I always believed Michael Lennon had an affliction. I've never seen someone spend so much time working on boats, showing such skill and expertise in things like rope work. It's the same with some other great sailors I know. Just obsessed. I suspect Scott Babbage is the same.
Me? the only degree I had was in "Ductology". This is the science of using duct tape as an integral element of boat maintenance. I began years ago with light temporary repairs, mainly to keep the water out and progressed to complex load bearing engineering solutions that were likely to result in a DNF. I even began tapeing my worn out sailing kit up. I've recently read that it is widely accepted as a qualification in the motorcycle racing industry, but for me it became all consuming. Boot laces were no longer needed and dry suit seals were replaced by it. The only down side being trying to get out of the suit when you'd wound half a roll around your neck to keep the water out. As a result of one particular close to death changing room experience I felt very near to Michael Hutchence when he died as a result of his own particular rope work.
But I'm getting better, twice my boat has been back for a tweak and I'm beginning to pride myself on the odd bit of quality maintenance. Knots are largely now a thing of the past.
This weekend we raced in Haying Bay, which was unfortunate as the sea breeze was only in the harbour. Mike and I sensibly retired after a lap of low ridding, but Spring felt like it was here.
This Easter weekend we have an open Moth race in front of the club Friday and racing each day with the RNLI pursuit race Monday, an event I've always supported, as I've been rescued by them more that once.
Largely as a result of the Duct tape giving way.
Anyway because its Easter and because we are racing the weather will be appalling. It always is. Specifically a tornado will come to town and wreck a small caravan park in Portsmouth. It always happens...
Monday, 6 April 2009
Thursday, 2 April 2009
New Mach 2 + 2 launched!
Simon Payne wih crew Andrea Ralph hit 23.5 knots on first outing!
Photo by Thierry Martinez 01/04/09
Sunday, 29 March 2009
Feathers, fur and gold
I nearly died of fright friday night.
Really, I mean it!
I was relaxing in the shower when two pigeons flew into the bathroom and frantically flapped around hitting things, knocking things off and pinning me in the shower unit and scaring me shitless. If ever there was a time to die of a heart attack that was it, as my pulse went from idle to the redline in a beat.
Once I recovered I immediately thought of catching them to eat but my children are still full of scorn after hearing about the bunny incident, where too far down the line of promising a rabbit stew I was horrified to find that the butcher didn't have any, and that meant some lateral thinking was called for.
The pet shop did..
It seemed the pigeons weren't sent to kill me and are now quite friendly, I found them on the bed yesterday, I'm trying to think of names.
And in a way it was the same with with my Mach 2, Boat No 3 and the third prototype. After a scary start we became friends too this weekend as she looked after me Saturday and lit the after burners on Sunday.
Saturday was awful. If you didn't get mullered by 30 knot gusts on the water you were pounded by hailstones on the beach, unable to go anywhere, as you were at that point, a boat anchor.
And with Mike Lennon, James Roche and Tom Whicher sailing the weather stablized in the afternoon and a good little training session was marked by James smacking a fish so hard he thought he'd broken his foil, only to capsize and see it bent double around the vetical section.
I would have eaten it.
Sunday I raced Boat 3 for the first time, I came off the start line and accelerated so fast that suddenly the world started to go backwards. Actually I finished a beat and a run in front on the 5 lap 1/4 mile windward leeward course. Nice for people to see how fast it is here after all the hype.
Really, I mean it!
I was relaxing in the shower when two pigeons flew into the bathroom and frantically flapped around hitting things, knocking things off and pinning me in the shower unit and scaring me shitless. If ever there was a time to die of a heart attack that was it, as my pulse went from idle to the redline in a beat.
Once I recovered I immediately thought of catching them to eat but my children are still full of scorn after hearing about the bunny incident, where too far down the line of promising a rabbit stew I was horrified to find that the butcher didn't have any, and that meant some lateral thinking was called for.
The pet shop did..
It seemed the pigeons weren't sent to kill me and are now quite friendly, I found them on the bed yesterday, I'm trying to think of names.
