Sydney Harbour venue guide

RYA guru Jim Saltonstall tells you all you need to know about this great natural harbour

Above: Aerial view of Rushcutter's Bay

The Cruising Yacht Club of Australia in Rushcutters Bay is a great club. They did us proud during the Games with great hospitality and lots of help from the locals. Don't mention the name Dayne Sharpe - you will be evicted! A good ol' mucker of mine, he will help you out if you have any questions as will that 'orrible Bunny Warren who is now working with the Australian Yachting Federation based over in Kirribilli.

Talking of the AYF, it is run by another old mucker of mine, Phil Jones [ex-RYA sailboard coach] and you can reach Phil on 02 9922 4333. Bunny can be reached on that number too if you need any local help. They are good at bailing sailors of jail, but again only when you have won the Gold Medal!

The other club which really did the Poms proud during the Olympics and beforehand were the Woolahra Sailing Club who, under the leadership of Lew Carer are a super group of ferrets who could not do enough to assist us. They pulled out all the stops to make sure we had everything that we needed, with great friendship and hospitality - they were truly great. If you see Lew, give him my best regards.

While it is on my mind, during the months of December and January, it can be very hot. The sun in the Southern Hemisphere is much stronger than it is in the UK, so be warned. Keep well protected from it, wear white hats, white cotton clothing to keep you cool, wear plenty of sunblock and DRINK LOTS OF WATER. Dehydration is a problem - loss of concentration is a good sign - so keep on drinking plenty of water and make sure you have plenty afloat, to help you focus on your rehydration programme.

Meteorology
Whatever you have learned about meteorology in the northern hemisphere (no, don't throw it in the bin!) MIRROR IMAGE IT.

Wind around the high pressure areas travels anti-clockwise and around a low pressure system it travels clockwise. Wind sheer from land to water is to the left first, not the right. So as you face the wind, if there is land on your port side, there is less wind on the port side. If there is land on your starboard side, there is more wind on the starboard side. Where there is an island there is more wind being accelerated down/off its left hand side as you look at it in the plan view with the womd coming from the top.

The gale/blustery wind direction is from the south/south-east, opposite to that of thE northern hemisphere. Moisture/rain comes from the east, not the west - again all the opposite of the UK. The sea breeze follows the sun anti-clockwise as the day gets older, opposte to that in the UK. Keep all the basics in mind and you won't go too far wrong. Met information can be obtained from Windline on 1-900-155334 of fax: 1-902-261054.