Das Boot

No racing Saturday due to lack of wind, but an awesome day today. Everyone up early with a 10am start, out on water by 9:15, straight into foiling. With an 8 races scheduled it was always going to be a full on day. We got to use our AC style course, with a reach into to the turning mark, a down wind, then upmwnd, twice. Races were very exciting, fleet pretty much together at least to leeward gate? Apart from having brain fad end thinking we were doing windward leewards on first race, I really enjoyed it. Very different but very fast paced. And yes we crammed in 8 races. I started to get into the groove, then about race 5 started to struggle. It wasn't till part way through race 7 I realized I'd lost my breather tube out the back of the boat, and was starting to make some good submairine impressions. Could just about get on the foils but very bow up, then as water moved forward, yup massive nose dives. As or sailing into a marina, hmm, any way thanks to the collection of powerboats who helped me before I sunk completely. Boat took well over an hour to drain and I'm guessing back tank was full near enough.

On the racing side it was Bora all the way, from Anthony, then Matt Pistay. Really solid regatta, great location,

Happy holidays over and out......

Miami Vice, slalom version

We're in Miami for our first winter event. Friday was slalom with 11 boats here and 2 more promised for the weekend. Great conditions, warm, some chop and 8 tightly fought slalom races before breeze died away. Magnus set the slalom course of all time, definitely our best yet. Tons of lead changes few different winners but Bora came out on top. Great day and a great start to Miami.

I used slightly different settings and was really happy with my speed and manoevers, yes the Hayling rig settings were working well, thanks !

We've also got our usual ethnic mix with a Brit and 2 Aussies (Ben and John), so may be we should have the ashes, although their sailing is in a different league to mine, so need a few more from the home land to join me next time. Warm water, fun area socially, good breeze, what more could you want.

Proper racing starts today, over and out from Miami

I Fought the Law and the Law Won

Guess you learn every day. Got pulled over on the way to Long Beach by the 2010 versions of Ponch from CHiPS. What do you know, I get a ticket for driving in the wrong lane. I didn't think that was possible but guess it now is. I personally think it was a case of racial profiling, Welsh guy, driving a Japanese car, towing a boat made in China that flies. It's all falling into place!

Sailing was fun, bit marginal. Tried to compare mast rake with Simon but as both our mast are different lengths, (McK vs CST) it poses tonight's Maths problem.

Have at it!

If Richard and Simon are looking to have the same mast rake but Richards mast is longer than Simons, What length does Richard forstay need to be to achieve the same rake as Simon?

Simon Mast is 3455mm

Richard Mast is 3488mm

The J ie forstay to mast stump is the same at 969mm for both boats

Turkey Town

Finally, Finally we have wind for a regatta! It the usual ABYC Turkey Day regatta, about 200 boats and 8 Moths. Yesterday we had a gusty shifty 15 - 18knots, PRO fired off 4 races, huge legs (will need to speak to him about that!) and a to of fun. Eric is showing some really awesome speed taking out 3 of the 4 races run, who Zack taking the other bullet. Anthony and Matt travelled from the East coast and are being rewarded! Geoff came down with his home build from Park City (cant wait to have our first regatta there) and got part of his foiling issues sorted out.

Overall a couple of things really came together:

1) we got the demo Moth going which is a great omen for the future

2) Anthony sailed Charlies boat.

All makes me believe there is a market for having a few boats on each coast for charter, the US is a big place and if we're going to really build the fleet could be the way to do it. Tons of logistic issues of course, but a call to arms for our two Mach 2 dealers.

More wind forecast today, probably with rain and an unusual direction for us...... Final results later in day

Over and out from Long Beach

2012 Worlds dates and ;ocation now fixed

You heard it here (plus Int Moth Web site!)

As such I hereby announce that the 2012 Zhik Moth Worlds will held as follows:
Venue: Vela Club Campione, Lake Garda, Italy
Dates: 18--‐26 August 2012 (with an Italian Championship on 16--‐17 Aug)

Book now!

I was made for loving you

This is what this weekend's racing should have been like, only it wasn't! 10 boats on the start line Saturday and all we manage to get in was 2 low riding races before we all ended up getting towed home! Never seen Long Beach that calm before. Definitely a weird year wind wise. Thanks to all who traveled so far, still the curry Saturday night was memorable.

Small front foil is finally fitted and as of last weekend felt very fast. Ride height all working well so now looking forward Turkey Day then Miami.

Looking ahead to next year, there's the Worlds in Garda, when we finally get a date, then back for Hawaii Pac Rims and the "Road to Kaneohe" or our Worlds in 2013. We've some great regattas starting line to line up, so gt your self a boat, plenty of Mach 2s now entering the second hand market, as well as active dealers on both Coasts.

Over and out till Turkey Day

The Right Profile

Nice photo from Da Woody at this weekends Coronado Yacht Club Fall Sports boat regatta. You know the one, used to be ISAF, Sailing Anarchy shindig. We only got 4 boats there but was pretty mellow racing ie turn up at start line once the wind had built, 3 full foiling races, sail home and on to the rumbos. The club couldn't have made us more welcome and they clearly have a soft spot for us Mothistas. All boast from FT10s to us racing on same course made for some very interesting moments especially some of the mark roundings, but everyone played nicely and it was only the Tigers that seemed to have an affection for hitting each other.

I managed to wind on so much mast rake that although fast, I now can't get under the boom without getting stuck which had its moments. I now need to decide to work on more flexibility, or loose more weight......

Nah.... just wound off some rake going more upright!!

Adam won, after going for it in the boat park with a hacksaw, chopping 20mm off his main foil, Eric sailing his new M2 showed us why he has been winning the Bladerider Cup where he took Adam to the tie break and count back. Jimmer went on to win the Bladerider place, tying the series with Nige. Nige will need to turn up at the next 2 events or looks like Jimmer will be an easy winner.

On a final note, has the AC45 coverage been awesome or what!!!

Over and out