Sunday 31 December, 2006 - Australian Championships: Heats 4 and 5

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Saturday 30 December, 2006 - Australian Championships: Heats 1, 2 and 3

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Friday 29 December, 2006 - Australian Moth Championships: Invitation Race

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Thursday 28 December, 2006 - Scary Stuff

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Wednesday 27 December, 2006 - We Made It!

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Monday 25 December, 2006 - Back in town

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Wednesday 20 December, 2006 - Back in town

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Tuesday 12 December, 2006 - If only...

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Sunday 10 December, 2006 - Virtual Foiling

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VSK Australia have just released their 'Foiler Moth' edition for Virtual Skipper 4 game. As if it wasn't enough with all the Internet Mothies around the world telling everyone how we can make our boats faster, now we will have Virtual Foilers telling us how to sail the boats faster as well! Nevertheless, I am sure most people will be able to beat me at this game because I suck at computer games.

Friday 8 December, 2006 - Passing Time

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Gin and I drove over to meet Mum, Dad and Susan (sister) for mum's birthday lunch today. Dropped into also see my only living grandparent, who is quite unwell at the moment. He really should be in a hospital under 24 hour care, but prefers to pass his time in the comfort and freedom of his own home in Essendon. We try to drop in and see him as often as possible, but it is difficult living on the other side of the city.

Doesn't look like I will be sailing the new boat this weekend as it hasn't arrived and Amac is still in China. So instead I have volunteered myself doing foredeck work on a friends new Beneteau 34.7 off Sandringham.

Monday 4 December, 2006 - Tardy!

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Sorry for my tardiness over the last week, but I took a quick trip to China (1 hour in car, then 8.5 hours by plane, then 2 hours by car) to help out with my boat and get all the bits and pieces sorted for the first ten production boats that McConaghy's are making for the first ten paying customers. Most of the equipment (ie sails, mast, boom, rigging, rope, fittings, nuts and bolts) are now ready to be fitted to the boats, all we need is the boats! McConaghy started laying up the first hull (for James) yesterday, and then they should be laying up a hull every 2-3 days from then on. The first main foil came out of the steel mould on Thursday as well and it was a massive improvement on the foils that we have been testing from the fiberglass foils recently. Nothing had changed since I was here only four week weeks ago now, apart from the weather as I actually saw the sun for a few days and I also put on a jacket a few times. The locals would make you think they are in Siberia though with the amount of clothes that some of them are wearing on a cold (20 degrees celsius) day! I nearly got killed a few times again taking local transport. It is fun tho!

So I got back home after midnight on Saturday and then had to get up at 5am to watch Gin do her triathlon at Sandringham. She finished a very credibile 10th in her division. By the time we got back home, I was absolutely buggered and slept for another 2 hours and then got up again to drive 1.5 hours to Geelong to take Aaron and Kurt (visitor from the USA) for a sail on Amac's Bladerider. Even thought it was flat water, it was far from good learning conditions as it was gusting from 5 to 20 knots, not to mention a number of moored boats in the area just off the beach.

So I have just heard that my boat is being sent tomorrow and will hopefully be on the water this weekend. Just need to make a few bits and pieces, but not as much as work needed compared to Amac's last boat.

Sunday 26 November , 2006 - A bit of a Test

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Mic came down to Black Rock on Saturday so he went out for an hour or so until he came in wondering why the boat kept launching up in the air downwind and over the waves, I then explained the tiller adjust and so he went back out and found it a lot easier to sail downwind of course. So I went out shortly after and did the first club race of the day against the OK's and Contenders (my first ever race in the Bladerider). With a building 15 to 22 knot Southerly and 1-1.5m waves I hammered them on the first work and then had to slow the boat downwind as it accelerated so easily. If didn't, I would run the risk of launching the boat up and over a wave in such short wave conditions. The next lap was much the same, but had a few swims downwind as it was getting quite strong by then and I was sooo out of practice. However by the time I had rounded the bottom mark, I had nearly lapped everyone from my start (even with such a typical long Black Rock course) and crusied on in after less than 30 mins of racing. Happy to report that even in such wild conditions, there was no incidents or breakages on the boat on the day. Mic and I both suffered some minor battle scars after some big stacks, but nothing that won't heal. Once I got back in, I had to go and rescue James on Amac's Prowler who was now struggling to even get the boat upright in the rather challenging conditions. So the rescue boat hammered the big waves to take me out to him, and I jumped straight in before the boat even stopped as I was quite eager to get back in to shore for a hot shower before the rest of the fleet got in After a few quick fixes on the vang and downhaul, I brought the old girl back in to shore and got my hot and uncrowded shower.

