One of the blokes at work invited me on a "Champagne Delivery" on the weekend. Knowing my appetite for a few quiet beverages, this sounds like a terrible idea. But no, this is a description for taking an expensive yacht and delivering it where required, with ideal sailing conditions. With a westerly prevalent for most of last week, and for the duration of the trip, it was a very pleasant introduction to off-shore sailing.

Pla Loma IV was the boat I was able to jump on. Apparently, Pla Loma is Singaporean for "dolphin". Pla Loma competed in the Sydney to Hobart last year and was a very impressive boat! The wind built up to 30 knots on Saturday, propelling us to about 11 knots*.

I learnt all about "running", "reaching" and "working". I now know what "on the nose" means and can recognise "pressure building", "bullets" and "pressure dropping" (well, sort of!). I know that hoisting the halyard for the mainsail is 'kin hard work and I was able to watch the vang change the shape of the mainsail.

As we came in to Middle Harbour, we were even joined by 3 dolphins at the bow! Carefree frollicking! It was absolutely amazing! The full Pla Loma experince. Sweet.

* 1 knot = 1 nautical mile per hour