Well, I hope we did not offend anyone with our fancy dress theme for the last race at St G, but watching Donosan sail around in pink PJ's wearing a blond wig with rollers and sporting a 5 o'clock shadow made it worth while.
We were granted a perfect day with flat water and 20kt's from the south.
Dave one the race with John H close in second. Luka came third with Donosan 4th, Alan 5th and then me in 6th.
There were 17 moth's at the club which was a great turn out.
Phil did not sail after re-arranging his forefinger with a chisel and Scott not making it to the start in time with Mast issues.
In all, it was a great day. Now Revelations will go to hospital to receive her new foils and I will be spending the entire off season gybing and tacking. As I am more than happy with my boat speed my turns are awful.
Congrat's to Dave on taking the win and the new Anzac day plaque, also to Donosan who won the best dresses apron with rubber jubblies and Marty who took home a rather expensive clock with the fasted speed of the day at 23.1
We are going to make the Anzac Day race fancy dress every year now, so no excuses. In fact I think Joe the commodore of the club is going to encourage this for all classes.
Hope so.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Low tides but wicked rides
Saturdays race greeted us 17-24 sse winds (bom observations) which meant flat water and fast rides.
Once again we were all late to the start so Phil's call out "Lets go" was our official over the line. Dave as usual was off and away up wind stopping occasionally after a tack to see what we were all up to before shooting off again. He is the only guy that I know that would stand in a lions cage and wave a steak in front of its nose because he knows that he can get out of the cage quick enough) One day you'll trip Dave ;-)
Rounding the top mark all race was interesting, with full cunno and bugger all vang one second is spent winding rudder suck to stop the nose dive and in an instant diving to the front of the wind bar winding the opposite direction and praying quietly.
The rides down wind were awesome some of the best I have had on a moth. I have never been scared on the moth. After a broken back, numerous broken ribs, amnesia and endless sprains after 100Kmh+ falls with water skiing I didn't think that the boat could hurt me, I was wrong.
On my way to the bottom mark I was hit by a gust and as I bore away the rudder let go and I was flung clean off the side of the boat and I was well and truly winded.
The race sore three capsizes in total but the wild rides made up for it.
The last lap was the windiest and I learned alot as I would usually pik out of these conditions, i'm glad I didn't.
Dave won the race, I came second with Phil 3rd after breaking his vang.
Luka pulled out with a push rod letting go and Donosan retired when his stay removed itself from the spreaders.
Bruce was happy with his latest set up and retired early not wanting to risk injury to his boat.
Many thanks to the McLeod Family for hosting an end of year BBQ at their new home.
Next week is our last race on Friday Anzac Day, In fancy dress. So come down for a laugh.
Grant
Once again we were all late to the start so Phil's call out "Lets go" was our official over the line. Dave as usual was off and away up wind stopping occasionally after a tack to see what we were all up to before shooting off again. He is the only guy that I know that would stand in a lions cage and wave a steak in front of its nose because he knows that he can get out of the cage quick enough) One day you'll trip Dave ;-)
Rounding the top mark all race was interesting, with full cunno and bugger all vang one second is spent winding rudder suck to stop the nose dive and in an instant diving to the front of the wind bar winding the opposite direction and praying quietly.
The rides down wind were awesome some of the best I have had on a moth. I have never been scared on the moth. After a broken back, numerous broken ribs, amnesia and endless sprains after 100Kmh+ falls with water skiing I didn't think that the boat could hurt me, I was wrong.
On my way to the bottom mark I was hit by a gust and as I bore away the rudder let go and I was flung clean off the side of the boat and I was well and truly winded.
The race sore three capsizes in total but the wild rides made up for it.
The last lap was the windiest and I learned alot as I would usually pik out of these conditions, i'm glad I didn't.
Dave won the race, I came second with Phil 3rd after breaking his vang.
Luka pulled out with a push rod letting go and Donosan retired when his stay removed itself from the spreaders.
Bruce was happy with his latest set up and retired early not wanting to risk injury to his boat.
Many thanks to the McLeod Family for hosting an end of year BBQ at their new home.
Next week is our last race on Friday Anzac Day, In fancy dress. So come down for a laugh.
Grant
Saturday, April 12, 2008
The end of the North Easterly winds
After a delayed start we got over the start line on a fleet scratch start.
I opted for the pin end start with two 16's and two skates staying in clear wind away from the rest of the fleet.
We started in an easterly breeze no more than 6-7knt's not quit enough to stay up.
Luka, Phil and Bruce were amid the fleet at the boat end with Dave coming down only to pick his tool box as he is in the process of moving house. Congrates Mate hope it brings years of happiness.
Luka and I both tacked onto port with Phil and Bruce staying on Starboard.
On Tacking onto starboard and Luka retired from the race with a damaged push rod linkage to a new highly experimental centreboard.
Phil by now was well ahead as he is proving to be the king of low riding. But a gust came through and I managed to foil to the top mark. I did not over take Phil but made alot of ground on him.
As I rounded the mark the breeze died off and we were back running square, once again Phil opening up a lead staying uncoupled I did not as trying to re-couple has put me in the piss alot.
At the bottom mark breeze returned and I caught up to Phil by the top Mark again with the breeze leaving us. The smart thing to do would have been to un-couple and try to stay with Phil but I tried to get onto the foils to make ground down wind with no luck the wind had died off so I retired from the race. No spits of the dummy, just laziness.
Well done to the Bert Newton of low riding (Phil) who just loves 0-5knt forecasts, and for good reason.
