Stuffed up weekend

We spent three days at Woolahra SC waiting for racing, watching other people sail and got three starts and 2 finishes out of an 8 race schedule. So there is no NSW champion for 2009 because 5 races were required.

Yes there were long periods when the wind was too light or variable for the SC to set a course but there were other times like all of this afternoon when there was raceable winds but where we did not get to race.

Admittedly there was never enough wind for foiling even for the lightweights, but there was enough for the 12ft skiffs to get more races than we had. But thats sailing and that easter in NSW. Its almost always a light wind series. I have been doing easter regattas in a lot of classes since about 1967 and have never before lost a regatta result because insufficient races were completed.

For those who would rather be foiling the whole race maybe easter is the wrong regatta for them. For those of us who do best in the light winds we feel like we were robbed of a good result by a less than enthusiastic race committee.

For what its worth this is what happened on the track.

Friday, AP till some wind came at 3.00, Race got underway at 4.00 with half the fleet unable to make the start due to not being ready to launch when AP was dropped and getting stuck in a hole on the way out.

Consistant 5-8kts and Pete Harney lead in his Hungry Tiger with old style centreboard and rudder, ie no foils. I was 2nd just ahead of a chasing bunch of light weights.

Late arrivals expressed angst to RC who responded by hoising N. Too late for resail in fading wind, day and two races lost. Pete and I protested arguing race should have been shortened not abandonned, we lost .

Saturday: Missed last of early morning westerly at scheduled 10.00 start so waited again till 3.00. Got one 2 lap race in 5kts NE. Scott won from Nathan, Pete was about 4th. I was 6th. No time for another race. Would have been if the race was shortened to one lap.

Sunday, This time we went out and got the early westerly at 10.00. But then we gaot went home as it dies a little and then came back again long enough to have another start. Probably not enough for a whole race but all together there was enough for a couple of one lappers.
Pete won , I substituted my old CB for main foil and slid home 4th, Scott, Nathan and other stars were behind.

We waited till 1.00 when the NE came back and the RC decided he could not get three races in before 4.00 so canned everything. Pack up, two races only No result.

But at least I was 4th on the card after 2 for what little it matters.

a lille pissed off.

Ready for NSW Champs

After the last sail of Karma showing up a few faults I decided that it was best to stick with Tiger for the easter state championships So I have spent some time checking and preparing the old boat for the event. Meanwhile I have decided to change a few details on Karma which have put it out of service for a few days, so no more testing till after easter.

But Tiger is looking good. I have fine sanded the foils and fixed some slop in the twist tiller mechanism.

Raced Tiger last week in a solid 20kt southerly, and had a good race with Steve and Andrew, staying within one swim or a couple of minutes all the way around. Great rides too.

Easter in NSW is traditionally light, rainy and or fresh. This year the forecast looks like some drizzle with 10kts Friday, less on sunday and hopefully a 12-15 NE on Sunday. Monday we get to watch the 12s who's event goes for 4 days. Should be good enough, with my drift conditions most likely on saturday.

There should be a couple of new Mach2s arriving today for Scott and Robbo, so we will see how good te production boats loook and go. AMAC promises to be here too with the #1 Geelong boat.
Not sure about Bladerider presence. Only know of John Harris but he has not raced moths since Geelong.

Karma foils at last

A test on Wednesday revealed continued foil control / linkage issues.
I rejigged the main foil incidnece on Thursday and greatly improved the linkages adding a tiny model yacht rigging screw for fine adjustments.
Saturdays pre race test proved it worthwhile and the boat flew straight off. OK but low upwind but high, fast and stable downwind: looking good. As this was as much work as the boat had done it was also a good test of various experimental components two of which were found wanting.
First the forward rakes diamonds spreaders broke proving that they really are doing something and also that the mast will not break without them.
Then while riding high on the opposite tack towards home, the tiny half rudder box shattered.
Repairs will be simple but I think I am running out of time for the Easter State champs. I would rather sail my properly sorted boat than spend the weekend breaking and repairing.
And to reinforce that opinion, I made the beach in time to pack up Karma and rig Tiger on a Chain, make the race start and sail as well as I ever have, finishing third to Dave and Steve in the last heat of our club champs. I think the old boat was telling me that it is not finished with me yet.

Karma sails

I launched Karma yesterday afternoon in a light easterly scratching to make 10kts. A short sail but at least nothing broke. No unusual noises either. I had some unforseen linkage issues and it did not foil so I still have some sorting to do. As well I tore a pocket on the tramp so its off again for some adjustments. Should get another test later in the week when I will get some good photos.

So far so good. It certainly goes better than std in sub foiling pressure downwind, with the unstayed rig going fully out. Full width tramp is comfortable, Cut down tiger hull has enough volume in the right places.

Karma with wings

Some effort being made to get Karma finished for a week's time.

Wings are on. Very light. Mast, boom, tramp and rudder box to finish.

St George racing again

Last week all the Geelong travellers opted out, leaving only Clive, Chris and Grant to race. Then only Grant finished, Chris breaking his gantry and clive having various issues.

So this week a big NE, big waves, small fleet, no result.

Only Dave, Bruce, Andrew and I raced. Kylie and Luka thought it was going to be light and went sailboarding. As we approached start time the NE kicked and built and combined with the last of the run out tide we had some big waves for the downwinds.

Super Dave flew high and fast and consequently had many swims. Andrew had trouble downwind and trailed. Bruce found it tough and played safe with an early return to the beach.

I had my boat back in the for sale mode, Thorpe mast, P&B sail, symetrical rudder foil, and I have another interested buyer.

I had fun upwind, struggled downwind but found low, slow and cautious was good value and lead the race for almost two laps, unlil two successive nose dives broke first the vang then the mast.
Fortunately the potential buyer does not want the mast and sail so we are negotiating.

Anyway Dave and Andrew broke wand and linkages so no one finished. Club Champs again in a couple of weeks so everyone should be out again next week.

Time for a change - Tiger for Sale

Geelong is over and I think I have Tiger on a Chain going as well as it ever has gone. I have done the permanent fixes to the regatta wear and tear and the boat is now ready for a new owner. I have a 3/4 completed project in Karma which I am keen to complete and get sailing. A new design and sailing adventure, what mothing is all about.

So any one who wants a good moth for about half the going price of its close competitors. $A8K and its yours. I raced the week with all the mid fleet Bladeriders and Prowlers most of which were in the $A16K mark, and not far off the $A20K boats.

What you get is a 4 year old Hungry Tiger with wings and rudder made in our shop plus an Illet main foil set. Rig is Thorpey extra stiff mast and boom with an English P&B sail not unlike a MSL10 in shape.

I have had a couple of queries but no one yet has agreed to buy. Some overseas interest but I would prefer to build our local fleet and avoid the packng and freight hassles.

For what it is worth the estimates for box and freight to europe are about an extra $A2K which seems to add too much cost for the boat value.

Contact me philstevo2003 (at) yahoo (dot) com (dot) au