Sitting in my usual spot (somewhere in the workshop with a half finished boat) I'm getting that feeling that the year is passing me by! Tom, Alan, Martin, Leo and Darren have all been out sailing at Cheddar and the best I can manage is dropping the mini40 in the lake and blasting that around.
The 2011 Ninja is shaping up nicely now though after a long gestation period. There are no drastic changes afoot. Lots of little tweaks to make life simpler for building and to neaten up little bits of stiffness and aero here and there. With the completion of the final piece of foil mould jigsaw over the weekend I'm left looking forward to finding out what Kevins' latest creations are capable of.
The first set is going to the Stokes Bay Ninja death squad where Chris Rashley and Jason Belben will be testing them against last years foils while I will no doubt be launching mine boat and foils on the morning of the inlands at Queen Mary.
On the plus side, I've taken up running (albeit very slowly) so I hopefully won't spend the first half of the season getting fit for sailing by going sailing. The sun even came out for a bit yesterday and I vaguely thought mountain biking would be doable again...
So, a bit of a ramble - which you've probably come to expect by now if you come here often. Bring on the season!
Sunday, 27 February 2011
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Normal service resumed
The last two weekends have seen normal sailing resume at BCYC. Both Leo and Darren were out in their boats last weekend and Darren and Tom were both out this weekend despite gusts over 30 knots.
Tom is getting to grips with his M2 nicely now and it will be good to have him to race against at the club and hopefully we can both push our games up.
Simon has now bought the Ninja Turtle and should be on the water in that over the next few weeks while I'm busy trying to get the various pieces of the 2011 Ninja together with new moulds for pretty much everything including new foil designs. It's safe to say I'm pretty excited about this season as I believe the Turtle was very quick and Kevin is confident that he's moved the foils on again...
Roll on spring!!!
Tom is getting to grips with his M2 nicely now and it will be good to have him to race against at the club and hopefully we can both push our games up.
Simon has now bought the Ninja Turtle and should be on the water in that over the next few weeks while I'm busy trying to get the various pieces of the 2011 Ninja together with new moulds for pretty much everything including new foil designs. It's safe to say I'm pretty excited about this season as I believe the Turtle was very quick and Kevin is confident that he's moved the foils on again...
Roll on spring!!!
Sunday, 30 January 2011
Steve Nicholson Race
5 Moths rocked up at Northampton SC for the 2011 Steve Nicholson Race. There wasn't much wind when we turned up, but thankfully we weren't starting until after midday which gave a bit of time for the forecast 10 mph to kick in.
We were sailing with the asymmetric fleet which gave us a busy startline to play with and plenty of moving obstacles around the course to do battle with. After some vaguely synchronized port tack starting with Tom, I took and early lead and didn't really look back with the shifty lake sailing playing to my advantage and the Ninja Turtle doing the rest. After 7 laps I'd nearly lapped Tom in second with Martin a few minutes behind him posting a 23 knot best in not much breeze and very cold water...
The format of the event means we get to sit around and watch the other fleet race before going back out for a second race. With the weather being pretty cold it's quite hard to drag yourself back out again and it takes about 20 minutes back on the water just to get vaguely warm again! This became a bit of my downfall with two appalling tacks on the first lap, once with the tiller extension up the back of my buoyancy aid and another saw me kicking out my elbow while leaning on the wingbar post tack dumping me unceremoniously out of the boat! Anyway, I managed to get back in the groove and catch up with Tom and after having a good battle with him for a few laps sneaked away as the breeze died towards the end with Martin coming in third again.
Was very good fun as usual despite the ice on the ground and massive windchill! Results are up HERE and I will post links to photos when they materialise. I had the first chance to use my new ProStart and it's definitely idiot proof - Hopefully when I get back out at BCYC I can use it to sort out my starting issues!
We were sailing with the asymmetric fleet which gave us a busy startline to play with and plenty of moving obstacles around the course to do battle with. After some vaguely synchronized port tack starting with Tom, I took and early lead and didn't really look back with the shifty lake sailing playing to my advantage and the Ninja Turtle doing the rest. After 7 laps I'd nearly lapped Tom in second with Martin a few minutes behind him posting a 23 knot best in not much breeze and very cold water...
