Just home from the race.
A sick SE wind over middle head made for a patchy course. 12 foilers and three scows so a reasonale fleet. Dave got recalled so Scott, Andrew, Luka and Ben were up front at the first mark. Dave eventually got past Luka and Scott at different times but at the finish Scott won from fly weight Matt Day, Luka, Dave and Andrew then Alistair in the firat BR.
Most people were happy with their speed but found holes in the wind to explain ther places.
I was happy for half a race and was in front of Andrew (after he swam) when my vang decided to break. After that I sailed a lap with it slack unlil lapped and the pulled the pin to be first back to the beach.
Dave said the last few times he sailed against Scott it has been patchy, but for now Scott has earned the respect as the fastet moth in Sydney.
Much rumour oubout James MacKenzie and his new boat. Every one knew he has the first Mach2 order. So all expectant. He fronted with a 1964 vintage fibreglass scow predating wings, which he picked up for $200 a few weeks back. It did not loook like the renders on Simon's Blog but he did finish the race.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Karma
Since Bruce has now published my interview on the Mothcast and revealed all my ideas about new moths I guess its time to post some pictured of whats in the shed. 
When we did the interview, just before the worlds in July, my plans were to build a stressed ply hull for a plug and build a carbon / foam shell. But since then I have acquired the damaged hull of Karma Package Deal and as I still think the Hungry Tiger is the best hull in the water, and Thorpey builds lighter than I can, I decided to develop my low windage ideas around the Tiger hull. About 100mm of freeboard was removed along with flares and most of the foredeck. The main deck is the cockpit flipped over. Lots of material reuse in the internal structure but I still threw out 5kg of surplus materail.
The photos show the hull with deck panels sitting on top loose. The insides are complete with all hard points for wings and gantry plus fin case and mast tube. Deck should go on this week.
As I indicated in the interview the mast is a little forward from std at 900mm from the bow because that is where there was some framing, not the 500 of Chainsaw Mk2 or 800 of Chainsaw Mk3. The fin case is 150 in front of the Tiger position.
Foils are underway, gantry is complete but rig and wings will take a while. I need to sell the canoe first.
Monday, November 10, 2008
Still ventilating the rudder
Although I finished a close third to Lea I really did not have a great race. The rudder continues to ventilate at high speed, despite careful fairing and sanding with an accurate profiled template.
Again we had 9 moths starting but again only three finished with a mixture of gear failures and lost enthusiasm from those who withdrew. It was a gusty westerly which started out at about 12kts with big holes and ended up as a solid 20. Lots of fun and plenty of swims.
Dave who usually wins each week had an off day. Not only did a few of us cross him up the first work, followed by Andrew and Luka putting on a fair chase, but then he managed to break a centreboard brass pushrod and so pulled out of the race. From my point of view it was a good feeling to be with a few fast boats at least up the first work.
But then my ventilation problems returned? Swims from spin outs and some from poor gybes, but I did nearly catch Lea as the wind freshened towards the end.
Analysis with Andrew concludes that my rudder is more vertical than his, the same molding and he does not have a problem, going very fast at last. So this week's exercise is to adjust the T joint connection for a few more degrees of forward rake. Not so hard with the detatchable T. And the rudder box has plenty of scope for more range.
Next week we have an interclub at Balmoral. Most of the StGeorge crew are going. It will be good to mix it with the Balmoral Bladeriders and Woollahra fleet. At this early stage the forecast is for a moderate southerly, at least that tends to keep the yacht and skiff fleets clear of our race course, othersize its very crowded.
Again we had 9 moths starting but again only three finished with a mixture of gear failures and lost enthusiasm from those who withdrew. It was a gusty westerly which started out at about 12kts with big holes and ended up as a solid 20. Lots of fun and plenty of swims.
Dave who usually wins each week had an off day. Not only did a few of us cross him up the first work, followed by Andrew and Luka putting on a fair chase, but then he managed to break a centreboard brass pushrod and so pulled out of the race. From my point of view it was a good feeling to be with a few fast boats at least up the first work.
But then my ventilation problems returned? Swims from spin outs and some from poor gybes, but I did nearly catch Lea as the wind freshened towards the end.
Analysis with Andrew concludes that my rudder is more vertical than his, the same molding and he does not have a problem, going very fast at last. So this week's exercise is to adjust the T joint connection for a few more degrees of forward rake. Not so hard with the detatchable T. And the rudder box has plenty of scope for more range.