Wednesday 22 November , 2006 - 21.1 knots (10 second average)

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Sam and I went out on the water/air again today in a building sea breeze of around 15 knots for about 2.5 hours. Clocked a top speed of of 22.4 knots with a 10 second average of 21.1 knots. It was dead flat water so was easy to build up and hold speed (hence the reasonable high 10 sec average in such moderate conditions). Check out the new video of Sam in action today. download...

Monday 20 November , 2006 - Smokin'

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We launched Amac's new boat (prototype No. 3) on Friday afternoon last week with some cold beer poured over the hull oon the slipway at Black Rock Yacht Club (where else?). I then took the boat out on Saturday before club racing started and went balistic clocking 18.3 knots top speed in about 8-9 knots of wind, averaging about 5 knots (so the race committee told me). Amac was waiting on a rescue boat to swap so he could start the race and I had the great job of watching everyone race past at the top mark. Luckily (for me), the wind dropped off to bugger all, but picked up again within an hour or so, and so Amac was off blasting the race course again.

The next day I went down to Blairgowrie with the boat and super coach Lex Bertrand to meet Sam and Zac and go for a burn. As soon as we arrived the wind picked up to a constant 10-12 knots (gusting up to 14 on Lex's wind meter), but that didn't stop Zac and myself clocking the same top speed of the day at 22.8 knots (10 second average of 18.9 knots). This was the first time that Zac had been over 20 knots - welcome to the club! It is almost frightening how easy and fast this things gets foiling, not to mention top end speed in such low winds.

Thursday 16 November , 2006 - Half Asleep...

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Not really all there today as my body still thinks it is in Europe, but I managed to finish off Amac's boat as so we can go sailing tomorrow. Looks fantastic too! All clear carbon finish. We have also solved most of the issues we had with the first boat, and the remainder should be resolved by the time we get to my boat. So as we were working on the boat, I heard something land heavily in Amac's pool. Bloody Beki (my dog) was chasing birds in the backyard, wasn't looking where she was going and fell straight into the pool and was clawing at the side of the pool to get out. But the ledge was too high and she went under a couple of times as she fell back until I pulled her out completely saturated. Silly girl! She was fine after a roll around in the dirt to dry off.

Wednesday 15 November , 2006 - Back in town

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Got back to Melbourne around 11pm last night, but didn't get to sleep until 3:30am and then woke up at 5am and got out of bed around 6am. Bloody jet lag! Spent the day chasing up fittings and parts for the new boats to be built for xmas. Amac got his new and looks bloody unreal in all clear carbon, but mine is still in China. Apparantly I am supposed to go over there sometime next week to help finish it off, but I am hardly in the mood for flying at the moment. I might change my mind by the weekend though.

Sunday 12 November , 2006 - ISAF Conference Ends In Debate

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Today marked the closure of the 2006 ISAF Annual Conference, but it is going to open up some very interesting debates over the next twelve months, not to mention major decisions being made by the ISAF Council in the next annual conference in November 2007. At this meeting, the ISAF council will need to decide on what the naming of the events will be for the 2012 Games. This decision will be critical for our campaign, as it will determine whether our 8m Bladerider Moth will be able to slot into an Event at the 2012 London Olympic Games or not.

The biggest problem for anyone campaigning a new boat into the Olympics will be convincing the ISAF Council that one of their long serving classes (the Star is 100 years old, the 470 is 45 years old and the Finn has been in the Olympics since 1956) or one of their modern high performance boats (ie the 49er or Tornado) has to make way for a new class. Personally I have nothing against any of these classes, but there obviously just is not room for all classes, so a decision will have to be made by the Council regarding which class would be the best for the Olympics, not which class the NMA's or Council would like to keep in there.

