Mixed Feelings

Arnaud and me, mid gybe, fellow Mach 2 sailor Jonathan McKee in the background photo ThMartinez/Sea&Co http://www.thmartinez.com

About half way through now and its close at the top and good day for the Mach 2's yesterday taking out every race.

There was very little wind as we rigged up, I was out early, mindful of what the race officer said about starting on time. When we started though there was plenty of breeze and Scott and I hit a great first beat to round one and two. In those conditions I was fast although with a knee injury from day one I struggled to tack from starboard to port quick enough. I took the lead down wind and lost it again up. On the final run I saw the line from a good way out and luckily got a gust which meant I could hold a long starboard with only a small gybe to the finish.

My first race win and a good way to start the day.



Scott, Arnaud and Bora shoot it out..photo ThMartinez/Sea&Co http://www.thmartinez.com

Unfortunately it could only get worse, and it did. Two sixth's meant I'm in fourth overall at the half way stage. Other Brits; Adam May is in 14th, Andrew Friend is 21st and James Phare 35th.

Bora had a great day with an 11, 1,1 and So did Nathan with a 4,2,2. Bora seems the quickest boat, his 82kg coming into its own but tactics are important here too, Arnaud Psarofaghis also had a good day with a 3,3,3 and its going to be really interesting to see who winds up World Champion

The racing is great, only matched by the atmoshphere and the chat in the evening was about how we could take the class to the next level by changing the racing etc.

Today we are on a layday, good for me and after a near 12 hour sleep, with ice an ibruprofin cocktail I feel much better. I really was out of gas yesterday pm for some reason. This pm when the rain stops, I have some boat work to do, and if I'm up to it a little more testing to improve my upwind speed in a breeze

The AGM was effective and well run by Mark and Adam, the Dubai worlds next year seem well organised and top ten in the World get to take their place as their sail number like the 49ers and current ex World Champions get to have a gold Moth symbol on their sail. Also a strong desire to move to 15 races per series, with a view to 18 after Dubai.

Day 1 at the Moth Worlds

The girl at breakfast wasn't really concentrating, Even as I repeated myself it was clear she had that "am I bovvered" look written all over her, and at my third attempt of ordering she looked again uncomprehendingly at me and said " do you speak English?"

"I am fucking English" I replied without adding anything insulting.

It was then I knew I was in for an interesting day.



Me and Nathan downwind.... photo ThMartinez/Sea&Co http://www.thmartinez.com

It was great actually! When you're my size you have to work hard in this breeze. Today I was reminded that sailing requires lots of water, mainly perspiration. Anyway, always best to work while you have the light and I had a few good starts, decent beats and buggered up a few windward mark approaches. I had problems keeping the cams on and had two off at one stage on the run. Convinced that this was slow I actually gained a place.

Most intense moment was gybing and getting putting my tiller extension between the outhaul rope and clew on the sail. Extracating myself was fairly hard.


Bora gybing, photo ThMartinez/Sea&Co http://www.thmartinez.com

Putting the cam back on downwind was easier than I expected, because I expected to capsize and get my head stuck somewhere in the shrouds.

But it was close racing! And its hard not to just enjoy it, Christ, people dream of this and we are doing it, I'm counting my blessings and keeping things in perspective, Sometimes I find it quite spiritual out there, looking at the scenery before the start and stuff. I'm not really religious but I find it a damn site easier sitting in my Moth thinking about God than sitting in a church thinking about my Moth.

It was medium conditions, maybe 18 knots at the end and in the gusts. Nathan had the best of the day, Bora did well and so did Dalton. I'm lying fourth and Arnaud is fifth. Scott and I were royally fucked by the barge that came through, due to the wind shadow and wake, and where we should have crossed in 2nd and 3rd in the last race, we didn't. The races are only about 25 minutes long, but thats enough, this is tough racing, the games moved on.

Formula Aqua

Bora Gulari.. Fastest man in Cascade locks.. Photo Thierry Martinez

Yesterday we had the Velocitek Speed Challenge and the North Sails "dash for cash" Moth slalom. Mach 2 rider Bora Gulari was $2000 richer at the end of the day as he claimed both prizes. With a lighter breeze we had to chase the wind upstream towards Hood River to get a fast time and Bora eventually came back with (I think) a 25.4 knot ten second average.



Getting it wrong.. Practicing at the gybe mark before the slalom start.. Photos Thierry Martinez


The slalom was excellent. Rohan did a great job as the MC and kept the crowds interested, informed and entertained through an hour and a half's racing that was so close to the shore that if you got your gybe wrong you wound up on the grass. I won both my heats and made the final along with Bora, Scott, Rob Gough, Arnaud and Dalton. My plan was to stay low and go for bouy room at the first gybe but the wind died and we all struggled to get onto the foils. It was great racing though and I think shows the way for how Moths can compete together in the future. Finally sailing, a true spectators sport!

It was a good atmosphere in the evening with beer being served and the spectators and competitors mixing togther. Arnaud built on an existing theme to create the "boom of doom" complete with automated beer loading device. Even the Major of Cascade Locks had a go!

A good day in a breeze I'm a bit more suited to. Racing starts tomorrow so it gets serious again.

Rough and Tough

Its a bit lighter at the windward mark.. Photo by Thierry Martinez

The American Nationals have finished, time for everyone to rest a bit and service their kit. I did 3 races of the seven race series, I scored a 6th (I think), 2nd and 3rd. Today I came in to avoid some damage getting worse. But it's tight racing and I feel I'm gradually getting into it, but whether its too little too late I guess we'll see next week. Nathan won (I think) but Scott Babbage has made a big move and won two races today.


Arnaud Psarofaghis in the big breeze.. photo by Thierry Martinez

We have the Slalom event and Speed Trials tomorrow, hopefully it will warm up a bit. Its pretty cold here!

