A Season is here

Bad planning I missed to Commodore's cup race, this is an all in pursuit race the is a good pot for a Merlin to win. But I made the first Monday series race. Just a shame that Andy E is off to Poole to campaign an osprey.

Monday
Got down early and preped the boat. Was a little worried about sailing, like I have forgotten it all. Well we set off and the wind god was kind, a nice run down the river to get started :+)

We started well and then sailed without event to the back of the fleet. The breeze started to dropped to nothing and at the end of the send circuit I diverted over to the committee boat to retire only to get a finish. ARRG REMEMBER cross the line Then retire ! I would have got a better result.

The wind dropped to nothing and we paddled home.

Thursday
Turned up it was rainy and gusty. Nobody sailed dinghies but I met Ian and Nigel, Ian has a Weyfairer called Squiffi and we was looking for some coaching/support for his first sail in his boat for many years.
We had a beer and agreed to meet on Saturday.

Friday
YoBs was good. Too much wind for sailing and the club lifting machine had spillt its guts and hydraulic oil on the slipway. The comprimise was to find a clean it of water and practice capsizing.
I replaced the bungy on the righting lines of a couple of Fevas (4 more to do).

Saturday
9 AM start ! OK I was a bit late I met Ian and Nigel to the club and helped rig the boat Squiffi. Then we went down the slip and Ian helmed the boat out. With only a little coaching the were both sailing well.
They tacked back up the river and home. Ian said he was not confident enough to try it on his own.
I kind of asked then to finish early so I could get back and have lunch then race in the afternoon. This was regretable as they were both having such a good time.

After lunch I helped Tom R rig his Merlin White Whale and we made the start on time. We had a few practice tack and jibes.
We sailed well but the rudder came off twice causing us to slow down to RS600 speed. Nick was capsizing just to be sporting I think. On the 3rd rudder event the lower pintel became bent. Game over tow in :+(
On the whole Tom loved the boat speed. We planed on 3 sail reaches and next time we will fit the circlip to the pintle that holds the rudder on, that was lying in the boat, when we set off. We didn't capsize and the only major mistake was me not putting the centre board down so we couldn't overtake Galiard.
Tom has the same spinnaker pole issues that I have so I don't feel so bad now. :+)

I'm now knackered !

Roll on Monday !