I've just returned from a few days holiday in Wales following the Nationals, so thought I'd go through the event while it was still vaguely fresh in my head!
What a rollercoaster ride. Saundersfoot delivered some pretty crazy conditions with 15-25 knots and some big swells (well, being a pond sailor, probably not that big!) Everything was pretty tight at the top between Mike L, Rodders and myself and to be honest no-one on the beach after sailing knew who'd got it and we were all wondering around the beach congratulating each other anyway. Such is the way of the Moth fleet - most people were just glad to be alive after some of the sailing we had...
I had plenty of speed and control, leading to three bullets, but a lack of experience and a little bad luck took their toll when things were otherwise going well. It's amazing how rapidly things can unravel! My 9th in race 5 had started so well until I wiped out on top of the windward mark avoiding an excersise in reverse parking by Paul Hayden and it took me so long to unwrap myself and do my turns that the fleet was long gone... I was also leading the penultimate race before a shocker of a downwind where I just couldn't get going again after a wipeout.
Nothing like making life hard for yourself anyway...
The usual Mothy Spirit was in full flow, plenty of fixing parties trying to heal collective wounds to make sure everyone back on the water the following day.
I still can't quite believe it and every now and again have a little chuckle to myself. Thanks to everyone who has sent me messages over the past few days, Kevin for designing a fast hull and foils, along with everyone who has supported me and Emma for putting up with my sailing related nonsense when I should be worrying about the wedding!
Saturday 18 July 2009
Saundersfoot pictures
I can never get on with the Blogger photo upload thingy, so these are all jumbled up...
Alex Adams and myself getting a bit of Blokarting in on the windy day when we didn't go real sailing.
Me, having just discovered that actually Rod wasn't the National champion! Sorry Rod!
Team Stowaway before a soaking wet session in the Go Karts. Adrian is a pretty nifty kart driver...
Adrian trying his hand at some Robin Hood action, thankfully I got my revenge at the Archery.
Emma decided we should raid the pound shop for painting materials so we all sat in the van on another rainy day painting away. Emma was the champ at this one, although Adey's attempt to sell his painting to a passer by deserves a worthy mention.
Followed by loads of photos of us all dragging our boats out through the surf and going sailing...
Alex Adams and myself getting a bit of Blokarting in on the windy day when we didn't go real sailing.
Me, having just discovered that actually Rod wasn't the National champion! Sorry Rod!
Team Stowaway before a soaking wet session in the Go Karts. Adrian is a pretty nifty kart driver...
Adrian trying his hand at some Robin Hood action, thankfully I got my revenge at the Archery.
Emma decided we should raid the pound shop for painting materials so we all sat in the van on another rainy day painting away. Emma was the champ at this one, although Adey's attempt to sell his painting to a passer by deserves a worthy mention.
Followed by loads of photos of us all dragging our boats out through the surf and going sailing...
Tuesday 7 July 2009
Nationals form guide
With the GB Nationals almost upon us I figured someone ought to do a bit of a form guide for it!
1. Simon Payne
The old boy has been at the top of his game for so long now, it's hard to see any of the young pretenders knocking him off the top spot. Super fit and going fast, but lacking in the marginal stuff where he used to be king.
2. Mike Lennon
Put in some solid results this year in his new M2. Will he pull some new sail out of the bag to give him that extra edge? Will his boat work for an entire regatta?
3. Adam May
You can never discount Adam from the top of the UK fleet and with his dissapointing result in Horsens you can bet he will be back with a vengeance - as long as he can keep his hacksaw away from his foils and his gantry attached...
4. DJ Edwards
Local (ish, he lives in Wales at least!) boy Dave was going fast at Corus at the end of last season but hasn't been seen since. A sailor of his pedigree won't have been sitting idle.
5. Rod Harris
"He's just a good club sailor", but capable of going very fast in breeze and rapidly getting his Prowler very well sorted. May become distracted by alternative use of the tiller.
