Quackery at 10.23

In the spirit of Jones late of Guyana, a group of skeptics is going to prove once and for all time that homeopathy is first order quackery.

In what is being billed as "rationalism's Kool-Aid moment", a mass "overdose" is being planned next week in protest at the marketing of homoeopathic medicines

Named after Avogadro's Constant, the 10.23 Group is going to overdose on homeopathic pills at 10.23 hours on Saturday 30th January.

they say their "overdose" will demonstrate that "these remedies, prepared according to a long-discredited 18th-century ritual, are nothing but sugar pills

Should be fun watching this unfold. Meanwhile Not PC has a video on the Homeopathic A&E.

Certainly sums up my views on the witchcraft and quackery of homeopathy.

Wanted: 360 Degree Feedback

Along similar lines to Not PC, readers are invited to provide feedback on this blogger.

Positive and negative comments, along with fatwas or the like, are welcomed, but may or may not elicit a reply. Should you really want to snivel, a cheap red will do.

All yours.

A milestone - Cheers

50,000 page loads crossed tonight. Dec '07 to Jan '10.

Actually would be slightly more, started in May '07, no counter till Dec '07.

Sometimes it feels like shouting into the void, but hey, blogging is fun.

Cheers.

Revising Resolutions

"most terrorist suspects are going to be natural blondes, ages 18-26."

Burlington Express

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - XVI

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race is over.

Polaris of Belmont has crossed the finish line, having fought 30-40 knot headwinds for the last 40 miles (the last 6 hours) and short tacked in the river all the way to the finish line. 2 days and 22 hours after the first boat finished, it takes 94th and last place. A long haul, it is 2050 in Hobart, perfect timing for a few well deserved cleansing ales and the chance to tell a few lies in the local on New Year's Eve.

4 DNFs and 1 disqualification for an incident near the start in Sydney on Boxing Day. Other protests dismissed.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - XV

Not many to go now, about 20 yachts have finished in the last few hours. 4 days and 17 hours so far.

Might be all over by late tonight - Polaris of Belmont at dead last and 95th is in cruising mode. Still has 85NM to run and is currently only doing 6.5 knots.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - XIV

The procession continues. Still around 40 yachts to finish, the last straggler has been sailing a really lonely race at 275NM still to run.

Dedication

Within minutes of arriving at the dock in Hobart the Richards and his crew were converting Wild Oats XI from racing to delivery mode.

Four hours later, before sunrise and with many of the race crew still aboard, the supermaxi was heading out of the Derwent River on a high speed delivery back to Sydney for the start of the Pittwater to Coffs Harbour race on January 2.

By Rob Mundle, Wild Oats Media Manager

Now that is dedication to your sport.

And I note even yachts have spin doctors these days. Like leeches, the bloody things get in everywhere.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - XIII

Only one more yacht (Wild Oats) has finished since midnight. The wind must have died completely. Even the yachts in Bass Strait barely moved in 6 hours.

Back marker Polaris of Belmont with 416NM to run has cleared Eden and is moving into the strait. She will still be racing in 3 days time at this speed.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - XII

Yes, the fat lady sings!

2 days, 9 hours, 2 minutes, 10 seconds. The clock is now running for handicap.

Congratulations to Neville Crichtons' Alfa Romeo and crew.

Take that dingo mongrels. Done by Kiwis yet again.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - X

13 NM to run. Wild Oats is in Derwent river at 17 miles behind rounding Cape Raoul as you read. Everything has slowed down. Wind is lightening as expected.

Alfa Romeo is almost on top of the Pot, The Iron Pot, the site of the oldest light house in Tasmania. A bit of tacking is going on, Alfa has been heading toward the airport, but has tacked and coming back on track. From here the river narrows and things get real tricky.

Whatever Alfa runs into, Wild Oats will also have to transit, in lighter airs as the wind dies.

It is going to be a long night - midnight NZ time ETA, 2200 Hobart time. Maybe not late this arvo as suggested earlier, but in time for a few bevvies on arrival.

Unfortunately the Cab Sav Merlot plonk here could finish before this race.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - IX

Under 40 NM to run.

