With the two new boats commissioning done, it is time for practice and working both boats up. There is a Marblehead Games event this weekend so a good starting point and plenty of club racing for the IOM at Gosport, Datchet and Emsworth. I have my new sails to try out for the worlds later in the summer and a ranking event at Fleetwood to check I am up to speed.
Today I went to Emsworth for some small fleet racing in B rig conditions with a great opportunity to tune against some good competition. I have not used a B rig for some time so it was good to have a look and set it up. There was a small issue with the boom as I had forgotten to put a screw in the gooseneck plug where it goes into the boom. Easy to work with but not ideal.
I was able to set the boat up so it was perfectly balanced and in the first race I only had to touch the steering to tack the boat on the whole of the first beat. I did struggle a bit downwind with speed at first but got better as the morning went on and the wind built.
Next outing is Guildford RSC for the NYLET Cup Marblehead games event. The technical issues of the nationals are fixed so the boat is ready to go.
Sunday will be another trip for the IOM to Datchet. Great to focus on sailing rather than boat issues.
The forecast is OK for Guildford, but Sunday will be a brilliant day, 15 - 30mph with big waves at Datchet for the IOM clas .racing Maybe C rig.
Next weekend is the DFTT event at Eastbourne. Always a great place to sail and we usually get lots of races in.
Fianlly, I said goodbye to my trusty Yellow IOM but it has gone to a very good home and will be raced hard. Next week I deliver the 3 piece Alioth on a road trip to Cornwall and to complete the turnaround I will be putting the other Marblehead up for sale in the next few days so I will be back to four boats to fit on my boat stand rather than 7. What is it about this sport where once into it one just accumulates boats.
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