Sailing and Laying Up Supper

I was sailing today because it was supposed to be nice and windy. Not that it wasn’t but the forecast changed during the week, but the excitement remained. It was a bit windy and cold.

Before racing, I finished rigging Bubble’s cunningham and outhaul with the new XD Power Pack I got from Ben last week. I am using a new 9:1 outhaul. This gives me enough purchase to put more outhaul even when I have full kicker on and I am completely sheeted in. I need to pull loads of rope in order to get a flat sail but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. (Explained view)

Please see correction. The outhaul is not 9:1, but 6:1.

On the first race, I had a good start and a good first upwind leg. Later on I started falling behind. I tried hard to keep up but I was in my usual position, behind Matt, Ben, Pete and Brent. Steve didn’t finish, so fifth place was OK. We had a break for coffee and then out for the second race. Steve was there this time and he finished before me, so I was sixth this time. No surprise there either.

When I went in after racing I had a message on my mobile. My grandmother died today. I will have to start looking for air tickets to Greece. It did affect a me a bit, but I was OK really. We came home with Brent and Pete for a couple of pints. Then we all left, including Lydia, back to the Club for the laying up supper. Not much of a laying up nowadays, because we continue sailing through the winter. Good chance to drink really.

It was OK, but nothing special. People get their prizes for the past series. I have been improving steadily. Steve took a third prize for the Wednesday Series and Liam for the Spring. During the presentation Joe, who was acting as Laser Class Captain didn’t say anything to point that we have been having a busy, expanding and improving fleet. The MRX fleet captain was waxing lyrical about their achievements. I know that we haven’t had the same achievements, but I was told that last year they thought that the Laser fleet was dying, and now it’s growing stronger and stronger.

I also gave to the RS200 sailors their DVDs from the Open Meeting. Most of them liked the box with the inlay ans they said it seemed very professional. I hope they will like the actual DVD footage. Anyway, more sailing tomorrow.