Simon Payne

Australien

2012-01-15T07:53:00.004Z

I survived the January sales by digitally watching the Australian Nationals and the Miami Moth event. The Australian Nationals especially seemed from another planet, (Australien geddit?) where rain, cold and massive waves sorted the hommes from the garçons. Most of the time we sail in flatish waters, with only the UK Nationals, and now the Australian ones being an exception, and the results of last week prove that these days preparation must be event specific if you are to do any good. Anyway well done Rob Gough for taking the event.

In Miami it was different, with a relaxez -vous race style sailed in light winds and blue skies. Anthony Kouton using the new Mach2 front foil seemed to be first up, closely followed by Brad Funk.

I write this at 0800 this Sunday morning. It's cold outside at about 4 degrees, and the harbour weather station is saying 20 knots. It's an easterly wind so just getting off the beach could be a problem, especially at my height. Still, its a good time to sail in Chichester harbour, made more bearable by the heated floor in the changing rooms!

This week I was at the Fiat dealer Conference with Abarth. The new cars look fabulous! Anyway better go, if I hang around here too long, I'll find a reason to stay inside..

Australian Moth National championships - Halfway stage

2012-01-10T09:12:00.003Z

Another cruncher today as two more races were completed. Tasmanian Rob Gough's excellent boat handling means he's on top as the competitors go into the lay day. Although the wind wasnt strong apparently the waves made even windward work exceptionally difficult. Scott Babbage in "7" won the first race today and now sits 3 points off the lead. Nathan Outteridge is still third but expect a big comeback as the winds are forecast to drop on Thursday and Friday.

Here's a video from day 1. Highlights? Scott exceptional "save" at the windward mark and Nathan's dodgy hat...

Detailed results here..

Australian Moth National Championships

2012-01-09T07:45:00.005Z

images courtesy of Lochy Byrne

The Australian Moth Championships are currently underway at Morningtown Bay Yacht Club on Victoria's spectacular Morningtown Peninsula, situated on Port Phillip Bay.

Early reports are of massive waves running 70 degrees to the wind. Yesterday was windy and today was lighter, but the waves still remain and after 4 races Rob Gough is leading from Scott Babbage and current World Champion Nathan Outteridge. Andrew McDougall is in a hugely impressive 4th place with Peter Burling 5th.

Nathan said "Been pretty windy here here and massive waves, Amac is fast and we are all trying to to get his secrets as always.."

Sound the Klaxon! Peter Burling takes a dive

Here are the results after today.

1	6	AUS8	Altitude	Rob Gough	RYCTasmania	1.0S	10.0	1.0	3.0	1.0	5.0
2	7	AUS3	7	Scott Babbage	Woollahra SC		10.0	2.0	4.0	3.0	1.0
3	42	AUS1	WMD	Nathan Outteridge	RSIS, WSC		12.0	3.0	2.0	4.0	3.0
4	2	AUS3900	NoNa	Andrew McDougall	Black Rock YC		21.0	5.0	6.0	2.0	8.0
5	41	NZL4	1	Peter Burling	Tarranga		22.0	7.0	1.0	5.0	9.0
6	1	AUS2	Zhik Moth	Joe Turner	Woollahra SC		25.0	4.0	5.0	10.0	6.0
7	24	AUS3719	The Box	Phillip Kurts	Woollahra SC		26.0	6.0	8.0	8.0	4.0
8	36	AUS3776	Flying Hellfish	Joshusa McKnight	Woollahra SC		27.0	9.0	9.0	7.0	2.0
9	9	GRB3769	Flying Banana	Andrew Budgen	England		38.0	11.0	7.0	9.0	11.0
10	15	AUS3685	Racer X Marine	Leigh Dunstan	Mornington YC	7.0S	49.0	19.0	12.0	11.0	7.0
11	18	AUS3903	XTC	James Owen-Smith	Daveys Bay YC		49.0	8.0	15.0	14.0	12.0
12	5	AUS3636	20 Good Reasons	Steven Sherring	Southport YC		53.0	12.0	10.0	13.0	18.0
13	14	AUS3832	Stonecutter	Les Thorpe	BYRA		58.0	10.0	11.0	16.0	21.0
14	22	AUS3631	RAG Racing	Julian Salter	Tasmania	6.0S	60.0	27.0	13.0	6.0	14.0
15	11	AUS3775	Big Night Last Night	Samatha England	Mornington YC		60.0	13.0	22.0	12.0	13.0
16	10	AUS3717	Dripping Carbon	Jack Sherring	Southport YC		63.0	20.0	18.0	15.0	10.0
17	4	AUS3783	Peanuts Dream	Warren Sare	Woollahra SC		70.0	15.0	17.0	18.0	20.0
18	3	37	NHS Plaster & Timber	Matt Crockett	LMYC		74.0	17.0	14.0	21.0	22.0
19	38	AUS3641	Bismark	Peter Valpiani	Woollahra SC		76.0	16.0	19.0	17.0	24.0
20	21	SWE3786	Sweeden Racing	Nils Akervall	Sweeden		86.0	23.0	24.0	24.0	15.0
21	25	AUS3878	Stray Returns	Andrew Cuddihy	Woollahra SC		94.0	21.0	21.0	22.0	30.0
22	32	33	Ace	James Dorron	Manly 16ft SC		100.0	14.0	43.0C	20.0	23.0
23	19	AUS3823	MK Building Group	Richard Jackson	Mt.Martha YC		104.0	18.0	27.0	43.0C	16.0
24	13	AUS3781	Impact	Will Logan	RYCTasmania		115.0	28.0	25.0	19.0	43.0C
25	35	9336	Leeroy Jenkins	Mark Hughes	Southport YC		120.0	32.0	30.0	25.0	33.0
26	17	IRL3771	Balin Dubh	Micheal O'Sea	Woollahra SC		122.0	25.0	26.0	43.0C	28.0
27	16	AUS3655	Ourboros	Alan Goddard	Balmoral SC		124.0	26.0	23.0	43.0C	32.0
28	28	AUS3865	Sea Steeze	Kyle Ross	McCrae YC		125.0	29.0	28.0	43.0C	25.0
29	39	AUS3676	Mark 6 Mini	Eelco Boers	WSVONS		128.0	22.0	20.0	43.0C	43.0C
30	29	AUS3574	Karma	Phil Stevenson	St George SC		136.0	43.0C	43.0C	23.0	27.0
31	40	AUS3807	K-San	Ryan Kelly	Wallaroo SC		139.0	24.0	29.0	43.0C	43.0C
32	31	AUS3359	Chatterbox	Stuart Ormond	Black Rock YC		143.0	43.0C	43.0C	26.0	31.0
33	30	AUS3780	Natsu	Kohei Kajimoto	Black Rock YC		145.0	43.0C	16.0	43.0C	43.0C
34	12	AUS3731	Mach 2	Lochlin Byrne	Black Rock YC	17.0S	146.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C	17.0
35	20	AUS3770	Ladybird	Emma Spiers	Woollahra SC		146.0	31.0	43.0C	43.0C	29.0
36	37	AUS3904	East Coast Marine	Scott Beeby	NCYC		148.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C	19.0
37	27	AUS3767	Midnight Foiler	Simon Liddington	Woollahra SC		155.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C	26.0
38	33	9364	Silver Shadow	Nick Billett	RQueenslandYS		159.0	30.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C
39	34	9256	Smith	Ian Sim	SC2		172.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C
39	26	AUS3638	Crumpet	David Martin	Woollahra SC		172.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C
39	8	AUS3634	Sailing Bits.com	David Robinson	Woollahra SC		172.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C
39	23	NONUM3	NoNf	Jame Mackenzie	SC1		172.0	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C	43.0C

Fly with smile

2011-12-25T09:09:00.003Z

Happy Christmas! The kids were up early but now are back asleep! And I find myself with a little time to reflect on yesterdays Christmas Cracker race at HISC which was also the first event in the Moth Winter series here in the UK. It was great to see so many visitors, and especially to see Olympic silver and bronze medallist Simon Hiscocks going so well in his new boat.

The course was typical Hayling, a nightmare for visitors to follow, but as the Winter series only piggy backs other large events, such as the Bloody Mary at Queen Mary sailing club and the Steve Nicholson Trophy at Northampton, then we've got to recognise its a bit of winter fun which goes wrong if you apply a championship attitude to it.

Still I thought I'd won until confronted by Ricky on the beach who from 400 metres back apparently saw me and Jason Belben miss a downwind mark we were supposed to keep to port of on lap two. I didn't want to upset anyone, especially at Christmas, so I retired from the race. It had been a good day out and I was going really well! But listen kids if you ever get accused on the shore of doing something you're not really sure you did or didn't do on the water, then do I what I should have done and tell 'em to find a witness and protest. The winter series results are now a bit fucked up as everyone else who missed the mark scored points and prizes.

The most heartbreaking thing! As I hurtled towards the finish a young boy in an RS Tera, sailing so well and still in the lead, was only a hundred yards from the line as he was completely engulfed by the Moths, which arguably took the first six places, and then the rest of the fast boats! Character building? He'll need it!

1st Ricky Tag

2nd Mike Lennon

3rd Jason Belben

4th Peter Barton

5th Simon Hiscocks

Right coffee time! Have a great day!

Sweat, Tears, or the Sea

2011-12-14T09:03:00.011Z

I went to the sailing club yesterday to see if the boats were ok after it blew sixty knots in the night. They were, but the sea was a maelstrom and what a gift! I watched it for a while and went back to work exhilarated. Boats aside, I'm really glad I went down.

There's a lot of sailing to watch right now, and each morning I dive for the computer to see how everyone is getting on in Perth. I thoroughly approve of Ainslie trying to take the colonies back, and after hand pumping a Finn down the course, I admire his restraint. I've spent my life yelling at media boats, not lately of course because (at the last worlds) you don't generally find them hanging around 13th place, but before then yes! The only thing that has stopped me diving over the side to confront them is 1) the uncertainty of being able to actually climb onto the media boat, and 2) that most of the time the camera crew are bigger than me. I'm sure he'd choose to handle the issue differently next time but if Ben's actions do wind you up, it must also mean that you take Jeremy Clarkson's views seriously, and this means you're thick.

But our year is next year and I'm uncertain whether the current World Champ can make the unchanged Garda Worlds, but even if not, I'm excited already. Finally Finally, a place as cool off the water as on it, and I think it will be a big event. Mach2 took the first 30 places at the worlds this year and with a strong focus on the 2012 Worlds you'd be hard pressed to bet against much change.

Last night I was in the gym flogging away on the rowing machine watching Sky's coverage of Perth, and Tom being interviewed. It certainly made the 2000 meters go quicker and I'm getting a bit stronger, weight is 65kg, hand don't hurt, and Clinique for Men is taking care of the ageing, but salt water is the cure for most things I think, whether its sweat, tears or the sea.

Tough Economy

2011-12-04T18:05:00.006Z

There must have been 7 Mach2 's sailing yesterday at HISC. I wasn't one of them but I did get to see the smiles on the guys faces as they came in, and so last night I went to bed early determined to do well today.

A reaching start with a big windward/leeward was very "America's Cup" and I think I'm finding my feet again after a non too impressive period. Ricky and I rounded the bear away together and I led by a boat length at the leeward mark, which at 26 knots wasn't far away. I felt I had really good upwind speed but couldn't tack, until I reminded myself that you do actually have to cross the boat at some point! Ricky's vang rope broke and that was his race over, and I found myself a really long way in the lead.

I'm still surprised how it happened, and still kicking myself for not doing a "gack", but anyway trying to tack in about 18 inches of water tends to produce only one result.

I could see Mike Lennon in the distance and was frantically dragging my boat back upwind into deeper water. It was a long pull and in the end I just jumped in, and with the boat bouncing along the bottom I took off again with the uncertainty of Wilbur Wright's first attempt, I was on on a dead run but up nevertheless "up".

I'm still amazed at the punishments these Mach2's can take and equally my ineptitude in a harbour that I've only been sailing in for 3/4's of my life. Anyway I just crossed Mike, keeping my lead and had no further incidents.

When I got in there wasn't even a scratch on the foils. just a bit of sicaflex missing from the tip. A bit that I'd put in last week. Sure, other designs may be cheaper but none are as tough as a Mach2!

AC or WWE?

2011-11-18T08:51:00.006Z

I was always slightly resentful of the new Amercia's Cup format, the claim of "Formula One" of sailing was a long held but only latterly truly earned tag line of the Moth class. They may have the helicopters and broadcasting rights but I still have a 2004 boom sticker. Scissors Paper Rock.

When I watched it in Plymouth I was amazed at the speeds of the AC45's, until it dawned that they were reporting in kilometres per hour and not knots. Thats when I knew we were probably faster, and last night as a green light turned to a err flashing blue, and I switched from white wine to red, I knew I was watching a spectacle. It certainly wasn't Formula One though, no not by a long chalk, it was more like WWE or World Wrestling Entertainment for those who don't spend lots of time in gyms.

The start appeared to be everything and for fuck sake how many times do you need to go round a track to know that left is paying? Dont get me wrong, it cant be easy but if you are going to have match racing, a sport thats traditionally been more boring to do than it was to watch then at least let's go upwind first. Confusing for the spectator? Confusing for us all I think. Aleph had the only passing move of the day when they brilliantly hauled themselves past Artemis, and then the race committee canned it, largely I understand because they had technical issues. Who cares if the race committee has technical issues? I still dont know what those were and I'm supposed to have an idea about sailing. I suspect the software was hacked.

Anyway pan to the mystified spectators and they didn't have a clue either. Most of them were looking at USS Midway, which proves one thing, to impress Jo Public in sailing, just make the boats very very big!

However all that being said, I did enjoy my evenings entertainment very much.

Still if they are going to enter our world then its perfectly acceptable in my mind to enter theirs. I've long since fancied a channel crossing and the whole thing has moved on of late. Unfortunately the Abominable No Men have said "Non" to a Dover Calais dash. I pointed out that people do swim it, and that we'd only be about an hour, but it seems that if we get within 300 metres of the shore then its off to jail. Clad in tight rubber... I think not.

So me and and my little Mach2, my wonderful sponsors Abarth, and Thierry Martinez have something else planned for next year, and I wont tell you anything more now as we've got some logistics to do, but it will start from Hayling Island. And its a bloody long way.

S

Please vote for Thierry!

2011-11-07T20:40:00.008Z

Last year Thierry Martinez, good friend and legendary sailing photographer, who's wonderful images have helped to shape the Moth class over the last 5 years, won the "Yacht Racing Image of the Year" competition presented by MIRABAUD.

His entry was "Walking on Water", a picture of Bora and me having fun together in Dubai.

This year he's up for it again with "Ejector Seat!", his picture of current World Champion Nathan Outteridge being flung out of his Mach2 at the 2011 Moth World Championships in Belmont.

This breathtaking image has appeared in many of the worlds leading yachting magazines and I think symbolises the Moth class today. Now is our chance to repay Thierry for his devotion to the class by voting for "Ejector seat".

To do so just click on the link below.

http://www.worldyachtracingforum.com/yacht_racing_images_of_the_year_2011_voting.html

Thanks
S

Through the looking glass

2011-11-07T13:46:00.004Z

photo courtesy of Marcus Payne

Six Mach2's raced windward leeward courses on Saturday , Me, Mike Lennon, Ricky Tagg, Ollie Holden, Ian Gotts and Andrea Biagioni raced in a cool northerly with race officer Graham Simmonds managing to run the club racing and do repeat starts for the Moths in nice long one lap races.

I won the first race but drifted backwards onto the Winner Bank before the start of the second race. That didn't do the flap on the main foil much good actually, and I had to come in. Stupid mistake.

Great to see a number of boats out and people putting some effort in.

