Gift Horse

Sometimes life just works, doesn’t it? That’s how I felt when I was got an 11^th hour call from OC looking for someone to come sail the event Moth at the final iShare’s extreme 40 event in Almeria. Although it was short notice there was no way I was going to say no to that!

I was basically looking after a foiling billboard, which meant it was a double shame that there was hardly any breeze. That did give me a chance to do what I reckon must be the first foiling tow in from a sailing boat - I got a ride from the iShares boat kite sheet, which must have been quite a spectacle! It nearly ended in disaster mind – once the moth was foiling it was kinda quicker than the 40 and I very nearly mounted them from behind. The coolest part was that the boat was covered in Andalucía branding, which guaranteed an automatic cheer every time I yachted passed the local crowds. Mind you, trying to avoid the X40’s on their tiny course, in very restricted water while still trying to give the crowds a show wasn’t the world’s easiest remit, but everyone knows that mothies love to show off..

It was impressive to be part of such a slick event, the sheer number of visitors and excellent race village were a sight in themselves. It’d be cool to see if a similar format could work with moths.

The icing on the cake was that the boys on Masirah went on to win the event, in a nail biting final. Having lead the series comfortably they’d had some bad luck in Amsterdam so still had a bit on coming to Almeria. No one deserved to win more than them, and my heart was in my mouth right up to them crossing the finish line. Needless to say, the bender afterwards was e-p-i-c.

Not doing much winter sailing, I’m too wimpy and it’s too cold, but best of luck for everyone planning on being in Staines for the Bloody Mary at the weekend; my boat looked like this yesterday – no danger! I’m planning on a slow start to the year, skipping Dubai, and then depending on how I feel after the Europeans trying to take things seriously for a ramp-up to Australia.

Ringwood Open

Fifteen eager Mothies turned up to the inaugural Ringwood open. Race one of this most unusual event was won by Tom Whicher followed by James Roche, who succeeded in being an hour and a half early for the first start. That almost unheard of occurrence set the tone for the rest of the event.

Race two started cleanly, with Emma (still Wilkins) showing the fleet a clean set of heels down the Aisle to the sounds of the 'Top Gun' soundtrack. Certain members of the fleet were seen to weep (as they reminisced about the day Goose died).

New Mothie Chris Bishop took race three by a clear margin, running rings around both Cookes and leading services brilliantly from start to finish.

Mike was the clear winner of race four, setting a difficult to follow example to the rest of the males in the fleet and guaranteeing him sailing leave for the next few years with a bright red start to married life. Adam and Katherine were tied for a photo finish in a tight fourth race.

James took race five, as always going fastest and hardest and working the Pimms jug like his life depended on it, setting himself up strongly for the 'Accidentally entering the Mongol rally' slalom event, and the bottom mark slurring contest. A special mention to Rod at this point, who’s punishing training schedule obviously took its toll on him as he had to retire from the rest of the event to get home for a cup of horrlicks and bed.

Race six was marred by an invasion of what can only be described as 'Bridesmaids' onto the dancefloor, led by the new Mrs Cooke (nee Wilkins). Fortunately some strong competition from Tom Whicher managed to scare most of them away; however Emma clearly won this race with an unbeatable combination of style and enthusiasm. Fun Adie, having disappointed his freshly prepped new following of eager ladies by arriving in a particularly boring way and having no 20p's in his pockets made a brief return to form on the bottom reach with a rendition of 'soup on his head'. Unfortunately he stuffed it in on the gybe mark and wasn't seen on the dance floor again until the final race.

Emma and Mike had amassed enough points to finish first and second at this point, and elected to sit out the final race, leaving the stage clear for the rest of fleet to battle it out for the remaining places.

The final race was taken cleanly by Adam may, entering onto the dance floor for the first time (ever?) and displaying a clear knowledge of the boogie woogie and the Jackson Five. Inspired by their squadron leader, the remaining fleet took to the floor in the first ever Strictly come Mothie RunDMC danceoff, dominated by Andrew friend and his headbanging style, and finished neatly with repeated Klinsmans and Top Gun body slides. Unfortunately, Alex and Helen had to retire due to gear failure (or was it to check each others gear?) before this race and both scored disappointing DNC's.

