Glyn Charles Race

Was it that long ago that Glyn died? The Sydney Hobart race of '98 on Sword of Orion. It seems like yesterday.

Each year Hayling Island Sailing club host an open pursuit race in this Team GBR sailors honour and this year 110 boats competed. The wind was good, about 12-18knots and it was great to see nearly all the best UK Moth sailors there as well as countless sailors from other classes. We sailed off a handicap of 499 which is 15 minutes after the 49er (big rig). Especially difficult if that 49er happens to be John Pink and John Gimson.  The biggest problem we faced was the weed, having to capsize or back up on a tack regularly to clear the foils and as I got to the windward mark I was down to 9 knots boat speed and full ride height, but I daren't capsize to clear it for fear of hitting the bottom!  I could have sailed that beat better actually. Still Chris Rashley and Jason Belben lead at the windward mark but with a choice of three marks (and not knowing the harbour that well) got the wrong one and Mike Lennon in his Mach2 nipped around the first mark in the lead. I was second and led at the next mark as Mike hit weed. The other guys caught up lots too. On the next leg I nearly missed the next mark and as a result of loosing time ducked Mikes transom out of a tack and just cleared Chris. I managed to get round the next mark first and extended on the run trying like hell to dodge the weed. A short beat later and that was it. I finished 25th, and without the capsizing could maybe have got the the front but  I guess everyone, whatever the boat had weed issues. Fellow Mach2 sailor Mike Lennon was going well and just behind me and the event was won by James Peters and Alan Roberts in an RS200.

Most improved Moth performer goes to fellow black boat sailor Graham Simmonds, and Simon Hiscocks and Ollie Holden were going well too.

Still it was a good work out, and it was a fun day in memory of a  great guy.

Little flashes of sun on a cold dark sea

Photo Thierry Martinez 

Those, the words of Jean Paul Sartre in his book Nausea could have described the French Nationals the other weekend, but to view the event from just the five races on the last day would be missing out on the wider adventure that is Moth sailing. Olivier Vidal and Peter Barton also made the overnight ferry trip/small drive down to Quiberon,  and Fabien Froesch, Philip Käsermann and Mikis Psarofaghis drove up from Switzerland to complete the International contingent.
I went there for a chance to race on a long course and to support the French fleet as the class continues to grow there, and what a fantastic time it was. We didn't sail on the Sunday, too much wind, but to be honest its such a nice place it didn't bother me too much, and we met Thierry Martinez in his Locmariaquer based gallery and went to dinner that night.
The next day the Moths were sent out just to make sure it was impossible to race and I came in 20 capsizes later with mild whip lash and a taste for some more bonhomie...
The only race day was medium conditions and very bumpy. Race one went easily to Philip, with Peter Barton second as I struggle into third place after a major pitchpole and a resolve to drink less in future.
The next race and I still capsized twice but a devil may care "lift it high and fly" strategy (which you should only ever use on the last run) saw me first to the finish. It was great to see Yann Andrillon from France getting up there in his Mach2 and also Fabien going very well.
Great pace rather than any specific skill saw me do well in the next three races and importantly I felt like I'd had a good work out and learnt a bit more about my boat set up.  Peter Barton wound up second, with Fabien third overall but several French sailors showed a lot of grit to give it a go and get round the course.
After the racing we sat around drinking beers in the dinghy park with the members of ASN Quiberon who were so welcoming that it was quite hard to go back home.

Now the worlds are not that far away but with an air temperature on Saturday of 5.7 degrees at HISC (colder than Christmas day) I elected not to sail. I guess my next event will be the UK Nationals so time for some evening sailing.

S

Parkstone

photograph: Mike Millard 

The scariest thing about Parkstone was the sail home on the 2nd day. Speed in the mid twenties, fibreglass on one side, and a wall on the other. I think everyone felt like they'd danced with the devil after that ride. 

It was a good event with great racing and considering the forecast an excellent turn out.