Financial Times

2011-11-03T08:37:00.004Z

I think that Greece should default on its debt, come out of the Euro, devalue its currency and become cost effective again for us Brits to go there on holiday. God knows what the Greek God of financial collapse is, but it will soon be "Merkel" if they don't do something soon. Italy cant be far behind and whilst the moth class will make only a modest contribution to their GDP it would still be nice to get the dates and venue for the World Championships published. Apparently it may be Campioni or it may be Malcesnine but at this rate I'm not ruling out Germany.

My own particular Greek Gods of 2011 were "Courseidon" the Greek God of being over the start line, and "Markemis" the Greek God of missing the lay line, and although both need practice, the gymnasium has reared its ugly head and I'm back doing what I don't do very well at all. Still the thing about the gym in the winter is that at least you feel you've earned the right to do well the following year.

Despite no winter World Championship this year sales at Mach2 are still going well with 235 boats now sold, which must be a sign that at least the Moth class is healthier than ever, and although I missed it, I hear that the UK training weekend at Hayling Island was a resounding success. We were fortunate to have Dubai's Chris Graham who has moved back to the UK and living near Hayling Island Sailing club as the coach.

S

Age of Speed

2011-10-24T13:34:00.011+01:00

Stuart Jardine is another Olympian who's been attracted to the Moth class! Bet by a friend that he couldn't sail a foiling Moth, Stuart duly took to the skies on Friday, sailing Pete Bartons Mach2.

These days we are kind of used to having Olympics sailors competing in the Moth class, and of course it makes us very proud, but it is not uncommon.

I have to say though that Stuart's case as the latest Olympian to sail a Moth is quite incomparable, and that's largely because we have to go back in time a bit.

You see at the age of 35 Stuart represented Great Britain in the Star class at the Mexico City Olympics and then again in Munich four years later. That's 1968 and 1972. The more numerate of you will have immediately calculated that this makes Stuart 78 years old.

So its been a while since Stuart has sailed a dinghy and its been 20 years since he last capsized! However proving that once again form is temporary and class is permanent, Stuart duly delivered!

Stuart said; “I think it might of been a bit easier if I had done some dinghy racing in the past few years and probably 60 years earlier! My stomach muscles and arms were like jelly after a few big splashes. Then relearning the technique of heeling to windward rather than the other way in keel boats will take a bit of practice. The most noticeable sensation was the complete lack of noise and splashing and speed once airborne - Quite unnerving.”

Notice the reference to "will take a bit" of practice?

Here's another master at work. Andrew McDougall, almost a boy by comparison, winning a race at round one of the KA Sail Victorian GP by thirteen minutes! It makes you think doesn't it?

As Pete Barton said "4 of the top 5 British Moth sailors are in their late 40’s demonstrating that experience and technique far outweigh any requirement for a youthful body. So if there are any wannabe Moth sailors out there that are thinking that they might be too late to start and over the hill at 30 please take note; You might have over 50 years of Moth flying ahead of you – and reach your best after 20 years!"

Couldn't agree more...

A Propper Job

2011-10-17T12:03:00.001+01:00

I'm really happy to say that Simon Propper has become the West Coast USA Mach2 distributor. Here is the press release.
S

Mach2 Boats are delighted to announce the appointment of Simon Propper as the brands West Coast USA distributor.

Simon, who has recently relocated to the USA and is based in West Hollywood, has been a Moth sailor for many years. Passionate about the boat, Simon was instrumental in getting the UK foiling Moth fleet started and is now focussing on helping to build awareness, enthusiasm and fleets on the West Coast by representing the Mach2 brand. More here.

Says Simon “having owned and sailed my own Mach 2 for almost two years, I am excited to have an opportunity to promote the boat and therefore the Moth class on the west coast.

There's tremendous potential to recruit new Mach 2 sailors here in what must be one of the world's most Moth friendly climates. Email me for a demo sail in the sun !"

The Mach2 Moth is an amazing a hi tech sailing dinghy weighing only 30kg with a top speed of over 30 knots. This boat is completely addictive, gliding above the water in the lightest of winds with unbelievable efficiency. You must try this in this lifetime! You can race it in a world wide network of class associations, or simply go free sailing for the best buzz in sailing. Don't miss this!

Simon can be contacted at usasales@mach2boats.com

Steambirds

2011-10-04T15:50:00.005+01:00

Don't you hate the way the sun goes away, just when you need it most? Last Sunday was very hot with a light little breeze which allowed me to try the one thing I'd been thinking of. Flying without the wand. If you've ever read Jonathan Livingston Seagull then you've probably been persuaded that flight can move to a higher order, a place where things are done by thought. Not so it would seem, at least for me, but with the wand tucked under the wing we silently left the water and I found that a slight tweak on the ride height adjuster had absolutely no effect. In fact (and disappointingly) a very aggressive pull on the ride height adjuster had the same effect as the previously mentioned slight tweak. Few people I think have pichpoled that hard in 7 knots of wind. Still for the rest of it it was a nice sail, and in a bid to chase the sun I'm currently planning to head to the Eurosaf regatta on the Mar Menor next week to if nothing else get a few valuable training days in.

I'm getting to grips with the new Mach2 small front foil. You have a higher angle of attack on take off and I think this means that the difference in take off speeds is marginal. I may take a RIB to Garda and have the other foil on the water, or I may lobby for a rule that says "you launch with it, you use it for the day" . Depends on the economy.

As I rigged the boat on Sunday another cigarette burn in the cover finally pushed me over the edge. At FED week a friend doused the cover with water before the big evening as my boat sits under the balcony like a silver ashtray. New tactic. I'm going to douse it in paraffin from now on. It will cost me far less than it will them.

Paignton

2011-09-30T10:23:00.006+01:00

Been meaning to write a quick blog and say what a good time we had at Paignton and especially well done to Chris! We tied on points but he deservedly got it on countback. We had some great racing and I was encouraged by my fit and start performance. Still have the speed to win races but not the race time under my belt, which meant each races was full of mistakes. Sill no matter, it was bloody good fun and great to see James, Mike, Doug, Ben, Peter, Tom and the the other boys again. I'm resolved to do more Opens if they are like that and you never know may drag some of the grumpy old men from Hayling along with me next time.

Star of the event though I think was Andrew Friend who sailed really really well!

Next is the Eurosaf regatta in a couple of weeks in Spain. Cant wait!

S

Autumn Days

2011-09-20T09:23:00.004+01:00

Autumn is a good time to sail a Moth and I like this time of year. If I had enough money I would spend my life, not in internal Summers, but between one Riviera and another, moving only to find the next Autumn. Yet for many it signals the end of the Summer, and I guess it's possible to see Autumn as a decline, where yellow leaves show through like greying hair on a fading film star, a star who has seen one BAFTA too many.

Or you can argue, (as I do) that Autumn is a second spring, where the harbour is empty, and this means it's a relaxing sail. Arrogance, and his cousin Ignorance are largely confined to marinas and there is freedom to move again.

Saturday was a good sailing day, A day when it felt like you had been handed a special gift, unique because it could not be replicated. For a while I darted about, turning when I wanted with no constraints other than a ribbon of weed reminding me that the harbour wasn't all mine.

It was the second time I'd used the new Mach2 small main foil, I also sailed on Friday eve with Mike Lennon and felt fast, where previously I had not. Its an incremental change and so you will get incremental improvements, but I want to thank Joe Turner and before him Rohan Veal for forcing development forward, albeit with a Dremel. I will sail with it at Paignton Open meeting this weekend. the last Moth Grand Prix of the year. I hope there will be lots of Moths there. If you blurr your eyes and ignore the Donkeys, It could be Garda.

Happy Feet

2011-09-14T07:52:00.003+01:00

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

New Mach2 Small Front Hydrofoil

2011-09-12T08:30:00.003+01:00

Before the 2011 Moth world championships Nathan Outteridge cut down his standard Mach2 front hydrofoil in order to reduce drag and go faster. Nathan went on to dominate the event, and since then we've been working on a new small front hydrofoil. The metal moulds are now all finished and here is the first one! It's not only a smaller span but its a new thinner section too. It plugs on to the standard Mach2 vertical foil in the same way the standard front hydrofoil does. Early reports from Black Rock on both take off and top speed are mind blowing.

Contact sales@mach2boats for a quote.

China in your hand

2011-08-30T13:49:00.006+01:00

First holiday for a while without Moths and it was great. It's true, there are nine million bicycles in Beijing and also very complicated toilets like this in our hotel room. A man could get a shock by pressing the wrong button at the wrong time...

But actually I liked this most creative use of a knackered old scooter, to hold a washroom sink up. Its art really.

Yesterday reminded me why I like pursuit races as we had the "Cock of the Harbour" (yeah I know) at Hayling Island SC. Good fun starting nearly 15 minutes behind the 49ers and winning the race having started some 1hr 35 mins after the first boat.

The break did me good and it was lovely to get back to HISC, quiet now all the visitors have gone, with only slashed tie down lines and cigarette burns in the cover to remind me yet another championship had just rolled out of town.

I Predict A Diet

2011-08-11T13:07:00.010+01:00

Image courtesy of David Rose-Massom

Years ago the weather forecast may as well have been written by J K Rowling, but these days its accurate and I can see its going to be windy for a long time yet. Accordingly I am on the cusp of cutting my foils down for the coming Hayling Island Regatta this weekend. England right now seems the place where the worlds weather systems collide and having been grounded every night this week there is simply no other boat work I can do.

On Sunday its the HISC regatta, a great fun start-from-the-back dash for the Moths, and on Monday Federation week starts at HISC. So if you are a Moth sailor with a bit of time on your hands (you may have just finished an Olympic Test event for example) come down and race with us! I'm sailing til Wednesday then off on holiday. Then its time to start thinking about Campioni!

Here are the things I remember from Campioni in 05.

The girls in the rescue Ribs were topless.
It was 12 knots at the windward mark maybe 18 at the leeward mark, except when it wasn't.
The coffee was great
The club was very friendly
They played Nora Jones in the dinghy park
Go right up wind, go same way down wind
When there is a storm, watch out for the falling rocks from the cliff!
It was light, light guys did well, (here's hoping) but it was a bit of a different time.

S

New Mach2 small front hydrofoil

2011-08-08T11:09:00.008+01:00

Speed, we keep being told is bad, intelligent people drive slowly, no flash flash of a speed camera for them. Yet I think its good. It means for example you can go and see your mother in law, but not have to stay the night, and with the Moth Worlds in beautiful Campioni on Lake Garda coming up, it also means that if you are fast, you might do well.

This then is why you should be interested in the above picture. It's the mould for the new Mach2 small front hydrofoil. The new foil will plug straight onto your existing Mach2 vertical foil.

It's being produced right now. We will have more pics for you very soon.

Mach2.1 upgrades

2011-08-02T13:25:00.015+01:00

Andrew McDougall at the Syz & Co European Championships. Photo courtesy of Loris von Siebenthal

Hi

In the last two years that we've been immersed in the Mach2 Moth project we've built up a strong knowledge of the product and this 2.1 upgrade comes as a result of Andrew's work in addressing the areas that we have felt we've been able to make an improvement to.

Here are the list of upgrades:

- Front foil mould reset to get a perfect transition from foil to flap, which means less drag.

- Hydrofoil laminate beefed up to improve strength of the already strong Mach2 foils

- Finer alignment of pushrod to flap to reduce flap mechanism friction

- Low friction control rod tube in main vertical foil

- 1st and 2nd gear options on bell crank axle position

- Laminate changes to both verticals to make them even stronger

- Lighter and stronger gantry

- Stronger hull, same or less weight than Mach2.0

- Hulls now comes with bungs and breather tubes

- Stronger vang rope

- Stronger wing tubes, same or less weight than Mach2.0

- Masts made stronger at the base

- Mast foot and pin redesigned to reduce stress on mast and prevent mast foot failure

- Mast stump now locates more accurately and stump tube is stronger

- Rear wing tubes locate more accurately and are stronger

- New more adjustable wand mechanism. Stiffer with greater durability

- Custom hull colours available

The Mach2.1 is available now!

Mach2.1 Wand Mechanism

2011-07-21T09:57:00.004+01:00

Gandhi once said "God has given me no control over the moment following.." A statement many Moth sailors would agree with, particularly those who experienced the windward mark on day 3 of the recent UK National Championships!

And so we'd like to introduce the new Mach2.1 wand mechanism, which we hope will give you more control over the moment following...

Made from 316 stainless steel the stronger baseplate prevents any twist and the steal wand axle bearings, which are drilled for lightness, fit precisely with the new wand axle. The axle to wand holder connection is longer which means there is less wand slap and overall the stronger material eliminates wear that can occur with plastic or aluminium parts.

The wider and deeper adjuster nut is angled upward where it connects to the control rod so that even less gearing can be achieved and the adjuster screw is easier to grip, which is important for "on the water" changes. Also the adjuster screw now has a more precise fit where it locates in the wand axle eliminating any play.

This new Mach2 wand mechanism comes as part of the Mach2.1 upgrades but can be purchased separately and retrofitted to existing Mach2'. It costs $316.00 usd ex shipping. Email sales@mach2boats if you would like one.

Que Sera Sera

2011-07-11T17:21:00.004+01:00

Firstly I must congratulate Jason Belben and Chris Rashley for a brilliant effort at the Nationals. They proved that you get out what you put in and thoroughly deserved their one and two positions. Even better was to see the UK fleet in such rude health. The UK committee worked hard and delivered an excellent event, which given the weather, was not easy.

I will now probably will not do the European Championships which are coming up in about 12 days, I would like my hand to heal which the doctor says will take six weeks and I will use the time in the UK to properly prepare for the Worlds next year. I'm sure the Europeans will be fun and a nice event even though the entries are light, but having done every big event since 2004 I don't think I can be criticised for missing one.

I had planned to go and defend it, but sometimes the future is not ours to see. I hope everyone has a great time in Travamunde.

S

Jason and the Argonauts

2011-07-08T16:17:00.002+01:00

A month or so of serious training has paid off and Jason Belben leads the Zhik UK Nationals at Stokes Bay with a 2,2,1. Impressive stuff in bumpy seas that made it hard to get settled and easy to stack it downwind. Arnaud Psarofaghis is second and I am lying third showing none of Jason's understanding of the venue.
The UK Nationals have a record breaking 54 entries but we didn't sail today. Plus thirty knots of breeze meant racing was substituted with the AGM.
We are racing four races back to back tomorrow and also Sunday so there is plenty of time left, but right now Jason Belben, who I think first won the Nationals in 1986 is the clear leader.
Results here

Here we go again...

2011-07-06T21:27:00.004+01:00

It was the Ronstan Slalom today, but not really. Unfortunately. It was windy as hell, and whilst we sat around in the club house drinking tea and worrying if the Hayling Bar might bring little Johnny's stutter back should he decide to do the Worlds in 2014, one guy went one nil up in the series. Pete Barton sailed to the event from Lymington! Some 16 miles away, downwind in boat flattening gusts and it took him an hour and a half to do the journey, the half was trying to get to the beach once he arrived!

When he got ashore he took his helmet off and said "What an adventure"!

For this I honestly think Pete should be on zero points and we should have all scored DNS. In my mind he leads the series.

Tomorrow is windy again and hopeful we will sail, but it may be touch and go. But if we don't? Just entering is a highlight! Simon Reynolds, surely the most effect ever IMCA committee member has organised a host of prizes, if he isn't careful he will be President soon!

Oh, we've agreed with the club that there will be a two Abarth sports cars on display tomorrow, something to look at if we are grounded due to the weather again.

Hopefully some race results here from thursday.