The format of the event means we get to sit around and watch the other fleet race before going back out for a second race. With the weather being pretty cold it's quite hard to drag yourself back out again and it takes about 20 minutes back on the water just to get vaguely warm again! This became a bit of my downfall with two appalling tacks on the first lap, once with the tiller extension up the back of my buoyancy aid and another saw me kicking out my elbow while leaning on the wingbar post tack dumping me unceremoniously out of the boat! Anyway, I managed to get back in the groove and catch up with Tom and after having a good battle with him for a few laps sneaked away as the breeze died towards the end with Martin coming in third again.
Was very good fun as usual despite the ice on the ground and massive windchill! Results are up HERE and I will post links to photos when they materialise. I had the first chance to use my new ProStart and it's definitely idiot proof - Hopefully when I get back out at BCYC I can use it to sort out my starting issues!
Saturday, 22 January 2011
It's Miller time
No I've not started drinking again. Yet.
Nope, it's that time of year again. I'm up in Nottingham getting the latest round of Ellway foils machined up. The very fast and skinny foils of last year are making way for something faster... Rudder mould is nearly done (this pic was taken late last night) and the wings and daggerboard will be done over the next few days...
2011, year of the Ninja.
Nope, it's that time of year again. I'm up in Nottingham getting the latest round of Ellway foils machined up. The very fast and skinny foils of last year are making way for something faster... Rudder mould is nearly done (this pic was taken late last night) and the wings and daggerboard will be done over the next few days...
2011, year of the Ninja.
Friday, 14 January 2011
Down in Flames
Well, I think it's safe to say the ashes will be staying in Australia this time around...
I'd like to congratulate Nathan on a dominating performance on a relatively level playing field shows him to be a true class act. I would also like to congratulate Scott on a top result while running the event - This has been far and away the best worlds to watch online with the daily video and constant Facebook updates.
2011 is going to be an interesting year - I'm currently trying to get my head around how on earth the GBR fleet can up our game sufficiently!
I'd like to congratulate Nathan on a dominating performance on a relatively level playing field shows him to be a true class act. I would also like to congratulate Scott on a top result while running the event - This has been far and away the best worlds to watch online with the daily video and constant Facebook updates.
2011 is going to be an interesting year - I'm currently trying to get my head around how on earth the GBR fleet can up our game sufficiently!
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Bloody Mary 2011
11 Mothies braved the most reasonable forecast anyone has seen at QM for a long time. We arrived to find it blowing dogs off chains but due to the forecast drop after lunch and non freezing temperatures no-one was too phased.
With the first boats going off at midday and the Moths not due to start until 75 minutes later we all sat back to watch the race unfold which is a most bizarre thing to do! Got to feel sorry for the slower boats chugging around for all that time while we are ashore drinking tea...
Our startline proved quite entertaining as we had boats crossing on two different downwind legs while we were milling around and with the general tactics being to stay the hell out of trouble off we went.
With the wind having abated by our start, Alex Adams and I played a good game of cat and mouse as we sailed into and out of puffs pulling away then getting caught again. This was going to be the order of the day, although I gave Alex a good lead at one point when I missed a mark out due to following an MPS who obviously had no idea where he was going leading me astray (I never know where I'm going either...). We both spent a good leg lowriding on the second lap while the wind gods stopped for tea, but once they kicked back in we got the hammer down pulling through the fleet nicely. I had to stop for a break a couple of times too, having my mainsheet block break off the boom and need a lashing (figuratively and literally) and my pushrod bottle screw undoing itself while I wasn't looking meaning another nice dip and cool down while I reassembled on the water!
The final lap was a good one and with time ticking away we both tried to pull through as much of the fleet as possible getting around two big chunks of boats on two seperate legs. I pulled through to 10th in the end getting past 10 or so boats on the last reach and unfortunately left Alex just behind them in 25th.
Further back in the fleet DJ Edwards had a good race coming in 77th, Olivier Vidal in 80th, Geoff Carveth and Tim Penfold duking it out for 100th and 101st respectively, Martin Fear in 111th, Doug Pybus in 118th with an overtightened wand bolt causing some pretty special launch positions, Gareth Davies in 130th, Jon Peats came in 184th. Tom Offer had a nightmare, launching to a KA special with cams popping off, starting late and then taking half the tiller extension with him after missing the toestraps post tack... Overall was taken by the 14 of Roger Gilbert.
