That's Admiral Sam and I with the roughest sea behind us. 
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Racing Cancelled
Winter series race 2 is cancelled. Thank God. It's blowing a hooley again. We went out to Portland Bill to see the raw power of the gale.
That's Admiral Sam and I with the roughest sea behind us.
That's Admiral Sam and I with the roughest sea behind us. 
Tuesday, 17 November 2009
Virtual TJV
I've been clawing my way up the rankings trying to recover from the mistake of reaching off south last week. you can almost smell the coffee in Costa Rica.....
Monday, 16 November 2009
Weekend Storm
That's the view on the screen at WSC on saturday when Sam and I went to check Farr Out on her mooring. The gusts actually maxed at 72 odd soon after. She was leaning over heavily against the boat next to her but didn't seem to be in trouble not that we could have done a right lot about it in that breeze.
It's blowing again today (monday) but we did have a weather window for race 1 of the Winter Series. A second for us, we couldn't seem to shake Paul Barford who had that little boat flying. Good to get out but we needed another couple of people on the rail.
Virtual TJV - Lying in the 10,000s at the moment. I've recovered a bit from where I was but to be honest it's going to be hard to win. Having a little sub-race with another British boat "GBR Toe in the Water" which is some more fun.
Thursday, 12 November 2009
So close
So close to winning the series....Did the broach on race 4 lose it for us? What would have happened if race 5 hadn't been cancelled? Should we have protested race 3? If race 5 wasn't cancelled would we have been at the club and have protested race 3?
Anyway, well done to Paul and his crew. There's the winter series starting on sunday (although there's a big blow predicted for the weekend).
After stating after the Virtual Vendee Globe that I wouldn't do another virtual yacht race, I'm steering FarrOutGBR814WeySC in the virtual Transat Jacques Vabre. Doing alright at the moment (around 2,500 / 85,000) and am hopefully going the right way.
Anyway, well done to Paul and his crew. There's the winter series starting on sunday (although there's a big blow predicted for the weekend).
After stating after the Virtual Vendee Globe that I wouldn't do another virtual yacht race, I'm steering FarrOutGBR814WeySC in the virtual Transat Jacques Vabre. Doing alright at the moment (around 2,500 / 85,000) and am hopefully going the right way.
Monday, 9 November 2009
End of Autumn Series
We did our best to win the series but it was not to be. Paul Barford and his Achilles 24 managed to win the PY autumn series at Weymouth Sailing Club. We haven't got the official results yet but I feel confident that we were second.
Yesterday's race was delayed to a 1335 start due to rememberance day and we started in a cold and brisk northerly wind, gusting to 30 knots with about 24 constant but as always on the northerlies in our bay not very stable. The on-off wind saw Darren doing a lot of work on the mainsheet but keeping us flat and fast at 6.1-6.3 knots upwind under No. 4 headsail and one reef.
The job was one of maintaining a lead so we were going downhill under white sail mostly with a spi hoist only on the last lap. I had to agree that the gusty conditions could easily spin us out and while we were still pulling out our lead and people behind weren't hoisting then that was the right thing to do. On the other hand we had 6 guys on board who all know what they're doing and 25-30 knots of breeze, to me that's a recipe for the most fun you can have in a Laser 28!
When we were all moored up, Paul Barford entertained us by sailing onto his mooring, aborting on go one and going around again only to get a reefing line caught on a pile on the second go thereby pulling his boom off and ripping his mainsail:
Yesterday's race was delayed to a 1335 start due to rememberance day and we started in a cold and brisk northerly wind, gusting to 30 knots with about 24 constant but as always on the northerlies in our bay not very stable. The on-off wind saw Darren doing a lot of work on the mainsheet but keeping us flat and fast at 6.1-6.3 knots upwind under No. 4 headsail and one reef.
The job was one of maintaining a lead so we were going downhill under white sail mostly with a spi hoist only on the last lap. I had to agree that the gusty conditions could easily spin us out and while we were still pulling out our lead and people behind weren't hoisting then that was the right thing to do. On the other hand we had 6 guys on board who all know what they're doing and 25-30 knots of breeze, to me that's a recipe for the most fun you can have in a Laser 28!