Special mention to the race officers Mr and Mrs Wilkins for setting some fair courses in very difficult conditions, and manning a BBQ in a strong prevailing wind, and the assembled bridesmaids, sisters and mexicans who made it such an special event for everyone.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAPPY COUPLE!!

Final Standings:
1) Emma Cooke (Not so fat bottomed bride)
2) Mike Cooke (Obviously the real winner here, bonus points for getting married in aviators)
3) James Roche (All or nothing)
4) Tom Whicher (Huh?)
4) Adam May (Never going to dance again)
5) Katherine Knight (Best dressed by far)
6) Andrew Friend (Nuisance machines prove a hit with the ladies)
7) Chris Bishop (Lord of the Rings - will he be Lord of the wings in his new RX?)
8) Fun Adie (Turned up with no 20ps)
9) Jason Russel (Red hot spicy Salsa)
10) Leo Carswell (Strong performance, moving steadily up the fleet)
11) Sam Pascoe (Powerful moves, dressed for the workshop)
12) Martin Fear (Fearless)
13) Alan Watson (Z flagged for not dancing)
14) Helen Rollinson (Rollys Bakery to sponsors the traveller’s series 2010?)
15) Alex Adams (Black flagged from race six for a horrid new beard)
16) Rod Harris (only on a half day pass)





(Thanks and all copyright Adam May for the Photos)

Nationals '09

Saundersfoot was apocalyptic. Monsoon conditions hit Wales testing ponchos & patience. Ninja, Prowler, Mach2, Bladerider shows it was about the sailors not the kit, though Mike C seems to have secret pace that’s hard to match. The waves on the last day tested everyone’s nerve - short, tall and nasty enough to make Andrew Friend take up self harm - using a shroud as the weapon of choice. Despite the frankly nasty conditions we only lost one day due to wind, but took advantage of it to go Karting - Rod was fastest, followed by Helen who showed the boys how to do it. Ace.

Apple and blackberry cake & fish and chips were the food of choice, although bring your own booze curries had a certain je ne sais quoi, and took their toll on certain sailors the next morning..

I was 13th, bloody happy with that, finished every race and no gear failure to speak of which must be a first for me - so much so that I won a prize for it! I'm convinced in those conditions I had the pace to be top 10, but bad layline calls (in fact, the whole fleet could work on that) and one or two extra swims in the waves, and the odd fluffed manoeuvre let me down. At least I've got things to work on! The North felt ace, the boat solid and very in control and in the breeze I had height and speed upwind on all comers, at least until I body slammed the next wave. Congratulations to James Phare who beat me into submission after our epic final day shootout. You’ve just got to work on your walk now mate..

Final results:
Cookie - Ninja/Hyde
Rodders - Prowler Zero/KA
Fivestar - Mach 2/Hyde
Paul Hignett - Bladerider/KA

Only 2 points separated the top 3, which is pretty amazing in my book, and the racing continued all the way down the fleet. A special mention has to go to Paul Hignett for bashing out a huge bullet on the last day. Boom!

Mike C is a worthy winner, and could be found working till late fixing everyone else’s kit without a word of complaint. Its testament to him, and the fleet that despite broken foils, masts (and people) in the big conditions on Sunday, everyone was back ready to race the next day. Rodders was a brilliant second, with results so close no-one knew the final positions till we were onshore and derigged - but all the potential candidates were celebrating and congratulating each other regardless. I imagine Tilly got a hard work out later that night.

Katherine Knight is the new UK president, and Helen is on the committee too now, so we are officially an equal opportunities fleet. Katherine gets my respect for being the most hardcore person you will ever meet - finishing 2 races on the biggest day. She's not the type to be stopped by a little thing like a broken shroud either - when it snapped going upwind she actually caught it, and held the rig up whilst continuing to sail - for a bit. Serious Spider skills!!
A brilliant event, thanks to everyone involved. The mix of team spirit and competitiveness in the class never ceases to amaze me, and the standard continues to rise in leaps and bounds..