Next week we have an interclub at Balmoral. Most of the StGeorge crew are going. It will be good to mix it with the Balmoral Bladeriders and Woollahra fleet. At this early stage the forecast is for a moderate southerly, at least that tends to keep the yacht and skiff fleets clear of our race course, othersize its very crowded.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Foils for sale
I have two used foils to sell.
Two centreboards/main foils. Both are carbon moldings finished in gloss white two pack. Std 120mm chord and sections (within my building tollerances) They have flaps and pushrods installed. They are from my mold as used by Andrew, me and Thorpey for foils under boats like RTFM/Revolations, Sector 7G, Butterfly wings, Tiger on a Chain, Cahinsaw.etc.
1. Main foil #1. Built for Tiger on a Chain and used from late 2005 to end of 06/7 season. Damaged at Sunshine nationals and repaired and used extensively afterwards. 3.75kg. $500
2. Main foil #2 Built for Tiger on a Chain and used for the 07/8 season, never damaged. Fast enough in the light to win three heats of last NSW champs. Has new hinge and bottom gap seal. 3.2kg. $600
Both have the normal 7-8 degree forward rake. 900mm span main foil, centreboard length about 1350mm.
No rudder but I can convert the old foil to rudder rake/span if someone wants it.
Suit foil conversion of an old Axeman or Tiger.
They will get you flying easilly but will not win any championships.
Pick up Sydney.
No rudder box, tiller, deck pushrod or wand included but I might be able to assist with some bits and pieces if someone needs a complete set of gear.
Contact Phil Stevenson
ph Aust 02 98161028
phil(at)moth(dot)asn(dot)au
Two centreboards/main foils. Both are carbon moldings finished in gloss white two pack. Std 120mm chord and sections (within my building tollerances) They have flaps and pushrods installed. They are from my mold as used by Andrew, me and Thorpey for foils under boats like RTFM/Revolations, Sector 7G, Butterfly wings, Tiger on a Chain, Cahinsaw.etc.
1. Main foil #1. Built for Tiger on a Chain and used from late 2005 to end of 06/7 season. Damaged at Sunshine nationals and repaired and used extensively afterwards. 3.75kg. $500
2. Main foil #2 Built for Tiger on a Chain and used for the 07/8 season, never damaged. Fast enough in the light to win three heats of last NSW champs. Has new hinge and bottom gap seal. 3.2kg. $600
Both have the normal 7-8 degree forward rake. 900mm span main foil, centreboard length about 1350mm.
No rudder but I can convert the old foil to rudder rake/span if someone wants it.
Suit foil conversion of an old Axeman or Tiger.
They will get you flying easilly but will not win any championships.
Pick up Sydney.
No rudder box, tiller, deck pushrod or wand included but I might be able to assist with some bits and pieces if someone needs a complete set of gear.
Contact Phil Stevenson
ph Aust 02 98161028
phil(at)moth(dot)asn(dot)au
Sunday, November 2, 2008
St George Moths 1/11/08
First heat of the Club Championship.
We had 9 boats rigged for a moderate southerly but it seems we are a slack lot and only 5 made the start line on time. A couple of others started late but with the wind a bit gusty and coolish there were a few excuses to pull out and only three of us made the full distance. Dave won as usual, with Steve chasing and me a way back.
But for the first few marks I seemed to be hanging in there, still keeping Dave in sight and rounding ahead of Steve, but then a port tack downwind showed up some major rudder ventilation problems and 3 swims later they were gone.
Last week at sunshine I was having occasional ventilation at speed, so during the week I had glued on a 2mm glass rod and re faired the leading edge for a sharper entry. It worked OK upwind and downwind on Std but there must be some assymetry there somewhere and as soon as I built speed on port, the rudder vertical would let go and the boat gybe.
Subsequent downwinds were sailed as slow as I could to keep the boat flying but not ventilating, unusual way to be racing.
Today I am making an accurate sanding template to clean up the leading edge, something I should have done last week I suppose but we learn the hard way. I hope to compete the adjustments and do some trials mid week so I klnow its right before next week's race.
We had 9 boats rigged for a moderate southerly but it seems we are a slack lot and only 5 made the start line on time. A couple of others started late but with the wind a bit gusty and coolish there were a few excuses to pull out and only three of us made the full distance. Dave won as usual, with Steve chasing and me a way back.
