Clear the decks, coming through

A yachtie who came late to the sport of racing boats is determined to make an early finish in Mooloolaba way ahead of his rivals, reports Kylie Munro.
Alan Yardley is preparing to battle the big boats in his first solo ocean yacht race.
The Birkdale sailor, aboard his 12.6m cutter rigger sloop, Mephisto, will take on the might of large catamarans in the Solo Trans-Tasman Yacht Race on April 8.
``I won't be the fastest boat out there,'' Alan admits. ``But I'll be in with a chance.''
Alan will sail the 1283 nautical miles (2376km) from New Plymouth to Mooloolaba, on Australia's Queensland coast, against 14 other yachts.
He says the yacht that sails the fastest and hardest for 24 hours a day, every day, will win.
``If it's a fast trip it'll take me eight days,'' says Alan. ``If it's a slow one, I'll be very unhappy and it'll take about 12 days.
``Sleep deprivation is a problem, but you rest when you can and put her (the yacht) on autopilot.''
Ideally, Alan would like winds blowing 25-30 knots (46-55km/h) just off the bow of the vessel.
A tail wind, he says, would give the larger catamarans a huge advantage.
A late starter, Alan took up sailing in 1990 when he was 32.
Initially, he viewed the sport as a hobby but, after learning from experienced yachtsmen, he was soon bitten by the competition bug.
In 2005, Alan won the Shorthanded Sailing Association of New Zealand Easter Cup and finished second in the association's overall series.
While the Easter Cup was a two-handed race, the Trans-Tasman will be Alan's first solo ocean race. The ADT Security business development manager has sponsorship from his firm and is not daunted by taking to the ocean alone.
``I'm well prepared, it's all about safety, and I've been getting her ready for nine months.''
For more information on the race see www.solo-tasman.co.nz.