P.S. I just found this on Y&Y - the event report from the last Saundersfoot nationals..

Nationals Photos

Mothering Sunday

Mothers day was put on hold due to wind and sun. Mike, Tim, Tim, James, Rikki and I were all out Sunday, practising our marginal stuff. No water in the harbour forces you to short tack up the channels, excellent practise, if exhausting. Mike and Boona have the edge upwind in the marginal stuff, although everyone’s tacks were looking shed loads better by the end of the session – most people are getting round on the foils then only briefly dropping off on the new tack. Rikki is rocket ship downwind – I most definitely am not. Need to hot up more and work the apparent for starters. And stop oversheeting.

An excellent session in marginal technique, and our informal windward leeward up and down the channel kept the action exciting, and the boats close. Gusty and shifty keeps you on your toes and reminds you of that normal sailboat racing stuff matters – head out of the boat and the ability to change gears quickly is fast.

I’ve still a lot to do, but sessions like that are the way to get there.

Kit wise we had:
Bladerider/MSL12
BR/Hyde
BR/x8
M3/MSL12
Prowler Zero/MSL13
Prowler/MSL13

Not that it made a nats gwatch of difference. It was the sailors making all the gains in that sort of breeze.

Proof..

Got the idea of windward heel, but you're not foiling yet Holly...

And there it is!

Two’s Company

Gender equality in the moth class took a massive step forward with not one, but two new girls taking to foils. James, myself, Holly and Hannah turned up at sunny HISC to 8-12 knots of breeze and sunshine.

James and I launched first to ‘test’ the boats (read have a blast while the breeze looked good). I then took the lead and went two up with Holly. It was surprisingly easy – I righted the boat, and scooped her up with it. She then sat in the middle, and away we went! The boat felt fine – just like a slightly heavier, slower moth – so long as she stayed still. As soon as she moved you could really feel the effect. I think I true two person foiler would be an interesting study in synchronised sailing! We foiled around for about 10 minutes quite happily, at which point I launched myself towards the shore and left her too it. An hour in and she was foiling like no one’s business: After a little coaching from James. Turns out 45kgs may be about the lower weight limit though. Hannah and James used a similar technique, with much success (although I’m not sure she’s forgiven him for the aborted attempt at a foiling gybe yet) I think the class now has two more girls hooked!

And the best part? Hannah magiced a civilised picnic from thin air between changeovers. Humus and all sorts. Amazing.

James and I also did a boat swap, which was a very interesting experience. Briefly:

The prowler zero feels like (and I think is) like a much lighter boat
The bladerider control systems are simply streets ahead; the ride is smooth and positive
This means you feel very safe in the BR (I think the more enclosed tramps help this). James said ‘it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to kill you’
The BR, at least with my set up, is either foiling at a very specific height or lowriding. Once you pop onto the foils it immediately fly’s high and stable – this is great in foiling conditions, but I’m not convinced is the quickest set up in the really marginal stuff.
The bladerider foils are far more prone to stalling; whereas the prowler will ‘glide’ down off the foils the BR tries desperately to maintain height then suddenly drops.
I found the prowler more exciting to sail in the lighter breeze – it feels livlier and is keen to foil early. I think this would translate to fear as the breeze built though..
The prowler is a much more forgiving boat to gybe, but the bladerider is a better boat to learn to moth sail in (mainly due to the training wings)
Mainfoil ventilation is not a good look.

Now to combine the best qualities of both....

Now that's what I call Regatta Preparation

..or the Parkstone open...


What a great event! 15 boats turned up to a breezy Parkstone. Roche and I did a team effort in the van, involving a mission to get the boats from HISC on Friday night, and a large amount of free Burger King. 3 XL double cheeseburgers – now that’s what I call regatta preparation.

There were some pretty nervous sailors on the slipway, who were feeling a touch less confident when faced with 20knots and an interesting route out of the marina after a lazy winter. None the less, we all negotiated the cruisers and cadet fleet without accident or complaint, and once out Poole harbour delivered. Mike Pascal is always a fanatasic race officer, and gave us four excellent races, with ideal length courses and no needless waiting around.

