After a couple of weekends of being committee boat for an Opie open Eastern qualifier with Snipe helm Iain Marshall and then big boat sailing on an X yacht 332 in big sea and 35-45 knots I finally have the opportunity to once again focus on 12ft dinghy sailing. Next weekend is one of the clubs biggest sailing races where they mix everything together, fast handicap, medium handicap and cruisers all on the same start line. Thinking ahead I know that there are a couple of things I will need to do if I am to stand a chance. Here is my pre race to do list.
1) Do a great wind dance before the event to make sure it blows it tits off!
2) Do another wind dance and ask for slightly less than this weekend, not being picky but 18-20knots would be great!
3) Don't have a skin full prior to event as after extensive research in this area over a number of years I can say that this has not work particularly well especially when making tactical decisions!
4) Get out early and look at the course to see which end is best and all other pre race start stuff.
5) Nail the start and that's the big one. With the smaller sail plan that a lot of other boats and with a little less pointing ability I will need to be at the front with fresh breeze to get going as then once wiring and planning upwind I can hold my own. As the boat does not have a kite the boat is relatively quick upwind this is the key to success!!!
The only issue at present is getting my silly injury out of the way. I am currently suffering with heel pain or plantar fascia. Basically you heel feels like you have trodden on a plug!!
Bloody hurts in the morning, gets better in the day and hurts again in the evening. Stretching seems to help but apparently it can be with you for a year or so.
Well I'll keep you updated after the race.
Monday 30 September 2013
Thursday 19 September 2013
Down the mine!!!!
You know when you have "one of those days" that started the night before, well today was one of them! Forecast was 11mph from the SW so it was going to be one of those marginal wiring days! After having a week off the booze and then having a couple of glasses of red last night = a bad head this morning.
Race was at 1.30 so thankfully I had a bit of recovery time but I was still out of the zone and it showed. First start I managed to get fairly clear air but further down the line a number of boats were OCS so a general recall was the order of the day. Poor eye sight due to sunglasses encrusted with salt = didn't see the flags so I was late to the start!
For the 1st half hour it was too much to hike but not enough to wire so I needed wiring from the kick bars which is not the most comfortable position!!!
I did start to catch others boats up but it was hard work and my body was still slightly dehydrated thanks to the wine and bacon before racing (bacon that is not wine that would be silly!!).
Grey clouds started looming and I was wondering how long it would be before it went off and just at that moment the wind came in shifted massively and I found myself on the wire and kick bars when the boat was pushed to windward and me no where to go but in the drink!!! Not my finest hour.
That cleared the head and then we started to perform. As soon as I could get flat on the wire and plane I started to eat up the distance between me and the next boat. A good bear away and great down wind leg and we got to the gybe mark. Seeing the rest of the boat ahead struggle and still with a fuzzy head the decision to tack round was going to be the safe option or so you would think. Tack done and now the bear away. As I may of mentioned I was slightly inhibited and not thinking straight so I forgot to let the kicker off and yes when I wanted the boat to go round it had other ideas and the bow went down and it was game over "down the mine we go!!!" I must admit the boat looks very big when its arse is in the air!!! A passing laser 2000 gave me a standing aviation for my effort. Now I was pissed. Two capsizes in a race both silly really and I was loosing all the ground I had made up. I managed to do the quickest righting of the boat in the history of man and was round West point and off towards home.
With the breeze building it was time for "the hunt" the nearest boat an eps! 500m at least ahead and With long reach it was a possibility and one that I wanted to do to save face after my earlier stupidity. Job done as we rounded the leeward mark and rounded to a fetch. The eps went into the mooring and I decided to tack out into the breeze although I was punching the tide. It paid off and I managed to lock down and get the speed going and I was first to the line.
When the results were published I ended up 6th! I think I am still a long was off consistent but at least we are heading the right direction
Race was at 1.30 so thankfully I had a bit of recovery time but I was still out of the zone and it showed. First start I managed to get fairly clear air but further down the line a number of boats were OCS so a general recall was the order of the day. Poor eye sight due to sunglasses encrusted with salt = didn't see the flags so I was late to the start!
For the 1st half hour it was too much to hike but not enough to wire so I needed wiring from the kick bars which is not the most comfortable position!!!
I did start to catch others boats up but it was hard work and my body was still slightly dehydrated thanks to the wine and bacon before racing (bacon that is not wine that would be silly!!).
Grey clouds started looming and I was wondering how long it would be before it went off and just at that moment the wind came in shifted massively and I found myself on the wire and kick bars when the boat was pushed to windward and me no where to go but in the drink!!! Not my finest hour.
That cleared the head and then we started to perform. As soon as I could get flat on the wire and plane I started to eat up the distance between me and the next boat. A good bear away and great down wind leg and we got to the gybe mark. Seeing the rest of the boat ahead struggle and still with a fuzzy head the decision to tack round was going to be the safe option or so you would think. Tack done and now the bear away. As I may of mentioned I was slightly inhibited and not thinking straight so I forgot to let the kicker off and yes when I wanted the boat to go round it had other ideas and the bow went down and it was game over "down the mine we go!!!" I must admit the boat looks very big when its arse is in the air!!! A passing laser 2000 gave me a standing aviation for my effort. Now I was pissed. Two capsizes in a race both silly really and I was loosing all the ground I had made up. I managed to do the quickest righting of the boat in the history of man and was round West point and off towards home.
With the breeze building it was time for "the hunt" the nearest boat an eps! 500m at least ahead and With long reach it was a possibility and one that I wanted to do to save face after my earlier stupidity. Job done as we rounded the leeward mark and rounded to a fetch. The eps went into the mooring and I decided to tack out into the breeze although I was punching the tide. It paid off and I managed to lock down and get the speed going and I was first to the line.
When the results were published I ended up 6th! I think I am still a long was off consistent but at least we are heading the right direction
Wednesday 4 September 2013
Blackwater challenge cup race!
So it seems that there is another opportunity to race the Farr as is in the challenge cup at the club.
At present I have talked a lot about the boats high wind capabilities but little of its low wind potential. Unlike another boat I have owned, I have resisted the temptation to tinker so I can go out and sail. As I have been reminded I am slightly fatter than the average Farr sailor but as Daryl has said a little bit of tinkering and it can be a little more competitive in lower winds but until then it will be sailed as is. !saying this the wind again looks to be good again 12mph with gusts of 26mph!
Hopefully met office has got it right (again), I'll keep you posted
At present I have talked a lot about the boats high wind capabilities but little of its low wind potential. Unlike another boat I have owned, I have resisted the temptation to tinker so I can go out and sail. As I have been reminded I am slightly fatter than the average Farr sailor but as Daryl has said a little bit of tinkering and it can be a little more competitive in lower winds but until then it will be sailed as is. !saying this the wind again looks to be good again 12mph with gusts of 26mph!
Hopefully met office has got it right (again), I'll keep you posted
Sunday 1 September 2013
Oliver Southgates Work
Thought it only right to share other work Oliver has done. If you liked the pictures of the Farr have a look at the other boats that sail at Blackwater SC.
My thanks again to Oli for zipping around and taking the snap shots. Top man!!!
My thanks again to Oli for zipping around and taking the snap shots. Top man!!!
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