My first race in other words. As expected I know I didn't win as a solo beat me on the water, and before you all go nuts let me explain why! (This isn't just going to be a list of excuses... Promise). The conditions for the day were ranging from 0 to 8 knots roughly westerly, and at spinnaker Sc this is the WORST direction. In essence the wind died routinely, and when it didn't it was very shifty, not great for my second time out.
On to the race itself, To be honest it wasn't well laid out with many tight reaches and a couple of longer downwind legs. The start lead straight onto one of these broad reaches which made the start line tactics interesting. I didn't want to get too engaged in start line tactics as my boat handling isn't really 100% yet, but still I came off the line around 4th.
Throughout the race I pulled away only to be reigned in by one very well sailed solo, Damm those solos, they are the best boats for the lake I feel but oh well. I'm going to blame this on two things: Firstly, My inexperience in the boat, this meant that it wasn't set up well so must not have been developing enough power in the lulls or too much in the gusts. Also how different it is to tack and gybe, in otherwords, the simple boat handling stuff. I've never had a boat before where you have to run aft to tack and then run forwards again, whilst tacking with the tiller out the back. I almost stalled the boat in every tack, as I believe I was moving forwards to quickly which resulted in a large loss of speed coming out.
Secondly I wish to blame the lake and it's STUPID conditions. I've already had a grumble, but if anyone out there can tell me the best way to go from flat hiked to trying to dive UNDER the boom when it dies, in the space of 10 seconds then PLEASE tell me. Basically in the weaker (less than 4 or 5 knots) wind, especially upwind, I found it very hard to keep the boat from rolling onto me and so whilst focusing on this I couldn't focus on tactics or even Proper course which lead to me loosing a large amount of ground on a couple of occasions but oh well.
The deathrolls very a much more interesting part of the day. It was quite amusing after the event as everyone in their solo's and lasers had stayed completely flat the hole time I was rocking and rolling around trying to save the boat. Basically on one of the dead runs I think I'd let off too much kicker which meant that the top of the leech opened up when a small, only 8 knots roughly, gust hit me. This spent the boat over to windward so I dived up onto the wing, as you do in a laser or N12, to try and save it forgetting that the wings on a 300 are approximately 3000 miles wide. Obviously this then bought the boat straight back over on top of me. Luckily there were no boats around me at the time as the spin left me heading at 90 degrees to my original course, with the main flogging and me cursing. Still, at least I didn't swim!
In essence I think I can take a couple of things really from this first race, both of these are interlinked but important separately. The first is that I need to improve my basic boat handling which will come with practice I hope. And secondly that I need to try to improve my wind awareness, some guys on Y&Y forum have recommended dry lube for the tell tails, which may help somewhat, but I need to get my eyes out of the boat more, and focus on the bigger picture.
Overall though I love the boat, never before have I come off the water so happy, but so sweaty, from just sailing in a force 0-3 on little Spinnaker. Definitely the right boat for me!
Monday 28 February 2011
Thursday 24 February 2011
Exploration of the Subsurface Environment.
I have recently Purchased a Vehicle which seems to be designed with the exploration of the Subsurface Environment in mind. Or rather to put it a lot more bluntly: SWIMMING! Although I haven't done the classic nose dive yet I hear from the forums that it is a certainty for which I cannot wait, It's always a bit of fun on a warm summers day cold winters evening to have an explore of the under water landscape or at the seaside.
Having only sailed the boat in less than 12 knots so far I haven't experienced a proper capsize either however, even though I think I'm starting to improve (in terms of handling the boat anyway) so hopefully when I go out at the weekend for racing it wont all end to badly.
It really has taken me by surprise how much work the 300 is to just sail straight in the lighter stuff or in fact, more so in the gusty stuff! Even coming from a N12 the amount you have to dive in and out off the wings astonishes me. More fitness trianing and trips to the Collage gym are definitely in order, hopefully by just before next chirstmas I'll be just about fit enough so sail the boat properly.