I am allot happier with the boat a few small tweaks sore me up and foiling in light wind that I usually would not foil in.
Thanks for reading,
Grant
I opted for the pin end start with two 16's and two skates staying in clear wind away from the rest of the fleet.
We started in an easterly breeze no more than 6-7knt's not quit enough to stay up.
Luka, Phil and Bruce were amid the fleet at the boat end with Dave coming down only to pick his tool box as he is in the process of moving house. Congrates Mate hope it brings years of happiness.
Luka and I both tacked onto port with Phil and Bruce staying on Starboard.
On Tacking onto starboard and Luka retired from the race with a damaged push rod linkage to a new highly experimental centreboard.
Phil by now was well ahead as he is proving to be the king of low riding. But a gust came through and I managed to foil to the top mark. I did not over take Phil but made alot of ground on him.
As I rounded the mark the breeze died off and we were back running square, once again Phil opening up a lead staying uncoupled I did not as trying to re-couple has put me in the piss alot.
At the bottom mark breeze returned and I caught up to Phil by the top Mark again with the breeze leaving us. The smart thing to do would have been to un-couple and try to stay with Phil but I tried to get onto the foils to make ground down wind with no luck the wind had died off so I retired from the race. No spits of the dummy, just laziness.
Well done to the Bert Newton of low riding (Phil) who just loves 0-5knt forecasts, and for good reason.
I am allot happier with the boat a few small tweaks sore me up and foiling in light wind that I usually would not foil in.
Thanks for reading,
Grant
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Club race
Most of my Thursday and Friday nights are spent on my knee's praying for 10+knt's for the Saturday racing, but as the winter months fast approaching we have been lucky.
Last Saturday looked doubtful but the easterly breeze came in, in the nick of time. Only 10knts but enough.
Dave took the win convincingly, he is extraordinarily fast. Good on him as the amount of effort he has put into his boat is reflected in his performance.
Donosan took second with me in third...
As Dave and Donosan went around the bottom mark the wrong way gave me first place, but being the good sportsman I thought of not worrying about it..................HA yeah right, WINNER.
Very shallow.
As usual my down wind turns are slowing me up allot, and as soon as I can establish the boys on site I will be looking for needed down time to spend gybing from the airport to the club.
Thanks for reading,
Grant
Last Saturday looked doubtful but the easterly breeze came in, in the nick of time. Only 10knts but enough.
Dave took the win convincingly, he is extraordinarily fast. Good on him as the amount of effort he has put into his boat is reflected in his performance.
Donosan took second with me in third...
As Dave and Donosan went around the bottom mark the wrong way gave me first place, but being the good sportsman I thought of not worrying about it..................HA yeah right, WINNER.
Very shallow.
As usual my down wind turns are slowing me up allot, and as soon as I can establish the boys on site I will be looking for needed down time to spend gybing from the airport to the club.
Thanks for reading,
Grant
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
The "Birmingham experience"
For those you who don't know me that well, I don't exactly walk like a "super model".
After the 10 years as a fitness instructor and water ski racing competitor has left me with arthritis in my right hip which was diagnosed eight years ago.
Over the last year the pain has increased and I thought it best to get an X-ray to assess how bad this has become.
You know it's bad when the radiologist personally escorts you back to the doctor for diagnosis.
The doctor told me that the arthritis was server and an immediate hip replacement was needed. The only problem is, the possibility of time off the water if not to retire from moth sailing as the traditional hip replacements will not allow the agility needed to sail these boats with the risk of dislocation.
The thought of having to give away sailing was tough.
Today, I had an appointment with Dr. Lawrence Kohan an orthopedic surgeon.
He told me that it was stuffed, there is no doubt about it.
Thanks to Simon Nelson I asked about the Birmingham Hip re-surfacing, and I CAN HAVE IT.
This is not a replacement, and I can go for a run (which I have not done in seven years) go for a ride, a ski and it will out last me.
This for me is great news.
People with arthritis know exactly what I mean. You can't sleep, you doze. watching your kids run around with other people because you can't takes the cake.
An important lesson I have learned, Always get a second opinion by a specialist.
All I can say is 2011 Aus worlds bring it on.
Once again, Thanks Simon N it's the best advise I have EVER heard.
Thanks for reading
Grant
After the 10 years as a fitness instructor and water ski racing competitor has left me with arthritis in my right hip which was diagnosed eight years ago.
Over the last year the pain has increased and I thought it best to get an X-ray to assess how bad this has become.
You know it's bad when the radiologist personally escorts you back to the doctor for diagnosis.
The doctor told me that the arthritis was server and an immediate hip replacement was needed. The only problem is, the possibility of time off the water if not to retire from moth sailing as the traditional hip replacements will not allow the agility needed to sail these boats with the risk of dislocation.
The thought of having to give away sailing was tough.
Today, I had an appointment with Dr. Lawrence Kohan an orthopedic surgeon.
He told me that it was stuffed, there is no doubt about it.
Thanks to Simon Nelson I asked about the Birmingham Hip re-surfacing, and I CAN HAVE IT.
This is not a replacement, and I can go for a run (which I have not done in seven years) go for a ride, a ski and it will out last me.
This for me is great news.
People with arthritis know exactly what I mean. You can't sleep, you doze. watching your kids run around with other people because you can't takes the cake.
An important lesson I have learned, Always get a second opinion by a specialist.
All I can say is 2011 Aus worlds bring it on.
Once again, Thanks Simon N it's the best advise I have EVER heard.
Thanks for reading
Grant
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