Freedom works.

Asymmetric Monohull, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.

Might have been a Laser 4000. Crewed by Remco, the insatiable high-wind Dutch sailor.

All done. Last night out with new friends tonight. This seems to be the best photo of me at sea from the fortnight — no exciting Tiger or Fox pictures:

Final photos uploading in the background including some good high-wind shots of cats, windsurfers and a kite board. Will post a few from home.

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