All aboard for a cool sail: The crew that will represent the Far North in the Australian's Women's Keelboat Championships in Melbourne next month, Qamar Schuyler, Belinda Cooper, Tina Webb, Mickey Dousset, Iseta Harris and Tracey Poole.

Far North Queensland will be represented for the first time in an all-female crew yacht race next month.  Six women from the Port Douglas and Cairns yacht clubs will be setting sail during the Australian Women's Keelboat Championships, held in Melbourne on June 14.  The women have borrowed a racing yacht from St. Kilda Royal Yacht Squadron to participate in the regatta, where they will be competing against South Australia, Tasmania, New South Wales and Victoria.  The team sailed together for the first time in the Anzac Day regatta at Port Douglas two weeks ago, taking first place.  Skipper Belinda Cooper said she was extremely pleased about the win, particularly the way the ladies came together as a team.  The team is now seeking financial support from local businesses, especially for foul weather gear, sunglasses and warm sailing clothes.  "I think we can do well in Melbourne, as long as we can stay warm,"Ms Cooper said.  The team will be racing together again before their Victorian sojourn, sailing in the Clipper Cup at Port Douglas this month.

The Trucker's Hitch is one of those knots that once you learn it, you wonder how you ever got along without it!

Use this knot to cinch down a load on your car top, boat, horseback, you name it.  This combination of knots allows a line to be pulled as tight as a guitar string!

Tie off one end of rope.  Lay rope over load to be tied down.  Tie a slippery half hitch in the middle of the line to form a small loop.  With free end make a turn around a fitting and bring the free end back up to the loop in the line.  Feed through and pull line very tight.  Secure the knot with the tension in the line with one or two half hitches (over hand knots) tied snug to the loop.