S

Afterlife

2011-06-24T20:37:00.005+01:00

Apparently in ancient Egypt when they packed up mummies for the journey to the next life, they used to paint the heavens on the underneath of the coffin lid so the occupier could navigate his way to the Gods. And so equipped with these aspirations it must have come as a quite shock to wind up in Bloomsbury, at the British Museum, on display. and even worse, next to the "Australian art exhibit" from circa 1973. But thats what happened to one mummy called Nesperennub, whom I would imagine was probably called "Nubs" for short.
And I was thinking about this as I wound up in a place I didn't want to be either earlier this evening. Specifically that was Hayling Bar, upside down, mast smashing on the bottom, my trusty Velocitek speed puck missing and a ripped tramp giving birth to a soon to be set free bladder. And that happened largely because I tried to race a trimaran who was on his way to Cowes for the RTI race which starts at an unearthly hour tomorrow.
Worse still my hand, courtesy of falling off my scary as shit but totally mesmerising fixed wheel road bike, is broken and if you will forgive me, hurts like fuck, and is now swollen in the same way Nub's hand probably isn't.
And so now I'm Velocitekless (new word), with my hand holding a tub of Häagen-Dazs that I would rather eat, and a windy forecast tomorrow. However things aren't all bad, because in the other hand I have a rather nice glass of Argentinean Malbec and this is replacing the Ibruprofen that latterly I've decided I've had too much of.

And so given the above I wasn't feeling best placed to give the nicest guy I've never met Arjan de Lange advice on travelling downwind at Travamunde, an event he's already at and one which I haven't even entered yet. Still I will and I will have a bloody good time.

But tomorrow is another day, and its not too long until the Zhik UK National Championships and then the Nordea Moth European Championships are upon us so some more time in the boat and please, the right way up this time...

S

Le Hayling

2011-06-06T16:32:00.009+01:00

Its not easy to decide which is the most beautiful creation in the world. The E type jag is gorgeous and 50 years old this week apparently, the Burj Al Arab, which we could see from the race course in Dubai is amazing, and lately Pippa Middleton's ass has been getting headline news. Yet to me, in my tiny sphere, its the foiling Moth. It's a perfect little boat where every component is relevant and if any one things fails the thing doesn't function. I also like the intimacy that you get from spending a weekend racing. Life is simple and your world is small, just you and the boat. You cant blame any one else and at the start gun we are all the same. What you've done before doesn't matter, what you've said, what you've won.... But after the final race yesterday my Mach 2 wasn't exactly pinking and cooling down like a racing car but it seemed like it and it winked at me and I winked at it.

After 6 races duking it out with Mike Lennon and Jason Belben at the Hayling Island Open meeting we'd come away counting five first places and discarded a second. It was a bloody hard regatta where waves and big wind shifts made it hard to settle, but it was a proper course, a sailors course and not a go kart track, where fast boats got to stretch their legs in the same way that big V eights get to blow away little cars at Le Mans.

My engine was a KA MSL10C and I was using a stiff mast. Possibly too stiff actually and I contemplated changing it to a medium on saturday night. I reckoned I would have gone quicker with the medium, but on Sunday the forecast was for the breeze to drop, so I left the stiff one on. It wasn't light out to sea as it turned out, but we still went ok.

First race on Sunday and my starting went from poor to woeful. I might as well be a registered charity called "Startline", I got pushed the wrong side of the committee boat due largely to being out of position and all but hit the bloody thing, but as I tacked and gybed to finally start I was so angry I knew I was going to win that race. The next one Mike Lennon beat us all fair and square, out of the gate well he nailed the shifts and deserved the win. The final race the wind did drop and it was a lottery, I won largely though a gust I didnt know was coming.

And then we were in, watching the Abarth stunt plane perform in front of the club. I'm aching a bit today but satisfied .

Racing is important when you try to do it well, the UK fleet is really healthy and it was wonderful to see young guns like Cam Stewart out there in his Mach 2, getting knocked down but getting back up again, and out there til the end.

Hayling Island Open meeting, like Hawaii really...

2011-06-01T08:52:00.007+01:00

Hayling will be like Hawaii this weekend for the Moth open meeting, so do come down and race, or if you want to see the boats and talk to the sailors, do that too. It's a great time to see a Moth close up and the sailors are only too willing to chat, some endlessly.

On Sunday at 1400 the Abarth stunt plane will be performing in front of the club as we are on the race course.

With the UK Nationals literally and figuratively just around the corner this is where the battle of Britain starts and there are some key players ready to pounce. God knows who will win and don't expect a prediction here but Hayling Islands version of the Mach 2 "Mothsquad" must be feeling confident. Sharing information for the good of the group isn't something thats comes easily to Brits, especially when you have to race each other the next weekend, and we are already seemingly about to loose one member, but that's how the Beetles started and I think we've made progress.

I like events like this. Sailing Moths is like alcohol. Essentially a truth serum where default behaviour comes to the fore. Some perfectly rational sailors, once airborne become completely unencumbered by any form of common sense, some sing, others shout, and others just have the memory of a tree shrew. This was ably demonstrated last weekend where Mike Lennon essentially forgot to start and I forgot the course.

The only thing I dislike intensely about any event is the briefing, always unnecessarily long I generally want to smack the first competitor who asks a stupid question. Why can't they do a pod cast where I can watch it at home and swear at the screen? Still as I look out of the window now summer is here and looks like it will stay for the weekend so come to Hayling, and if you see the Abarth Moth with a limping sailor next to it (cos I fell off my bike last night) give us a lift into the water?

S

Starks Kettle

2011-05-20T13:16:00.003+01:00

The "to do" list for my boat isn't getting any shorter! I'm new to "to do" lists but after some intense boat work I had hoped it would minimise itself.

Still, some notable additions! I now have an adjustable wand by Phillippe Oligario, and that for me is a nautical version of owning a kettle by Phillipe Stark. Its beautifully built and is the wand of wands. As I sailed last night at a nice warm Hayling Island I really enjoyed the control it gave me. It was easy to fit! Admittedly first time I fired it across the dinghy park, but then changed to a more permanent fixing than super glue. Anyway I really like it and I can see it being more useful in light winds rather than chicken downwind stuff, but we'll see.

Ooh and I now have a new mast coming, and finally I have the correct sail numbers on my sail too, the latter only took two goes. Alzheimer's setting in early probably.

But the coolest thing on my to do list was to buy a bike! And so I'm the proud new owner of a fixed wheel Kona racing bike and after 45 minutes of strenuous cycling yesterday I think that derailleurs really should only be used by the over fifties.

And so I do miss not being at the Mothfest and I hope they are all having a good time, but I'm cracking on and a bit more organised I hope.

PS Mach 2 sailor Geoff Carveth we think has just won the Zhik Laser SB3 World Championships! Hot off the press and barring protests but well done mate!

S

Diamonds are forever

2011-05-09T13:20:00.003+01:00

Hey I won a diamond yesterday! The Parkstone Moth Open was kindly sponsored by Moth sailor Rod Harris and his company "Why Jewellers". What a wonderful first prize, my best ever!

Although after Saturdays performance I didn't deserve anything, low and slow I have finally conceded that only better men than me can make the MSL13 go. Probably its my weight and possibly its an intelligence thing, but we don't gel, and certainly don't go fast . And so after a 5/3/5 on Saturday a new MSL10 was numbered up later that evening and I was a rocket ship yesterday.

The UK fleet is healthy and with 25 boats at the event it promises to be a great year for the Brits. I really enjoyed the event and great to see people like Chris Rashley going so well, and also excellent that Andy Patterson, attending his first Moth open meeting for 15 years, got the newcomers prize!

Funniest thing of the weekend was, after a tiring day yesterday sailed in champagne conditions, Chris and I followed Jason Belben back down the harbour into the marina. Only problem was it was the wrong bloody marina!

Fortunately the Nationals are at Jason's home club...;-)

Son and Air

2011-05-02T17:53:00.007+01:00

Years ago I didn't have much tolerance for anything, but if I was drunk I could just about understand the mentality of the cruising sailor. Now I am one and on Saturday I sailed my 50 year old boat around the Nab tower with my Dad. It is, according to the chart, seven miles due south, and because I'm not good at sailing this type of boat I spent 6.90 miles on a port reach and then had to tack to get round it. No matter, it was good fun and I love old wooden boats. I will have a bigger one one day. One that has oil lamps where I can read "Riddle of the Sands" by Erskine Childers, and a toilet, and not a bucket.

But yesterday it was back to Moth sailing and after an ill advised trip out into the bay to watch my friends competing in the Flying Fifteen open meeting I then struggled to get back in again with gearing so low that when the wand swung forward, the flap moved probably in the same way a glacier moves. A fast setting I think on the piste....but not in the Alps..

Later Mike Lennon and I made the long beat to the top of the harbour and hung around near Itchenor waiting for the killer gust that would make us ballistic in the flat water, It never came and the closest I got to any sort of decent speed was actually earlier coming in over the bar with a 25.5. Still it was a good chance to get more time in, and I'm starting to get some speed out of the new boat. Whether it will be enough for Parkstone Open Meeting this coming weekend I doubt. Still I will do my best. I've a new smaller main foil on order, but as Mach 2 sales soar past the 200 mark I doubt that it will be ready in time for any imminent UK events.

Today was windy, and I stood by proudly watching as my youngest son went out in his Tera as the wind topped thirty knots. Well done TP! Great sailing!

Come fly with me

2011-04-26T10:59:00.006+01:00

Yesterday the skies turned blue both literally, and in the case of others, metaphorically in yesterdays pursuit race where the Moths started 14 minutes after the International 14's and won with ease. We flew past boats, some of which were a bit surprised to see us so soon, but for me it was an easy relationship between the old and the new, and great fun for my first race in my new boat.

9 Mach 2's were on the beach as Hayling resembled Benidorm in the hottest Easter for 100 years. All of Mike Lennons practice is paying off and he overtook me on the 20 odd tack first beat up Emsworth Channel as I struggled to change gears as the wind died at the top and shifted around. He was gone as I rounded the windward mark. I was half dead.

Still it was nice to race again, my first race since the worlds and I did settle down a bit. I've had a nice long rest but its time now to rev it up a bit. I'm using this part of the season to try some new things, I'm pretty familiar with the MSL10 rig and so I'm currently using an MSL13 with a medium mast and also very little gearing Moth squad style. I find it fast when you are set up, harder to sail (newbies take note) and it does make the Ride Height Adjuster much more critical and I'm a bit late on that string right now. Anyway Mike won. I pulled back a lot, he nicked it on the line but I'll take that. He deserves the win, I don't yet.

I'm looking forward to getting my new smaller front horizontal that should be along soon enough and hopefully in time for the Hayling open, an event where the Abarth stunt plane will perform in front of the club on Sunday lunch time!

Hopefully I can raise my own game before then.

S

Grrrr...

2011-04-11T13:46:00.002+01:00

Fly me to the moon

2011-03-30T14:18:00.003+01:00

Its hard when you are flat out at work and your new baby sits in the garage. The willpower it takes to ignore it until the day is done is immense, it's as hard as climbing a wall that is leaning towards you, or as hard as kissing a woman who's leaning away from you actually.
Anyway here she is and tonight I will be burning the midnight oil to see if I can make the weekend. We'll see, but last night the boat went together very well. The only drama was that I managed to cycle over the wand (don't ask) although not half as funny as Andrew who managed to drive over his Pro Start (doubly don't ask)
My boat is a standard Mach 2 albeit with some comfy non standard toe straps, which optimistically I've moved out a couple of inches more. Oh and I've mounted an outboard on the stern.
Silver Abarth graphics go on next week.
S

Travamunde! Warmer and Cheaper!

2011-03-24T11:33:00.007Z

I hinted that I would like to see an event where sailors were put first. An event where there was so much to do that it became a welcome break from the computer, indeed an event where "Log On" referred to adding wood to the BBQ, a "Mail server" was actually the bloke at the pub who brings out the lunch, and "Off Line" was what happened when your wet sailing kit snapped the clothes peg.

Well it seems that the folks at IMCA Germany have the same philosophy and from what I now know about the "Nordea Moth European Championships 2011" there will be so much to do that there will simply be no need to walk around, in a Bora-esque fashion, with a Macbook Pro clamped to your ear.

So let's get down to it.

How about an entry fee of only 200 Euro's? Not bad eh? Especially not bad when everything else is largely free. No paying extra for your pizza to be cut up here boys.. Read on..

Saturday starts with a "Dash for Cash" which is near the shore and in front of an estimated 4000-8000 spectators who watch you from amongst the food and drink stalls situated at the viewing area. Oh and the prize money? 1500 Euro's shared unequally between the first three.

Later, in the specially designated "Moth Hanger" (a place where you can get breakfast every morning) there is a welcoming party for the Moth sailors.

We have the practice race to deal with on Sunday, and then in the evening we are off to another (again free) official opening party with beer and food. .

Monday through to Friday see's three races a day. Good to finish on a Friday actually, but let's not concern ourselves too much with the racing, we have our own course, and a race officer who sails an International 14 and knows what he's doing, and that's good enough for me.

Monday night is the opening ceremony on a square rigger moored in Travamunde, and then on Tuesday Manfred Schreiber's company "CTM" will sponsor the evenings entertainment. On Wednesday there is a pasta party....

In fact every evening there is a social event ending with Fridays prize giving dinner, and with great sponsors, that means there will be 3-4000 Euro's worth of prizes up for grabs (including a KA sail)

The Moths will be located on the east side of Travamunde which is a bit out of the way of the rest of the event, we have our own area which is great for launching. There are good showers and if you want to camp then it's only 400 metres from the boats.

Here is the link to the website. Download the brochure under "Invitation" (oh you may want to click on English first ;)

http://www.imoth.de/euro2011/

It's the Nordea European Championships and it sounds like a hell of a lot of fun!

Now, I understand a great social programme doesn't define an event in itself, it is a European Championship after all and people will try hard. I do realise Olympic sailors can't drink, and accordingly to those dedicated full timers the above might not mean much, but dont worry you are not forgotten! I will go and buy several copies of "My Life in Accountancy" to keep you entertained at night!

Anyway I better start practising, and with a few days to go until the new boat arrives this means I will be in the pub by five!

S

Galilee

2011-03-17T14:15:00.015Z

The Sydney Opera house isn't, I'm told, very good for Opera. But who cares? It's still one hell of an occasion to go there, eight jumbo jets can sit wing tip to wing tip on the site, and the place is so legendary that it has even had it's own opera written about it.

(Eighth Wonder)

The Sydney Opera house is therefore a perfect example of the occasion being the most important thing, not the perfection.

And we should think about that as a class as we strive for the purest way to decide who is the World Champion to the exclusion of anything else.. We can't control nature and so we cannot be certain about what will happen. Dreadfully dull Weymouth was a good example of that, as was Switzerland where you lost your image rights and all feeling in your hands within 20 minutes of arrival, and at the same time so was Belmont where 10 percent less main foil really just meant ten percent less weed.

The Mothfest however already has 40 entrants and there you don't have to race at all! I think that's wonderful and a signal for all who are in the unpleasant position of having to organise a Championship to take note of. If I'm honest the only really competitive event I'm looking forward to is the 2012 World Championships in Lake Garda. Sure we have the Europeans in the meantime, and I'm prepared to give it the benefit of the doubt, but last time I was at Travamunde my tent blew away and a small hurricane destroyed a caravan park.. No, Garda it is.

And to the purists who say that we must have 20 knots every day largely to cater for the ever increasing girth of the average moth sailor, or perfect GPS laid windward marks, which mean you spend so much time waiting for the race officer to move it 5 metres to the left, then to the right, then to the left...that you are buggered before the race starts. An irrelevance when you can't see the fuckin thing anyway.

Perhaps therefore we should think differently and I recognise this is a possibility only realisable if the class pays for a resource who can take this on.

And if we had that, would it, do you think, be possible for us to approach a venue like say The Bitter End Yacht Club and take the whole circus there? Do we really need a Yacht Club to sail from? Oh and 19 races? Do we really need that? Even the most blindly enthusiastic puppy like Moth sailors in Belmont must have been thinking 'Oh for fucks sake, not again..'

The only vocational race course I can think of, where someone else long before us rose above the water, would be the sea of Galilee. Now that would be cool.

Just a thought, My thought on a cold day where I'd dearly like to be somewhere nice .

Here you go Joe!

