Month: July 2008

Finally I got a good sail in! I’ve been loitering around since the worlds trying to get on the water and get a good few hours in and this Wednesday it was my time. There was a nice 10-12 knots of breeze and hardly anyone on the lake bar some windsurfers allowing me all the room in the world to get some tacking and gybing practice in and then mess around doing some speed runs during which I clocked up 22 knots which wasn’t bad considering the lack of breeze – nearly double the windspeed! Need to work on my foil controls a little for the weekend and then get back out there and get this foiling tack thing nailed…

I’ve had several headcams over the years, starting with an Oregon ATC1000 (which they never made the waterproof case for – damn them…)  and ATC2000 and a crazy little wireless jobby but have always been disappointed with the picture quality.

Fat Bottomed Girl is currently in the workshop, getting new trampolines (which fit!) and a new rig, so today I went sailing in the Squirrel. And jolly nice it was too.

It was a lovely sunny day at BCYC, with just enough breeze to go foiling. I was a touch nervous, as I had not been sailing for quite a while, but my nerves were soon proven to be superfluous. I hopped in the boat and blasted off across the lake with no worries whatsoever.

I *love* the Squirrel. She is sooooo smooooooth! The transition between lowriding and foiling feels so natural – the boat just wants to fly. The ride when on the foils was also extremely smooth and I think, if the Squirrel were a car, Jeremy Clarkson would be rather impressed.

My sail was cut short by a drop in the wind. Short but sweet, I would say.

During the week Mike had bought a new waterproof headcam thingy, which he took out whilst sailing his old lowrider (thanks Leo) and followed me around. Unfortunately, as I was so super speedy, he couldn’t really keep up with me. He will be putting up what footage he did manage to get though, as I think he wants to show off the enhanced picture quality, or something…

Maybe we will get FBG back on the water for Wednesday. That would be nice.

TTFN,
Em

Its been a few weeks now and things are slowly getting back into their usual swing. I’ve been busy doing a few tweaks to the Squirrel including making a new daggerboard with a few tweaks in (and the shocking pink colour again…). As long as the fine english weather provides me with some wind I should be getting back out on the water tomorrow.

Well, I thought I would let you all know what the hell is going on down here. Its pretty damn windy and 4 races were got in yesterday, along with however many they can fit in today. I managed (in the loosest sense of the word) to get one race in. 

I am bored bored bored. But apparently there is going to be a speed challenge shortly…wonder who will go out and risk boat-breakage.

Ho hum, I’m off to twiddle my thumbs.

Borderline sailable today, but committee on the cautious side. Gust up to thirty knots, averaging well over 20 though…

Well, so much for the light winds worlds that were predicted around the globe! Yesterday’s practice race was blown off, with massive gusts hitting the harbour. This proved a good thing for some, particularly Mr. Thomas A. Whicher, who came on holiday with no clothes but those on his back. I took him on a mammoth shopping trip in the afternoon and he is now fully kitted out, although he did put back the wife-beater vest emblazoned with the words: ‘If found please return to the bar’. Disappointing.

The evening saw a nice bit of grub at the academy’s opening ceremony and we were even treated to a cringe-worthy speech by Bristol’s very own Alan. The shame!

Overnight it felt as if the weather would get the better of the caravan, but we awoke to find it still in one piece. We were also greeted by pelting rain and more high winds. After an initial postponement, the racing was canned all together, due to more heavy winds. The rain cleared up, though and the sun put his hat on and came out to play. Hoorah.

Mike and I headed over to Portland Bill this afternoon and were awed by the amazing waves. We were particularly impressed by the cheek of the seagulls, who appeared to have embraced the British mothie spirit and were enjoying a nice pot of tea! Photos will follow….

Today’s special mention must go to the Cookie Monster, who managed to lock his keys in his van this morning. Soooo embarrassed when calling the AA…what a t*t!

Weymouth is shaping up to be one hell of an event – nearly 100 boats entered so far, plenty of people in with a chance of winning it and plenty of shiny new kit floating around.