Safety Boat Duty
First things first: The person we sent me the book has been found. Thanks Pavlo!
Second: Yesterday I decided to buy new sunglasses after the ones I had ended up in the bottom of the Welsh Harp some time in May. So, I paid a visit to the friendly chaps at the Welsh Harp Boat Centre. I thought that since I need them for sailing, I might as well buy a pair of proper sailing sunglasses. Back in April I had said that I wouldn’t need to buy more sailing gear until the end of autumn, but I couldn’t avoid it. The Sun glare is too much because it reflects on the water. The last couple of times I felt I could do with a pair of shades. So I bought a pair of Gill Ozone in indigo (blue).
Today I was on Safety Boat duty. Hot weather, not much wind, loads of sun cream and a new pair of sunglasses. I still arrived quite early, 9:10, and since I didn’t have to rig a boat I had plenty of time. At some point I was asked to show to a new member where the club Lasers are and where we keep sails, foils, etc. Colin, another guy that started sailing same time as me wanted to sail a Laser too. So I showed them where things are, showed the boats, gave them the super-duper XD kickers and helped Colin rig.
I went on the safety boat and the first race was quite uneventful. We stopped for a coffee break and then went for the second race. There were a couple of rubber dinghies and we have to tell them to go away. It is quite common on a hot day like today, and sometimes people don’t like telling them that they have to move. They cannot actually understand that the water is not public water and that the clubs pay British Waterways for the use of the water, so anyone who is not a club member shouldn’t be there. On top of that, swimming is forbidden. Anyway, they soon moved away. Especially when they saw a fleet of Merlin Rockets coming there way! Generally speaking quite uneventful.
In the afternoon I went out Lasering. Once again I had to show to a couple of people where the Lasers and their sails and foils are kept and Steve showed to them how to rig a Laser. It looks like the Laser fleet is getting bigger and bigger which is a good thing. I am afraid that soon we will have problems with the club Lasers. There won’t be enough boats for all of us. I wish I could afford to buy one. If anybody has one to give away, in any condition, or is willing to sponsor one please let me know. I won’t complain.
Anyway back to sailing, we started sailing about 4-5 Lasers and we practiced racing. It was quite nice. At some point I was approached by a safety boat, that was attending the New Members’ Club activities, and they didn’t seem very happy, either with me or all of us, it wasn’t that clear because I/we hadn’t informed them that we would be sailing. I have no idea really what it was about and I am not going to loose my sleep over it. We had fun, we all enjoyed ourselves and Ben decided to buy a second-hand Laser from another club member who hadn’t been using it. So, one more Laser racing next Sunday! I told you, the fleet is getting bigger.
While I was going in, there was a strong gust of wind that made the Laser plane. I had read about the humming of the Laser when planing, but I experienced it first hand. That was amazing! I want more of this! Believe it or not, I have started thinking how nice it will be during the winter with the strong winds!