Society is cooperation; it is community in action.

Going out on the wire, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

Racing a Hobie 16 single-handed on a gusty day

Race day was comical, with lulls followed by moderate gusts from various directions.

In a mixed fleet, Remko and I were first over the line in a Tiger two out of three in the morning. For the third, Remko took a unilateral decision to put in a capsize in the last minute before the start, giving us a finish of third on the water.

In the first of the afternoon, we were part of a bizarrely mixed group of boats who crossed the line at more or less the same time. Never before have I seen two Tigers and a half dozen Hobie 16s finish with three Lasers. (We’ll see what the handicap system makes of all this shortly, but I expect a Laser won.)

The comedy then turned risky as the gusts became near gale force. Remco and I were knocked down violently, with Remco gashing his leg on some part of the boat. The staff team in a Tiger were dismasted a little later when a shroud snapped:

Wildwind 36, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

The Tiger was soon fixed:

Wildwind 79, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

Remco will take a little longer.

(And I just learned that a Laser won.)

Wildwind 58 – Version 2, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

No photos of me today — Beth was busy — but a few good shots of others.

This is a Hobie Tiger, the boat I used to own.

Wildwind 31, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

This Hobie Fox with me at the helm is beam reaching with spinnaker, chasing down a Laser Vago, and without trapezing too. This should not be possible — beam reaching with spinnaker that is — because there should be more wind and it is a powerful boat.

Wildwind? This week it has been “Mildwind”, but fun nonetheless with a good crowd of sailors. The one cross-shore blast of 20-25 knots was exciting in the FX-1 and I’m hoping for more of it next week. The weather is indeed a cruel mistress.

And “that’s about the size of it”.

Wildwind 47, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

Shortly after this photo was taken, the wind picked up to a gentle force 3, enabling a brisk sail in a Hobie Fox, a fast Formula 20 catamaran.

We achieved some hull-out broad reaching with spinnaker and the crew on the trapeze, which was ideal.

Sadly, circumstances have spared you a photo of these heroics, so I’ll have to ask you to make do with this stock image of a close-hauled Fox:

A superb boat. I may just have to sail it again later.

"Charisma", originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

An old fishing boat in Padstow

The “sail away” is a mini adventure: picnic on the boats around the end of the western headland, out in the shipping lane.

The cross-shore arrived early so we had quite an exciting beat out in a Pacific. Some of the lulls in the lee of the headland were extra exciting as we sat there, motionless, with the cross-shore marching in across the water. We just about managed to avoid unexpected gybes.

The initial run back was pretty exciting too. No gennaker with novice crew plus waves. We headed up for a fantastic twin trapeze reach for a couple of miles in gathering wind – force 6 I guess – until the crew’s trapeze slipped to maximum. He lost his footing, bashed in to me and we were off around the back of the boat for a nice easy capsize. Both windward trapezes were out of action, and we limped briskly home sat in. Guess it was force 7 by the time we landed.

Worth it for that blissful, fabulous reach. And a great effort for a crew over the age of 60!

A steady force 2 all day. A touch dull.

Practice races all day of one lap, windward leeward. Far too small for a Tiger, but not a bad way to get practice starts. Mostly won, although humilated by a Hobie 16 (no gennaker) helmed by an Olympian.

Cross-shore tomorrow I hope.

And the jeep was fixed too