Wot Eva

At last count, there were about a dozen watercraft at Nana Brine's place - ranging from old skool logs to thrusters with glassed on fins. Quite a quiver for somebody who can't swim. But the craft that takes pride of place is a beautiful wooden replica of Captain James Cook's vessel of discovery the Endeavour, built by her late husband Hughie. Every Boxing Day we would sit together at midday to watch the beginning of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race on TV, with Hughie issuing all manner of nautical descriptions and tactical advice as hundreds of boats sailed out of the beautiful Sydney Harbour towards the treacherous waters of the Tasman Sea, past Shipstern's Bluff, into Storm Bay and on to Hobart. Today is no different, except that Hughie is with us in spirit. This blog is dedicated to the crew of the 52 foot carbon fibre yacht Wot Eva. These are all sailors with some sort of disability, but still hammering away hard at life. Sail hard and sail safe. 624 nautical miles to go.