Monday - finally, after 18 months of planning and high expectation, it was time to sail the 18. So where was that perfect 10-12 knot NorEaster? well, after many weeks of perfect conditions for the others who were training, the weather decided to welcome us to Double Bay in style - 28 degree heatwave and a thumping westerly. For those who don't know, you really don't want a westerly!
I arrived to be greeted by the ever helpful Dan, bowman on ActiveAir and all round good guy. His attitude seems to sum up what I have found so far. Everybody is extremely helpful to the newbie in the class. I wonder if it is a sense of self preservation - getting them up to speed fast helps reduce the chances of them being wildly out of control on the start line and wiping out the fleet!
I was shortly joined by Scott, our Aussie bowman and Jamie, another Pom, who is on sheet. Introductions made and all gung ho, we begin to rig. The most "helpful" comment from Dan came from using his experience to pronounce "Big Rig Day"! Now, I don't know a lot about this game yet but it seemed a punchy call to me. However, not wanting to appear the wimp on day one, we grabbed the No1 mast and begin laying it out. Fortunately, we hadn't got very far before others in the park showed us just how breezy it was, white caps on the harbour to be followed by reports of 25 knots. A quick re thing saw the No2 lying on the grass and the No1 mast back where it belonged, on the trailer.
We were first rigged but were still a bit unsure of the conditions. The wind was swirling around Double Bay, shifting 180 degrees with little warning and with the forecast calling for the wind to soften, the decision was made to wait an hour or so. Mat and the Active Air boys were first on the water and seemed to get away without too much of an issue. The sail out of the bay looked a bit flukey, but it was sailable so it was time to go. The launch went well, no sudden shift as we carried the boat into the water but it began to swing through 180 degrees once we were trying to get the rudder on. Finally, it was time to go and I think we actually got away more elegantly that ActiveAir. Confidence was high!
The sail out to the line of breeze was "educational" - regular 90 degree shifts and anywhere from 2 to 20 knots! At least it gave us practice in running from side to side and the chance to test the non slip. It's good!
Once past the first headland, we were into the breeze proper. It all felt pretty full on yet in other ways, very manageable. But, as quick as you could say "we're settled" and it was time to tack. Getting the timing wasn't what I would call easy and our first couple of tacks were messy but we were still upright. Then the inevitable happened. At the time, it was a case of WTF happened but on reflection, we tacked, the wind lulled and then came back freeing a lot. From having a wing in the water we suddenly had full pressure on and there was only one way to go.........
To my surprise, 18's are easier to handle capsized than I expected . Yes, there was a problem of the mast being upwind and therefor a flip was the only solution but we got her up second time. However, the tiller extension had managed to get through the shrouds and wrapped around the jib sheet and as the load came on, there was a crack. Half an extension is not a lot of good and that was our day done.
The sail in was uneventful but fast only to find, on arrival, that the board wouldn't come out. Boat on its side, three people and 5 minutes later, we were able to get the whole thing ashore. I have to admit to being rather deflated. It was as if somebody had taken my Christmas presents. Months of build up and expectation ripped up in a moment! The mood changed when the others got back. The reports were of the most difficult sail they had experienced in recent months. ActiveAir had swum 5 times and although I don't believe that Noakes Youth swam, there was general agreement that it wasn't a day for a new team.
At least we tried! It would have been too easy to stay ashore and we did learn something, not least we are behind the curve and need to play catch up. Conditions permitting, it will be training on Saturday and Sunday next weekend ahead of the season beginning the following weekend.
I arrived to be greeted by the ever helpful Dan, bowman on ActiveAir and all round good guy. His attitude seems to sum up what I have found so far. Everybody is extremely helpful to the newbie in the class. I wonder if it is a sense of self preservation - getting them up to speed fast helps reduce the chances of them being wildly out of control on the start line and wiping out the fleet!
I was shortly joined by Scott, our Aussie bowman and Jamie, another Pom, who is on sheet. Introductions made and all gung ho, we begin to rig. The most "helpful" comment from Dan came from using his experience to pronounce "Big Rig Day"! Now, I don't know a lot about this game yet but it seemed a punchy call to me. However, not wanting to appear the wimp on day one, we grabbed the No1 mast and begin laying it out. Fortunately, we hadn't got very far before others in the park showed us just how breezy it was, white caps on the harbour to be followed by reports of 25 knots. A quick re thing saw the No2 lying on the grass and the No1 mast back where it belonged, on the trailer.
We were first rigged but were still a bit unsure of the conditions. The wind was swirling around Double Bay, shifting 180 degrees with little warning and with the forecast calling for the wind to soften, the decision was made to wait an hour or so. Mat and the Active Air boys were first on the water and seemed to get away without too much of an issue. The sail out of the bay looked a bit flukey, but it was sailable so it was time to go. The launch went well, no sudden shift as we carried the boat into the water but it began to swing through 180 degrees once we were trying to get the rudder on. Finally, it was time to go and I think we actually got away more elegantly that ActiveAir. Confidence was high!
The sail out to the line of breeze was "educational" - regular 90 degree shifts and anywhere from 2 to 20 knots! At least it gave us practice in running from side to side and the chance to test the non slip. It's good!
Once past the first headland, we were into the breeze proper. It all felt pretty full on yet in other ways, very manageable. But, as quick as you could say "we're settled" and it was time to tack. Getting the timing wasn't what I would call easy and our first couple of tacks were messy but we were still upright. Then the inevitable happened. At the time, it was a case of WTF happened but on reflection, we tacked, the wind lulled and then came back freeing a lot. From having a wing in the water we suddenly had full pressure on and there was only one way to go.........
To my surprise, 18's are easier to handle capsized than I expected . Yes, there was a problem of the mast being upwind and therefor a flip was the only solution but we got her up second time. However, the tiller extension had managed to get through the shrouds and wrapped around the jib sheet and as the load came on, there was a crack. Half an extension is not a lot of good and that was our day done.
The sail in was uneventful but fast only to find, on arrival, that the board wouldn't come out. Boat on its side, three people and 5 minutes later, we were able to get the whole thing ashore. I have to admit to being rather deflated. It was as if somebody had taken my Christmas presents. Months of build up and expectation ripped up in a moment! The mood changed when the others got back. The reports were of the most difficult sail they had experienced in recent months. ActiveAir had swum 5 times and although I don't believe that Noakes Youth swam, there was general agreement that it wasn't a day for a new team.
At least we tried! It would have been too easy to stay ashore and we did learn something, not least we are behind the curve and need to play catch up. Conditions permitting, it will be training on Saturday and Sunday next weekend ahead of the season beginning the following weekend.
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