Sunward I’ve climbed, and joined the tumbling
mirth of sun-split clouds

Fast windsurfers, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

Must learn to do it one day…

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.