Wednesday 13th August 2014

"Wednesday 13th August 2014"

 This was our best race of the season so far . When I started sailing it was normal to get 20 plus boats of the same fleet starting a race.

 This doesn't happen anymore at club level  with 3 to 4 being the norm . Anyway don't worry because all you need is one boat of similar ability to you and its game on . Racing sailing dinghy's is a very exciting sport and you don't have to be at the front to enjoy the thrill . Keeping a boat of similar ability behind you is hard work and needs concentration and a bit of luck  from both  helm and crew . Mistakes are costly and the tension grows as the race progresses . The last leg is a nervous time as the race can easily be lost at this stage but it's a great feeling if you can cross the line in front . Make sure you celebrate and enjoy the feeling  as you can bet that  next time it will be you doing the chasing .! The previous weeks practicing the spinnaker paid off as this is a sail that can lose you a race if you are not careful . 

Going well 

Not so well .

Wednesday 6th August & Sunday 10th August 2014

"Wednesday 6th August  & Sunday 10th August 2014"

       I have some great results to report , a 2nd on Wednesday and 2 x 1st's on Sunday . The golden rule's of  "you have to turn up" and "get the course right " paid off . I sailed with Nicola on Wednesday and we had an eventful evening . Late for the start and then the spinnaker going under the boat twice ! With the wind direction there was a dead run the whole length of the lake  meaning we had to gybe three times . This was ok but taking the spinnaker down with it billowing out in front  resulted in the sheets going under the boat. We sorted it out both times with Nicola having to go to the bow and pass the sheet round the fore-stay . It lost us ground on the 3rd placed boat and it was a 3rd until John got the course wrong and we stole 2nd place .    

    On Sunday the word on everybody's lips was  Hurricane Bertha . It was all over the news and was due to effect the North West on Sunday. The result of this and the heavy rain resulted in the worst Sunday turn out at HLSC I have ever seen . It was deserted . The wind wasn't too strong but it appeared to be increasing and only two boats went out for the first race . We didn't go out but the drop in the wind and change of direction  tempted us out in the 2nd race . Now there was 3 but only us in the GP14 . The wind started to increase towards the end but we went out for the 3rd race . This race luckily was nearly over when the predicted strong winds arrived and we just got ashore in time . We did have a great sail and we both were pleased we went out.

 This was in the news the following day !! 11th August

The Exe Sails GP14 2014 World Championship are taking place at East Down Yacht Club this week. The event sees one of the biggest fleets of single class twin crew dinghies assemble in Northern Ireland.
Competitors were on their way back to shore when the incident happened.
A spokesperson for the event said the first race had been due to take place at 11.55am this morning, but it had been cancelled due to bad weather.
Following the rescue, organisers said boats had begun to head ashore when a "strong squall of 31 knots" passed over the race area.
"The effect of this was that some of the GP14 boats capsized - this is not an unusual situation and crews are trained on how to 'right' their boast, " a statement said.
"Unfortunately a further squall registering 37 knots followed the first, capsizing a further number of the fleet."
The Coastguard today said: "Belfast Coastguard was first contacted just before 2pm reporting that some of the boats had capsized, while others were struggling to cope in the strong winds and squally showers."
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt praised the efforts of the emergency services.
"It was people of all ages, and some very high winds presented themselves. A lot of the boats were ditched into the water," he said.
"It's very cold out there, all credit to the emergency services.
"Some people have minor injuries. some have some signs of hypothermia - but the situation, thank God, appears to be under control."
One of the competitors, Tom Daniel, 20, from Halifax in Yorkshire, said his boat overturned twice.
"A massive squall came through, a lot of boats went over. We got very wet, a few got various knocks and bumps going over but nothing serious," he said.
"A bit further along the line a lot of people went in because a massive squall came in and we ended up back in.
"We thought somebody was seriously hurt. We thought there was more damage than there was because a few people did look like they were struggling but it is part of the sport and this would not normally attract too much attention but people from the shore saw that there was damage and it has been blown out of proportion."
Mr Daniel said the wind was not extreme.

"The guys coped with it very well but some people did struggle a bit," he said.

  It made Sky news and Yahoo !!

Part of the fun !!

Wednesday 30th July 2014 & Sunday 3rd August 2014

"Wednesday 30th July 2014 & Sunday 3rd August 2014 "

I am going to forget Wednesday , it was a disaster . It started off breezy but the wind soon dropped . I can't put my finger on it but we seemed to be going backwards . Maybe I had too much rig tension ? Who knows?

