Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Torquay pics
I've had a couple of pictures through from Richard Meek from the Torquay mini open over the weekend. It looks quite sedate in the pictures but that was far from the case! Will have a proper report shortly...
Monday, 19 October 2009
Carbon badassery
Ninja Tuna is now ready and raring to go. Tried to go launch her this weekend but discovered that you can walk across most of the lake at the moment as the water level is so low! Should be going down to Torquay for an unofficial open this weekend if the forecast looks OK...
Got some interesting sail development stuff going on at the moment with Mike Lennon and Kevin Ellway working on a prototype sail for me which I'm looking forward to getting my hands on. Building is in full swing at Aardvark HQ with a boat for Jason Belben half done and Olivier Vidal following soon after but after a long spell off the water I'm looking forward to actually going sailing myself!
Got some interesting sail development stuff going on at the moment with Mike Lennon and Kevin Ellway working on a prototype sail for me which I'm looking forward to getting my hands on. Building is in full swing at Aardvark HQ with a boat for Jason Belben half done and Olivier Vidal following soon after but after a long spell off the water I'm looking forward to actually going sailing myself!
Friday, 9 October 2009
Riding the Tide
Hayling did the usual thing it does most octobers and blew it's nuts off. Leaving us all trying to cram in a load of races on the Sunday. The Moths had the biggest turnout at the event, which was great news although the Hayling fleet alone could have added 50% to the numbers if they had all gone sailing!
The breeze was blowing across the club, making things pretty shifty and there wasn't quite enough wind to keep foiling all the way meaning the fleet spread out quite a lot and shutting out most people from the 5 minute time window after the first place finisher.
Fat Bottomed Girl was doing me proud though, as once she was foiling she was putting many of the newer boats to shame! The setup and geometry was a bit of a best guess and the lack of early foiling could have been solved with a bit more a-o-a on the main foil - unfortunately I had no time for a test sail to figure such things out...
In most races I managed to sneak into the top 5 at the windward mark, but the runs were always my undoing as I seemed to luck out with lulls and fluffed gybes and at least one HISC rib driving in front of me while not looking... I was certainly in the top half of the fleet by the finish of most races. Unfortunately Hayling decided to run a final race at nearly 4 oclock in the afternoon leaving me with little time to pack up and get home so I decided to skip this part.
It was quite an interesting format, with a miniseries in the morning counting for half of your score and the final race counting for the other half. The slalon style gated course was actually quite entertaining and certainly put boat handling to the test.
Adam put in a good score in the miniseries but lost it in the final to Rod Harris who is continuing his fine form and showing everyone the Prowler still cuts it at the pointy end.
My new Ninja is about to have some paint thrown its way - will get some pictures up when she starts looking finished. I am really looking forward to getting back on the water for the winter and all the crazy handicap events England throws at us!
The breeze was blowing across the club, making things pretty shifty and there wasn't quite enough wind to keep foiling all the way meaning the fleet spread out quite a lot and shutting out most people from the 5 minute time window after the first place finisher.
Fat Bottomed Girl was doing me proud though, as once she was foiling she was putting many of the newer boats to shame! The setup and geometry was a bit of a best guess and the lack of early foiling could have been solved with a bit more a-o-a on the main foil - unfortunately I had no time for a test sail to figure such things out...
In most races I managed to sneak into the top 5 at the windward mark, but the runs were always my undoing as I seemed to luck out with lulls and fluffed gybes and at least one HISC rib driving in front of me while not looking... I was certainly in the top half of the fleet by the finish of most races. Unfortunately Hayling decided to run a final race at nearly 4 oclock in the afternoon leaving me with little time to pack up and get home so I decided to skip this part.
It was quite an interesting format, with a miniseries in the morning counting for half of your score and the final race counting for the other half. The slalon style gated course was actually quite entertaining and certainly put boat handling to the test.
Adam put in a good score in the miniseries but lost it in the final to Rod Harris who is continuing his fine form and showing everyone the Prowler still cuts it at the pointy end.
My new Ninja is about to have some paint thrown its way - will get some pictures up when she starts looking finished. I am really looking forward to getting back on the water for the winter and all the crazy handicap events England throws at us!
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
All quiet
Not much going on here really so just a random collection of musings!
First off, well done to Bora who has just posted a GPS trace showing some 30 knot peak speeds. As someone who still hasn't gone over 25 I dread to think what hitting the water feels like at that speed.
Second off, well done to Martin Fear down at BCYC who has in my absense been going faster and faster, posting 26.9knots a couple of weeks ago which I think makes him the fastest Mothie in the UK. There hasn't been much wind lately so generally not a lot of sailing going on at the club and more bimbling getting done instead.
I finally got out to the club on Sunday to pick up Emmas Moth. I have spent the last day fitting the foils from my new unfinished boat to it in time for the Tide Ride down at Hayling Island this weekend. Should be pretty good fun and Emma has made a bet with me as to how far up the fleet I can get her Fat Bottomed Girl as she thinks Mothing has become a bit chequebook...