2011-03-01T10:01:00.003Z

Yeah I know the "1" has to come off too ;-/

Identity

2011-02-28T13:10:00.008Z

Sunday was the first time I'd been down to the sailing club for a while, probably since last year actually, but although still only 6 degree's or so it was great to see four Mach 2's in the form of Geoff Carveth, Mike Lennon, Graham Simmonds and Jason Russell diligently practicing in the blustery conditions. I admire them, it is still too cold for me. Not that I have a boat, my current Mach 2 will soon be on its way to Spain to meet its new owner Andreas John, and the new one doesn't get shipped until around the 12th of March. I paid for it the other day although the way I was feeling after the gym I briefly considered using the money as downpayment for a room at "Shady Pines".

Anyway this is what the new 2011 Abarth Mach 2 Moth will look like and apologies to Mike Lennon (I think) for the identity fraud.

This season will be good, I plan to do the Hayling Island and Parkstone opens, the UK Nationals, Mothfest and the Europeans, I'm looking forward to racing again. I don't like standing on the shore.

Fragments

2011-02-22T09:33:00.012Z

Rocked by yesterdays news that red meat can give you bowel cancer but also that regular masturbation can minimise the chance of prostate cancer I now eat Turkey. Judging by some of the comments I get on this blog I have no need to worry about the latter anyway.

But a nice steak was always a reward for a good gym work out! Which at my age starts with "up,1,2.. and then the other sock" and seamlessly progresses into a range of weights designed to make me look good without causing undue distress.

Not any more! After a chance meeting last week at the gym with Mike McKintyre, 1988 Star Gold medallist, who told me I was doing an entirely incorrect routine to put weight on. I'm now lifting weights that make me wonder if I will snap in half, with albeit, less reps. Still, on my quest to reach Moth Squad levels of density I will keep going and report back. Last night I was so spent all I wanted was a little comfort, and for a while felt as needy as those people who put their birthdays on skype.

Anyway I see I'm slowly creeping up the leader board having risen a place in the last couple of weeks. At this rate I will make the top ten at the last world championships by Easter. I feel for those who do the results actually, the efficient Aussies getting it all but right which must make the Italians, our 2012 hosts, shudder. Imagine 150 Moths belting down the right side of lake Garda. How is a bloke in a rib with a broken pencil and a topless girl supposed to cope? That was my recollection of the last time we were at Campioni anyway but it turned out to be one of the best events I've ever done. Still if I were them, and given the recent hoo haa surrounding the Italian prime minister, I would if nothing else ask for assistance.. and get Mr Berlusconi to organise the prizes...

Its the RYA Volvo Dinghy Show coming up on the 4th and 5th of March at Alexandra Palace. Mach 2 are delighted to have a couple of boats on display, one on the UK Moth class association site and one on the stage for the "Foiling Fundamentals" presentation, a talk each day by Alan Hillman on the basics of foiling. Why not come and listen to the talk, then pop along to the stand and chat to some of the sailors?

Then go and get a pint and a Turkey sandwich.

Who loves, raves.

2011-02-13T10:00:00.008Z

Having previously not cared when I get my new Mach 2 I now find I'm looking at the order spread sheet as often as middle eastern president might look out of the window. Why? well because on a day when everyone else is doing other things (or in short not around to entertain me) I'm consequently bored. I should of course be freezing my nuts off belting down a reach at Hayling Island, but instead I'm reading motorcycle books and, having now decided not to sell my merc on ebay, I'm trying to buy it off myself so that no one else can.

At least its something to do.

Earlier I consumed the Sunday Times, and then warmed by an article from a guy who said that he was inspired to write a book on the male equivalent of "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert on a womans search for self awareness following a divorce, I decided action was in order and I headed for the gym. (His book will be called "Drink, Shag, Fight" incidentally) The gym though was not what it should be and after years of doing the same routine they stuck a stick in my spokes by changing all the equipment around. This had me so out of sorts that I found myself sitting in the corner rocking back and forth and hooting, in the same way a gambling machine at the Belmont 16's shouts "tilt" when you smack it one .

Everything is different this year it seems and February is the cruellest month of all, but as the English Romantic Poet Percy Shelly said "Nothing wilts faster than laurels that have been rested upon", I tried that and he's right, so work out I must! Even if that means having to be shown how to use a machine by some kid who also has to ask me if I have any piercings or body art.

So whats the point of this post you say? Well to empty my mind, and nothing more. Now back to the spreadsheet.

One shot at a time

2011-02-01T16:43:00.008Z

Walking in the Highlands of Scotland, through the breathtaking beauty of the countryside, it felt like something had finally ended. I was in a place that, if I'm honest, I knew would come.

I knew my fate at the Worlds about 20 minutes after I went out for the first time when I just couldn't keep up, and then it was simply a case of going through the process. To be honest this has happened before, quite a few times actually, often when I've not practiced and almost always when its pumping. When I won the Worlds in 06 I felt relief mostly, in 2010 I felt a mild surprise, and now getting whipped like this I feel.. well nothing. I just know you have to wait a bit. Anyway best look at life through the windscreen, not the rear view mirror.

So I'm back here painting the yacht and things like that, working hard accompanied at the computer by a cat that seemingly can send emails, but can't meow, and its cool. I don't want to see any carbon for well..until it wants to see me.

Which, and this is my curse, wont be long I suspect. As night fell, the hills of the Highlands reminded me of the ones I used to drive through to get to Garda (or the Alps as they are known...) Hmmm now thats a thought. Maybe the Italian nationals in a few months would be nice, and think of the coffee! Perhaps I'll leave the boat there (oh I better order a new one btw and perhaps with a new Abarth design on it) and become a member of Campioni Yacht club if they will have me. Isn't that the venue for the 2012 Worlds? I'm sure its pricy but its a little bit more.. well you know.. than Belmont 16's. Hmm well thats a plan, maybe Andrew will come down too?

I cant put on weight but I wonder if I've seen the way forward with cut down foils? Nathan used a small front foil for the whole event I think. Could this be the way that the lighter guys can keep up in a breeze? I'm sure that the good and the great will have an opinion on it but in any event I better give it a try.

S

My boat is for sale

2011-01-19T08:17:00.004Z

Photo: the gifted and ever young Thierry Martinez

Wow what a tough event! My Ibuprofen intake is possibly now at dangerous levels.

Congratulations to Nathan, a popular and worthy world champion.

Hey my Mach 2 is now for sale and back in the UK mid next week. If anyone is interested let me know at simonpaynegbr@btinternet.com

Darling leave the light on for me.

2011-01-11T23:06:00.008Z

Brad funk and his space ship..Photo from award winning Thierry Martinez

Lay day! Time to recover and do some boat work. We had big winds yesterday which peaked at about 28 knots. It was a wild ride and the rich got richer as the big and strong smoked upwind.

The windward mark can be a long way away sometimes.

Well done to Nathan, Peter and the others who showed the rest what a Moth can do in these winds when you light the blue touch paper. And fast it was! I went through the line in the 2nd race with 28.6 knots on the clock. Clive Watts, owner of CST recorded 30.3knots which was a nice birthday present for him.

It wasnt so long ago that we had the prestigious 20 knot club...

So I'm struggling in this event and some people have asked me why I still race after winning the worlds in 2006 ands 2010. For the love of the sport mate, you have to get over your ego and if you still enjoy it, go sailing. In this game sometimes you are the pigeon and sometimes you are the statue. You have to be pragmatic and the effort required to win a worlds is immense! You cant do it every time and accordingly you have to be realistic about your result. You win when you can and you dont run for the skirting boards when you cant. Anyway it was fun yesterday and my little Abarth Moth was going nearly as fast as the car. I wouldn't have missed those downwinds for anything. At the end of the day you are a long time dead. I can't wait for Campioni already.

The AGM was in typical Moth style, emotional and hi energy. A strong discussion on the wing and its place in the class was debated and the rules team will set to work creating a framework to measure it, with a vote on the subject planned at an EGM later this year.

Charlie McKee stated that he wanted to thank the exec for their work, he mentioned that there had been some "regrettable" US blog posts and media/forum coverage which anyway now is all forgotten, but it was nice of him. Mark and Adam have put a lot of work in.

On gear? Well Nathan and some of the other Aussie Moth Squad have cut 60mm off the tips of their main foils and accordingly it's our intention to make a smaller foil for big winds, so dont get the saw out just yet!

Days of Thunder

2011-01-10T22:49:00.003Z

Thierry Martinez photo.

Tough day on the race course yesterday as 65 kilo's battled against a bullety 20 odd knot breeze. I got decent starts but the big guys stormed away up wind and didn't go any slower down. Today is the first day of the Finals racing and it's looking windy again. Yesterday I used an MSL10b on a soft mast and it went well. I was able to lose a lot of power as efficiently as I could but you can't in the end beat the laws of physics, my constant challenge every since I started moth sailing.
There were some very tired people yesterday evening but the racing is fun and well run. Nathan is looking indestructable and must be the next world champion unless anything goes badly wrong.

More weed than Marley

2011-01-08T22:24:00.005Z

Me and Bora yesterday.From the magical lens of Thierry Martinez

One of the very few days I wished I'd capsized more. The accepted amount was 4-5 times per race - to clear the weed.
Still it was the same for everyone and Joe and Nathan head the leader board with some very consistent sailing.

Get off weed!

The split fleet system worked very well for all except for Brad who got mixed up. Yellow and Blue not being common colours on Mars apparently.
For me it was a tough day, I'm lying 12th overall and shared the frustrations of many of the sailors who hit weed and didnt get it off quick enough. I had my moments, but my lack of sailing prep is showing a bit and I'm struggling to get in sync with the shifts. It's a bit like a very warm Grafham water here although the boats and bikini's at the start area tend to differentiate it from any UK venue.
It was another long day on the water yesterday and many sailors will be aching a bit.
Today the wind is more round to the north east and already up to about 15 knots. It could be a windy one!

Worlds update

2011-01-06T23:09:00.004Z

The 2011 Worlds start tomorrow and most of the sailors will be relaxing today and doing some boat work. I have a bit to do also after the toe straps broke yesterday and I exited stage left at 20 odd knots, snapping the tiller extension in the process.
Nevertheless it's fun here and the fleet seems to be on good form. We've had a few good races in the Australian Nationals and plenty of starting practice. I've been consistently slow downwind in practice and so for the event the KA MSL13 is coming out. As John Harris put it "You need that power to pull all that weed to the leeward mark" The 13 allows you to sail lower and that means you can stay in the gust longer. Its a gusty place.
I've also done more general recalls than I can ever err recall. The black flag, used liberally, was only accompanied by the black board once, and then order was restored. We must have had 10 generals over the last couple of days though..
Nathan and most of the Moth Squad are going well, all that practice not unsurprisingly paying off. Other names are struggling a bit but we are all on the same score right now so we'll see what happens.
Amacs new MSL16 is looking nice and I want a go! More tomorrow now my computer is working. Event website here http://www.mothworlds.org/belmont/

I'm cold

2010-12-28T11:21:00.004Z

This country.. A week ago I was stuck in a snow drift for an appreciably long time. Long enough to find that if you are forced to make water by packing an old coffee cup with snow and then melting it with the might of the Abarth heating system, it takes one and a half hours to melt and you only get about 1cm of water in the bottom. Dehydration was in issue for a while!

But I hear that at least Australia is finally heating up! The forecast is I think for the rain to go and the summer to arrive and right now I'm trying to pack. The trophy is engraved and to see my name on it for the 2nd time still makes me very proud. I'm looking forward to this next event.

I haven't really been following what's going on over there, a couple of snippets from mates perhaps, but its not really worth bothering when you are on the other side of the world. Actually I'm more interested in the Ashes right now :-)

I tried hard to find that extra kilo over Christmas, which was a lovely day despite a Christmas eve shopping list cock up. I thought "Fennel" said "Funnel", but no matter. It will be useful on the Folkboat.

I am spending New Year in Sydney and then catching a ride with Scott to Belmont on the 1st so see you all then.

Si

Nice Worlds review!

2010-12-09T11:50:00.003Z

Good worlds review by David Fuller of Yacht Sponsorship.com here

And here's the trophy you all want in the hands of the most beautiful world champion ever. Marie-Claude Fauroux of France, Overall World Champion in 1968. Those were the days..

Waiting for winter

2010-11-26T18:47:00.010Z

Last weekend before the boat goes to Sydney and its cold here, cold as in stick your tongue to a metal post cold, (don't ask how I found out) as in 1 degrees in the day cold. In these temperatures you have to look at your hand to see if you are holding the mainsheet and at 16 knots upwind thats a wind chill of minus 6.

Still the boys were out yesterday which proves if nothing else that mad dogs and English men don't just go out in the mid day sun. Not me I'm afraid. When you cant even smile because your face is so cold, well imagine not smiling when you are up there on the foils...

But it gave me time to think as I watched. I thought about the new solid Wing and its place in the class. Possibly its not my place to comment either, but from what I've seen for some reason they remind me of a Zepplin, those beautiful airships that graced the skys in the 1920's. They, just like the Wing were graceful and silent up there in the clouds but ungainly, awkward and at the mercy of the weather when on land. This lead me to think that the Wings are somehow mournful, in the same way Eeyore is mournful in Winnie the Pooh. With this thought I warmed to them immensely, for if nothing else they have character, which I like.

Last Saturday was good and I nailed my tacking which was one thing to tick off the list. I'd been meaning to get around to it for a while, as previously I tacked like a lame duck. Not a metaphorical duck either but one that had stepped on a land mine or something. Anyway I'm pleased about that and gym work is going well too. I believe in the gym and good preparation. These events are won well before hand, in the gym or out in the boat or what ever you do, but in any event a long way before we dance under those lights.

Breaking and entering

2010-11-19T08:29:00.004Z

I'm just filling in the entry form for the worlds, a job I traditionally hate, largely because you have to part with money.

You can tell a lot from the entry form about the quality of the event actually. I completed one the other day which had the question "In case of emergency who should we call..? The answer of course being a "Doctor" but if they cant even figure that out what chance have they got of getting the windward mark in the right place?

But this one seems a good one although I don't know what "MNA number" means, but given I've got a new credit card its a great way to remember the pin.

The wing debate rages and if we are seemingly and sadly unable to change any rules as the NOR has been issued I see that those winging it are all buggered, which is a shame.

It's due to sail numbers and if we are now calling the first element of the wing the err "mast" then the sail numbers have to go on the sail or the "tiny little bit behind the mast" as it should now be known

Try getting AUS 3876 or whatever on that legally. (You might just squeeze GBR 1 on it though..;-)

Aside from that I cant wait to race. I feel great, am fit, have some pace and I've always said that its the duty of the Champion to defend. I am in debt to Abarth and KA Sail for their continued support.

Black Deaths Wing

2010-11-12T13:05:00.009Z

All has been looted, betrayed, sold; black death's wing flashed ahead....

I saw these poetic words in a book as I came back from the Abarth party in London on Thursday night.

There is a lot of worry about the wing. The ability to wait until we have enough information in order to make a decision seems to be the least popular option as it seems people would rather have "bad certainty" rather than "uncertainty" in order to get it sorted out now.

Anyway at the worlds I thinks its a big risk to use one, but one which may pay off...

I do believe though that in order to have an opinion people need to:-

1. Attend regatta's so they can see the class as it is today. Sorry guys but you cant get an accurate digital impression from your study as you wait patiently for another "innovation" to set. Its very different to how it was even two years ago.

2. People need to understand the class constitution. Rules have been discussed this week but its the constitution that's more important than we all think.

So what is the Moth constitution? Well its a set of laws that people before us have made that define our principles as a class. The class rules sit under them and in effect are limited by them,

The first constitution is:- To encourage the development of the International Moth Class, and the establishment of National Associations in all Countries.

The second one is:- promote and encourage racing of International Moths.

Going forward only the above should be used as the key go/no go check points. Right now you can argue either way although I'm sure it will come to a vote.

And I like votes! And in particular the instruction....."Please put your ex in a box!"

