easier it is to repair...

[heliopausa.livejournal.com]

Lovely to see! :)

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It was a fun day...

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

So you had the camera hanging or attached at the far end of the boom? Sometimes the angle was so intense! I couldn't help feeling grateful to gravity for keeping you held tight to the planet. Did you adjust it at all, or do the changes in perspective just represent changes in the positioning of the sail?

(Glad the collision did no damage!)

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, the camera is fixed on the end of the boom using a roll bar mount (meant for attaching cameras to the roll bar of a car). When we're heading upwind, we want the boom in as close as possible, so the wind can flow over the sail, so the camera points along the boat. When we're heading downwind, the boom is out as wide as possible, so the camera shows us from the side.

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

You rammed 'er! Glad no damage done, except to pride.

What fantastic footage! It wasn't until I had this boat's-eye view that I realised just how fast you are travelling and how quick your reactions have to be...

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

We're actually not going that fast - typically about 7-8 kms an hour. But it looks a bit faster because we're so close to the water.

When we had the collision, we actually had right of way (we were on a starboard tack and port always gives way to starboard), but neither boat saw the other in time. I blame the GoPro. It was the only one to see the whole thing coming and it never said a word.

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

Liem looks to be quite the sailor!

Hooray for damaged pride...er, I mean run-ins with no major consequences.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Yes, we were lucky Mirrors are comparatively slow (and tough!). There were still a few adventures getting back after the video ended. We had to cut in through the fleet of big yachts in order to get home and then dodge some high speed ferries, skiffs, and even seaplanes. No photos of that, but hopefully Liem will remember it for a lifetime.