Management 101
Sunday’s Queen of the Harbour race for the 18s was a good lesson in managing one of these 18 campaigns… or how not to do it.
The day started quietly as I got out of bed and drove over the hill to pick up the boat and get it into a good spot in the park.
But the boat wasn’t there.
Ok, maybe for some reason it was already at the park…. no.
Maybe it was at the factory…. no.
So I race home, fire up the computer and get the phone number of the Club Marine guy who was planning to take the boat to Brisbane later this week.
Any ideas on where the boat ended up being? Facking Hornsby! Almost a 2 hour round trip to pick up!
I had to race over and borrow a car capable of towing it that distance, and then start driving… and driving.
But I made it back to the park at about midday, having missed the whole breakfast, shower, lunch thing.
Then we put the rig in the boat and start putting the sails on. Cam goes over to get the repaired centreboard from VanMunster.
No, the centreboard is at the workshop in Morriset (close to 4 hour round trip). Woody is using the old one.
So I grab the keys off Woody and race out to the factory to get another one that might fit…
Come race time I’m wrecked. After racing around sorting crap out all morning I’m ready to go to sleep, let alone race.
Anyway, we do race. Getting off the startline badly all 3 times, and cruising around in an easy 10 knot NE breeze to finish deep in the fleet.
And afterwards… we pack up… and it’s back on the road… to get the boat back to Hornsby.
I guess it’s the least I can do for the sponsor… but gees.
I might just try and be a bit more organised next time. Or go back to sheet and avoid the hassle.
March 12th, 2007 at 3:34 pm
But who was the Queen? and what boat did she sail on? and how do i find out more about what that boats sponsor does? A small article on the race should clear this up i think.