Wednesday, October 29, 2008

SAIL CAM TV

Remember to check out Sail Cam TV for all the racing action of the 18ft skiffs!!!!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

SUNDAY FUN DAY

After competing in a surf comp on Sunday morning that left me totally exhausted. Gooby and Kyle had to get the boat without him. Things were already looking pretty intense.

With a reasonably fresh N/NE 18 maybe only just touching 20 knots. The majority of the fleet selected to go with number 2 rigs including us.

On the water the boat felt good with plenty of straight line speed. Another clean air start on the boat set us up for a good first work. However after rolling Panasonic and Asko and on the verge of rolling Kinder Caring, we hit some waves that knocked us around pretty badly and forced us to make an early tack before Bradleys (costly).

Up the first work we sailed off the back of the top bunch and rounded the top mark in about 10th place. After electing to go for an early gybe on the first leg around Shark Island; we managed to pass TF and Omega Smeg. On the second leg of the downwind a Broken Active Air was passed and we moved into 7th place. Up the Second work we were hot on the heels of Fisher and Paykel. At the half way mark of the second work we had crossed and passed them and were looking ahead to see how we could catch the next boat, Pure Blonde. However once again gear failure was responsible in spoiling our race and leaving us frustrated and angry.

Whilst we were on port tack smoking up the course lifting up on the longest tack to our top mark, I suddenly felt weightless followed by a falling double pike twist into the chilled waters of the harbour. My trap rope at the top of the mast had snapped and had left the boys sailing two up and me doing swimming lessons in sailing gear!

Despite all this, the good sailing we had done prior had given us a good gap between the boats we had passed. Once I was back on board and got going again we had only lost 2 boats with a new plan of trying to hold our position. With only two of us able to trap on one side at the top mark we had lost another two places to Asko and Omega Smeg putting us in 11th where we stayed for the rest of the race after having some awesome NOKIA style rides on the remaining down winds and some smart conservative sailing on the last upwind

Despite being our best result of the season it is still disappointing as we know that we should be up there in the top 8 but haven’t had the best of luck or been able to put it together.

For now Gooby and I will be up in Hamo for our 49er Australian Sailing Team stuff which should be exciting, however it means that we will both miss next race.

Not to worry!!! We have found some rock stars to fill in for us and hopefully get a good result.

Graig Ferres will be on the wheel and Ben Austin will take sheet hand and kyle will remain on the bow.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

SAIL CAM TV

Sail Cam TV have some fantastic footage and commentry of the 18's racing over the last two weeks.

They did, however get our names wrong when we had our fantastic start on the first week. Not to worry I'll make sure Jaq knows its us.

Anyway go check it out!!!!

ONE DAY SCOTTY

One day scotty this blog will be rated up there with yours! I'm slowly starting to learn how everything works and what cool stuff I can do. I have just made it possible for people to comment so feel free! I want to know if anyone reads this stuff. hahaha

Anyway looks like Iain and I have to head up to hamo for this Australing Sailing Team camp which should be fun. However it means that we miss a week of the 18's which sucks because I think we are starting to get into it. I can feel a good result coming.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

THAT SUCKS!!!!!

What started off as such a good day and race for the boys on CST ended in tears!

With the boat once again fully prepared and ready for a nice looking day with a 15/18knt NE on the harbour. We hit the start line with a simple and similar strategy as last week, to start towards the boat and keep clean all the way to Bradleys. Startegy worked perfectly for the first start. However a general recall was called and it was back to the line for another start.

The second line up saw CST mixing it up a bit more towards the middle of the line just below Channel 7. At the gun the boys were in tight spot but managed to really put the foot down and squeeze above Pure Blonde and keep clear of Channel 7, proving that the rig changes made ashore had some positive effect.

We picked it perfect up the first half of the work crossing Channel 7 and the Rag and at the top mark rounding in about 5th position.

After losing a few more boats cause of the handicap it was off down wind with plenty of action and speed.

Up the next work we had climbed back up and were around 8th place. The second downwind was filled with plenty of traffic. However we managed to pick up another spot passing a capsized Fisher and Pykle.

The Final work and we were really settled into the groove, passing keith Pigging and moving back into 6th place when suddenly...... BANG!!!!!!! The whole jib track ripped off the boat and our race went from being a solid performance to a broken Greek amphora with shatted shards sprayed acrosss the ocean floor.

SERIOUSLY DEVASTATING!!!

Anyway plenty of boat work to do. But now we know that we can do it even though the results dont show. There is now some light at the end of the tunnel to head towards and I'm sure we can post some sound results.