However to make matters worse for any class campaigning for an Olympic spot, ISAF President Goran Petersson announced a bomb-shell during his opening speech to the ISAF Council that there will definately be a reduction from 11 events down to 10 and a reduction from 400 competitors down to 380. So with Julian Bethwaite lobbying hard with his 29erXX, and us pushing the Bladerider Moth, this means three existing classes would have to go! Word going around is that the 29erXX looks likely to replace either the women's 470 or Yngling. Who know's which Event we could fit into, but it would seem unlikely that the Finn, Laser or Laser Radial has any chance of being moved on into a new life. However, the ISAF Executive had recommended to the Events Committee that they remove the regulation that stipulates which ISAF International Classes are specifically approved to compete in the Olympics. This recommendation was deferred back to the Executive for further discussion as by doing so would have major consequences on the Regional Games.

Goran also announced that the IOC strongly recommended that ISAF choose classes that reflect 'elite and exciting' sailing, 'but must also have a high participation of countries'. (NB - During the conference I heard through a third party that the IOC President, Jacques Rogge, somehow received a copy of the Olympic Bladerider Moth DVD that I presented to ISAF at the Berlin conference and commented back to ISAF that 'this is the type of thing we would like to see in the Olympics'.)

Some other interesting facts to come out of the ISAF President's opening speach to the ISAF Council:

• In the 2004 Olympics, the IOC sold 130 hours of Athletics TV rights, but only sold 6 hours for sailing.
• Sailing and Equestrian were the two most expensive sports at the 2004 Games.
• The number of Nations participating in the Olympics has been reducing every year since 1996 by 8 or more.
• ISAF has the lowest National membership of any sport in the Olympics.
• Softball and Baseball were both removed from the 2008 Games and yet they had higher National memberships than sailing, and probably cost less and got more TV coverage as well!
• There are over 30 other sports that do not have Olympic status and yet each of them has a higher National membership than sailing.

What does all this mean to sailing in the Olympics? We'll to put it simply - the 2012 Games will be the biggest shake up of Olympic classes and events probably since past ISAF President Paul Henderson, announced in 1992 that 'the 49er is in and the ISAF Council had to choose which class was removed'. The Star was the victim, however in four years time, ISAF had convinced IOC that there was room to add it back in, making the infamous 11th event.

In addition, the ISAF Executive announced a new 'Extreme Sailing' commission to report directly to the ISAF Executive. Therefore I could see representitives coming from events like speed-windsurfing, speed-sailing, HP skiffs, foilers, kitesurfing, wave-sailing, single-handed multihulls, single-handed monohulls, Volvo 70's and ORMA 60's. This would be one committee that I would love to be a member of! You can just imagine some of the talks around that table...

Anyway, regardless of any of the International class and NMA politics that will go on over the next 12 months, we are going to concentrate on selling as many Bladeriders as possible into our target market countries, in order to receive International status by November 2007. In doing so, we will be eligible to run our own World and Continential Championships by 2008 alongside and inconjunction with any Moth regattas being conducted by the International Moth Class Association. However I can now see that as another battle in itself.

Saturday 11 November , 2006 - Bladerider Grand Prix

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So as a result of this trip to Helsinki, it looks like we will have at least another 20 boats into Scandinavia and probably another 10 into the USA after doing some demos over there in April next year. Firstly we have been invited to the Oslo Race Week to compete in close inshore racing with about 6-10 boats alongside some other big classes. We have also spoken at length with the Finnish 49er Grand Prix guys and they sound very keen to start up a televised Grand Prix for the Bladerider with minimum 10 boats. That means I will have to come back to Finland in late May next year, train them all up on the boats and help start the series in August with some new and exciting courses we have planned. Each week their local hot shot sailors (and there are a lot of them) would race against each other but they would invite some of our Bladerider team sailors around the World to come over and compete against them. All we need is a major sponsor, but I don't think this will be too hard to get considering they have Audi as a title sponsor for the 49er's and have been doing this for 10 years! Stay tuned for more...

Friday 10 November , 2006 - What is not a Moth?

