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.
Monday, March 23, 2009
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....
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....
Monday, March 16, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, March 13, 2009
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..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
