10 sleeps to go

The ten sleeps to go mark has officially arrived.  The last of the ropes were threaded earlier today, the safety inspections have been completed, gas bottles filled, and the list goes on.  Mum, dad and Brad have been working flat-out on the boat with the work finally starting to pay dividends.  New Years day allowed us the most magnificent sail in Table Bay.  With the code zero up, we set off taking Ciao Bella on her first sail for 2011.  Have the final engine service scheduled for Monday, and the food shop that needs to be completed, but other than that we are properly on track for Saturday. 

Racing in Australia is going extremely well.  Ryan and Rick (now referred to as the locals as the South Africa pocket rocket) have crept up to fourth position overall after getting another first position in today's racing.  Bren and Michaela-Mae are currenly lying 17th (out of 61 boats), despite the terrible luck with equipment failure over the past few days. 

(Ry and Rick - below left; Bren and Michaela-Mae - below right;)

Tomorrow is my final day in the jhb office and am hoping desperately for the weather to be kind this weekend.  Big food shop planned for early next week... hopefully all the mad-shoppers will have left the malls by then.