The Voss Dufour World Tour

The skies were dark, but the wind light as we peered off into the distance, aided by a pair of binoculars. Very quickly a crowd was gathering on the cliffs at Bronte Beach. Perfect timing because around the heads came Wild Oats  XI, Alfa Romero and ICAP Leopard, all maxi yachts cruising on their way to Hobart, Tasmania, having just left the Sydney Harbor. All hoping to win Australia’s most famous summer sporting event, the Sydney to Hobart Sailing Race.

While it was a less than picturesque scene, the excitement was still tangible in the air.  Helicopters hovered around the three leaders out of the gate, small pleasure crafts and large cruise boats circled the yachts, all hoping to get close glimpses of the crew and their movements. The boats were sailing along at about 10 nautical miles. Rain continued to threaten them and the winds were lights which influenced each boat’s tactics.

Wild Oats XI is a four time winner and each year the other boats do what they can to prevent it from winning again. The way things stand right now (I just checked the yacht tracker) only 5 nautical miles separate Alpha Romero and Wild Oats XI with Leopard side by side with Alpha Romero.  Over 100 boats have entered this year’s race, but the maxi yachts, anything over 100 feet, are the ones to watch.  So far only four boats have retired and turned back to the Sydney Harbor, mostly due to rigging issues. (Clearly I have read most of the race’s website!)

The record for the course is just shy of 2 days but it looks like the 2009 winner will take just shy of 3 days to complete the course and arrive in beautiful Hobart, Tasmania. I only hope they have better weather than we do here!

Celebrating Christmas during summer just doesn’t sit well with someone from the northeast who has always hoped for a white Christmas. But here I was, Christmas 2009, on one of Australia’s most famous beaches, Bondi Beach, in a bathing suit, about to go swimming. Granted it was overcast and rainy and honestly, cold (but the upside was that it wasn’t as cold as Boston so really I couldn’t, nor shouldn’t, complain.)

Other couch surfing friends, both new and well, all were new, had decided to join James and I in a festive swim, for many people making a first time of swimming on Christmas.  We decided hot tubs didn’t count for any previous Christmas water activities. The skies were gray, the water a light sea green, the clouds dark, the waves big and our skin goosepimpled but regardless we ran in anyway.

The time spent frolicking in the ocean, yes, we frolicked, brought us closer. Until then conversation when we first gathered was, where are you from, how long have you been in Australia, where else are you going, how long are you travelling for..you get the idea.  But I am so much more than my travel plans. I am someone who will swim in Australia on Christmas because that’s what you are supposed to do..unless of course it’s awful weather and the obligation is less. But by  having a joint adventure with others, the ice was broken and the conversation flowed even more.

As an orphan on Christmas, it was fun to be social with other travellers, people from all around the globe. With no family or social plans, eating schedules to adhere to or presents to open, we were all doing our own thing, but together.  This was also one of the first times that James and I had participated in a Couch Surfing Community Event and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.  It was a great way to celebrate a holiday that can get caught up in consumer spending,  receiving gifts and stress….perhaps the true meaning gets lost at times. Our Christmas 2009 was about new friends and laughter. In the absence of our friends and family, it was a wonderful way to celebrate.