Shadow Keeper

Nobody ever reads instructions, we always try to wing it and work the device as if we were the creator. This is OK if the device is a camera or a gps but its not really ok if it's a fire extinguisher. Reading the instructions by the light of the fire you are trying to put out I once found is an intense experience.

And in a way that feels a bit like Moth sailing these days. Always frantically trying to get prepared before the event. I've still got the remains of a suntan from the Gorge and already I'm well into planning for the next Worlds. South of France training, boat directly to Dubai etc

These days it seems that as you stand listening to a closing speech you are also reading the NOR of the next one.

We had the European championships in June 09 and by August 2010 we will have had two worlds and two Europeans in a 13 month period. Christ! I was European Champions from 1994 to 1997 only because no one organised anything, but now it's all go as the class expands and if we are all to keep up then we need to get more efficent. Of course you dont have to do them all. But with 64 Mach 2's sold, we do, and I'm not complaining.

And if anything it means you value your time away from the race track more, in the shadows a bit for while.

But other than putting the notice of race, the sailing instructions, the briefing and possibly the welcoming speech on podcasts I can't really think of how to make it better. It's great already.

Running from Jordan

Everywhere I go I see that woman's face, and it alone make me want to leave the UK. Trouble is I can't, with no boat and no event I might see January here for the first time in years. Recently I've been very lucky to travel to the southern hemisphere, either Perth or Melbourne, and it always seemed to make me feel that I'd hit a fast forward button and then stopped it at a good bit in my own little movie, fortunately missing most of the unforgettable part that is winter in the UK.

Yet I'm preparing for winter here, maliciously hoping that "What Katie did next" would be final and the only reminder of down under is that twat she's married to.

A fast forward movie of the Tide Ride at Hayling Island Sailing Club yesterday would reveal a manic blur of ascending and descending boats being slung from stationary to warp speed. The wind would be 10 knots then nothing then 10 again. Yachts would shoot by at 20 times faster than they are supposed to go and if you looked carefully you might even catch a quick glimpse of a rapidly vibrating mainsail.
A few frames later you might see the leader lap all but two other competitors in this crazy race and if we also had a sound track you would hear frequent high pitched squawks coming from a couple of boats. Thankfully undecipherable as remember we are on fast forward.

Rod Harris won. He is establishing himself as a guy who is still improving where others seem to have stopped.

It was best to be watching yesterday, especially holding a gin and tonic, and accordingly easy to criticise too, so I wont. Suffice to say that it wasn't a great movie, let down by the plot, and I was very glad that I wasn't amongst the cast.

Words have meaning and names have power

Lot's of discussion about the Moth Cast, which I'm a fan of actually. Although the sound is so low I can barely hear it, and the gaps are so big between the words that you can wake up refreshed before the next one, but I do like the opinion, although occasionally its a little inaccurate.

Anyway no matter, but if you throw a few stones either intentionally or otherwise you must expect to get a few thrown back and you shouldn't feel too put out when someone says you are talking bollocks. It goes with the territory. And you probably are.

But its still good, and runs well. I admire Bruce, although I have no idea what drives him to do this, but I do think he's on to something despite the fact that its clearly hard getting tall people to speak fast.

Anyway I delight that the Australian season is staring up, I like the debate and "handbags at dawn" spats which is good for the class. By bringing issues out into the open they get discussed, addressed and dealt with.

In the UK we had Simon Propper.

Simon was web editor for the UK website when I was President and we had our moments. ..Threatened with everything from lawsuits to physical violence he still made his points, the seriousness of which was missed by the easily lead self congratulatory divisions who want to shout "Oh bravo!" at every opportunity.

Now, with a healthy class and us both replaced by more talented and youthful females I see Simon is writing again, this time about his holidays.

I'd like you to read this. Its on the UK site. Its very good.

American Boy

Home at the end of the day photo ThMartinez/Sea&Co http://www.thmartinez.com

Well done to Bora Gulari, a popular guy and a great World Champion. He worked harder, trained longer and went quicker than anyone else. He deserved his victory and I'm sure there will be more.