 Thanks to Rod Harris and Why Jewellers for sponsoring the event. I won a blue sapphire which is lovely. Full results here.

Its the French Nationals this weekend and Olivier Vidal, Pete Barton and I are going.

S

If you don't think it will happen to you, find the person who had it happen to them

Safety is our primary concern. Well, speed, then safety. Oh no- speed, image then safety, but its still right up there...

Seriously for the newbies, read the "Mach2 safety tips" page

It's Parkstone Moth Grand Prix at errr Parkstone this weekend. The forecast looks alright. It's a good place to sail and the reasonably early 1100hrs start means we'll be back home before the average round of golf is finished. For new Moth sailors you will learn quicker at Parkstone than you will anywhere else, so don't be afraid to come and sail. The good guys are only too keen to help! Anyway to the racing, and I'm looking forward to it. It seems we've been messing around in really light Northerly winds of late and Queen Mary was awful. It will be nice to stretch our legs on this flat course where its easy to set super fast speeds.

See you there!

S

Hard headed?

Whilst I really enjoyed watching the Americas Cup over the last few days it's pretty clear that in most conditions (OK not last tuesday) Moths would smoke 'em, and whilst its only an observation its still kinda nice.
Watching everyone get such a pounding it did occur to me that it seemed eminently sensible to wear helmets, and that got me thinking as to whether we should too? OK, we don't have so far to fall when it goes wrong, but with closing speed that can easily be 50 mile per hour then it does seem sensible doesn't it?

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Making April

I read yesterday that container ships had been told to slow down so much by their owners in order to conserve fuel that the Cutty Sark, the greatest tea clipper of them all, would hammer them in a race today. Things are changing for sure, but progress? Well it's not all that it's cut out to be it seems.
Except when it comes to breaking into cars. Which is frustratingly difficult, as I found out last week when I locked my keys in my lovely Abarth Punto Evo. The RAC man, an uncomplicated guy who sucked through his teeth and winced at today's machines used wedges and rods and tape to the extent that I couldnt look, but it seems that cars have to pass a break in test before a new model can go on sale, and it appeared that the reason there are so many new models out there was because I had just met the examiner.
I got her back yesterday after she'd been fixed by the Abarth garage, and if you won't tell anyone I whispered a little apology to my car on the way to the sailing club last night.
Another good session on the water had me feeling ok as I left in the twilight, although the bay was choppy and i was on the edge of control as i sailed in with Mike Lennon. More practice will solve that.
Tonight I completed a number of jobs that needed to be done on the boat. The upshot is that I'm putting in the time and the boat is fast and a few meanigful races at Easter will do me good.
In Australia they have the NSW State titles this weekend and with the Worlds not far away it's sensible to keep an eye on who's going fast because soon enough we'll be racing each other.

S

Ides of March

Its sunny here and the weekend made for great sailing! A high sat over the country which meant light winds, cold water and the unusual smell of suntan lotion in March.

In Australia Amac won the Victorian States with ballistic downwind speed using the new production KA MSL 16. Something I began to see with the prototype KA MSL 16 on Saturday which although a bit too flat in the middle for everyday use and is now superseded by the production model, does have that really groovy top.



We thought Amacs total of 8 wins had equalled Brian Morris's record run, the son of class founder Len Morris, but in fact Brain won 11 times from 1947 to 1963 and actually Len won it from 1933 to 1946 consecutively.

Back to Hayling and I think we must have had 8 Mach2's out and having fun on Saturday. Great to see newbie Matt Bergmann Smith up and foiling on effectively his first time out in his new boat.

On Sunday we took Callisto out and had lunch at Easthead. I saw the guys out again and it occurred to me why Moths do so well at pursuit races. It has little to do with a favourable handicap but more to do with the fact that we practice so much more than other sailors. Why? Because the boats are so much fun!



Today is an exciting day as my i pad is being delivered. I'm hoping its similar to my old Etch A Sketch in terms of use! I plan to use my free time to sail most evenings this week now the clocks have gone forward.