Having only sailed the boat in less than 12 knots so far I haven't experienced a proper capsize either however, even though I think I'm starting to improve (in terms of handling the boat anyway) so hopefully when I go out at the weekend for racing it wont all end to badly.
It really has taken me by surprise how much work the 300 is to just sail straight in the lighter stuff or in fact, more so in the gusty stuff! Even coming from a N12 the amount you have to dive in and out off the wings astonishes me. More fitness trianing and trips to the Collage gym are definitely in order, hopefully by just before next chirstmas I'll be just about fit enough so sail the boat properly.
Monday 21 February 2011
First Sail
I have to admit I now understand a couple of the points of view about the 300 way more clearly after about 3 hours of sailing. The boat is so rewarding to sail correctly, however on a small Gusty lake I can see how the challenge factor of the boat is going to be huge.
It is a real challenge to do simple things, such as tack effectively and quickly (although gybing seemed somewhat easier), but I hope that through a lot of practice I should be able to get good at doing these. In terms of control the boat is very simple and well set up, I understand the philosophy of kicker, kicker and more kicker; it controls all of the power in the rig and very simply changes the sail shape hugely and it is really noticeable when sailing.
Balance was always going to be a challenge on the lake, but I feel it really is going to be a struggle, however I suppose it's going to make my wind awareness and gust response fairly good I would hope. This is definitely going to be the area where (initially) I need to work on most.
Overall: The boat is amazing, it's so fast in the gusts and very rewarding to sail well. It is also rather a lot of effort to keep going fast!!! It's going to be a challenge/ 'uphill struggle' to get going well. BUT I LOVE IT!
Pictures to follow
It is a real challenge to do simple things, such as tack effectively and quickly (although gybing seemed somewhat easier), but I hope that through a lot of practice I should be able to get good at doing these. In terms of control the boat is very simple and well set up, I understand the philosophy of kicker, kicker and more kicker; it controls all of the power in the rig and very simply changes the sail shape hugely and it is really noticeable when sailing.
Balance was always going to be a challenge on the lake, but I feel it really is going to be a struggle, however I suppose it's going to make my wind awareness and gust response fairly good I would hope. This is definitely going to be the area where (initially) I need to work on most.
Overall: The boat is amazing, it's so fast in the gusts and very rewarding to sail well. It is also rather a lot of effort to keep going fast!!! It's going to be a challenge/ 'uphill struggle' to get going well. BUT I LOVE IT!
Pictures to follow
Saturday 19 February 2011
MY BOAT!
Today was the big day, I'm now officially skint as shit! But I hope it's worth it.
Dad and I left on our collection expedition around 1 ish this afternoon and after an uneventful trip arrived near Chichester to collect the boat. The chap I bought it from then was very nice in that he talked me through how to set the whole boat up, which clarified a few of the issues I had, as well as giving me a few tips.
From everything I've gathered sailing the 300 is all about kicker and Balance, Kicker I can handle. However my balance is appalling so I have a feeling I have a rather steep and wet learning curve coming up.
We packed the boat up and headed home, only to find that the handles of the trolley came perilously close to the spare tire on the back of the land rover once it was hitched, this coupled with the U.K.'s beautifully smooth road surface lead to me being on tender hooks all the way home.
After an hour or so we made it and it is all locked up ready to go sailing on Monday!
The first picture I have of it:
Dad and I left on our collection expedition around 1 ish this afternoon and after an uneventful trip arrived near Chichester to collect the boat. The chap I bought it from then was very nice in that he talked me through how to set the whole boat up, which clarified a few of the issues I had, as well as giving me a few tips.
From everything I've gathered sailing the 300 is all about kicker and Balance, Kicker I can handle. However my balance is appalling so I have a feeling I have a rather steep and wet learning curve coming up.
We packed the boat up and headed home, only to find that the handles of the trolley came perilously close to the spare tire on the back of the land rover once it was hitched, this coupled with the U.K.'s beautifully smooth road surface lead to me being on tender hooks all the way home.