When we were all moored up, Paul Barford entertained us by sailing onto his mooring, aborting on go one and going around again only to get a reefing line caught on a pile on the second go thereby pulling his boom off and ripping his mainsail:
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Race 5 cancelled.
It's blowing hard here this morning. God did this because our weddings banns are being read in church today and normally I wouldn't be in attendance 'caus I'm sailing.
Some nice gusts, about 49 knots I think. I had a look at the webcam at Overcombe beach and there's some wicked surf. All good windsurfing weather I think, but out of control on a Laser 28 and dangerous for our 1986 rig!
Some nice gusts, about 49 knots I think. I had a look at the webcam at Overcombe beach and there's some wicked surf. All good windsurfing weather I think, but out of control on a Laser 28 and dangerous for our 1986 rig!
Monday, 26 October 2009
Sunday, 25 October 2009
WSC PY Autumn 4. WooooHooooo!
What more can you ask for? Sunshine, flat sea in the bay and 25-30 knots of breeze; just the stuff. Top boat speed of 10.3 knots today, really enjoyable. We spectacularly wiped out on the first gybe which the commitee boat got on camera so hopefully I can post some pictures soon.
What with another issue of getting the spi halyard caught on a mainsail batten, we only managed a third. The Achilles 24 of Paul Barford and Achilles 9m of Steve Dadd both like a bit of wind and sailed to a corrected finish in front of us although we were first over the water.
Really enjoyed the sail though, Farr Out positively gurgles and lifts her bow out of the water when you've got enough wind behind her. Must remember to keep the weight to a minimum on the bow during the gybe in heavy weather - you got to do it on your own Dave!
Check back for the cool broach photos.
What with another issue of getting the spi halyard caught on a mainsail batten, we only managed a third. The Achilles 24 of Paul Barford and Achilles 9m of Steve Dadd both like a bit of wind and sailed to a corrected finish in front of us although we were first over the water.
Really enjoyed the sail though, Farr Out positively gurgles and lifts her bow out of the water when you've got enough wind behind her. Must remember to keep the weight to a minimum on the bow during the gybe in heavy weather - you got to do it on your own Dave!
Check back for the cool broach photos.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Autumn 3 - struggle to finish
Got a first on this sunday morning race. I think we were the only ones to finish, which we did in about 1hr 10mins but the race was taken from the first time through the finish line (about 33 mins for us) and so the other boats in class got a finish as well.
Fair I suppose, but we played the conditions of no wind at all very well searching out bits of pressure and even used the incense sticks.
Fair I suppose, but we played the conditions of no wind at all very well searching out bits of pressure and even used the incense sticks.
Monday, 12 October 2009
Autumn 2 - They come in threes....
In the twenty knot gust conditions we were flying, boat speed of 9 knots at one point. Luckily the third thing to break was the pole downhaul block shackle and Dave on the bow sorted this by keeping his foot on it while we were doing around 8 knots, he then fixed it in enough time for the gybe.
A second place to Sole Bay on corrected, but we were out front all the way round and maybe lost a bit of time on a trapped spi halyard problem, resolved by Rich Veale by hoisting on gen 2.
All in all a good sail and great to see that we still have the boat up to speed even with me driving!
Friday, 9 October 2009
Great Start
Iain Jones was race officer last sunday and took video of our start.Cheers Iain.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXBVdkllX_8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXBVdkllX_8
Monday, 5 October 2009
WSC Autumn Series - Race 1
I managed to prise the tiller from Stuart's hands for the first race of the autumn series, or to be more correct Stephen let me do it because by rights it should have been his turn. I really liked getting back on the helm but made sure to learn from Stuart's techniques for getting the boat going fast - I think I read somewhere about Laser 28s "first go fast then point".