The News at Ten

2010-11-03T09:18:00.010Z

Finally back on the water last weekend after recovering from injury. Earlier last week my shoulder was injected with steroids. The pain has now gone thankfully, but not before I all but fainted in Tesco's an hour after the injection as my body went "what's that stuff?" Where to faint was another issue, its not a faint friendly store actually but the clothing aisle at least had carpets.

On any Sunday! Club racing at HISC. All photo's courtesy of Chris Bashall

Anyway great to do a couple of club races last weekend and it was lovely to see so many Moths out. Its a good time of year to sail at HISC actually. The harbour is empty of yachts and feels big again and its still warm enough to have fun. Anyway although rusty it was nice to come away with a couple of bullets, one by the skin of my teeth after great racing with Mike Lennon.

I was using the new KA MSL10 C for the first time. I've always been a fan of the ten and I've used the 10B exclusively this year. This new iteration by Andrew I think takes it to the next level. It has a slightly higher clew which makes manoeuvres easier , zips on the luff for easier cam location and some luff curve and seam improvements. As a result it looks great and goes really well! I noticed that I could get the top to open a bit easier as the breeze built with the second batten down looking sweeter than on the earlier sail.

I was using the Mach 2 medium mast and felt fast upwind on Saturday against the others. Sunday I found I could also sail consistently fast and low downwind.

UK interview

2010-10-25T12:56:00.003+01:00

I read this interview this morning on the UK International Moth site and it made me feel special.

I'll keep all this stuff to show the grandchildren. Thank you.

Accidentally on purpose

2010-10-18T15:42:00.008+01:00

photo by kind permission of Thierry Martinez

In the late 1800s, people suffering from asthma might have been told by a pharmacist to smoke a cigarette. Daft now given what happened to the Marlborough Man and even though the recent smoking ban was designed to make the world a better place, you might argue differently if you were a shampoo manufacturer or a dry cleaner, where in these markets, business has declined as hair and clothes now need to be washed less. But there are some unlikely advances that really have had a significant and unforecasted effect on the world being a better place, even if at first they were viewed as a huge threat.. Nuclear Weapons come to mind here, built for mass destruction yet somehow managing to create an (albeit) uneasy peace.

But the most recent one in our world must be the unlikely liaison between the Wing and Rule 42.

I’ll explain. For the last few years the most popular debate just prior to any big championship event was how many times you are allowed to pump and/or wing bounce to promote foiling. Hardly any and none are the current answers but everyone did and the rule 42 discussion, which threatens to divide opinion, encourage protests and, in a bid to monitor it, lumber us with associated jury costs has now been made completely redundant.

Why? Because you can’t pump a wing. It’s true, and one of the greatest exponents of relaxing rule 42 informs me that it makes absolutely fuck all difference.

Interesting isn’t it to think like that? So if it proves to be the case that pumping et al are not needed. What does that mean for the class? Younger sailors? Older sailors? More women sailors? Who knows, but consider this when you form your view of the Wing, as again we differentiate ourselves from normal sailing dinghies by getting rid of a potential problem through elegant solutions and not silly little red flags. Even if it is by accident..

Nomenclature

2010-10-13T10:25:00.007+01:00

I've always liked the word, mainly because for the first 30 years of my life I never understood what it meant. Nomenclature is a term that applies to either a list of names and/or terms or procedures related to naming. Clearly now we need to complement the Exec with this position to provide support for the newly appointed Measurement Secretary. Nomenclature Secretary's first task would be to propose a naming procedure for new developments, so that we don't have the current and obvious issue of having to change the name of the wing away from err wing, so that we don't confuse them with the already currently named.. err wings.
I would recommend we do, but on no account must we let an American do it. Americans do invent new words, almost every day actually, but this is largely by adding the prefix "de" and the suffix "fy". So we can get (recently heard) wonderful words like "Decomplexify" which presumably is another word for "Simple". Which it isn't.
The Australians should be precluded as well because they would just stick an "o" on the end of it and we'd just move from wing/wing to wingo/wingo which wouldn't be much help. The Germans, who currently translate the quite attractive word "bra" to "Büstenhalter" which I think means "bosom holder" would come up with something more literal still like "solid sail", which would be shortened to "SS" and that really wouldn't work.
No this must be left to the British. And so I would propose that the procedure is that any new invention brought to the class is named after the first sailor to use it. Adam however already has the "Maystick" and I'm now mindful of the recently introduced 2010 Equalities Act which means he can't have it in isolation as he's already go one invention, and two would be un err.. equal. Nobody is allowed to loose in Britain these days and anyway if he had two we'd be back to where we started with May/May Stick.
So its not easy as you can see, but a combination may work? How about the Bora May Invention? We could consult the French to shorten it and surely (but not guarranteed) it would turn into "BMI" which also stands poignantly for "Body Mass index" which is a subtle hint that if you are a fat bastard it could be for you, but BMI is also a low cost airline which makes flying accessible to the masses and that may just be a subtle reminder to everyone to think, as they look up, about what's really important to the moth class..

Si (sitting in a Starbucks waiting for someone, so err sorry)

Collide Ride

2010-10-11T12:57:00.003+01:00

It was when I couldn't get back in the boat that I noticed something was wrong. A lap earlier and in the first race yesterday Richard Lovering and I bashed off each other at 20 knots downwind vying for the lead. He capsized and I continued, aware that I'd taken a big knock, but after messing up another tack up at the windward mark I couldn't get back in the boat. Then when I headed for the shore I couldn't get out and rammed the foils up the beach. Nice.

First time I've ever ever retired because of something like that and when everyone else was enjoying quick fire champagne racing Graham Simmonds was kindly helping me to put the cover on the boat, as I couldn't do it on my own. I limped off and spend an afternoon lying on the sofa feeling sorry for myself. Still nothing that Ibuprofen and BUPA wont be able to fix.

So sorry I wasn't part of yesterday and congratulation to Mike Lennon who really looks the part these days. Maybe that was the last year of the Tide Ride at HISC but once again the Moths put on a really good show!

Anyway injuries happen, but the most annoying thing is I have this beautiful little Abarth 500 sitting on my driveway and I can only drive one handed!

On an entirely different note, we lost a rudder vertical at the Europeans in Silvaplana.. It was a spare, but it went missing. Anyone seen it around?

S

Where are you with the wing?

2010-10-05T12:49:00.007+01:00

There has been quite a bit of talk in the Moth class about wing rigs of late. In particular how they should fit into the class, or not.

Andrew McDougall has posted his thoughts in the forum on the new Mach2 website and you probably should read them.

Do you agree with Andrew or not? We'd like to hear your views so tell us what you think! It is easy to log in and the topic does need debate...

Just register in the below section of the home page.

Then click on "Mach 2 Forum" ....

Then read the post.. calm down...take a deep breath...

Excuse me while I kiss the sky

2010-09-27T20:01:00.004+01:00

They say that in order to move to a higher level you need to force yourself out of your comfort zone. Of course in a Moth you need to be sensible too, but if you always stay inside a figurative and pre prescribed four walls I guess you wont ever really fail, or in fact improve, and that's because those four walls are really a jail.

Chichester harbour has offered some pretty shit racing this year for me to be honest. It's full of weed, yachts and a tide that goes about as quick as a solar wind, but its my home, I love it and yes it's very comfortable. Yet I'm also keen on improving, and the bay is the only place you get to sail around an international sized course. (That's excluding Silvaplana of course which you could quite easily replicate in the lagoon)

And those four familiar walls seemed temporarily more appealing as I pitchpoled off another wave in the middle of Hayling Bay on Sunday with 24 knots on the clock. By the time I'd done it four times I was even managing to fit a little prayer in between leaving the tramp and hitting the mast. I don't often bruise, but today I feel like I can't take a deep breath.

The ride out was fine. A bit bumpy but your only gonna go one way so might as well get on with it. The racing though was magical. It was just me, and the boat, and its a pretty connecting experience when its not the two of you against another Moth, but against the elements. It makes you feel really good.

It was full foam up and I was trying to hang onto the imaginary tails of Bora, Nathan and Jon Harris in the big waves. I faffed with the boat but in the end gave up and was safer down wind just by steering really accurately. At first I couldnt get back down to the start but the more downwinds I did the better I got. The last three laps were incident free.

In between races I caught my breath and also caught sight of some very black 25 knot plus gusts coming my way. Holding onto an always too short mainsheet I ran for the skirting boards as quick as I could and to the shelter of the harbour!

Little Rudder

2010-09-22T14:05:00.005+01:00

I tried the small rudder last night at Hayling Island. This one is the very first one out of the mould and I immediately liked it! It felt very slippery and in the gorgeous little ten knot breeze we had in a sparkly Chichester harbour the boat felt great! Specifically with high ride height the leeward tip did not come out, as it tends to with the standard rudder and three foiling tacks in a row seemed to indicate that there is no lift penalty.

You can see the difference in size in the picture but you can't see that the section is proportionally thinner too.

The little rudder is available now as an aftermarket option.

Pedro Pan

2010-09-20T09:56:00.003+01:00

Alan Hillman's Spanish October Mothfest boot camp is tempting me to warmer climbs. I'd like the chance to spend a few days more of a never ending childhood in a place where I can magically escape the reality of the British Autumn, temporarily refuse to grow up and fly all day with the other lost boys. I just have to work out if it clashes with my coaching commitments in Italy and other obligations

In the meantime sidelined with a broken boat I've been back in the gym and doing other things. I've put on a couple of kilo's, my shoulder has fixed its self and I'm beginning to feel strong again. I've been trying to expand my brain sans racing with lots of reading but honestly the only articles I can remember that were interesting from the books and the papers were the piece on "advanced air guitar" and "how to survive a flood"

Mike Lennon kicked my ass hard the other weekend and I was watching him on Saturday as Tris and I sat at anchor at East head trying to catch our supper. He's looking good and certainly if it's around 12 knots at the worlds he will be a force to contend with. He has put the time in and deserves the results now.

At HISC the Lasers have apparently gone. I think the club did brilliantly in handling the event and we now have a couple more new Mach 2 sailors joining! I'm waiting for my new super small Mach 2 Rudder hydrofoil to arrive which will replace the damaged one. It should be here this week, so let me know if anyone wants to see it. Initial feedback is that its faster with no obvious lift penalties.

Solitude of Ravens

2010-09-08T10:17:00.007+01:00

Images courtesy of Loris Von Siebenthal

I like this time of year. The sparkly light in Chichester harbour is beautiful and a nice little wind sprang up which blew me to my boat yesterday afternoon.

There is a Raven which hangs around the dinghy park and he was sitting on the boat when I came back from the changing rooms. I think its a Raven, it could be a Crow I guess.. Anyway as it spread it's wings the thought struck me that if I could just capture it then and there, and dip it in epoxy, I would have a very cool main foil!

Sailing was great. I aimed for that thin line where the sea meets the sky and raced out into the bay with the tide. I'd changed the gantry in order to get the bow down more and was experimenting with that when bang! I hit a plank doing 15 knots upwind and broke the rudder twist mechanism. Still it was too nice to stop and I didnt need it anyway. I was just good to be out, and after 3 events in short succession I realised that whilst too much racing can really take it out of you, my little Moth can provide the cure too.

Syz and Co International Moth European Championships - our summary

2010-09-02T16:04:00.003+01:00

Negative Ghost Rider the pattern is full..

Or is it? The small lake of Silvaplana in Switzerland coped with 85 Moths better than most people thought, although it didn’t promise to be a great regatta as the week before saw temperatures plummet. Some Mach 2 sailors were experiencing severe cold as they practiced in 20 knots, which linked to an 8 degree air temperature gave a sub zero wind chill. Yet slowly, ever so slowly the sun came out, but not before we all understood why the North Face of the Eiger has claimed so many lives. In August.

The air was thin as the competitors inadvertently joined the mile high club. Most had not raced at that altitude before and their exhaustion was apparent. Ten tacks a beat up the right side meant that, whilst all would survive, the fittest prospered.

And the fittest were there. The American Bora Gulari, wounded at the last worlds was back looking lean and relaxed. Nathan Outteridge the “wunder kid” from Australia arrived fresh from winning the 49er division at “Sail for Gold” . Defending European Champion from Switzerland Arnaud Psarofaghis, back on a KA rig, was looking fast and hot with best in class boat handling. Simon Payne from the UK, the current World Champion, having just won the UK nationals, was looking to complete a “hat trick” of trophies for 2010.

From Australia also came Andrew McDougall, second at the recent 2010 World Championships, countrymen Scott Babbage and Rob Gough all had their eyes on the prize.

Interestingly Gulari, Outteridge and Babbage had new stock Mach 2’s and sails delivered to the event. Fast out of the box was always our mantra and oh God did this prove the case.

Race days

They say “keep your head out of the boat”! Nowhere has that been more important. With closing speed of nearly 40 knots you have to spot ‘em a long way out. Just getting to the start was scary and there were crashes. GBR’s Tim Penfold hit a German and was fortunate to escape with a black eye and a cut cheek only. With new wings he would race the next day.

It was safest at the front and music man Nathan Outteridge stormed into an early lead showing clear technical sailing superiority, but if you could hear the dance music coming from his boat you were still doing ok.

And dances there were plenty. Andrew McDougall, a late arrival wisely decided to sit a few out as the thin air caught out those not yet acclimatised. Only later in the week would he show his old form

Bora Gulari started averagely, but he soon lit the after burners on his American jet, and in the windy conditions, seemed one of the few who can better Outteridge at his own game.

It came down to the last day and a clearly ill Gulari won his third race in a row to make it a final race showdown. We didn’t drink from the lake again as Bora threw up in it at the finish and sadly, drained and exhausted, he limped in. The event belonged to Outteridge!

There were battles all the way down the fleet. Payne and Babbage tied on points in the end, with Babbage getting it on count back, but when you are European you gotta keep your eye on the other Europeans and it was Payne who was the European Champion, despite a tough week and only 4th overall.

Rob Gough came in 6th overall, sick in the week he showed courage to keep going when most would have gladly gone to bed. Matthais Renker(SUI), Chris Graham (UAE), Chris Rast (SUI) and Jason Belben (GBR) made up the top ten.

We’re the Gear!

Mach 2’s took the top 9 places and we had 17 boats in the top 20. Importantly also KA sail took the first 11 places showing that “you gotta be in it to win it”
The choice seemingly now is not which sail, but which KA sail is right for you?

A soldier can give you a gun, yet if you can’t fire it you may die and somewhat less dramatically but along the same lines, how you set up your Mach 2 is critical if you want to win races.

Most sailors were front/front hole on the main foil with the wand adjuster wound all the way to the top to slow down the main foil flap in the flat water of the Alps.
Gantrys were wound a couple of turns out so get the bow right down for upwind work and ride height adjusters were made to work hard as boat speeds nudged towards 30 knots downwind.

Rig wise the KA MSL 13/ new medium mast from Mach 2 showed great height. A precious commodity in the shifty lake conditions.

The KAMSL10 riders like Payne and Psarophagis used the stiff Mach 2 mast.

Outteridge, (who used both) summarised “the MSL13 has more height but possibly the 10 is lower but faster on open water”. I guess we will see in Belmont.

There was agreement however on the strategy of slackening the sail battens to get the sail to work better in the breeze.

Summary

Sailings version of the Tango! A stylized knife fight that mesmerised the viewing public and made the sailors proud to be part. We go on to Belmont! Who knows what will happen, but one thing’s for sure, gear wise there’s only one choice, and you know what I’m going to say…
Full results here

August Rain

2010-08-27T10:45:00.012+01:00

All images courtesy of Loris Von Siebenthal

Joseph Conrad said something like that despite all the poems, prose and love heaped upon it the sea has never been friendy to man. Something like that anyway. That's my feeling now, I seem to have bought the depths of the lake and the height of the peaks back from Switzerland with me. I didn't feel great at that event, largely my mind was elsewhere, often I had to drag it back to the Alps as the five minute gun went.

