What we came for: Reaching a Hobie 16 in Vassiliki Bay cross-shore, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker. Reaching a Hobie 16 in Vassiliki Bay cross-shore, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.
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Mildwind week 1
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 […]
Read MoreThe weather is a cruel mistress
Vassiliki Bay Panorama, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker. Too little wind this morning and a storm this afternoon, so we took a stroll, discovering this magnificent grasshopper (cricket?). Grasshopper, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.
Read MoreWildwind photos
Photos from Wildwind, 21 Jun – 5 Jul may be found here.
Read MoreWildwind day 2
Good breeze this morning and another good sail in the Fox. Still no heroic photos: maybe tomorrow. Wildwind 135, originally uploaded by stevenjbaker.
Read MoreWildwind day 1 (yesterday)
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 […]
Read MoreThe RNLI Christmas appeal
The RNLI Christmas appeal arrived this morning. This year, the RNLI assisted 7,834 people at sea. The men and women of the Lifeboats have now saved 137,500 lives. I have never needed them, but sailing around the Isle of Wight on a rough day in a fast catamaran, we were […]
Read MoreWildwind day 4: peace persists
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 […]
Read MoreBoat choice
Monohulls can be ruled out. They are either too boring or too unstable. Rule 1. The Fox – Formula 20 – is too much unless you need it to support crew weight. So rule 2 is don’t overreach yourself. (Never tried a Tornado, but they have the advantage of a […]
Read MoreWildwind day 2
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 […]
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