And in a way it was the same with with my Mach 2, Boat No 3 and the third prototype. After a scary start we became friends too this weekend as she looked after me Saturday and lit the after burners on Sunday.
Saturday was awful. If you didn't get mullered by 30 knot gusts on the water you were pounded by hailstones on the beach, unable to go anywhere, as you were at that point, a boat anchor.
And with Mike Lennon, James Roche and Tom Whicher sailing the weather stablized in the afternoon and a good little training session was marked by James smacking a fish so hard he thought he'd broken his foil, only to capsize and see it bent double around the vetical section.
I would have eaten it.
Sunday I raced Boat 3 for the first time, I came off the start line and accelerated so fast that suddenly the world started to go backwards. Actually I finished a beat and a run in front on the 5 lap 1/4 mile windward leeward course. Nice for people to see how fast it is here after all the hype.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Rescue Me
When a tree comes down you shout "Timber" so when a mast comes down, should you shout "Carbon"?
I shouted something else as I'm afraid that's what happened just before the start of race one at Parkstone. The forestay fitting pulled out, which was a shame because not only did I want to race but we had the boat rigged up with Predator cameras, (which fortunately were not on at the time). A double shame actually as I was planning to take someone foiling between races and she was already in a wetsuit and on the committee boat.
Anyway occupational hazard of sailing "Boat 3", the third prototype and we are working on a repair plan now which is why I'm up so early and on to Aus. In the cold light of day I guess its best it broke then and not last race of the Europeans or Worlds or something. The production boats have a different (and bigger) bow pod and cannot have this problem.
But it was great to see everyone with Mike Lennon scoring three races wins, but an OCS in the last race means I think Adam is close on points. Adam May had the Cosworth formula one derived telemetry system on his boat that only someone with Adams intellect can truly understand. Apparently you can create your own polars and it will be good to see his data published. It also means you have to sail around with a five foot lamp post on the bow which surely must have hindered his boat speed a bit.
As the tide dropped I watched the guys trying to get into the harbour, sailing over a hidden underwater wall with a cleareance depth of only about 18 inches. First Adam, then Mike... then Geoff...I had my heart in my mouth... James hit with his rudder..
Its harder watching sometimes.
A big thanks to Ron and Helen on the rescue boat and Tim Ollerenshaw, for pulling me out.
S
I shouted something else as I'm afraid that's what happened just before the start of race one at Parkstone. The forestay fitting pulled out, which was a shame because not only did I want to race but we had the boat rigged up with Predator cameras, (which fortunately were not on at the time). A double shame actually as I was planning to take someone foiling between races and she was already in a wetsuit and on the committee boat.
Anyway occupational hazard of sailing "Boat 3", the third prototype and we are working on a repair plan now which is why I'm up so early and on to Aus. In the cold light of day I guess its best it broke then and not last race of the Europeans or Worlds or something. The production boats have a different (and bigger) bow pod and cannot have this problem.
But it was great to see everyone with Mike Lennon scoring three races wins, but an OCS in the last race means I think Adam is close on points. Adam May had the Cosworth formula one derived telemetry system on his boat that only someone with Adams intellect can truly understand. Apparently you can create your own polars and it will be good to see his data published. It also means you have to sail around with a five foot lamp post on the bow which surely must have hindered his boat speed a bit.
As the tide dropped I watched the guys trying to get into the harbour, sailing over a hidden underwater wall with a cleareance depth of only about 18 inches. First Adam, then Mike... then Geoff...I had my heart in my mouth... James hit with his rudder..
Its harder watching sometimes.
A big thanks to Ron and Helen on the rescue boat and Tim Ollerenshaw, for pulling me out.
S
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
You Got Me Floatin'
I've been putting it off for ages but finally Boat 3 and I went for our first sail today. Oh good Lord was it cold launching but my new boat felt great with no ventilation on the rudder and every bit as nice as the Geelong boat.
After half an hour the wind was on the way out and I drifted silently back in my empty Chichester harbour. Good to be home really.
It's Parkstone open this weekend but I'm unsure if I'll be there. I may just sail here, for a few weeks more yet...It's nice not to race sometimes.
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
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