I ended up 5th, just behind Dalton and in front of Rohan. I took out a few races, but unreliable starting combined with 65kg wet-through meant unless I got that right I was easily buried. Also I stacked it a couple of times when I shouldn't really have. Anyway I didn't give up and a top 5 in that company is alright.

For Mach 2 it was a very successful event.

I think it was Murray Walker the racing driver commentator who said "The lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it which is identical".. That didn't quite apply to us, but to have 4 Mach 2's in the top five was fantastic and to borrow a strap line..

"There's a new champion in town..."

The Worlds I think represented a tipping point for the class. The media coverage was unprecedented and the work of the USA IMCA committee in particular Nigel Oswald, who surely has an alternative career in event management, and Charlie McKee was exceptional. "On the Water Anarchy" in the form of Alan an Merideth Block did an outstanding job and I honestly could not believe the number of spectators on the bleaches after the slalom and on the final day where there must have been a couple of hundred.

Not massive by other sports standard but for sailing, that was Woodstock.

But the most impressive thing is the quality and depth of the class. You cannot compare it to when I won in 06, its sooo different. The game has moved on and the US and AUS classes are very strong with hot sailors.

So role on Dubai, The winds are said to be lighter and it's only six months away. I will do it and please God, it would be nice, just once to go down the run and think to myself "What's the best way to get round the leeward mark?" rather than "whats the best way to get round the leeward mark without stacking it.."

In..

Leading Dalton and Bora photo ThMartinez/Sea&Co http://www.thmartinez.com



Sorry for the false alarm, (and thanks for the nice comments) but I managed to race today and it went OK. A cartilage torn in two and some mild ligament strain was the damage report from yesterday. The knee brace helped although I had a sleepless night, mainly texting back home. Knowing that I wasn't going to cripple myself and it was just going to be weak/hurt made the decision easy. Also I still remember those words from Roger Angell all those years ago..

"Its not the size of the dog in the fight..."

So the first race went ok, I finished 7th, not a bad result in this company, but not great either. I had good speed and got out the line OK. Bora won it and the gap between him and Nathan got smaller.

The next race I felt good and got out the start well. I went round the top mark fourth and pulled up to second on the next beat.

All the time I was smiling, and on each tack err.. wincing. The tacks were bad actually.

On the final run I wanted to sail in the flat water, just to make it home. I went right, Arnaud left, and I snuck it on the line. Funny that I'd be winning another race after yesterday.

I can recommend the pain killers.

In the final race I did the gybe of doom after working hard to pass Rohan down wind. I just fucked up the gybe, that's all. But unforgivable on my part. In this race Charlie McKee broke his hand in a pitchpole and was off to Hood River Hospital. He still completed the last race though..Get well soon Charlie!

After a nice evening with the Camp Epoxy boys and Meridith and Alan Block, its now time for bed...

Tomorrow will see a new World Champion.

S

Out..

Today was a horrow show, on only one leg I sailed and sailed badly. Each race I capsized three time plus just tacking. Crossing the line in the second race I was white and physically sick with the pain. I started the third race but had to sail in at the windward mark. I was taken to the hospital in Hood River. I had X Rays and other tests. The doctor replicated tacking and hiking. I screamed.

I now have a splint from ankle to thigh. Fuck. I hadnt planned on it ending like this.

Dont stop 'til you get enough..

Lay day today and yes I sailed. I wanted to test out some more mast rake, my Swiss made ride height control system and toe straps that I'd moved further outboard.

It all worked OK. The boat felt better balanced upwind and I was still OK down (I think.. ) I was sailing (briefly) with Nathan and Kevin Hall but everyone was trying new things and there was no datum, in fact we could all have been going slower..

But I didnt have to capsize to adjust my foiling height, and the changes to the toe straps made my 65kg's feel more effective. It hurts more than before but unless I can rev it up a bit upwind the alternative will hurt worse..

But one of the reasons I sailed was because I wanted to. The rain had stopped. A few boats were out, there was nothing else to do and what better way to enjoy the afternoon thatn belting around at 20 knots with your mates.

Anyway.. it all starts again tomorrow.