 Anyway Sunday was a cracker . The first windy day in ages and a reminder that sailing is excellent exercise as well as a competitive day out   . We sailed 3 races and I was totally shattered (in a good way)  at the end . We had some good battles with Graham but  he always got the better us . Our best chance to beat him was the first race . He rounded the last mark in-front and we tacked off immediately . When we crossed again we had gained significantly and seemed to be going faster . However a Merlin Rocket caught us on Starboard , we didn't see it till late and completely messed up the tack losing any advantage we had and ended up sailing  for the wrong end of the line . In the other two races we swapped positions during the race but Graham always came out on top . Grrrrr. Plenty of gybes and plenty of spinnaker practice !!

Sunday 27th July 2014

"Sunday 27th July 2014"

I have been away for a few weeks and the winds have been like this picture , but today we had some breeze . I didn't have a crew for the first race but John an old sea dog had capsized in the first race and was press- ganged into crewing for me . Together we engineered the perfect start ! Starting is difficult and extremely important , it is very rare you get a perfect line and as a rule one end is favorable. This means a lot of competition for one spot . A beginner should just try to be on time on Starboard (fairly easy ) be moving when the gun goes (reasonably easy) and have clear wind (not too easy ) . Forget getting the best position for now , you won't get it ,and will end up head to wind, missing the mark or even worse ramming the committee boat . Anyway after trying out both ends of the line we plumped for the outer buoy . 30 seconds to go the other boats were going for the committee boat end . We started on Port (risky) at the opposite end and managed to cross in front of the fast approaching Starboard boats putting us in the lead . We rounded the first mark in 2nd place but slipped back as the race progressed . Nevertheless are start proved a talking point and we had a great sail in breezy conditions .

    

Sunday 29th June 2014

"Sunday 29th June 2014 "

More light winds again today . I was involved in the training and was out with  Tom  in the club GP. We sailed between two marks , beating then running back . We practiced tacks and gybes for about an hour . Tom did well , the problems came when the wind direction changed , its difficult to get your head round, but the wind direction is seldom constant on an inland water . Being effected by the surrounding hills and obstacles . All part of the fun!! In the afternoon I sailed with Nicola . There was just enough breeze to get round , but it was frustrating . After an initial 20 boats taking to the water only 3 turned out for the last race . We were one of them and miraculously the wind strength increased and we had by far the best sail of the day . Unfortunately the O.O.D set the course for light winds with only 3 laps and it was all over in 20 minutes . Made the day though .

Wednesday 25th June 2014

"Wednesday 25th June 2014"

More light winds , but not as bad as this photo. Its Bassenthwaite and I think 1966 . It was a good Wednesday night sail , a light breeze but it was steady and we completed the 4 laps which were set . As a rule the races are under an hour , but tonight it was 1 hr 6 min as we started the last lap . It was a risky decision from the O.O.D but with plenty of daylight left and no sign of the wind dropping it was a good call . Get it wrong and you will get some serious earache . I was sailing with Jo-Anna and the course had 3 beats and 3 spinnaker legs so we got in some serious spinnaker practice, and tried to improve our roll tacks. I have to admit I am ready for a bit of a blow now , but checking the weather forecast , I could be in for a wait .

           Would you like to race this round the world single handed ? 

  She Did !!!

Wednesday 11th June Sunday 15th June , Sunday 22nd June

"Wednesday 11th June Sunday 15th June , Sunday 22nd June "

Summer has arrived , and Hollingworth Lake is a wonderful place when the sun shines . Membership of HLSC costs £225 per annum for joint membership , that's an amazing £112.50 each add the £63.00 boat fee and for less than 50p a day you have 365 days a year access to the lake and clubhouse plus storage for your boat , organized racing with rescue cover , Sunday , Wednesday and Friday evening during the season , and beer at £2.00 a pint . A no brainer !! To put this in perspective in you were not a member it would  cost £15.00 a day to launch a boat on the lake , plus you would have to transport it there and store it somewhere. Not always , but the warm sunny weather brings light winds , and this was the case on Wednesday 11th June Sunday 15th June and  Sunday 22nd June . At midday on Sunday 15th there was no wind and racing was postponed for an hour . By 2 o'clock a small breeze picked up and we managed to get two races in . Light winds bring a new challenge , its a knack , some people have it . I tend to rely on luck . Never give up , 30 boat lengths behind , you get the wind first and you can catch and pass your competitors very quickly . There is no better feeling than creeping up un noticed , gliding past and waiting for the comments from your becalmed rival . Prepare to get the same treatment at some point in the race , but do enjoy it while it lasts . Light winds are a good opportunity to practice roll tacks , spinnaker gybes and catching up on the gossip with your crew ( if you have one ). I prefer a stronger breeze , as very light winds can be boring and frustrating as well as challenging, but you have the scenery to enjoy and none of the scary moments that strong winds can bring , so ideal for novices .