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Over the last few months, I have noted angst from IMCA members that think that the Bladerider is not a Moth? To put it simply, so long as the Bladerider customers race with their 'supplied' 8m moth sails, they are Moths! If KA really wanted to kill the Moth class, Amac would have designed the Bladerider hull or wings longer so it won't measure as a Moth. But he didn't, and that is because Amac has one of the longest spanning Moth sailing careers (over 25 years) and is one of the most loyal Moth sailors in the World. For the record, Amac hasn't even thought about designing a 9m sail (so please stop asking me about this for now) as he is absolutely flat out trying to get the factory sorted as so they can build a stack of boats ASAP.

'IF' KA does get time in the next 12 months to design, build and test the 9m sail, they would only be sold to those 'mothies' that just want to go out and have fun (not race) in sub 10 knots. We are all over powered in 12-14 knots anyway, so why would any current sub-80kg Mothie race with more sail area, and with a sail that has more drag?

KA also has the same idea in mass producing and selling a 7m (junior) sail to help get younger kids up and foiling on either their home built, or production built Moth. There is nothing stopping anyone from using a 7m sail now in Moth races anyway, as I know a few female Mothies in the past that have used them and no one has complained.

I get asked the question all the time at boat shows about what is the ideal weight range for a foiler Moth, and only by me talking to them, most +80kg seemed guys believe that they won't be competitive, so don't even consider the boats. I always say that anyone up to 100kg can sail the boat, but you need more wind to fly the heavier you are, and it is only then they give it a go and realise it is possible. However the reality is that not all will be sold into the class as they know they will not be competitive in light airs.

Personally I do not see how offering an 'optional and additional' 7m or 9m sail could possibly have any negative effect on IMCA as it will only get more modern Moth hulls/rigs/foils out there to IMCA members through a new wave of second hand boats, giving them a extremely good and affordable platform to develop from, not to mention it broadens the weight range, attracting heavier and lighter sailors from other 'slower' classes.

In addition, as more foiler Moths are sold each year (from all builders), the weight range will become more and more specific (and probably lighter as well), therefore creating a barrier to entry for new comers, especially +75kg guys (which just happens to be average weight of sailors from developed countries). This is a problem for the Moth class as it will always have a limit on growth. By the way, before foils were introduced on Moths, I know for a fact that the IMCA membership was declining so rapidly that it would no longer be an International class today (this was my job as a previous secretary for IMCA to convince ISAF otherwise). Nowadays the class is picking back up, and I am personally trying to help revive IMCA of USA to get another IMCA country on board, not to mention another continent that will help relieve some new pressure from ISAF to maintain the Moth International Class status.

It is also no big secret now that the Bladerider will be aiming for it's own International status (with the 8m sail) by November 2007 in order for it to be considered for Olympic status in November 2008. The 8m sail has many advantages including a lower target weight range as so it can be a true open class (ie females) and it has been thoroughly tested and proven over the last 12 months. So even 'IF' the Bladerider does get international status next year, I see no reason why the 8m International Bladerider cannot race in International Moth regattas, just like the Hobie Tiger races in the F18 regattas. However getting Olympic status in November 2008 is a completely different ball-game and I think I will have to save that one for a future article in Seahorse Magazine. There is a lot that has been said and done here in Helsinki and I will need to be a bit more careful with my words, rather than just blurting out 2000 words in my blog.

So hopefully this has clarified everything to everyone and anyone, and hope IMCA members see that that this only enhance the Moth class, just like the different rig sizes has helped the Laser growth over the last 20 years. However if you think otherwise, please let me know on email as the last thing I want to do is get on the wrong side of IMCA members (again). Otherwise can someone please start a thread on the IMCA of Australia forum and let me know to have a look.