Alfa Romeo has turned to west on waypoint at Tasman Island doing 13 knots. Two waypoints to go, passing Port Arthur now. Wild Oats 18 miles back , Leopard is 32 miles behind Alfa. Neither is currently a threat, but in yacht racing till that finish line is crossed, never ever count your chickens.

Next bunch is 68 miles behind and is really stretching out, gaining ground. Only one straggler has yet to make Eden, most are well into Bass Strait. Wind looks steady at present.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - VIII

90NM to run.

Icap Leopard has fallen back slightly to 33 miles astern, slightly out to sea, but Wild Oats is still right on Alfa Romeo's backside at 13 miles astern.

Leaders are slowing, 50 miles to the turning point where they will be hard on the wind. And the wind is lightening and shifty the further south they go.

The next bunch has picked up 20 miles, but is still 85 miles from the race leader. The main group are midway into the strait, whilst some tail enders have yet to make Eden.

Some perspective of scale:

The race is like a race in New Zealand from Cape Reinga to Wellington via East Cape. Similar distance and the yachts would be currently spread up the east coast of the North Island from almost in Wellington up to Tauranga. That is some spread.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - VII

150NM to go.

Leaders (3x) have picked up local winds and are romping down coast of Tassie at 16-22 knots. Rest of fleet are 110M back doing barely 9 knots. Alfa Romeo has almost 30NM lead on other two.

High risk game for last leg up the Derwent River once they round Cape Tasman - the Derwent typically goes flat overnight as any wind dies. Yachts even travel backwards here. The leaders of the main bunch are likely to still be transiting there tomorrow, whilst the top 3 will hopefully be safely ashore late this arvo on the turps.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - VI

220 NM to run.

South of Flinders Island, almost abreast of NE cape of Tasmania.

Very slow overnight. Kiwi Alfa Romeo at 16 knots still has 20 miles on Leopard and Wild Oats, doing 14 knots. Next bunch of 5 boats is 40 miles plus further back doing 5knots.

Wind extremely light against coast close toward Cape Tasman turning point for Hobart. Racetrack today is full of wind holes. Alfa Romeo could easily lose this race, but it would be nice to beat the Aussies.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - V

31.5 hours in - 290Nm to run. Just over half the race done.

NZ Yacht Alfa Romeo still leads and is extending the lead. Sliding to west of straight line course, possibly tacking downhill to keep up light airs boat speed. Almost halfway across strait. First 5 still spread over 40 miles. Wild Oats (defender) still in 3rd, Leopard still holding her off.

Maxis in tight bunch starting to stretch their legs as they entered Bass Strait and breaking away from the following big bunch of yachts still coming down the coast from Eden, slowly catching the leading 5.

Wind is light but steady direction currently easy port reaching. Will change in a couple of hours to an almost downhill run for the leaders for the rest of tonight, increasing to around 20 knots. Then it should be a starboard reach up the Derwent to the finish.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - IV

27 hours in - 365NM to run.

Top 5x yachts in Bass Strait, rest bunching up in light airs off Eden coast.

Leaders doing 12-14 knots, bunch sub-10 knots. Large lead to Alfa Romeo. Ichi Bans easterly flyer out into the ditch came to zip, she's now 25 miles back, following the leader. Wild Oats and Leopard duelling for 2nd and 3rd.

Going to be a slow night.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - III

20 hours in, 425 NM to go.

Off Eden, leader bunch very close to shore. Doing around 6.5 knots.

Ichi Ban offshore flyer may be paying off - now only 14 miles behind leader, has taken out 6 miles of difference in last 5 hours. Is doing 2 knots better at 8.5 knots plus well offshore.

Still a long way to go, no records are going to be broken this year, getting progressively lighter.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race - II

15 hours in - over 3/4 of way to Eden from Sydney.
Entering Bass Strait later today.
Top 3 - Alfa Romeo, ICAP Leopard, Wild Oats, all close to coast.
Ichi Ban well out to sea, taking a flyer on the hope of wind shift.
Wind very light close to coast, stronger out in ditch.

2009 Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race

The first in an occasional series over the next few days.

A plug-in for Google Earth automatically showing the yacht positions. Neat!