Wild Horses

So big Saturday was followed up with even bigger Sunday! Sailing out managed to poke my mast through the top of sail but made it back quickly and some awesome help from Zack got it re rigged in a few minutes. Once out of channel it was apparent just how windy it was, probably 20s at that stage. Head back in the game after a good nights sleep, nailed the start and tacked over for the Long Beach port tack. Our course was between the 2 oil islands and once in the squeeze it was howlin! At one point everyone was capsized and this was only 1st windward work. Came around the mark with Zack and Chris and couldn't bear off without pitch poling. Several capsizes latter and finally had worked out how to do it. So here's my guide for survival down wind big winds and big swell with difficult chop on top:

• At windward mark wind off bow down, pin mid point
• Slide back as you bear off
• Steer carefully but firmly and quickly till your way down range, not too far as boat will roll in one you
• Stay thee and steer around the worst, just don't come up too much as you'll power up massively
• Kind of feels like sitting on rudder foil and bounce down wind!

Doesn't look great, but seems to be fast and safe.

Last race managed a 2nd with this technique. Zack took bullets today to draw with Chris and won the turkey on count back! Awesome display of power sailing..

So that's it for the season, roll on 2011.

I Can't Get No..... Satisfaction

It was full on today at Day 1 of ABYC Turkey Day regatta. We had 5 Moths so our own start, but even getting there was massive. 20 knots and a big swell coming straight down the harbor channel made for big waves at the entrance. We all made it out but were praying it calmed a bit for the return journey.

Marto the PRO packed in 4 races of 2 laps, and with the breeze and short period swell made it epic. By the last windward work it looked more like Napoleons retreat from Moscow as everyone was hiked out.

Made 4 times 3rd place. mixed it a bit with Chris and Zack, but a 80 hours work week and Man flu meant I didn't really have my head in the game.

Roll on tomorrow!

I fought the law and the law won

Sunday dawned with the promise of wind, but alas the sea breeze fought the Santa Ana all day, resulting a puffy 5 -8 knots and temps that were hot hot hot. We got a few scant moments of foiling in the gusts, but despite trying twice the PRO was unable to lay a course that didn't involve long sessions of low riding. Long slow sail back and a fight up the channel ( I cheated and caught a tow line from passing fishing boat!) made for a bit of a frustrating day.

All frustrations we gone once we were back and we still had the keg to finish so after a couple of cold ones we had the prize giving. It was really innovative as there were no prizes except the kudos of winning, but what do you expect from a low key fun regatta that cost $40 and included a keg of beer! Thanks to Martin PRO and to ABYC for a warm welcome and great support with this.

The circus rolls on to Turkey Day at ABYC where we already have 5 entered and our own start!

Its a 3 way....

Well sports fans going in to the top of the 9th and its a 3 way tie.... Three races and Chris Rast, Zack Maxim and me all with a 1,2,3. Chris won last race and I came third so on count back I guess that gives Chris the shot with me in the caboose. Nat was consistent with 4ths and Jimmer and Karl (once again riding the FrankenMoth) trading places in 5th and 6th.

Small rear foil was very interesting. Fast, very fast down wind, funnily enough very easy to tack, but seemed to struggling stopping the boat pitching in the usual short period Long Beach chop. Overall so far, I'd say a winner. Only other change I made was more rake so I can pitch the boat more bow down up wind without too much lee helm. Seems fast.

Breeze was 10 -12 and PRO set a wickedly short line so starts were intense inc a mass OCS on race 2. Predictably for winter the breeze shut off like a tap at about 3:30 so we were limited to 3 races but it was INTENSE!

De brief occurred around a keg of Firestone at top of ramp, the it was all in for a Belmont shores curry and as you'd imagine the talk was all wings!

Last day coming up and it's all to play for

Over and out.....

Hard Days Night

Sweet day in Long Beach. 10 -12 with full on foiling and warm.....again. 3 of us got out at around 2pm, Christ R staying shore side working on tuning or getting my old Bladerider ride height adjuster to fit on his loaner Mach 2. We got a good 2 1/2 hrs training in , loads of upwind downwinds and hike till you drop conditions. Using the sail very flat up wind is really helping. Moving the wand pivot point back to mid point is also giving me good ride height, just need to be careful not to hike it over too far and ventilate. Scary how fast teh wind shut off at 5pm and first time de rig in the dark. Tomorrow will have the new little rudder foil on so really looking to see what that does for the boat speed and height. Should have about 6 of us out tomorrow but we'll need to see who turns up.... Predict Wind has breeze on with about 15 knots, Howie should be out on the 18, so it's all to play for!

Over and out from Long Beach Mothistas

Warriors of the Wasteland Directors Cut

Summer is definitely on the wain and we'll soon be in the waste land that is winter in Long Beach. But the club was relatively quite even though there was the Halloween regatta, and not too many power boats out. 12pm no wind, 1pm a bit, by 1:30 full foiling and what an epic days sail. Went down not expecting too much and had just an awesome 3 hours. Zack joined in the fun for last 90 mins. It was a tack gybe fest. Water was flat as and about 12 knots breeze. Really worked on the tacks and speed through the gybes. Happy I seem not to be waggling the tiller like a virgin at a viking landing anymore. Managed to gybe all the way down the channel without falling off foils, first time ever. Also found nice new setting on the wand angle, nice and high till bolt slipped back, and Zack helped me set my sail up way flatter than I ever thought I should. So thats what the 8:1 down hauls for!

So to the comments section, please add in style scores, tips or just plain abuse.....

Till ABYC Moth Fest on 13th 14th over and out.............