But for the first few marks I seemed to be hanging in there, still keeping Dave in sight and rounding ahead of Steve, but then a port tack downwind showed up some major rudder ventilation problems and 3 swims later they were gone.
Last week at sunshine I was having occasional ventilation at speed, so during the week I had glued on a 2mm glass rod and re faired the leading edge for a sharper entry. It worked OK upwind and downwind on Std but there must be some assymetry there somewhere and as soon as I built speed on port, the rudder vertical would let go and the boat gybe.
Subsequent downwinds were sailed as slow as I could to keep the boat flying but not ventilating, unusual way to be racing.
Today I am making an accurate sanding template to clean up the leading edge, something I should have done last week I suppose but we learn the hard way. I hope to compete the adjustments and do some trials mid week so I klnow its right before next week's race.
Monday, October 27, 2008
ZHIK regatta at Sunshine
A great weekend at Sunshine, South Lake Macquarie. Lovely warm weather and a nice 12-15kt wind both days.
This was a mixed class yardstick regatta for single handed dinghies. The moths were in div 3 with Hayden's IC sailing three laps, while divs 1 and 2 included Spirals, Sabres, Contenders, Impulses and OKs and they all sailed 2 laps. Latest VYC posted yardsticks were used with the lap count included in the calculation.
The slow boats started first so it got pretty crowded at the first top mark. Then once past we sailed by ourselves for a lap and then caught them again on our third lap. At least it kept the fleet in the same wind as much as possible and sailing over a similar time span, things that matter in yardstick calculations. But the wind was so consistant it probably did not matter much.
We had 11 moths from St George, Balmoral plus Ben from Woollahra and Rod Ray down from Qld. The other classes were well represented by champions and top sailors. Total fleet was about 55.
In perfect foiling conditions the Moths went very well. Dave Lister was fastest and was I think first to finish in 3 races (having a gear failure in the 4th), meaning he passed all the other classes twice. In the last race he lapped Hayden Virture sailing the fastest IC in the country. Hayden commented that even sailing his older slower boat last year at McCrae against top ACats he had never been lapped before.
When Saturday's results were posted it was obvious that this fleet of moths were sailing a lot faster than the VYC rating. Moths filled the top 8 places by big margins. The other discrepancy was that the three Bladeriders were given the lower rating of 79 instead of the foiler moth rating of 83. This shuffled Rod and Alister down the list a little and it seems illogical to split the class this way.
Regardless the top guys were sailing about 10 minutes faster than the rating in a race well shorter than an hour. (Sorry I do not have the numbers in front of me). Dave beat me by 10 minutes and I beat all the other classes on VYC.
The VYC yardsticks are developed from mixed class racing results around Aust. There is very little of this racing in NSW, especially in summer, so I suspect that the ratings come from the days when Rohan was sailing in Melbourne club and regatta races. The 83 Moth rating would be how fast he was going when he had his last Prowler, and the 79 BR rating would be from when he began racing and promoting BR.
It looks like in these conditions a number more like 70-72 would be appropriate.
Back to the racing: Rod was closest to Dave with Ben and, in the races he sailed, Luka on his brand new Prowler not far back. There was some good racing in the bunch with places changing due to bad tacks or gybes. There is not much variation in actual boat speed.
I had some good bouts with Lea and Alister and ended up 5th overall.
Well done SLMASC.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Just an update
Lots happening in the mothoshere, Bladerider's bid for the Olympics, new Mach2 announced and as well as all the politics I have been sailing.
I have posted previously and elswhere that I disagree with an Olympic Moth. I see too much money and energy being diverted from the present development direction of the class into ISAF and class politics and then into selection, full time sailors, funding and such all with serious potential to disrupt or even redirect the tremendous steps forward and growth in both amateur and professional interest in moth.
I can not see the bid being sucessful anyway against the Finn and Laser lobbyists, but damage could be done anyway, just over a shorter period than if a Moth is selected.
The Mach 2 got a mention prevously and there has been quite a frenzy, Simon's Blog, press releases and lots of computer graphics. Nothing substantial yet, but I guess that if they do actually ever build anything, two of the worlds bess Mothies behind it will at least make it perform well.
