The Parkstone Poole Moth Open - the official line

The Parkstone Yacht Club Poole Moth spring open was graced with a great turnout of boats and a depth of talent to match. Saturdays forecast of 16-20kts was delivered in gusty, challenging conditions. And as the wind boomed, questions over who’d been winter sailing and who’d held their fitness brewed a tense anticipation prior to launch. Many questions lay unanswered. The Mach2 had its UK open debut and had a reputation to prove. Would the latest generation Prowler foils deliver performance gains atop bullet proof reliability? The Carbon Footprint was ready to fly, complete with mini rig for days just like these. Skilled helms had changed designs over the winter, and renowned talent had joined the fray after only a brief acclimatisation. Over the last few months some would have been training, some sailing, and some plain hoping. The stage was set.

The Mach 2 was first and fast out to the course. And then it was FIFO. First in , first out. The forestay plate had let go. The boats speed was undeniable in Oz and we’ll be hoping the vaunted reliability comes through.

Race one on and two boats only hit the line at full chat as far as I could see from my vantage point back in the war room. Clearly I have some work to do. It’s interesting to note how ones approach and tactics are shaped by the ride. But the early guns were indeed top guns and they locked into clean air and were taking no prisoners. Mike Lennon seemed to carry less ride height than you’d expect, but he and Adam had more speed than the rest of the fleet could hold. Mike and Adam swapped the lead a number of times, with Adam leading round the last leeward mark, but Mike managed to get through on the last leg as they looked for a photo finish. Some helms were being conservative even though the boats had moved on and overstanding showed a lack of understanding.

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Rod and Paul were swopping and crossing around the course, but Paul fought through and deservedly claimed 3rd, pushing Rod into 4th. The whole game has jumped forward; the skills have built through the fleet and foiling gybes are now performed for speed, safety and even style, rather than on hope, a prayer, and a lung full of air.

Race two and Mike was away, then Adam came back, but not quite enough. Rod had a late but high start and perched his way into 3^nd, with Paul pushing on downwind and taking 4^th with Geoff 5^th. Bladerider, Raptor, Prowler, Bladerider, Bladerider. Skill, practise, set up, fitness, then gear sets the order it seems.

Race three and the physical pressure was taking its toll. Mike in the lead, but Adams quick dunking reminded us this isn’t a walk in the park, and Rod was second to the windward mark. Rod held Adam off upwind with good pace till Rod cut in to the island, lost power, and the place. Too safe, too slow, too deep. So Mike got the bullet. Adam was fast downhill and got 2^nd , Rod 3^rd and Jason 4^th.

Race four. Adam with a broken wand nipple, headed home. In keenness and haste Mike and Paul hit the line early and scored OCS. No such fate for Rod who went for a dip in the last minute letting Geoff take the lead never to be caught. Tom had blistering if sporadic, upwind speed. But many an arm was turning to stone, and as the fleet battled on the tide was fast departing and so the race was brief. Geoff 1^st, Rod 2^nd , Jason 3^rd and Doug 4^th.

The racing was tight and everyone on the course showed a real ramping up of skill. A few suffered gear failure or were hobbled by set up. The cold water was intolerant - James Roche ventilated his way round the course like the devil had hold of his foils. Consistency was king and the rewards were there.

There was supposed to be a Sunday, but the wind stayed in bed and although we had a laugh and performed some spinning tricks the racing was done and the positions were fixed as they sat.

The form for the season has been glimpsed and we can’t wait to get out there again. A very big thanks to Mike Pascall RO, and all the rescue and support team along with Parkstone YC for hosting a great event.

1^st Mike Lennon. 2^nd Adam May. 3^rd Rod Harris. 4^th Geoff Carveth. 5^th= Paul Hayden 5^th= Jason Russell

Rock on the Parkstone Open

Okay so this blog has been a Tad quiet and certainly hasn't reflected the massive activity that has been going on with the Poole Moth flying squad. Mr Propper has kindly offered to modify his "wakey wakey - as warm as fresh sick" blog label . Some of us have been out sailing and concentrating on foiling gybes rather than the desk bound computer variety! We know you mean well Mr P... Finally I feel like I am now doing this incredible flying machine some justice. High wind foiling gybes are now getting neat, even if the racing line isnt as tight as it might be. Very light wind gybes are a little more tricky and I have been struggling to get the angles right to keep on the foils at the exits. But that little mast bound windex has helped lots and consistency if not smoothness is now the order of the day. As to the foiling tacks... they were progressing well but i seem to have lost a bit of the feel recently - still work in progress. Its now less than a week to the PARKSTONE MOTH OPEN, and it looks like attendence will be great. The harbour at this time of year is delivering some of the best sailing you can find; it seems vast and is so empty of boats. What a playground!


So we look forward to the event with great enthusiasm and I only hope that the practice and fitness training on the bike pays off. At the end of the day I just want to be sailing in proximity of my mates; an overly competitive attitude (as we have in the j24 at times), can leach some of the fun from the sailing. Moths though are just a pure adrenaline laced joy to sail, racing or no racing. It justs get better and better. It has been a little cold though recently, what with the blizzards. But the technology of the wetsuits etc is so good I always seem to be warm as toast; Norman however has stayed at home and will only be resuming his foiling once the sun can push temps into the teens.
We don't care about the white stuff - we're going foiling !





Once we get the solid water off the boat !




Our garaged Mothies - Richard and Dinger have now been joined by Edd who aims to get Spitfire 3 from their mold. Spitfire 1 is coming on really well and I'm so impressed by their skill and aptitude. I can't wait till the first boat is finished and they get out there and share the buzz.




Adios

Rod

Sorry - normal service will shortly be resumed - GONE SAILING

Hey how about looking at some nice fonts while I'm out sailing?


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