My new Ninja is rapidly taking shape in the workshop though. Nearly onto the painting and decorating stage. Safe to say the 2010 Ninja is looking leaner and meaner than ever and if the paint job I have lined up works will be something to behold!
Cheers for now, update again after the Tide Ride.
First off, well done to Bora who has just posted a GPS trace showing some 30 knot peak speeds. As someone who still hasn't gone over 25 I dread to think what hitting the water feels like at that speed.
Second off, well done to Martin Fear down at BCYC who has in my absense been going faster and faster, posting 26.9knots a couple of weeks ago which I think makes him the fastest Mothie in the UK. There hasn't been much wind lately so generally not a lot of sailing going on at the club and more bimbling getting done instead.
I finally got out to the club on Sunday to pick up Emmas Moth. I have spent the last day fitting the foils from my new unfinished boat to it in time for the Tide Ride down at Hayling Island this weekend. Should be pretty good fun and Emma has made a bet with me as to how far up the fleet I can get her Fat Bottomed Girl as she thinks Mothing has become a bit chequebook...
My new Ninja is rapidly taking shape in the workshop though. Nearly onto the painting and decorating stage. Safe to say the 2010 Ninja is looking leaner and meaner than ever and if the paint job I have lined up works will be something to behold!
Cheers for now, update again after the Tide Ride.
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
September sailing
I'm boatless, but there are currently more mothies than ever down at BCYC! Chris Bishop has picked up a BL RX nice and cheap using all the spares they seemed to have lying around. Simon Hindley has been out in his Prowler now and Leo has returned from the depths of Wales and remembered his boat too. Martin has suddenly turned into the fastest on the lake, posting a 25.3 knot personal best!
I'm now off to get hitched, followed by a week of windsurfing before getting stuck into building my new Ninja, along with digging Fat Bottomed Girl out of her hiding place in the shed and taking her to the Tide Ride in October.
Pics by Laura Bishop
I'm now off to get hitched, followed by a week of windsurfing before getting stuck into building my new Ninja, along with digging Fat Bottomed Girl out of her hiding place in the shed and taking her to the Tide Ride in October.
Pics by Laura Bishop
Sunday, 9 August 2009
The green eyed monster
I can't help but look at all the news and views coming from Oregon and feel like I should be there.
I made my choice early in the year that the Worlds was going to be too much but had no idea that the rest of the season would go so well. I'm on the fence about Dubai too as I'm holding out for the worlds in Aus...
While it looks like it's too windy for sensible sailing the competition looks hot. I'm not going to bless the internets with a form guide, but I'd love to see someone like Scott take it as he's a nice chap and always tells it like it is.
I've only been sailing twice since the Nationals and have since sold the Ninja on, as I'm going to be pretty busy for the next 6 weeks and not get much sailing in. I think Fat Bottomed Girl will get dug out of the shed at BCYC until I get a new boat up and running for myself in the Autumn.
Bristol Moth Squadron seems to be holding up nicely though in my absense with Martin going out and getting a 25knot personal best and Alan back out enjoying his sailing after some knee problems. Chris Bishop is borrowing my sisters still unsold Axiom 3 and getting to grips with it and a likely new Mothy in the shape of Simon Hindley who has picked up Paul Haydens old Prowler 3 and will hopefully be getting involved.
Ninja's 2 and 3 are now down at Stokes Bay with their new owners Kevin and Jo who are fast coming to terms with Moth sailing on the Solent. Now he's got his own Kevin has a whole line of interesting thoughts on taking the boats forward...
I made my choice early in the year that the Worlds was going to be too much but had no idea that the rest of the season would go so well. I'm on the fence about Dubai too as I'm holding out for the worlds in Aus...
While it looks like it's too windy for sensible sailing the competition looks hot. I'm not going to bless the internets with a form guide, but I'd love to see someone like Scott take it as he's a nice chap and always tells it like it is.
I've only been sailing twice since the Nationals and have since sold the Ninja on, as I'm going to be pretty busy for the next 6 weeks and not get much sailing in. I think Fat Bottomed Girl will get dug out of the shed at BCYC until I get a new boat up and running for myself in the Autumn.
Bristol Moth Squadron seems to be holding up nicely though in my absense with Martin going out and getting a 25knot personal best and Alan back out enjoying his sailing after some knee problems. Chris Bishop is borrowing my sisters still unsold Axiom 3 and getting to grips with it and a likely new Mothy in the shape of Simon Hindley who has picked up Paul Haydens old Prowler 3 and will hopefully be getting involved.
Ninja's 2 and 3 are now down at Stokes Bay with their new owners Kevin and Jo who are fast coming to terms with Moth sailing on the Solent. Now he's got his own Kevin has a whole line of interesting thoughts on taking the boats forward...
Saturday, 18 July 2009
2009 Moth Nationals
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!
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!
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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