BTW - If you remember back 3 years ago, I had argued for nearly 12 months about the pro's of foiling for the Moth class and met heavy resistance from a majority of IMCA members. However nearly all had come around once they had tried the boats, but some just took a bit longer than others. So hopefully this is just history repeating itself! ;-)

Thursday 9 November , 2006 - ISAF lobbying

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Yesterday was the ISAF Events Committee meeting. We had an informal arrangement with the chairman to do a presentation to the committee on the Bladerider, but due to time constraints, we were unable to do so. However we had arranged to do our own presentation in a private function room of the Hotel immediately after, so we rushed over and had over 50 people in attendance to have a look at the new DVD we put together and a presentation from our new lobbying expert, Simon Nelson. All went very well and have a number of leads from new IMCA countries including Finland, Norway, USA, Brazil and Hungary. One of which could potentially include a televised Grand Prix event and a special invitation to the Annual Oslo Regatta in early May. In addition, I have also had a number of chats with Crown Prince Fredrick of Denmark (who married one of our Australian girls a few years back) and he sounds quite keen to have a go on a Bladerider sometime mid next year as well. He is right height and weight, so hopefully he gets hooked like everyone else, and has to buy one!

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Looks like the members of the Modern Moth Class Association in the USA want to maintain their wide skiff with kites. Therefore I have just emailed all the foiler Moth contacts I have in the USA and put them in touch with each other in an effort to have an association setup in the 6 months, ready for the Garda Worlds. If anyone from the USA is interested in helping or getting into a boat, please speak to the North American contacts on the IMCA membership page (scroll down to bottom) or the IMCA President.

Wednesday 8 November , 2006 - Shoulder rubbing with greatness

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Last night was the Rolex ISAF Sailor of the Year Awards. With about 400 in attendance, it was a great night of shoulder rubbing with some of the greats of 2005/6, not to mention royalty from Greece and Denmark. Before the awards began, I had a good chat to Mike Sanderson (who was the eventual winner for the male award) and his wife Emma, as she seems keen to get a foiler and get back on the water, or in this case off the water. Mike, Emma and Seb Josse (also a nominee for the award) will all be in Sydney doing the Sydney to Hobart just before Xmas, so it will be the perfect opportunity to get them familiar with the Bladerider. Seb already has one on order, but is keen to get out as soon as possible. I was hoping that we would be invited to the Sydney International Regatta at the same time, but it seems as tho we are not on the list. Hopefully Sam can fit us in somewhere.

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Adam has published chapter one of the 'Foiling Guide'. If anyone is building a new boat or has a new boat on order, it is a MUST read. more...

Tuesday 7 November , 2006 - It's snowing

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When I landed in Helsinki, it was snowing quite heavily and I had hope the plane had their ice tyres...

Monday 6 November , 2006 - From one country to the next...

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So the Hamburg Show is over and I am on my way to Helsinki, Finland for the ISAF Annual Conference to present the Bladerider as a potential Olympic Class. We were overwhelmed with the interest in the foiler Moth in the Hanseboot, so it will be interesting to see how ISAF react after 6 months since we last spoke and the 2006 Moth Worlds in Denmark. Luckily I now have a helper with me in Helsinki, Simon Nelson from the UK, who was heavily involved with the 49er Olympic campaign and setup of the class association. More on this later, but if you can't wait, check out the November edition of Seahorse for more.

Sunday 5 November , 2006 - Blog Hi-jack

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(Hi this is Manfred, live from the Hanseboot Show). Ich schreibe jetzt in deutscher Sprache, Rohan bat mich darum. Es ist wahr, ich habe am letzten Samstag um 10.01h einen Bladerunner gekauft. Der erste Kunde. Ich verfolge diese aufregende Entwicklung seit einiger Zeit, Rohan war mir bereits bei Messebeginn ein Begriff und es war eine schnelle Entscheidung. Gleich kommt ein Freund von mir, Juergen Waschek und bestellt ebenfalls. Wir werden trainieren, tranieren und trainieren, bis wir uns zutrauen, in Dubai auf der WM 2008 zu starten. Jetzt muss ich auf meinen Stand zurueck, noch ein wenig Kohlefaser verkaufen, damit ich mir das segeln leisten kann. Wir sagen inzwischen in Deutschland> Foilen statt heulen! smooth sailing.

Manfred

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...yes, my new friend Manfred has brought a Bladerider and I am told to say that all of his friends should buy one to race against him, but not too soon, as he wants to get a head start on everyone first.

Saturday 4 November , 2006 - I still feel like crap!

