Asymmetric Monohull
Asymmetric Monohull, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.
Might have been a Laser 4000. Crewed by Remco, the insatiable high-wind Dutch sailor.
Asymmetric Monohull, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.
Might have been a Laser 4000. Crewed by Remco, the insatiable high-wind Dutch sailor.
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.)
We woke yesterday to find the megayacht Maltese Falcon in the bay.
Follow the links from the photos for more shots, including sail deployment.
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.
What we came for:
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”.
Too little wind this morning and a storm this afternoon, so we took a stroll, discovering this magnificent grasshopper (cricket?).
Photos from Wildwind, 21 Jun – 5 Jul may be found here.
Good breeze this morning and another good sail in the Fox. Still no heroic photos: maybe tomorrow.
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.
Wildwind, Vassiliki, Greece, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.
Plenty of boats: just need the wind…
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!
Waited for the cross-shore; Hobie 14; Pacific as crew; Hobie 14.
The Hobie 14 is a witch that should be burnt. It only wishes to be in irons or upside down. Therefore, when you do extract a screaming reach, it is highly satisfying. Gratifyingly, I sailed it without a capsize.
Agreed to crew a Pacific in the last race of the day. Poor start, having misjudged the sequence, but a glorious sail. Tim and I managed some highly efficient mark roundings.
Again, a satisfactory day
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
