I think I might have to change my religious allegience or was it because I took an interest in a programme that talked about the origins of life on earth and the fact that the formation
of biological life on earth was a pure conjugation of many events, ie, luck. E.g. being just the right distance from the sun, the right atmosphere and by luck a chemical reaction that generated a biological organism. Whatever your belief, scientific or religious, the gods were definitely against me today or was it I was out of phase with the wind. I like to think the former.
Today I sailed in the final Marblehead GAMES event organised by the ever enthusiastic Guildford Radio Sailing Club. They are the ones with a small container as a clubhouse and have to set up their own launch platform and put the marks out each time they go racing. The GAMES series is usually about 6 events in various locations around West London. It is great fun and a chance to brush up on Marblehead skills. The lake is surrounded by trees and whatever the weather the wind is always a challenge. No wonder Peter Stollery is so good having been brought up at the club.
There were so many shifts in the wind and I seem to find myself on the wrong side of most of them. It is funny how you can have days like that. It was summed up in the last race where I powered off the start line with a good lead and sailed into a wind hole and watched several boats sail around me and then for good measure I picked up some weed towards the end of the race. To say I was out of phase with the wind would be an understatement. When I led around the windward mark I would be becalmed and the fleet sailed around me. If I rounded towards the back I would be becalmed and the fleet sail away. If I rounded a good second the leader would sail away in wind, I would sit in no wind and the boats power up behind in the next gust.
Sometimes it is good to write up the frustration because it gets it out of the system and to make doubly sure a decent brandy is going help. Whilst frustrating it was a fun day and I probably sounded like Mr Grumpy moaning about the wind. Sorry fellow competitors
My thanks to the Guildford team particularly to our RO and Roger Stollery for organising the GAMES events. Without this series the only Marblehead sailing outside ranking and nationals is at Datchet every other Sunday. If you read this and have a Marblehead and are in the Datchet area, come and join us.
Thats the last event before Christmas. Have a good one and talk in the new year.
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