Burger Boy

My boat still isn't here and it's hard to sit on the shore watching people sail. I've got that same feeling that I get in queues, listening to slow talkers and watching people eat. Its a feeling of helplessness mixed with irritation not assisted by being in the "great outdoors" where people who tuck their shirts in, and open doors on railway trucks make me nervous. People are friendly, yet the town is small and basic, and I've noticed several things. No one wears make up, even the roughest and toughest have manners and say "Hi" (unlike the UK) and clothing seems to be purchased purely for its function. This last point in particular makes every day feels like "casual friday", and time just drifts... Without a boat.

People still believe the weather forecast though which is charming.

But theres not much to do.. and even the Bridge of the Gods, is too freekin low to commit suicide from,

Miles to go to the Worlds and yes it was nice to watch the guys sail yesterday in the big breeze. Bora was fastest apparently in "clunk, click smile on impact" type conditions but all the Mach 2 sailors were going quick. I detect a certain tension in the dinghy park as all the big players seek to get one over on the other guys.

This will be a good Worlds with the added benefit of the Velocitek Speed Challenge and the slalom racing to make it more fun. Its been windy so far but really we need, and are likley to get, a mixed set of conditions. That would suit me best I think.

An unfortunate event

CNN on a slow news day have just published the results of their "Mans Greatest Achievement Survey". Oddly the lunar landings were not on the list at all which was made up of woeful replies likes the "computer" or "fire" (which wasn't exactly man's achievement) and were followed by even more unrelated entries like "world peace" (which simply proves people don't listen to the question). Anyway a very thin article

Of course you and I know that man's greatest achievement is the Cat Flap, but like those in the survey you are probably too scared to suggest it, driven by a mandate to be come up with a seemingly profound and deep answer.

Anyway here's mans worst one. It's Lycra.

Let me explain. Years ago, and normally after Christmas you had to diet to get back into your clothes. That doesn't need to happen any more because Lyra just says "I'll be any size you want me to be", and that's why we have so many overweight people. Lycra first appeared in Star Trek and the only reason we had "The next Generation" was because the original lot were at the clinic getting stomach bands fitted.

So what is man's greatest achievement in Sailing do you think? Rope advancement has to be up there, as does building materials. All significant but is Hydro foiling one? Darwin would be proud. We are learning to fly all over again and without an engine too.

Nope, the most significant invention was made by Doug Culnane at the European Championships this summer. Most people put the cover on backwards, inside out or sideways 78% of the time. Doug is making one out of prisoner uniform material, and all the arrows point to the front. Utter brilliance and right up there with the Cat Flap.

Anyway its kinda hard to think of doing well in the Worlds having just come last in the Nationals.. I intended to do well, despite arriving a day late, but I had a breakage and on a wet beach in Wales, with one umbrella between 37 sailors and a lone battery powered dremel, I knew when I was beaten. So this past few days I've been fixing the boat and it now incorporates a lot of elements from the less glamorous side of the periodic table.

Congratulations to Australian Moth National Champion Nathan Outteridge for winning the 49er Worlds in lake Garda. He'll be at the Gorge and what racing it will be!

My form guide - more lies ahead

This is my first and possibly last ever form guide for the worlds. And only for the people that I know. Its quite possible that it's right but its more likely that its wrong and it's based on my warped syntax rather than any logical theory.

So here we go.

1st place overall.

Arnaud Psarofaghis. Switzerland

Physically lazy, mentally strong and battle hardened recently. Will probably win by miles unless I can lead him a stray with a few well timed night outs down the local strip club. More talent in his little finger than most have in their whole body. Annoyingly good and a reminder of how it could have been if motorcycles, alcohol and women hadn't got in the way.


2. Nathan Outteridge. Australia. Seemingly perfect sailor and looks like the bloke from that gay cowboy film. Accordingly might attract persistent, distracting and unwanted attention from the locals.. I could be wrong, but don't drop the soap mate.

3. Amac. Australia. If he was a horse you might shoot him but now seemingly the Benjamin Button of Moth racing. Will redefine what fast is. Starting and tacking are areas of concern. New starting procedure as follows.

a. Wait for starting siren
b. Drain glass.
c. Confidently engage full ahead.

Tacking procedure as below

a. Wait for layline or shore
b. Drain glass.
c. Purposefully push helm down
d. Alight onto centreboard

4. Scott Babbage. Europe. Rumours from down under says he's fast with something in reserve, actually Italian so arguably on our side for the Ashes series.

5. Charlie McKee. USA. Form, grace and style. Will go ballistic if anyone starts pumping. Rightly.

6. Rohan Veal. Australia. 20 knots upwind indicates a rigging error and the subsequent use of rope as a tiller extension. So low he will be knocking holes in the banks of the Columbia River. Entirely possible Rod nicked the original to use as the "tiller of doom".

7. Bora Gulari. Excess windage and a choice of too much kit could be his downfall. Rumoured to have 10 masts. Good news for the organisers as the sponsorship didn't stretch to event flag poles...Pick the right stuff though and he'll fly. And the helicopter won't.

8. Kevin Hall. Will bugger off into the distance like the Millennium Falcon on the Kessel run in over 20 knots. Will hold his own in a lot less.

Others to watch:-

- Dalton Bergan. Mach 2 fast and one of the band of great USA 49er sailors.

- Morgan Larson. nearly as above.

- Jonathan Mckee. Fast DNA and proven mental strength by way of racing the Barcelona double handed race with a howl at the moon crazy Spaniard.

- Mike Lennon. Will probably arrive as British National Champion. Fast, but tacks slower than a Hobie cat.

I haven't included myself cos Scott doesn't, no other reason really. I just thought that was what you were supposed to do.

In truth though any of the above could finish in any order.