So what a week, and the weather here isn't helping, it's raining so hard that I may sell the Mach 2 and start building an ark but my boat is sitting in the garage and I've some work planned. It's probably the most stock boat out there and inspired by Bora's chat it's going to get pimped. Foil finish first, I've never touched them, they are straight from the mould and they've done OK but they are going to get painted, largely because I think white will go better with the boat.

KA at the front.. Again

One thing I plan to try is the new MSL13.2. KA sails took the top ten results, no accident. Sheer bloody hard work on Andrew's part who's restlessness is a great accomplice when it comes to making sails faster.

But all that aside, right now I wish I was out in my boat, not racing just sailing..

I love it when we lift off.

2010-08-23T09:37:00.005+01:00

We are screaming down the run at about 24 knots and I can hear Nathan behind me. Or rather his music pumping out of his boat. He played it every race. On the way upwind he passed me and I passed the committee boat. The race officer gave me a high five and I didn't have to do a 360 as a result. What a class we have.

I was a bit out gunned by Nathan and Bora. Inland sailing it seems isn't a strength of mine and I failed to consolidate when I got into the lead at times. I started OK but faltered a bit mid week. I didn't feel that great and when you are a bit flat things become hard work and don't always go your way. Anyway I tied with Scott on points, but he got it on count back. I would like to congratulate those three wonderful guys and to thank them for coming. It is an honour as always to sail against them.

The finishing line was just behind that bush..

I had a great battle with Arnaud for the European Championship. For me it's a special trophy. It's the first one I ever won. In anything actually. When I was down once it was more than just a trophy. It was something to look at. It reminded me that in one small tiny area of life, I was at least good at something. Now it's back.

Bora and I drove to the airport together. We talked about what it's like to go away and how its easy to get carried away with being too single minded about winning. Sometimes you just have to count your blessings and acknowledge that you are unbelievably blessed to be doing what you do. Switzerland did that for me.

I would like to thank KA Sail, Zhik and Abarth, and those close to me for their unwavering support and belief in me during 2010. By what ever means I now have all three trophies. I will always be in your debt.

Si

Lash for Cash

2010-08-16T09:03:00.002+01:00

Christ did it rain, and on a windless mirror like lake we pumped our way around a course that had a confused commentator confusing the sailors. Arnaud won, Mathias Renker was 2nd and Martin Zah an excellent 3rd. Switzerland taking all three top places proving that it really is like this most of the time! I was 4th and have rarely been so wet but a hot shower and a few beers restored the moral. Credit to all the sailors who took their boats to the lake of St Moritz in order to support the event knowing it was going to be a wash out.
Earlier in the day we had a good breeze on the race course and I hit 25 knots in the flat water near the leeward mark. It was good to be finally sailing with the boys, Amac was in JP's boat and we had a good work out. I was fast up wind and gradually got to be fast down wind too although the quality of the 6 tacks required to get to the windward mark will be critical... Anyway today is the practice race. Its going to be tight with 85 boats and more people than normal are talking about this. I hope it doesnt take a major crash for us to make the decision to sail in two flights. I guess we will see.
Today the weather is brighter which should mean more wind. It snowed on the mountains last night and the scenery is beautiful. My Zhik Super Warm wetsuit is doing the business! What a great piece of kit. So glad I brought it!
S

Waterworld

2010-08-14T21:41:00.004+01:00

We had wind for about 45 minutes today. I managed to get on the water and do some meaningful sailing until it rained again and the wind switched off.

Its going to be raining for the next few days apparently and I feel for those who are camping in these dire conditions. Trench foot is a real possibility and the dash for cash tomorrow will I'm afraid be won by a low rider. Still musn't grumble, the boat feel good and the fresh water has made the ratchet work.

This lake is bloody small and 85 boats sailing a clearly favoured right hand side means it will be intense to say the least. Given this I think you could view this event as really a larger than normal slalom race. More a "super G" I guess.

If I do well in the slalom I will buy a coat. and maybe some of those waders you see fishermen wear.

Top Gear

2010-08-10T18:02:00.004+01:00

OK I'm all set and I'm looking forward to getting underway. My new Abarth Punto Evo is a weapon and I cant wait for some nice driving roads on the upper Engadine in the Swiss Alps where ultimatley I will find Lake Silvaplana.

It's cold and wet here but the GPS says 840 miles to go. Soon I'll be going racing with 84 other boats. It will be tight.

Literally.

Extreme 11's!!

2010-08-03T11:07:00.003+01:00

We had 5 Mach 2's racing with the Extreme 40's last weekend. With a close in zig zag course we provided great entertainment. The crowds were amazing and the commentary fun. There wasn't any room to make big mistakes and we had some great races and got some good practice in for Silvaplana. Launching was a faff but Offshore Challenges were really good and we wanted for nothing really. Once the racing was done it was a mission to get back to base in the turbulent waters off the squadron. We all went for a swim but made it back OK.

My little Abath Mach 2 looked tiny against the BMW Oracle AC boats but attracted more attention!

Thanks to Paul and Andrine for putting us all up! Paul's special "Flame grilled" bacon sandwiches were wonderful on the Sunday morning and also thanks to Mike, Ricky, Jason and Paul for being such good sports and coming over to sail. We did have a lot of fun!

The Wing

I've never believed that winning races is particularly related to how much time you spend on the water, if that rule worked then all taxi drivers would be the best drivers.. I believe that you can achieve a great deal without wearing out the boat and that's by thinking intelligently and focusing on what makes the most difference. It is for this reason that I think Adam's new wing rig is amazing. It just looks so cool and is exactly what the Moth class is all about! I hope he goes twice as fast as us all in Silvaplana and wins by miles! And I want a go!

The Scorpion Tales

2010-07-30T10:27:00.005+01:00

Some of you will notice that my boat will look a little different this weekend.
I will now be working closely with Abarth, the Italian performance car manufacturer. The company's philosophy is to produce "small but wicked" products, and as you can imagine this is in line with the performance and ethos of the Moth.
The Abarth Team are a great bunch of guys. We were their guests at Silverstone last Saturday where we got to enjoy great hospitality and watch the Silverstone round of the Trophy Abarth 500 series from the pit wall. They are committed to racing and very proud of their stunning new range of Abarth road cars. You couldnt get me out of the Abarth Punto Evo! More on this soon.

Mach 2 Moths racing with the Extreme 40's at Cowes this weekend!

2010-07-30T09:32:00.007+01:00

Come and see us if you can!

5 Mach 2 Moths will be racing along side the Extreme 40's at Cowes Week this weekend. We will be racing slalom style courses between 1200 and 1500 each day off Egypt point near where the "Extreme" bar is located. It will be fun, and great for us and the Moth class, with full commentary and excellent spectator facilities.

The Mach 2 pilots are Mike Lennon, Ricky Tagg, Jason Russell, Paul Hayden and me.

Mach 2 drain holes

2010-07-26T11:49:00.003+01:00

The Mach 2 has small drain holes in each bulkhead. These little holes allow water to flow through the boat so it can be emptied via the bung holes in each tank. We wanted to point out where they were in order to make it easier for Mach 2 sailors to empty any water that may get into the boat.

Just click on the image to enlarge and all drain points are circled in red.

Perspective

2010-07-22T10:30:00.005+01:00

It's hard to keep life in perspective sometimes, particularly when racing Moths is your hobby. It can be all encompassing, and it has been for decades. I can recall a time when winning moth sailors would have laboured over a project in an unheated shed to emerge after six months, newly single and with rickets, but with a fast creation that scooped up the prizes largely by making all other boats redundant.

Today you have to race sailors who are bred to win world championships until the end of time, so given the need to make every second count it was a surprise when I experienced a wonderful evening in my Mach 2 on Tuesday night. I was the only Moth out, like I had been years before, and the harbour was empty. I was pleased that I wasn't too far gone to be reminded of the soulful beauty of foiling and occasionally low riding across the harbour. The only thing that I've still yet to get used to is the "phat" of a failed take off; it still reminds me of a dead pheasant hitting the ground, but other than the round the island race it was the best sail I've had this year.

It was just fabulous actually, I could have stayed out all night and very nearly did. Largely owing to an ebb tide which made France the next stop but it was great to briefly get away from the constant communication that evades our lives, from the very moving Facebook status updates "so and so has to go to work today (boo) but she may take a sicky (te he) but they really need her (lol) to the constant news barrage that modern tools and lack of will power mean I keep constantly abreast of, and of course from blogs like this. I swear one day it will be possible to die from binary exposure.

Mothing takes on many forms, and its "pick me up" ability is never lost on me, but it does come at a price, and that's the price of the boat, but you need to keep that in perspective too, getting married cost more than a Mach 2 and getting divorced costs more than two and you'd need a fleet to pay for the cost of dying.

UK Nationals - Overall

2010-07-12T11:46:00.004+01:00

That was a really good series! I was pleased with my pace and I feel back in the groove a bit although I have some work to do on some less than perfect aspects of my game. We had some good sailing and it was great to meet new moth sailors who have started on the learning curve and are every bit as engaged as we were when Rohan Veal turned up with "White Knuckle Express". But you never stop learning and one cool thing I learned from watching Arnaud was that on the Mach 2 you can kneel on the tramps and reach forward to change the wand adjuster bolt between races (if you are careful and hold on tight with the other hand) without getting wet. I also learned (on the way in from the last race I sailed) that if you try the same while foiling it cannot be done and you do get wet as you simply run yourself over. Anyway I would like to publically apologise to the Harbour Master. He told me not to do more than 5 knots and in 16 knots of breeze and with the harbour directly to leeward I just couldnt even when he told me 5 times. Accordingly I may have called him a "Knob Head", oddly a term which I have hardly ever used.
Thanks to Arnaud and Mikis for coming over and for the great racing I had with them but also Mike, Jason, Mike C, Ricky, Richard etc. Its certainly getting close at the top these days.
Full results here

Nationals Day 2

2010-07-09T18:16:00.002+01:00

What a great day on the water. We had three races, two were light and around 10 -12 knots I think. The third was up there at around 17 -18 knots.
We were held by the race officer until the breeze settled down and then were called back after a general recall before race one got under way. From then on the one minute rule was used on every start.
Arnaud broke a shroud just before the start of race 1 and that was him out for that race, At the end of the first lap Mikis Psarofaghis led after a blinding hard right beat with me second and Mike Lennon on my heals, then Ricky Tagg and Richard Lovering. DJ Edwards was going well also. We swapped places a bit, it was as shifty as hell, the kind of shifty that you know you should pull more kicker on but didnt in case while doing so you missed a shift.
I won, Mike was second and I think Ricky was third.
Race two and Arnaud and I had a bit of a battle,him gybing on the gusts and catching me downwind. I had a better beat but boats were coming in from all angles and Paul Hayden and Jason Belben were there or there abouts..
I managed to win and Mike was second, Ricky was third and Arnaud after a frustrating last beat was fourth I think, or Maybe Richard Lovering was.
The final race and the breeze was up. Arnaud got out the line well and was off, I was second and Mike third.
Coming back in was the usual faff but the English Riviera lived up to its name and we sat drinking cofee and watching the world go by.
It was a great day on the water, the race team did a really good job and the four lap races were certainly taxing. From my side I need to tack better and start better.
It was a day for Mach 2's, taking all the top places in each race.
The UK fleet is really on fire, not since '94 have we had this many boats and never have we had this many good sailors coming in from other classes and competing at this event. The racing is tight throught the fleet.
Great times.
S

UK Nationals day 1

2010-07-08T19:39:00.003+01:00

I've come to the conclusion National Championships should be approached differently to Europeans and Worlds. Largely they are run by a friendly club, new to Moths who give us a really good and enthusiastic welcome. Royal Torquay is such a club and the members are just great. For a number of years now I've decided to find all the little idiosyncrasies you get with this kind of event "charming". So today we had a charming kind of day, where we charmingly launched into a tiny little working harbour and we sat around on the water having charming chat while waiting for the rest of the fleet to join us. Of course it would have helped if they had bothered to put their wetsuits on the right side of the start time, but I've decided to find that charming too.
When we did race it was in a shifty and gusty breeze that quickly spread the 42 boat fleet out. The first race was the less shifty race and I won with Arnaud second, Mike Lennon third and Jason Belben fourth.
The next race could be described as charming but I'd stretch to shite. The wind turned on/off and I sat in a great big hole for a long while. Not for the fist time in my life of course but fairly new in sailing. Anyway Jason Belben won and Arnaud was second and I was third. Should have been shortened or thrown out, but it wasn't, which was charming.

National Trust

2010-07-05T09:51:00.003+01:00

Its the UK nationals this week and I'm not really ready. I've wanted to be ready and nothing should have really stopped me, but other little things just keep coming up. I've tried to supplement dodgy boat handling by acquiring the ability to read peoples minds but when everyone was at Weymouth and I was at Hayling it was clear that wasn't going to work either. Anyway I've decided to be positive and conclude that it takes immense skill to waste so much preparation time.

I am not a jealous man. I do not sit around all day coveting your friggin private jet or your hair, but I was jealous yesterday. Specifically jealous of Richard Loverings tacks. They were so much better than mine, which weren't really tacks but a pathetic luff head to wind followed by a capsize. I only won the club race because the boat hauled me to the front, and we hit 24.7 down wind in a bumpy Chichester harbour.

Will it do at the Nationals? No I doubt it, and I will have to find other ways of getting to the front. Work will mean I cant get there until Wednesday which wont leave much time, but a quick call to UK Border Patrol seems to have kept the Swiss out for another day and I may build on Phil Stevensons law and claim that you cant be UK national champion unless you have survived the blitz and find it impossible to speak French...

Walking on Water

2010-06-28T09:11:00.003+01:00

From the excellent "Voiles et Voiliers" website taken by the great Thierry Martinez. It reminds me of a wonderful event with good friends which seems so long ago now.

A far cry from the stuffed under the clubhouse windward mark in the middle of a nautical M25 where I was neary run over twice before getting so much weed on my wand that I thought it may break. RTD with SOHF.

When I get older..I will get stronger

2010-06-24T14:09:00.003+01:00

Hmmm... Its taking all my strength to not bolt for the beach and rig my boat, but work I must and work I will. The weather is fab and I so enjoyed a simple club race last night that I just want to go out again. It was a nice little race where even for me it was impossible to get the course wrong and made me think that I will enjoy myself in the build up to the Europeans.

The only things that surprises me these days is how bad I get between events. I seem to be able to keep the same high's yet reach lower lows which is kinda different to how I thought it would be...

Yet as I shot from the beach yesterday I could hear the boat going "here we go again" as I went through my pre flight check. (tiller in the back hand etc). But once sorted Hayling was beautiful and as speedboats took photographs I remembered again how good for the soul these little boats are.

I had rigged a new KA MSL10 and the purpose of the race was to start to get know it. It always makes me smile when people chop and change sailmakers with such regularity. Moths dont push water, an extra 1cm on the cunningham can make you go a knot faster upwind. Much better to just slowly get to understand the kit you've got. My boat, bar a ride height adjuster and a new kicker rope, is pretty much stock. Its the fastest way to be I think.

We have the nationals in a couple of weeks and Im hoping to race. Again depends on work, but first a Moth slalom race at Hayling Island late Saturday when the kids from the Optimist open will be back on the beach. Should be a nice little race...

Mach 2's at West Marine

2010-06-16T10:14:00.003+01:00

West Marine San Diego

We are delighted that West Marine are displaying a Mach 2 in both their new San Diego and Newport stores. If you live near and want to see the boat in the flesh pop in and have a look. West Marine are not planning to distribute the boat but its great to partner with them to provide a feature for their new flag ship stores.

PS like the clear tramps?

On your Machs!

2010-06-07T09:26:00.002+01:00

Six Mach 2's put some hours in on Saturday out in Hayling bay where the water and sky were matching blue and the wind danced around 8 to 10 knots. I had decided that I would try to be "professional" with the limited time I had to train before the Europeans. That meant knowing which mast I was using, getting a good nights sleep, eating well and making every yard count.