After an hour or so we made it and it is all locked up ready to go sailing on Monday!
The first picture I have of it:
Friday 18 February 2011
Insurance
Seems Weird to get insurance before I have the boat but thought I should sort it out today. Got a quote from Noble of £120-00 and thought that it was pretty reasonable, however dad told me to ring Newton Crumb as we have an old Enterprise insured with them, so to humor him I did. I'm glad I did, got the boat and Trailors insured for 90! Massive saving for me as I'm broke now all the moneys out of the bank, my Balance is about a tenner.
It's one of those moral of the story moments, and lets face it, it does pay to shop around
On a brighter note, one day left to go. The guy I'm buying from has said he is going to show me the ropes (literally) tomorrow afternoon so that'll hopefully help loads as the whole kicker bar assembly seems a tad confusing. Having said that I'm sure I could have got help with it as the Class members on the yahoo group and Y&Y seem to be very very nice and helpful.
I cannot wait untill tomorrow!
It's one of those moral of the story moments, and lets face it, it does pay to shop around
On a brighter note, one day left to go. The guy I'm buying from has said he is going to show me the ropes (literally) tomorrow afternoon so that'll hopefully help loads as the whole kicker bar assembly seems a tad confusing. Having said that I'm sure I could have got help with it as the Class members on the yahoo group and Y&Y seem to be very very nice and helpful.
I cannot wait untill tomorrow!
Sunday 13 February 2011
5 Days
Little things keep popping into my head now. I realized earlier how I have no idea how the kicker assembly works on 300's. I mean I can see it vaigly but the ins and outs of it have been a mystery to me. Luckily I emailed the person who I am buying the boat from and he very kindly offered to set it up for me when I go to collect it, which will definitely help.
5 Days, this week is going to drag on and on, which is going to be a tad annoying. Whats worse is that I can't sail the boat untill next monday as I'm at the Instructor conference next Sunday.
So much waiting it better be worth it!
A picture of the boat before the progrip was put in. It's such a simple and large cockpit, quite a change from the N12
5 Days, this week is going to drag on and on, which is going to be a tad annoying. Whats worse is that I can't sail the boat untill next monday as I'm at the Instructor conference next Sunday.
So much waiting it better be worth it!
Thursday 10 February 2011
Snaps
A couple of pictures of the boat:
View from the back, it all looks very neat and tidy. A well put together boat me thinks
View from the side, obviously purple is the fastest colour so that's a bonus!
Waiting...
The Reason for the blog is for me as much as anyone reading it really, I want a bank of memory's to look back on, use for a level pe, and also to chart my progress in the boat.
I guess I'll begin;
So after 6 months of looking I hope I've finally found a boat!! Good news! It's in Chichester which is close enough for Dad to drive me without too much begging, which is quite a nice bonus. The only draw back is it's about a grand over what I wanted to pay so I'll be in a lot of dept to the bankers untill the summer, when all of my wages will be eaten by HSBC, the buggers! It's in good condition and is fairly new (455 sail number) comes with all the bling that 300's do including vast amounts of proslip neatly organised in the hull. The man who I'm buying it from seem's like a genuinely nice guy, which is one of the benefits of sailing I feel (that is that almost everyone is as helpful as possible almost all the time). I'm hopefully going to view and collect it next saturday (the 19th).
I guess I'll begin;
So after 6 months of looking I hope I've finally found a boat!! Good news! It's in Chichester which is close enough for Dad to drive me without too much begging, which is quite a nice bonus. The only draw back is it's about a grand over what I wanted to pay so I'll be in a lot of dept to the bankers untill the summer, when all of my wages will be eaten by HSBC, the buggers! It's in good condition and is fairly new (455 sail number) comes with all the bling that 300's do including vast amounts of proslip neatly organised in the hull. The man who I'm buying it from seem's like a genuinely nice guy, which is one of the benefits of sailing I feel (that is that almost everyone is as helpful as possible almost all the time). I'm hopefully going to view and collect it next saturday (the 19th).
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