Sunshine Coast based yacht designer and co-skipper Jon Sayer was in Newcastle this week, to supervise the unloading of Learning to Fly from the ship which brought it from Florida. You’ll notice a clue a to the yacht’s name – the ‘bird’ on the hull. Skipper Alan Paris is currently in France (on a bicycle tour) so Jon says it was “left to him & Salty (his ‘sea dog’) to carry out this task in 30kts of wind”.
Learning to Fly is a J99 and this could possibly be the longest race for this type of J Boat? Jon is lining up for his 5th M2Os which is a record not likely to be beaten. This is also the first M2O which he has not sailed on a yacht of his own design.
Owner & Skipper Alan Paris is no stranger to ocean racing. Alan’s family moved from NZ to Bermuda when he was 8 years old and has spent a lifetime being in or around water. Alan’s time fluctuates between Queenstown in NZ and Bermuda. Alan has recorded 63,000 nm offshore sailing including 47,000nm single handed. Amongst his many achievements was competing in the ‘Around the World Alone’ single handed circumnavigation in an Open 40 during 2002-2003 race. It is very significant that Alan asked Jon to build the Open 40 yacht he sailed in the circumnavigation race.
Alan & Jon are planning to do their qualifying passage to Melbourne via Lord Howe Island. Learning to Fly will arrive in Melbourne in early February next year.
