This question flashed across my mind as I logged in to read the online Australian newspapers this morning and saw the heartbreaking struggle of the crew of the famous Aussie vintage yacht Koomooloo. You have one guy bailing for his life, another frantically calling for help on the VHF and a third man desperately fighting with the tiller - all in the name of a yacht race.




It was with a sense of deja vu that I read about fearsome seas along Australia's east coast forcing nine boats out of this year's Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race classic and putting six rescued yachtsmen in hospital. At least there have been no fatalities as happened in the 1998 event. Still, some of the big, expensive carbon-fibre racing monsters were dismasted and I think that nobody will sleep easily until all of the boats are in Hobart - safely.

I don't normally give two figs for yacht racing, but then, to many Australians Boxing Day means the fourth Cricket Test Match in Melbourne (where we'll wallop the Poms again) and the start of this epic Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race. It's just a funny part of Christmas Down-Under and it seems a natural thing for me to follow the fleet out of Sydney and wish it well as it heads down the coast, even if I live at the other end of the earth. I admit that I did shed a quiet tear for Koomooloo as she reminded me so much of our own boat, Fiona and I know how devastated we'd be if we had to abandon ship.




Taking Lambi out for a walk this afternoon, shows you just how dark it can be here at four in the afternoon, with the moon making an eerie effect on the wall of our apartment building. At least it will gradually start getting lighter as the year comes to an end.

You will notice that I have had trouble publishing with Blogger (again!) and so there are several backdated entries today. And no ability to comment on other blogs, for which I apologise, but I guess that glitch won't be fixed until the New Year either. All part of Blogger's teething problems, especially with those of us using FTP publishing.

We have to drive down to Malmö, so this may be my last post until the New Year. I hope everyone has a happy and safe entry into 2007. I leave you with this wonderful little video of a dear old lady showing the brash young man in his börsmoppe the power of us oldies! Look out Nynäshamn - I am SO going to be that old lady.