Rohan is not pleased though, and bagged the builders of the early Bladeriders (now signed up to Mach2) for building crap boats. He admitted that he masked the fact three years ago that the boat was below expectation and won the Aust Nationals with it. Good sailors often make bad boats look good. The first title to BR. Maybe AMAC and Simon will do the same with the first batch of Mach2 in January even if they are below expectations? Development time is fast running out with no Mach2s sailing yet.
Enough moth politics.
I have been sailing.
Had a weekend away on the IC but back on the Tiger this week. The repaired Prowler foil is great, a big step up in speed compared with my old main foil. Still not completely finished and painted but solid and fast by my standards. Had a good race with Lea yesterday until he snuck away on the second downwind. We are both looking forward to the return of Clive, Grant and Chris from excursions and the improvement of Andrew now he has bought Scott's second broken foil. (Repairs to be completed yet.) There should be a close bunch in the mid fleet all with either Prowlers or Ilett foils under Hungry Tigers.
We all still have about 10 minutes to improve to get near Dave though. But he is being helpful and some improvements are coming hopefully. Luka gets his new prowler this week and should at least be closer to Dave than the older boats are. Steve can get up the front too.
St George now has 7 Prowlers, 2 Tigers, 2 Gilmore Alphas and and 3 scows. Not a bad Moth fleet when everyone comes to play.
Progress on Karma is slow, Removal of the flairs and freeboard (which included all the damaged bits) lost 7kg. The hull and two deck panels which will be recylcled weigh only 5kg. I could not build these as light as Thorpey so not point replacing them. I have filled in the old big fincase holes and built a new tube (foam sandwich) to take the unstayed mast, there is a new tiny fincase to build and a supporting bulkhead, then some hardpoints for wing and gantry mounts. It should still end up very light.
But there's more to come. Time and money permitting.
To Be Continued.
I have posted previously and elswhere that I disagree with an Olympic Moth. I see too much money and energy being diverted from the present development direction of the class into ISAF and class politics and then into selection, full time sailors, funding and such all with serious potential to disrupt or even redirect the tremendous steps forward and growth in both amateur and professional interest in moth.
I can not see the bid being sucessful anyway against the Finn and Laser lobbyists, but damage could be done anyway, just over a shorter period than if a Moth is selected.
The Mach 2 got a mention prevously and there has been quite a frenzy, Simon's Blog, press releases and lots of computer graphics. Nothing substantial yet, but I guess that if they do actually ever build anything, two of the worlds bess Mothies behind it will at least make it perform well.
Rohan is not pleased though, and bagged the builders of the early Bladeriders (now signed up to Mach2) for building crap boats. He admitted that he masked the fact three years ago that the boat was below expectation and won the Aust Nationals with it. Good sailors often make bad boats look good. The first title to BR. Maybe AMAC and Simon will do the same with the first batch of Mach2 in January even if they are below expectations? Development time is fast running out with no Mach2s sailing yet.
Enough moth politics.
I have been sailing.
Had a weekend away on the IC but back on the Tiger this week. The repaired Prowler foil is great, a big step up in speed compared with my old main foil. Still not completely finished and painted but solid and fast by my standards. Had a good race with Lea yesterday until he snuck away on the second downwind. We are both looking forward to the return of Clive, Grant and Chris from excursions and the improvement of Andrew now he has bought Scott's second broken foil. (Repairs to be completed yet.) There should be a close bunch in the mid fleet all with either Prowlers or Ilett foils under Hungry Tigers.
We all still have about 10 minutes to improve to get near Dave though. But he is being helpful and some improvements are coming hopefully. Luka gets his new prowler this week and should at least be closer to Dave than the older boats are. Steve can get up the front too.
St George now has 7 Prowlers, 2 Tigers, 2 Gilmore Alphas and and 3 scows. Not a bad Moth fleet when everyone comes to play.
Progress on Karma is slow, Removal of the flairs and freeboard (which included all the damaged bits) lost 7kg. The hull and two deck panels which will be recylcled weigh only 5kg. I could not build these as light as Thorpey so not point replacing them. I have filled in the old big fincase holes and built a new tube (foam sandwich) to take the unstayed mast, there is a new tiny fincase to build and a supporting bulkhead, then some hardpoints for wing and gantry mounts. It should still end up very light.
But there's more to come. Time and money permitting.
To Be Continued.
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