I always enjoy this event and this year was a good one with my personal best result being a mid teens in a N12, coming away with the first foiler trophy and first in class, although they are both pretty much the same thing now the 600 fleet has vanished. If anyone has any ideas what to do with 1.4L of Vodka when you don't drink, please let me know.
Next event is the Steve Nicholson Race on Saturday the 29th of Jan. Meanwhile Fotoboat and Ian Roman have both posted up some galleries from the event already...
With the first boats going off at midday and the Moths not due to start until 75 minutes later we all sat back to watch the race unfold which is a most bizarre thing to do! Got to feel sorry for the slower boats chugging around for all that time while we are ashore drinking tea...
Our startline proved quite entertaining as we had boats crossing on two different downwind legs while we were milling around and with the general tactics being to stay the hell out of trouble off we went.
With the wind having abated by our start, Alex Adams and I played a good game of cat and mouse as we sailed into and out of puffs pulling away then getting caught again. This was going to be the order of the day, although I gave Alex a good lead at one point when I missed a mark out due to following an MPS who obviously had no idea where he was going leading me astray (I never know where I'm going either...). We both spent a good leg lowriding on the second lap while the wind gods stopped for tea, but once they kicked back in we got the hammer down pulling through the fleet nicely. I had to stop for a break a couple of times too, having my mainsheet block break off the boom and need a lashing (figuratively and literally) and my pushrod bottle screw undoing itself while I wasn't looking meaning another nice dip and cool down while I reassembled on the water!
The final lap was a good one and with time ticking away we both tried to pull through as much of the fleet as possible getting around two big chunks of boats on two seperate legs. I pulled through to 10th in the end getting past 10 or so boats on the last reach and unfortunately left Alex just behind them in 25th.
Further back in the fleet DJ Edwards had a good race coming in 77th, Olivier Vidal in 80th, Geoff Carveth and Tim Penfold duking it out for 100th and 101st respectively, Martin Fear in 111th, Doug Pybus in 118th with an overtightened wand bolt causing some pretty special launch positions, Gareth Davies in 130th, Jon Peats came in 184th. Tom Offer had a nightmare, launching to a KA special with cams popping off, starting late and then taking half the tiller extension with him after missing the toestraps post tack... Overall was taken by the 14 of Roger Gilbert.
I always enjoy this event and this year was a good one with my personal best result being a mid teens in a N12, coming away with the first foiler trophy and first in class, although they are both pretty much the same thing now the 600 fleet has vanished. If anyone has any ideas what to do with 1.4L of Vodka when you don't drink, please let me know.
Next event is the Steve Nicholson Race on Saturday the 29th of Jan. Meanwhile Fotoboat and Ian Roman have both posted up some galleries from the event already...
Monday, 3 January 2011
UK Winter event pre entry
For all you fellow winter idiots out there, here are the links for the rest of the Moth winter series events. So far we've had the Tide Ride and the Grafham Grand prix, although it looks like no-one went to the GGP! We usually have a big turnout for the Bloody Mary so lets make this one a bumper year...
Bloody Mary pre-entry is HERE....
Steve Nicholson pre-entry is HERE....
And finally the Tiger Trophy is HERE...
Bloody Mary pre-entry is HERE....
Steve Nicholson pre-entry is HERE....
And finally the Tiger Trophy is HERE...
Friday, 31 December 2010
Seasons greetings
Well another new year is about to rear its head and that always provides an opportunity for reminiscing. It's been a strange one from my point of view - I've done the least amount of sailing since I was about 7 and not through choice! I've tried pretty hard to go sailing and put the hours in but I've spent ages at the whim of weather, multiple club duties and now an empty lake. At some point you have to decide at what level you intend to compete and so far I have seen little point in driving hours across the country just to train but have come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to put the hours in! I know the boat is faster than ever and the TideRide proved that despite my rustyness so just the mission of getting back to racing fitness and getting on top of the boat handling again...
I suppose with the size of the UK and the broadness of sailing we have over here it's easy to take for granted what we have and while I am in a bit of a black hole in the country with only one club I could sail at, within 2-3 hours I could be at any one of a number of clubs with a load of other Moths enjoying some time on the water.