So I was feeling good as I sailed out into the bay with Richard Lovering, Ricky Tagg, Mike Lennon, Jason Russell and Graham Simmonds. Anyway back to trying to be professional, and noticing that the wind was building I'd changed from my stiff mast to my soft mast as the wind hit 12 knots before I launched.

So I was feeling a bit vulnerable as the breeze softened.. but I was pleased with my speed. Acceleration upwind was a bit down but height was good although much had to do with just getting into the groove. You could add another knot by just sailing well as Haylings short chop threw us around a bit.

Sunday was race day and we started with the fast handicap fleet on an impossibly short line in just enough wind to come out of a tack and foil again after a few yards.

I lead the fleet out followed by Mike and I felt I had good height and pace, again using the soft mast, but as the sea breeze filled in we spent the rest of the time reaching between marks. Still fun lapping 14's with only half the race gone though.

Later I lent my boat to Ollie Spensley-Corfield who posted a first time out run of 20 knots! As the breeze built Mike and Richard hooked up the gusts and put in some impressive speeds in the impossible short channel where the Speed Puck and the shore played Russian roulette. Mike hit 26.7 I think.

Just great fun.

Nice one Harry!

2010-06-01T15:58:00.005+01:00

Proving that where there is a will there is a way Harry Bowerman from Hayling Island Sailing Club lifts of in his his converted Axeman for the first time.

Harry who I think is just 16 took my old broken Fastacraft main foil, got it fixed, adapted it to the boat, added a rudder and now looks every bit the champion of the future!

Definately the right stuff!

Time Lord

2010-05-24T08:04:00.004+01:00

The Mothfest at Alan Hilman's Pro Vela facility on the Mar Menor proved to be a good little event. I enjoyed the coaching and found helping sailors to improve as they battled to fly in the anarchy of earths lowest orbit very satisfying. Unencumbered by the unsavoury business of winning the dinghy park had a more relaxed air about it as people found their own pace.
I was there only until Wednesday night and then we went to a nice hotel for the remainder of the week where to my surprise I found it very easy to spend all day by the pool. I resisted the temptation to go back to see the guys, although I did allow my mind to wonder away from the serious business of sunbathing and speculate at will. At one moment it was readdressing the issue of the effect of rig tension (inconclusive) and yet on the other it was trying to determine if breakfast was included in the room rate (it was).
We tried golf which was fun and we read lots. Inspired by Alain de Botton's book "The Art of Travel" I though of the different Moth sailors you get, and concluded that (given mine was due) there should be lower insurance premiums for the wild eyed survival types who spend their whole time ignoring the moment and thinking "what the f**ks going to happen next" versus the ones who are so blissfully happy in the "here and now" and at one with their poetic souls that their equipment unexpectedly, yet regularly meets its demise by twatting solid objects at 20 knots. I may suggest this behavioral segmentation to Bishop Skinner and see where it gets me.
Andrew McDougall was another year older at the weekend, and presumably another year faster. A real Time Lord. Happy Birthday mate.

Spanish Eyes

2010-05-14T08:47:00.008+01:00

The first of a new kind of event starts with paella and a beer on Sunday on the beach by the Mar Menor in Spain. Alan Hillman's new style Mothfest is already popular with 20 odd entrants. With long distance races, slaloms, pursuit races and three days of coaching by me and Alan, the positioning of the event has found popularity with Moth sailors who want to enjoy a some free ride time with their boats in a great environment. Sailings version of a golfing holiday if you like.

We hope to raise everyones skill levels which are a great mix of personal ambitons in a unique environment where the goal of the event is not to find the champion but to individually improve and collectively have fun.

Each sailor has completed a score card giving us an idea of their strengths and weaknesses and their aim high ambition for 2010 . We'll try hard to help them fulfill that.

But they say practice as if you are the worst and perform as if your the best and I will do the former this afternoon. I find it hard to find time these days but the one thing thats drives me is that when I'm not practicing I'm damn sure somewhere someone is practicing and when I meet him, he might win.

My own 2010 ambitions involve the UK National Championships in July and the European Championships in August, and also to learn to anchor without looking like an idiot but that in fairness involves a different boat.

Sometimes it can be hard to train alone and at HISC we all seem to be good at it despite the 17 Moths we have at the club. I'm very happy to be getting a new Velocitek Speed Puck to help me out, I've tried many GPS's over the years but the Speed Puck I used at the Speed Trials at the Gorge was the best by far.

When the north wind blows..

2010-05-09T20:55:00.004+01:00

Hayling. It's a name that conjures up cold weather when you say it. Spelt almost the same as frozen rain, it has been like that for most of the year. This weekend was no different and the only good thing is that you dont have to equalise the pressure in the tanks when you launch because the temperature of the air and the sea are both the same. Eleven degrees. The heated floors in the changing rooms were fantastic however turning the place into a sauna.

I sailed both days, trying the MSL13 and being beaten resoundly by Mike Lennon on Saturday and today going back to my trusty MSL10, three piece mast, fixing my wand and winning well.

This evening, and pleased with todays speed I sat on the sofa in a zen like trance reflecting on the day which Andrea mistook for dozing.

Last week Ricky Tagg and I went out determined to err determine whether sailing with the main foil on the front hole or the middle hole was fastest. We found the front hole was quicker downwind and the middle (IMHO) was quicker up. Bugger all in it though but I will stay as I am as I dont really like feel of the boat as the COE moves aft..

Its the Mothfest next weekend at Pro-vela in Spain and I can't wait to get down there and coach the 20 odd Moths that are entered. An eclectic mix of standards from worlds top ten sailors to new for 2010 beginniners but with two things in common though. A desire to improve, and a desire to sail in a warm place!

Sorry I didnt go to the Inlands. I've done enough not to really need an excuse which is just as well as I haven't got one anyway.

S

Mast rake

2010-04-27T22:24:00.005+01:00

Here you go. This is my mast rake and is relevant to the Mach 2 only. It's measured with sail up, rig tension on, but sail (is it clew?) not connected to back of boom and no cunningham. In other words mast straight.
Si

Tape reading...

Tape anchor point

No wind..

Its all in the rig!

2010-04-26T09:08:00.004+01:00

(photograph courtesy of Thierry Martinez)

I thought I'd write down some notes on how I handle my rig. It's kind of hard to shout to people on the water as we fly past each other so I hope this helps. Andrew has added a piece on the bottom for MSL13 users too.

With 19 of the top 20 Moths at the recent World Championships being Mach 2’s, the latest Moth to be designed by Andrew McDougall and built by McConaghy, one might assume that all the top Moth sailors now go the same speed.

However nothing could have been further from the truth. In fact there were big differences in speed, and these differences can be attributed to one thing only:

I won the event and I thought I’d take time to explain my rig, because although other people were fast, I think I was the fastest for most of the time and right now, with all of our other equipment being so similar, optimising your rig is critical as it is your only differentiator.

Someone once said that “boat speed makes you a tactical genius” and no one believes that more than me. A fast Moth can make up for an average start, mediocre race craft or in my case indifferent fitness after a knee operation.

So we all agree boats speed is import, and given the above it’s kind of surprising that people still make rig purchase decisions based on emotion rather than fact. I have observed this and I sympathise. I have found one of the hardest things to do is to make balanced impartial calls when you choose kit, but this you must. Friendships, colours, new things and advertising sway us all but spending lots of money to go slower is to me a sign that Darwins Theory of Evolution is clearly not right.

You have to look at what’s fast, and to do that you have to look at historical results for the conditions you anticipate at your target event.

In Moths a lot of people use KA sails, and I do so for a several reasons. Let me share these with you so you can understand my thinking.

Firstly when we talk about the rig we are referring to the sail and the mast. In the Moth world few suppliers have a collaborative relationship here but I do know that the Mach 2 series of masts are the same ones you can buy from KA and it’s these masts that fit the KA sails. To me that makes sense as they both come from the same designer.

But in Moths a minor change in wind conditions can change boat speed dramatically. That’s because it doesn’t take much before 25 knots of wind (gradient plus apparent) is coming over the deck, where previously, in a few of knots of less wind, we were low riding. This means that to win a championship you need a sail that changes gears easily. Very easily. You cannot be out for a day’s racing knowing that you have a weak spot if the conditions change. There are plenty of sails I know to be fast in one mode but they then slow up as the conditions change.

Of course you can’t have everything, and clearly something’s must change to maintain a fast pace as the breeze builds or fades. I do not change sails, but I do change masts as I believe that this minimises the degree of risk because the difference of change is less than the difference that occurs when you change sails.

At the worlds I used the KA MSL10 sail. In less than 12 knots I used the KA/Mach2 stiff mast, and over 12 knots the KA/Mach2 soft mast. One day I got confused and used the soft mast in light winds and still went OK. You see what I’m getting at here? Winning Moth Championships is about staying fast and managing risk. The sail fits both masts really well.

So if you agree that the rig needs to work through a number of conditions let’s talk about those gear changes when using a KA MSL10 or KA MSL13 Sail

1st Gear. We have “traditional” conditions where the wind is light, the windage is low and the sail must produce maximum power to get you on the foils. The outhaul is off with about an 8 inch gap between the sail and the boom. The cunningham is on just enough to take the creases out and the kicker is on to keep the leech straight. At the first scent of foiling I let the kicker off in order to generate the twist needed to get on the foils early, In first gear your primary control is the kicker.

2nd Gear. The boat is now foiling in marginal conditions. Boat speed has risen from a low riding 4 knots to a foiling 12knots. In this gear you need to manage the power and drag ratio of the rig. Pull the kicker on and Cunningham on until you can sail with the boom on the centreline (mainsheet block to block) without spilling wind. Your drag will be at its minimum and the power will be the maximum you will need. However no wind is so constant that you can just set it and forget it and if you do find yourself falling off the foils after sailing into a light patch then ease the outhaul straight away .If the wind is dying you wont have time to do anything else and the KA MSL10 powers up well like this. In second gear your primary control is the outhaul

3rd Gear. In a medium breeze upwind the fastest Moths to the windward mark are the highest ones. Pointing comes from the winward “push” developed by your hydrofoils as you heel the boat to windward but it also comes from that lower leach of your sail. You should be looking at that bit of leach between the bottom batten and the third one up and try to get that perfectly straight. You do this by alternately pulling the kicker on, then the cunnigham on. The head will be bladed and loose like a birds wing or the head of a fast windsurfer sail because the centre of effort has moved and the power is coming from lower down the sail. In 3rd gear your primary control is the Cunningham for managing variations in the wind speed..

“Cruise control” .This applies to downwind work which most people think is just the same as upwind. It isn’t, you may still have the boom on the centreline but you don’t generally heal to windward and you get to make gains by bearing away. I find a small easing of the kicker on the final approach to the windward mark is all that’s needed to get the head to “self work” and that gives me time to forget about the rig and plan my approach to the leeward mark. I’ve often seen people needing to constantly fiddle with controls, a sign that the mast and rig dont work well together. I use consistently high kicker loads down wind and in a breeze when I move to a softer mast this is where I see the real speed gains. It improves my downwind speed as much as my upwind. Primary control here is the cunnigham which is used to control mast bend and move the fullness forward if you need to sail low. Useful if you have to sink low to get through a finish or round a mark.

These are the wind ranges and points of sailing your rig need to take you through. My rig does, and that’s why I think I’m so consistent. If you can achieve the same with whatever equipment you have then you are on the right road too.

Finally I have a habit of not changing sails if I can help it. I like to get to get to know a sail intimately and that’s because I believe the last 10% of performance is basically hidden and is only revealed after you’ve both spent some time together. If the above makes sense then just like me you’re going to have to find it to. You won’t do that by having a random multi make sail programme.

Here are some additional observations from Andrew McDougall, who always uses the MSL 13.

“The physical difference between MSL13 and MSL10B is ridiculously small, but the difference on the water is huge.

The MSL10B is an easy sail, smooth and efficient, utilising the 8 m² of sail area in a way that is not extreme considering the speeds we are foiling at. The MSL13 on the other hand, requires more tuning between modes. For me this is a small price to pay for the extra power of the 13 has. I am a little heavier than the average moth sailor, and certainly not smooth moving around the boat, so the extra power is worth the extra work, allowing me to make boat handling errors and be able to get quickly back on the foils.

Like Simon, I only use one sail: the MSL13 and normally I try to only use one mast, the KA/Mach2 soft mast, so that I can rig and forget. (And forget to de rig! - Si)

This rig can be a handful at times, requiring lots of vang and Cunningham to blade it out for efficient upwind work, or to get rid of power at the top of the sail when sailing downwind in extreme conditions.

Upwind it works quite similarly to the MSL10B, but it is downwind where the technique can be completely different. The trick of sailing downwind fast is getting the balance of low drag and right power correct. Too little vang will knuckle up the front of the sail causing high drag, too much vang will not allow the sail to twist enough to get the top working. The MSL10B does not like having little vang, so both upwind and downwind modes are similar. I.e. sail fast and get the apparent forward. The MSL13 on the other hand, with its fuller head, can work well with low vang tensions allowing a low ‘soak’ mode that is not as available to the MSL10B. I sail in this mode most of the time, particularly if the wind is strong or if the wind is very light. In strong winds because going high won't make you any faster, in light winds because the angles are so bad that any depth you can get gives very big gains.

The important thing to understand with the Moth is that the range of speeds and power requirements are more varied than almost any other boat, and not necessarily just because the conditions change. This means that any rig that is too far outside the middle ground is not going to work. This is why we have two sails that are very similar, right in the middle of the extremes.

I get reminded every time I sail these boats that adjustments generally need to be very small. It is tempting to make large adjustments when you feel you are not on the pace, but it's highly possible that you are only slightly off with your tuning but causing many knots of boat speed difference. A large adjustment will often end up on the other side of the setting you need. You need to be disciplined when other boats around you are going faster: knowing that you must make small and considered adjustments to get yourself back up to speed.”

And by the way, I was the fastest, not Simon ;)

Life at the extremes

2010-04-13T13:48:00.006+01:00

We flew around the harbour last weekend, on a windward leeward course so tight that I was already planning my entry into the leeward mark at the same time as the windward bearaway. I had on my KA MSL10B and the soft mast which I used for several of the worlds races and it rocked.

I have to say I did enjoy the handicap racing on Sunday. It was good fun but there are too many variables to really take it seriously and only the mentally deliquent get worked up about it. Yet I do think I will do more, and last Sunday I managed to rediscover how to gybe, which had not been a strength of late. I ripped upwind double lapping i14's and the other boats and it's really only in this kind of racing that you get a sense of how fast these little boats go. At the Worlds we all go roughly the same speed and you dont seem to notice.

But on Friday I took some time out and motored to East Head on "Callisto" where I anchored, read a book and generally got away for a bit. Sometimes a change is as good as a rest and as I watched Moths flying past I wondered about the two extremes of the boats I owned. Specifically which one is "greener". Sure my Mach 2 won't degenerate in the same way as my yacht, it will probably last longer than me and you put together, but wooden boats aren't very geen either ar they? The great oak forests of England and the Teak forests of India are now long gone due to wooden boat production. If you doubt it, try to get hold of a piece of mahogany!

See I told you it was a relaxing afternoon.

Teenage Kicks

2010-03-25T17:59:00.006Z

OK I'm over it, That event has now gone, consigned to the history books and recorded by an engraving and a few pics on a lap top, Oh and I straightened the trophy out with a rubber mallet. It was never was meant to be square.

This little class of ours is special but something has been bothering me. It's a question that Clean asked me in the final Sailing Anarchy Cocktail hour. That question was "what are you doing for the kids who are trying to get into Moths?" and basically it floored me. "I.. um.. take 'em out in my boat" wasn't a good answer then and it certainly isn't now.

So what to do? It's a truism that we loose lots of kids to other sports, but mainly street corners after the junior and the youth programmes have finished. Why? Because for a life hungry brand aware kid something from sailings antique roadshow just ain't gonna cut it.

