Position: Moored Rushcutters Bay, Port Jackson
Wind: SE, F3
Sea: calm Swell: nil
Weather: partly cloudy, mild

The highlight for last week was the CYCA's media launch for the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. As mentioned last week, I was privileged to be invited to the panel of five other skippers to represent the different aspects of the race. Clearly, Sylph was representing the older vintage boats in the fleet and, as I mentioned at the conference and which was subsequently reported in the Sydney Morning Herald, the S2H is a unique event on Australia's sporting calendar where slow old Corinthians like me and Sylph can rub shoulders with the professional elite in the likes of John Winning Jr. and Andoo Commanche, in a shared passion for sailing.

I am pleased to say that the media launch went very well, in particular for Sylph, or perhaps more accurately for Oli, who got a lot of coverage in most of the major media outlets, including the SMH, the Daily Telegraph and the ABC, and making it as far afield as the Pilbara News (pilbaranews.com.au/sport/sailing/oli-the-cat-to-join-bob-williams-in-sydney-to-hobart-c-12649846). And our moment in the sun isn't over yet with an interview scheduled for this morning with the BBC and a radio interview with ABC Tasmania this evening. We will of course ensure that this bubble of media interest does not go to our head, certainly it does not seem to be effecting Oli's usual aloof outlook on life.

This coming Friday we will be participating in the Cabbage Tree Island Race, once more joining the big maxis and our friend and rival, Currawong, at the start line. I have ordered a new spinnaker and with luck we will have it in time to fly if conditions are suitable.

All is well.