Zero Time

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008

I’ve been absolutely flat out lately… Work is busy, new boat arrived a little while ago and there was a regatta to do. Ok, maybe things aren’t so bad.

I launched the new boat (just in time) for the 1st race at Sunshine on Saturday. Lovely 10-12kn seabreeze and things were looking good. I started few minutes behind the fleet and had to take a few swims to make set up adjustments so I though bugger the 1st race I’ll get the boat sorted for the 2nd one.

I had a reasonable start there and seemed to hold my ground against Rodney and Ben, with Dave slowly creeping away. Around the top mark I was is 3rd behind Ben (who since world is loads faster) and Rodney was not too far behind. Some time into the race I start to realise that I’m way to unfit for this as I got overtaken by Rodney and with Dave breaking his mast stump, I ended up 3rd.

The next day, I went out early and got the boat more sorted, although still not too happy with the sail I was using. I started well and lead along with Dave and Alistair. Around the top mark Dave was meters in front and once again pulled away on downwind legs. Things remained unchanged for the next 2 laps and I finished 2nd, not too far in front of Ben who seemed to catch up in the building breeze.

So, overall I’m super happy. I really haven’t even started looking at the set up of this boat and I’ve come away with a 3rd and 2nd. I think with a new sail and a few tweeks I can gain minutes around the course, not to mention what a reasonable fitness level could do for me….

I’ll see if I can get a few snap shots of the boat soon and go into some detail about what’s different about it, in the meantime here is one taken by a SLMASC volunteer.