This has been one of my opposing thoughts on the wing topic in that in the UK we do travel frequently by trailer/cartop and hard sails would be a burden on that - not an insurmountable one certainly but a burden nonetheless and having had a chance to catch up with Adam over the Christmas period and check out his wing hasn't really alleviated my concerns in this area. Even the best case of it breaking down into 4 pieces still won't fit on a car and would need a large trailer (or a VW transporter, lucky me!). Don't even get me starting on the SA (stupid americans) forum wars. Too many people not knowing when to stfu, along with my favorite - I don't know who in their right mind believes there is an "anti wing lobby" makes it sound like the Illuminati is out to get us....
It's the usual exciting time in Mothland with Blog reports starting to come out (Matt Knowles has been excellent) and I'm looking forward to hearing all about it and wishing I was there. Someone asked me while I was feeling grumpy on Facebook how I could afford not to be there and I can see the sentiment but it's the harsh reality of self employment (and building things at that) in that just affording to go is only half the battle but it's what you can afford to miss out on workwise that's far more important. Those who can telecommute have it easy but nothing gets made while I'm gone...
Anyway. Looking forward - the Bristol Mothies are in good spirits despite not having been on the lake since September (July in my case!), and we all met up a couple of weeks back in Bath for drinks to catchup. It's been all change though, with Tom Offer picking up a Mach2, Simon Hindley sellling his Prowler to make way for the Turtle and me working on the 2011 boat and foils... Names and silly colour schemes on a postcard!
The winter silly season is kicking off with the Grafham GP this Sunday (sorry, too far for me for one day!) and the Bloody Mary the following Saturday which usually attracts a good bunch of Moths and I'm hoping for +figure temperatures at least...
Heres to 2011. May my blog posts be shorter and more interesting.
I suppose with the size of the UK and the broadness of sailing we have over here it's easy to take for granted what we have and while I am in a bit of a black hole in the country with only one club I could sail at, within 2-3 hours I could be at any one of a number of clubs with a load of other Moths enjoying some time on the water.
This has been one of my opposing thoughts on the wing topic in that in the UK we do travel frequently by trailer/cartop and hard sails would be a burden on that - not an insurmountable one certainly but a burden nonetheless and having had a chance to catch up with Adam over the Christmas period and check out his wing hasn't really alleviated my concerns in this area. Even the best case of it breaking down into 4 pieces still won't fit on a car and would need a large trailer (or a VW transporter, lucky me!). Don't even get me starting on the SA (stupid americans) forum wars. Too many people not knowing when to stfu, along with my favorite - I don't know who in their right mind believes there is an "anti wing lobby" makes it sound like the Illuminati is out to get us....
It's the usual exciting time in Mothland with Blog reports starting to come out (Matt Knowles has been excellent) and I'm looking forward to hearing all about it and wishing I was there. Someone asked me while I was feeling grumpy on Facebook how I could afford not to be there and I can see the sentiment but it's the harsh reality of self employment (and building things at that) in that just affording to go is only half the battle but it's what you can afford to miss out on workwise that's far more important. Those who can telecommute have it easy but nothing gets made while I'm gone...
Anyway. Looking forward - the Bristol Mothies are in good spirits despite not having been on the lake since September (July in my case!), and we all met up a couple of weeks back in Bath for drinks to catchup. It's been all change though, with Tom Offer picking up a Mach2, Simon Hindley sellling his Prowler to make way for the Turtle and me working on the 2011 boat and foils... Names and silly colour schemes on a postcard!
The winter silly season is kicking off with the Grafham GP this Sunday (sorry, too far for me for one day!) and the Bloody Mary the following Saturday which usually attracts a good bunch of Moths and I'm hoping for +figure temperatures at least...
Heres to 2011. May my blog posts be shorter and more interesting.
Tuesday, 7 December 2010
Bristol Moth ice skating squadron
The recent cold spell, combined with the lack of water means the lake has now frozen over! What little sailing they were trying to run at BCYC has been canned for this weekend. Fingers cross it lets up enough to thaw out and that Bristol Water start filling up again.
Thankfully there has been no wind lately so I coulnd't have been sailing elsewhere! Aus is looking more and more sensible by the minute...
Thursday, 2 December 2010
Bristol Moth tea drinking squadron
Still no water. Rumour has it it's up a bit over the last few weeks and I'm hoping we'll be sailing again within a week...
Fingers crossed. I'm starting to forget what my boat looks like!
Fingers crossed. I'm starting to forget what my boat looks like!
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