Still sailing in PY class which means we're the fastest boat in class, it makes a change from being the slowest boat in the IRC class. This meant that we were first over the water by a pretty good margin and eventually coming third on handicap to boats behind. Ho hum, we had a patch of very light air that maybe they didn't get. We sailed a good race with moments of brilliance, for me the best bit was an inside overlap leeward mark rounding with a windward spinnaker drop which took out Foxed Again and Snow Goose (even though they weren't in the same class!). Great crew work from everyone.
Looking forward to next week.....
Still sailing in PY class which means we're the fastest boat in class, it makes a change from being the slowest boat in the IRC class. This meant that we were first over the water by a pretty good margin and eventually coming third on handicap to boats behind. Ho hum, we had a patch of very light air that maybe they didn't get. We sailed a good race with moments of brilliance, for me the best bit was an inside overlap leeward mark rounding with a windward spinnaker drop which took out Foxed Again and Snow Goose (even though they weren't in the same class!). Great crew work from everyone.
Looking forward to next week.....
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Monday, 28 September 2009
JOG Cherbourg 25th Sept 09 - Sunday series 4/4
An action packed weekend this weekend with the finale of the sunday series for Farr Out with a serious depletion in crew numbers due to Bob, Dave and myself all going offshore with Rattler for the final JOG race of the season Cowes-Cherbourg.
When I phoned Stuart on sunday evening, the boys seemed to have had a pretty good race with Paul from Stuart's work pulled in as a reinforcement for him and Steve, but only three up. A spinnaker wrap cost them the series with Manana winning the last race by 36 seconds corrected. Well done to them and I look forward to getting back into it for the autumn series starting next week.
On Rattler we had an excellent race, starting in class 5 instead of class 4 although this was changed in the results. The initial beat down the solent had us up at the front by the needles and the kite hoist that would stay up all the way to the finish. We had Whistler and Xara with us and we were pleased to see Xara's masthead tricolour change from white to green as we slid past.
There were a lot of ships to deal with in the northern shipping lane and we gybed in the middle to keep in favourable tide and scooted on down towards Cap Levy keeping east expecting the breeze to die and to ride the tide down into Cherbourg. We lost a lot of ground just outside the Grand Rade but all in all a cracking race. Crew pictured at the Jog drinks reception at the Yacht Club de Cherbourg:
I had a chat with the guys from the Laser 28 Moondog they'd done very well double handed. Let's get Farr Out doing some offshore racing next year.....
When I phoned Stuart on sunday evening, the boys seemed to have had a pretty good race with Paul from Stuart's work pulled in as a reinforcement for him and Steve, but only three up. A spinnaker wrap cost them the series with Manana winning the last race by 36 seconds corrected. Well done to them and I look forward to getting back into it for the autumn series starting next week.
On Rattler we had an excellent race, starting in class 5 instead of class 4 although this was changed in the results. The initial beat down the solent had us up at the front by the needles and the kite hoist that would stay up all the way to the finish. We had Whistler and Xara with us and we were pleased to see Xara's masthead tricolour change from white to green as we slid past.
There were a lot of ships to deal with in the northern shipping lane and we gybed in the middle to keep in favourable tide and scooted on down towards Cap Levy keeping east expecting the breeze to die and to ride the tide down into Cherbourg. We lost a lot of ground just outside the Grand Rade but all in all a cracking race. Crew pictured at the Jog drinks reception at the Yacht Club de Cherbourg:
I had a chat with the guys from the Laser 28 Moondog they'd done very well double handed. Let's get Farr Out doing some offshore racing next year.....
Monday, 21 September 2009
Patchy wind on sunday
I've missed the first two sunday series races. The rest of the guys got a 2nd and then a 1st. So I was keen to get back on the boat and enjoy some of these winning ways.
So for the third race of the series, I climb on the boat to sit in the middle and do "tactics".....ho,ho,ho. We drove into so many holes and went the wrong way almost every time so that we were last! Perhaps it's just an elaborate plan to get back the helm.
So for the third race of the series, I climb on the boat to sit in the middle and do "tactics".....ho,ho,ho. We drove into so many holes and went the wrong way almost every time so that we were last! Perhaps it's just an elaborate plan to get back the helm.
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