The battle for freedom and opportunity is never finally won.

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.

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

Hired a Suzuki Vitara (it’s a total lemon), relaxed with a book and waited for the cross-shore breeze to kick in: one of the cool kids now?

The wind duly arrived at 14:30. Took a Pacific 18 – like a Tiger, but simpler and a little heavier – and hooned around with a splendid fellow who only learned to trapeze yesterday. Great fun.

Then hooned around at the helm of a Tiger with another good guy. Mostly reaching and beating: we’ll need to practice with the slightly odd gennaker arrangement in tomorrow’s lighter morning breeze before we run with it in the cross-shore. The reaches were absolutely screaming

We didn’t measure the cross-shore, but there were plenty of white horses. Guessing a force 5-6.

An appropriate day and I’m beginning to relax:

Wildwind’s 20th anniversary BBQ is tonight. The band is just tuning up behind me and Joe is warming over his jokes