6. James Roche
James has been struggling to find the form he had with the "Flying Lime" in his new boat, but in light airs he's very quick and probably does more of that cycling/fitness stuff than the rest of the fleet put together...
7. Andrew Friend
Always there or thereabouts in his BR, the mad professor of the Moth fleet. Usually has some crazy contraption on his mind so will be interesting to see if he's come up with anything.
8. Robin Wood
Another local laddy, Robin knows what it takes to win Moth regattas and with his very light weight should be a force to be reckoned with in the marginal stuff. Not very long in the boat yet though - he will be up there soon enough.
9. Jason Russell
Jif has been the best of the rest at a lot of the regattas this year but for some reason really struggled at Horsens with a load of boat mods before the event. Hopefully he will have it all tuned up in time for Saundersfoot.
10. Gary Ireson
Been out of the country most of this year, so lacking in time on the water but he will be keen to get back in the mix. May become distracted by Rods tiller...
There are always others that get missed/forgotten in this sort of thing, Geoff Carveth for one - will his SB3 commitments clash? Will Doug Pybus Franken-NinjaProwler hold together for an event? Will Adrian Murphy be allowed out from Work? Has Jason Belben got a boat yet?
Then there is me. In the true spirit of the form guide, you dont rate yourself. Been going fast in the light stuff and Denmark was a surprise in that I wasn't slow in the windy stuff either. I've got a few extra toys on the boat since the Euro's but haven't really had time to get them truely pimped up so we shall see what happens I suppose...
1. Simon Payne
The old boy has been at the top of his game for so long now, it's hard to see any of the young pretenders knocking him off the top spot. Super fit and going fast, but lacking in the marginal stuff where he used to be king.
2. Mike Lennon
Put in some solid results this year in his new M2. Will he pull some new sail out of the bag to give him that extra edge? Will his boat work for an entire regatta?
3. Adam May
You can never discount Adam from the top of the UK fleet and with his dissapointing result in Horsens you can bet he will be back with a vengeance - as long as he can keep his hacksaw away from his foils and his gantry attached...
4. DJ Edwards
Local (ish, he lives in Wales at least!) boy Dave was going fast at Corus at the end of last season but hasn't been seen since. A sailor of his pedigree won't have been sitting idle.
5. Rod Harris
"He's just a good club sailor", but capable of going very fast in breeze and rapidly getting his Prowler very well sorted. May become distracted by alternative use of the tiller.
6. James Roche
James has been struggling to find the form he had with the "Flying Lime" in his new boat, but in light airs he's very quick and probably does more of that cycling/fitness stuff than the rest of the fleet put together...
7. Andrew Friend
Always there or thereabouts in his BR, the mad professor of the Moth fleet. Usually has some crazy contraption on his mind so will be interesting to see if he's come up with anything.
8. Robin Wood
Another local laddy, Robin knows what it takes to win Moth regattas and with his very light weight should be a force to be reckoned with in the marginal stuff. Not very long in the boat yet though - he will be up there soon enough.
9. Jason Russell
Jif has been the best of the rest at a lot of the regattas this year but for some reason really struggled at Horsens with a load of boat mods before the event. Hopefully he will have it all tuned up in time for Saundersfoot.
10. Gary Ireson
Been out of the country most of this year, so lacking in time on the water but he will be keen to get back in the mix. May become distracted by Rods tiller...
There are always others that get missed/forgotten in this sort of thing, Geoff Carveth for one - will his SB3 commitments clash? Will Doug Pybus Franken-NinjaProwler hold together for an event? Will Adrian Murphy be allowed out from Work? Has Jason Belben got a boat yet?
Then there is me. In the true spirit of the form guide, you dont rate yourself. Been going fast in the light stuff and Denmark was a surprise in that I wasn't slow in the windy stuff either. I've got a few extra toys on the boat since the Euro's but haven't really had time to get them truely pimped up so we shall see what happens I suppose...
Friday 3 July 2009
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