This isn't exactly sailing news but does affect FD'ers we all know and love. I thought it was amazing bad luck and a very lucky young lady over the holiday period. I'll let those involved out themselves...

A group of FD'ers were out enjoying the river on a runabout to survive yesterday's scorcher. Coming back past Pt Walter they passed another run about heading the other way. The other boat was trolling, somehow one of the lines came over the top off the FD'er boat. They ran the length of the line and lifted the rig over the side. The triple gang hook smasheed off one the FD'ers daughter's sunnies and hooked into her cheek just below her eye with the tip ending up behind her nose. Thankfully it appears there was plenty of line on the spool, the drag was on fairly light and the line was cut before any extreme damage was done. She was quickly evacuated to Freo hospital with the assistance of water police and ambulance.

A new nose piercing to remove the barb and six stitches later and recovery is looking positive. Sunnies are well scratched up and if it wasn't for them, there's no way a triple gang to the eye is ever going to end well. Young lady was, understandably, concerned about scaring but doctors report that everything should heal nicely.

What are the odds?

For those sailing in national and World championships this summer:

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!

Please email reports and photos to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it to keep us in the loop with the progress of the sandgropers in your fleet. 

OP is going well in the Sydney to hobart, currently 7th in her division (IRC 2). John Sanders is also sailing well, coming 6th in IRC 4. Our thoughts also go to Finistere, it is a mighty effort to mount a campaign from this side of the country.

Keep track of the boats here

West Aussie lad and Freodoctor member Tim Houghton flew into town recently after a number of years doing shorebased work for various TP 52 teams. I caught up with him for a quick chat:

What was your involvement with the TP52's?

'Read More' for an update of Optimus Prime in her preparations for Hobart.

Light n Lumpy
Another huge learning curve today as we were faced with light slop for the final day of the Rolex Trophy. The first race was another throw away, with the crew struggling to find the right mix to power through the swell and chop. Downwind was good, making large gains with our light assy, which held up well, and the symettrical guys having to hot it up.
 

Freodoctor member Scotch Wiskey is into the Chrissy drinks early and is currently busy in the forums outing as many of our members she can find shots of, including this little gem:

Be afraid. Be very afraid.

We know where the boat has landed, as its scrawled all over it in red! AUSTRALIE FREMANTLE. But whats its name, type etc? First correct winner gets a bottle of Red courtesy of the boys from INsite racing.

Congratulations to Sandgroper for the winner of the last comp.

Yann Elies (Vendee competitor Generali) arrived at approximately 1215 (GMT+9) today at Fremanle and was transferred to ambulance for transport to Fremantle Hospital. Yann appeared comfortable although his team manager, Benoit Gilles, reported that he was well sedated.

Intial reports that he was on the bow when he broke his femur (thigh) were partially correct. Yann was standing on the boom attending to reefing when the boat buried it's bow. Yann was launched off the boom, through the rigging and ended up on the bow. The Royal Flying Doctor medic who attended to Yann onboard Generali reported that his injuries were worse than initially suspected; he has a broken femur, a number of broken ribs, suspected punctured lung and possible pelvis injuries.

Generali was attended to by Navy specialists to ensure her survival. Two of the Generali team are leaving Fremantly at 1500 this afternoon to retrieve her and sail to Fremantle.

Video courtesy of Vendee, Fremantle footage supplied by Freodoctor.com.au

The Doctor never wants to be in the middle of a media scrum again... unless he can take Kiwi, F2000, Dropbear, and Illusion Wanderer with him... that should clear some space.

UPDATE

Yann is at the Major Trauma Centre in RPH, they've eliminated lung injuries and they're not certain of the ribs. Questions still surround pelvis and knee injuries.

Benoit reported that he's more coherent (suspect they drugged him fairly well for the transfer) and relaxed now that he's getting some treatment; no slight on the Navy or Flying Doctor team, just they were simply in a triage and stabilisation function rather than diagnosing.

Two of the Generali team arrived in Perth this afternoon and are leaving on one of the fishing fleet in the morning to retrieve Generali. They will be assessing the boat and making a decision from there, "Maybe Perth, maybe Albany, maybe home".

Yann's family are arriving tomorrow afternoon.

The location of Yann Eliés yacht can be seen in the Vendee racetracker below (the two yachts together). A long way south! You can also see Ecover (the northern most boat) on its way to Fremantle.