Happy Feet

Had to get on the water yesterday, it was a wild day with the wind hovering around 30 knots and I was nervous! I was armed with my new Mach 2 small main foil and I was really keen to see what it was like.

It took two of us to get the rig up (thanks Chris) and as I headed out I immediately got flattened by a gust in front of a moored yacht. The problem was that with 4 knots of tide against me I was hurtling back towards it on my side. I had to stand on the bow in order to get my rudder and stuff past it without getting stuck, but after that it was ok. Apart from the weed.

Impressions of the new foil? It felt like I was 15 kg heavier, the boat was more dampened and faster in a straight line. I didn't stray too far from the shore in that breeze, I was the only boat in the harbour, and it was windy, and so I spent time reaching up and down the narrow channel where easy 25 knot beam reaches seemed common. I began to think that this must be what a Moth feels like to say Bora or some of the other heavier guys, just a bit more dampened and easier to control. Still its early days but this foil feels fast! (And I'm sure it will lift early for its size). I reckon though that the standard foil will still have a place for people who sail in lighter winds where early lift is paramount.

When I came into the beach I was sandblasted, and whilst getting the trolley, the boat blew down the beach on its side and ripped the tramp, but that's life, it was great fun!

S