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