It's the parents who have to get aware. The kids can't afford foiler moths, you can take them out as many times as you like and sure they run back to their Oppi's and Tera's with renewed enthusiam in the same way you drive home enthusiastically from a track day, but soon they are just too old..

So Mom and Dad, you've got to get sailing brand aware! Start buying up the perfectly good and very affordable Prowlers and Bladeriders that are now a few years old and get your son or daughter into the coolest class around, I promise you they won't leave, no one ever does, and in the end it will be a damn site cheaper than a Methadrone habit.

I had a great offer for my boat this week, so tempted to take it but I didn't. Why? because I will never get a new one probably and also because I've written to both of the schools my boys are at offering to coach the kids and do talks and stuff. I may need the boat as a prop. It's still not much of an answer Clean but its better than the one I gave you in Dubai.

S

Thank you for the music

2010-03-17T06:07:00.004Z

Wow what an event! I'm home and I am offsetting the jet lag by spending long periods of time staring at the trophy I just won. Largely in disbelief.

It's history tells a story, one that on this particular piece of silver goes back to 1963, It's a story of change, a story of winners (and by definition losers) and of winners again, and of course travel to places others don't get to see. It's the story of the greatest racing class in the world.

There is however only one thing that's different now than back then, and that's that I get to replay the event over and over, not in my head, but on my computer. The media did a fantastic job and the scale of awareness they have brought to our class over the last couple of weeks was and is unprecedented. We must consider them friends and family and give them priority status if they are willing to row to the windward mark rather than motor.

Anyway I feel hugely proud and humble to have won the Puma Moth Worlds in Dubai but the thing that excites me about these events isn't necessarily the thought of winning, although I do dream about it before hand, but its the energy I get from seeing my friends again and meeting new people. The guys in Dubai did a wonderful job and the atmosphere was incredible. At almost every other sailing event I can't wait to leave the area after sailing, but in Dubai I just wanted to hang around..

However one of the best things for me was seeing the improvement in the British fleet. Ricky Tagg achieved his goals by coming 13th in his first ever Moth Worlds, Adam was 10th and Mike Lennon did really well (although he wont admit it) to get to wear GBR 8 on his sail.

A couple of apologies from me. One to my mom for swearing on TV and the other to my mate Bora for being unnecessarily aggressive after the slalom when we exchanged a little skin.

So now its back to looking at my trophy. Thank you to everyone for your help, support and best wishes, you've made me feel great for a few days, but particularly to Andrea, who makes me feel great all of the time anyway.

Over and out
Si

Highway to the danger zone

2010-03-08T08:29:00.002Z

Holy shit its Viper! Thats what I was thinking when Bora and I exchanged a little skin at the slalom yesterday. A bare knuckle moth fight where normal rules dont apply and the winner takes all. Bora and I had a frank an honest discussion after the race, I finished 2nd and he was 3rd, and in hindsight perhaps we both should have kept our butts above the hardeck. Rob Gough, won moving on from his second place last year. He's the current slalom king.
Today in Fightertone the mood is relaxed. The sailing club looks like a call centre with computers open and sailors trying to keep busy. Two hours to go until we go ballistic. There is no wind but we may get 10 knots by the start.
Last night Puma hosted a cool little party and I found myself thinking how lucky I was to be at a place like this and today with "Chasing Cars" in my headphones the feeling is no different. I guess I'll soon find out whether I'm still capable of soaring with the top boys or only good enough to fly rubber dog shit out of Hong Kong.
S

Now thats what I call music..

2010-03-07T05:56:00.004Z

Its gonna be light for the next few days, and whilst the sea breeze may come, its certainly changed the form guide. Yesterday showed that if you got it right you got it very right but if you got it wrong? Well..
The first race yesterday in marginal foiling conditions I went round the first mark second behind Mike Lennon, with Scotty on my tail and Ricky Tagg up there too. We low rode down the run until the breeze filled in from behind and Bora screemed down the left side corner. With a third of the run to go I was in the lead but kinda messed up the final approach up to take 5th. Mike Lennon grabbed a gust and won.

The next race I nailed the first beat and won the two lapper by a few minutes but finished with a cracking headache and Chris kindly gave me some more water but I didnt do the last race. Maybe I should wear sunglasses too.

So the UAE nationals were won by Chris Graham in his Mach 2 who tellingly put together a 3,2,2 yesterday. He now jumps to the front of the form guide if the conditions stay like this all week, he seems to have a slight edge on the rest of us and is sailing well.

We have the slalom today which will be fun as always, although with Scotty, Rob Gough and Amac in my group its a toughy to get through to the next round.

For the Worlds, I feel good about my speed on the foils but there is a certain randomness to these conditions which I think has most of the top lot worried. Oh well, its not raining and if only we can change the dinghy park music to something better than "Now thats what I call music 8" then it wont be a bad place to be..

Plenty of discussion on pumping, ooching and how we should take the class forward for light wind sailing but for now, for this event, you cant change it. Rules are rules. Better just get on with it.

Arabian Knights

2010-03-05T05:59:00.005Z

Today is the first day of racing at the Moth Worlds in Dubai. Actually its the UAE nationals for two days, then Sunday is a layday before we race for real on Monday. Todays it blowing and err a little rainy but the club is in full swing and the atmothsphere is good.

Yesterday we had some inpromptu short windward/leewards in an unstable wind that was shifting through maybe 15 degrees. Scotty is going well. Arnaud was back on the pace after a sail change and Bora is looking good. I'm going OK too but with many sailors yet to show there stuff its hard to know the form yet.

Its a funny wind that feels strong and we're certainly cranking upwind but if you tack its really hard to get back on the foils. But when it blows, like its doing now, the waves are fierce and just getting downhill will be the biggest test. Next week is looking lighter but we'll see...

Gear wise I'm pleased with the new softer Mach 2 Mast on the KA MSL10B. It seems I can hang with the big boys in a breeze. If it gets lighter I will put my new Southern Spars Carbon rod rigging on and possibly go up a stiffness on the mast. Thierry Martinez arrived last night so you will be sure to see some good pictures on his site here

Spanish Armada

2010-02-22T19:07:00.011Z

Last weekend we were at Alan Hillman's excellent Pro Vela sailing school in Murcia, Spain and the venue for the "Mothfest" in May. It was a chance for me to do some tacking/gybing practice and also to meet Alan, who had just taken delivery of his new Mach 2. It was cold actually but I could see how nice it will be in May.

Andrea borrowed one of Alans Bladerider RX's and Simon (Si Fi) Fisher and Pablo Arandia brought their Mach 2's along. We had some good time on the water and with some short sharp windward/leeward races everyone improved a lot!

Foiler girl. Andrea won a race!

Yachting great Ian Walker was also down and had his first go in a Moth doing really well as you'd expect, but declaring "I've never been so terrified" ..

Over a few beers we talked about that elusive Channel crossing... Si Fi and I are keen to do it. If anyone knows of a south coast based fast boat that can be used to pull us out if it all goes wrong.. please let me know!

Anyway IMCA Spain has been born with Pablo/Si Fi and Alan heading up the class association. And with flights fifty quid from Bournemouth its tempting to become a "country member"

I enjoyed my time in Alan's boat and proved my tacking is OK from starboard to port but the other way round is still a little tricky.. See below for the good bit.

Next weekend its off to the worlds. Gulp!

Week need

2010-02-10T20:21:00.008Z

Tomorrow we go to Pro Vela to see Alan Hillman and to meet the other Spanish Moth sailors to sail in a place that's currently 14 degree's. That is 14 degree's warmer than here but its been a bloody long winter and it doesn't seem to get better. I really need a break. I thought the America's Cup would lead me out of this depression but like scared heavyweight boxers they've run for the skirting boards at the slightest sign of danger. I spoke with Alan Block today and he thinks the cup should be melted down, and I agree. It's time is up. It should be used as the new Moth Mr Universe trophy. If nothing else we have the guts they lack. Sailors like my hero Admiral Lord Nelson would laugh at them. "So the nasty nasty swelly man might get you? Oh come here poppet!"

My boat is in a box now, ready and waiting to go to Dubai. I guess I am too and I will surely be one of the favorites if the ambient air temperature is less than 5 degrees. It has not been higher in the all the training I've done, which isn't much, and when I did sail, I would probably have only scored 5 out of 10. Still we'll see. England expects, but they can expect it of the other English this time can't they lads?

But what of all this talk of pumping onto the foils and stuff. Well let me tell you the rule is academic 'cos you can't get a Moth onto the foils with two pumps. Full stop, or err.. Period. Anyway I dont mind either way, I just think the class has a good track record of managing change and the processes in place to discuss this. Every member has a vote no? We must put the class first.

But I like the Worlds, my greatest friends I see there, I get to meet new people, customers and competitors, and I see ego's made and ego's broken. Who the fuck knows what will happen, but as Nelson once said, "No Captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside his enemy"

Bertarelli and Ellison would do well to remember that.

My Worlds Form Guide

2010-02-03T11:42:00.007Z

Here is my form guide for the Worlds coming up in Dubai.

1st place, Scott Babbage. Australia. I truly think Scott will win. Apparently the organisers will play the "Top Gun" soundtrack in the dinghy park. Of course the first spoken words in Top Gun are "Morning Scott". To me that's a sign. Weakness is that he's hard on boats. Scott hasn't actually sunk yet but there was probably a Babbage on the Titanic.

2nd Place, Arnaud Psarofaghis. Switzerland. Slow starter and needs to be up there from race one if he's to do well. Well prepared with frequent visits to St Tropez to train. On/off Facebook relationship status updates indicate an active winter. Will probably fly if we can get enough fluids back into him in time.

3rd Place, Bora Gulari. USA Prosperous Professional and seemingly comes with his own news desk. Will the current World Champion go from good to great? Its been a fabulous year for Bora, now an American Idol. Get him to sing "I dreamed the dream".. and it could be Susan Boyle...

4th Place, Dalton Bergan USA, Evidently been working hard. Keeps himself to himself. Being beaten by Bora at events although pedigree would suggest otherwise. Good bloke.

5th Place, Jean Pierre Ziegert Switzerland. JP's gonna be quick! Fast in the light, and like Arnaud training on the French Riveria. Prone to excitement. Can resemble a foilborne version of one of Spielberg's gremlins.. at its most agitated.

6th Place, Andrew McDougall. Australia. Does age poison us, or do we poison age? Seemingly the latter. 2nd at Sydney International and winner of the Australian Nationals. Faster this year. Will he cope with nature's juggernauts? Those Dubai waves...

7th Place, Rob Gough Tasmania. The Tasmanian Devil is the size of a small dog, and like Rob stocky and muscular. Will fight hard for his place and one to watch.

8th Place, Adam May UK. Got an optimist on foils and frankly this result is as optimistic. Only just unpacked from the last Worlds, but he is very good. If its light he could be top three. That Olympic pedigree will come shinning through and you will be looking at his transom.

9th Place, Tomaz Copi. Slovenian 470 star and paragliding champion. Getting his second Mach 2 delivered to the event. 65kg light and could finish much higher up. A real unknown, but the Slovenian for "well done mate" is err.."Dobro mate". Better get used to saying it.

10th Place Mike Lennon UK. Pathological boat bimbler and serial Moth Sailor. Been sailing hard at "Ice Station Zebra" this winter, or Hayling Island SC as we call it in the summer. Done his time and deserves a result. Moderate conditions could put him much higher up.

So there we have it.

January Sails

2010-01-29T17:05:00.017Z

Andrea Ralph sailing my boat last weekend. I think more girls should be sailing Moths.

We had a female World Champion in 1968 (Marie Claude Fauroux of France) and we still have a very nice womans trophy.

Will we ever have another? Well imagine if we ever get a sub six knots week...

With sailors of Andrea's ability you don't need to spend much time telling them how to do it, they soon figure it out..

Just send 'em out and go and have lunch..

Meanwhile it was cold and dark training this week, about as far removed from Miami as anything I can imagine.

How the other half live..

.

Amaculate Conception!

2010-01-28T13:16:00.007Z

Andrew McDougall out sailing today at Black Rock. Eagle eyed viewers will notice that the sail doesn't look like an MSL10, or a 13 for that matter.

Wanna see more? Come to Dubai.

Chillin' on the block

2010-01-27T21:55:00.003Z

I wanted Amac's opinion of last weekend so we went over the pictures I received from our maître d' Pete Barton and I made some changes to the foil set up and stuff. I went out sailing today to see if the boat felt better. It did. Alot.

But I didnt, largely due to the intense cold. With 3.5 degrees air and 5 degree water temperature I was at my limit and I bow to Graham and Mike who have regularly gone out in even colder conditions this winter.

The wind was North Westerly and about 15 knots so I had a bit of fun and actually it was kinda nice to be the only Moth out. That's probaby because for years.. I was. And now with some 15(?) foilers at Hayling (which is fantastic) I still find it a little, well, new...

But I wasn't out long.. and I'm getting there with my new boat and with a new rig to try and some carbon rigging on the way the boat will be ready for the worlds, even if I won't.

Best bit of today? The wonderful heated floors of Hayling Island Sailing Club!

Weekend Breaks in England

2010-01-24T20:56:00.018Z

My boat arrived on Tuesday and went together really well. I spent a couple of evenings working on it which was fun actually.

Then on Thursday McConaghy auctioned the ebay "Silver Edition" Mach 2 which quite frankly is a bloody sterling gesture with all proceeds going to the childrens charity "Variety". Thank you to everyone I asked to publicise it, including IMCA World and especially to Simon Propper who gatecrashed the UK site to do the same in lieu of any response from a committee who's most important line of communication seems to have gone into receivership.

Anyway today I went down to sail my boat for the second time only to find a Moth training camp at HISC with 12 good boats and Pete Barton calling the tune.

Thanks to all for some good 3,2,1 go racing in light winds. Ricky Tagg looked fast, Jason Belben, back in the class and great to see again was up early in the light stuff, so to was Alex Adams, but the man of the weekend in my opinion was Ian Gotts, who after breaking his foil by twatting the bottom rebuilt it overnight and was out and foiling today, thus exhibiting a bit of self sufficiency and grit that we would all do well to take note of.

For me it was a nice weekend. By the time I'd got this many hours in last time I'd been rescued twice, but it was a still a bit of a shock to hike again in this my first Moth race since the Worlds. Today I did OK remembering my laylines and having some good speed with the KA MSL13 but I was confused by my swiss made (and now rusty..) ride height adjuster which I was fascinated with and couldnt help using in the same way I used to use a Yo-Yo.. It was clear I needed some practice and I'll be out in the week.

And yes it was cold! Yesterday I was sailing along looking at the rig and pleased with the way things had gone I thought lazily "that field looks closer than I remember, I should probably tack.." Next thing I know I was sitting on my arse in 18 inches of water, the bow of the boat covered in mud, the May stick bent and a long ten minute walk back to the deep water, I swear I nearly died of cold...

Photos: Peter Barton

Snow Patrol

2010-01-12T16:00:00.007Z

Still a white Britain but my new Mach 2 arrives very soon. Possibly it's in the air already, but in any event it soon will be.

I have just 4 weeks to sort a boat out, do some serious miles and make my knee bend to the require angle. Then the boat's back on a plane to Dubai.

On my wall I have the Mach 2 poster. I'm on it just about to gybe, kneeling on the starboard tramp and about to step across. Currently I can't repliciate that on the floor next to it.

So I've got a bit on.

But I have missed my a Moth. I sailed Ricky's in December just to prove to myself that I still could. When you've done so many miles up in the air, on your own and in a place where you get to make sense of your yesterdays, its difficult to forget how powerful these small boats are. Even if you try to.

In the worlds of Snow Patrol, "I need your grace to remind me to find my own"

So who's going to win? Bora has spent most of our winter in Miami training, Arnaud has spent a number of weekends in the South of France doing the same, and by rights they should be the favorites, but the entry list isn't complete yet.

Who's turn is it to do the form guide?