Mike Lennon lead the way, sailing fastest and smartest, but the whole fleet have jumped in ability since last year – the separation is much less, mistakes are punished, and the % of boats upside down at any time has dropped through the floor. I was pleased with my own performacnce, high and fast upwind, and I felt I started well – although pushed it a little & was OCS in the last race. At least I went back, unlike some! My focus between now and the Hayling open is downwind – I let the pressure get to my gybes and I’m struggling to get to grips with the angles. That, along with fitness, fitness, fitness. Not hiking up the second beat is slooowww.

Day two was a light breeze driftoff, top points all round for the freestyle – I’ll buy a pint for the first person to pull a grubby..

Rod put in a lot of effort organising this, and the results really showed - thanks for a great event. Still lots to work on, and with the fleet pushing hard no one can afford to stand still this year. I’ve a feeling its going to be epic.

Honey, I'm home!

I'm back!! First sail of the year last saturday has reignighted the passion for Mothing. It was only short, but I remembered everything I can't do. In the interests of open source mothing heres my notes from the sail:

7-3-08, HISC. Wind SW – 12 to 18, gusts up to 22. Very gusty, average strength +3-5knts. Cold water (6.7 degC).

REMEMBER twist grip - Clockwise for bow down
2 degrees more on the rudder – felt very fast, but ventilates a LOT. Have to work the twist grip a lot more from leg to leg with this set up; can’t be lazy.
Now there is more lift on the rudder, I see a need for a paddle on the wand – started seeing a ‘pogoing’ effect at high speed as the wand was overpowered. Also boat flying low in the water on fast reaches – maybe not a bad thing!
I can’t reach the control lines – potentially due to fear? Thinking about routing them over the outside of the wings rather than through the holes
Used a lot of Cunningham – bladerider mast bends a lot = very flat sail, less loads, felt fast. Obvious maybe, but worth remembering how important this control is – and just how hard you should pull it!
Flicking the main is important when gybing in more breeze; you can be lazy in the moderate stuff, but this was killing me when the breeze got up.
Work the apparent wind more – don’t just sail low and slow.
I find marginal foiling very hard – why? Partly sail trim, and partly attitude – I’m setting the boat up for breeze and speed on the foils and approaching it with that attitude – be more flexible about changing gears.
Hike harder rather than trim for balance.
Fitness!

In other news Paranoid Anderoid has gone to a new home in the Netherlands, with Chris Jeeves. Potentially now to be known as Chyrsalis, pending news. Looking forward to seeing how Chris gets on with her! She's been replaced by Andrew Browns old bladerider, 3230.

It's the Parkstone Open this weekend, very excited to see how we get on..

Sad, but true..

She's been a fantastic boat, but now available to you..

Axiom v4 for sale; Paranoid Android, GBR3192

Absolutely, perfect, better than brand new condition. I collected her from Mike last night and she looks fantastic. Finished in Saab fusion blue metallic, with new graphics, and all marks removed, she's had the following work since the worlds:

New high modules wing frames, extended rearwards for outstanding torsional rigidity, with new large diameter front bars, and larger aero profiled compression struts.

New trampolines to suit, along with new running rigging, toestraps, and a fully spliced kicker using new Hercules Red Eye thimbles!

New high modulus skinny mast and latest Hyde sail, both only used 3 times at the worlds.

Refaired foils, including the famous bat-wing rudder which I have NEVER seen ventilate even in mid winter.

New stainless foil control systems for ultimate robustness, with the latest geometry to keep the boat flying high and safe.

All hardware is Harken and less than 10 months old.

The hull is strong, very, very light, and watertight.

Any inspection welcome, this is like a new boat, but without the teething problems!

Top speed so far 23.1 knots, can you do better? Possibly the moth bargin of the year for £6500.

I'm in Amsterdam next week for a trade show, so if any Europeans are interested I can offer free delivery to the Netherlands – but the van leaves Sunday night, so you'll need to be quick..