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Well I thought the worst was over for me, but I was exhausted by the time I made it to the boat show yesterday and slept for another hour or so in the first aid shelter. It was around 3pm by the time I woke up, just before some of the IMCA Germany members arrived to say hello. Burkhard (now a rockstar in German sailing thanks to issue 21 of 'Yacht' magazine), Olav and others stayed for an hour or so filling me in on all the local news. I barely had the energy to stand for the remainder of the day, so was in bed not long after 8:30 to read a book that mum gave Gin and I to read called 'Marley & Me - The Worlds Worst Dog'. I was hoping that it would make tired so I would fall asleep easily, but if anything it kept me awake as all I could think about was going home to rest in comfort with Gin and Beki rather than my shoebox apartment. If anyone has or had a dog, it is definately worth a read. So have taken the morning off again today as there is just no way I could last all day on the stand in my condition, plus it will give me some time to get some drugs from the pharmacy, get a decent breakfast, write my blog and do the email thing. Luckily I have found a cafe just around the corner with hot breakfast, freshly squeezed orange/kiwi/banana juice, free broadband wireless internet along with warm cushioned seats, all inside and away from the 0-5 degrees we have each morning. The only problem is, German's smoke cigarettes like Australian's drink their beer (excluding me) and American's eating big meals. I hate it! The only place I have found that is smoke free is my apartment. I can't go anywhere without my clothes reeking of tabacco fumes. I think even yesterday in the St John's first aid center, the medical staff were smoking too. This is one thing that I will certianly not miss about Europe.

Friday 3 November , 2006 - I feel like crap!

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I deteriorated yesterday after another long day on the stand, but luckily it was the quietest day so far. Christian and I went for a quick socialise upstairs at 6pm at the Dinghy Classes gathering (sponsored by a sailing magazine who generously provided copious amounts of beer), but I was hardly in the mood for trying to speak German to people I didn't know. Therefore I was in bed by 8:30pm and slept for at least 14 hours that night, but not without waking up several times with my body aching all over along with a migrane headache. The worst is over now and I will hopefully be okay for the last two days of the show this weekend.

Thursday 2 November , 2006 - Moin Moin

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After nearly three weeks without a day of rest and five very long days at the Hamburg Boat Show, my body has finally given up in avoiding getting sick. Lack of sleep thanks to the jet lag probably hasn't helped either. So far we have sold five boats during the show, but have been getting about ten names every day of potential mothies. Hopefully the weather will hold off for another week as so Christian can get a few keen sailors out on the water for a test sail before it gets too cold. Thanks to an eight page article in the German 'Yacht' magazine and showing the boat here in Hamburg, we have got the interest of some more media including the 'Sailing Journal' and the 'Sailing Channel' on German cable TV, so keep an eye out for them.

Sunday 29 October, 2006 - Sprucken ze English? (how we say it in Australia)

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First day of the Boat Show yesterday, and it was quite busy to say the least. After my initial concerns about not being able to communicate with potential buyers, due to my complete lack of knowledge of the German language (mainly because I probably ignored those two years of German at school), I soon realised that most people at the Show say they spoke a 'little' English, when in fact they probably spoke 'better' English than most Australians! We hung the boat from the roof from all corners using some 3mm dynemma, and looks quite good. But the video seems to work best, as we would typically have 5-10 people huddled around the the Mac and laptop showing DVD's and WMV's with their mouth wide open. Consequently we ended up selling two Bladeriders, with another guy calling to say that he will coming in later this week to put down a deposit. One customer even offered for Gin and I to come up to Sweden/Northern German to go sailing on an DN/ice boat in February next year! That might tie in perfectly with Gin's dream to stay in the Ice Hotel at the same time, followed by the London Dinghy Show in early March, the HISWA Boat Show in Amsterdam just after, then a quick stop over at the Dubai Boat Show mid March. Busy times (again)...

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A video from the day's sailing on the Erbe River the other day now on the KA Sail web site. more...

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It is so annoying that the only place I can get internet on my laptop is through someone's unsecured connection in the middle of the shopping district, outside in the freezing cold, sitting on a cold stone bench! Anything to get a hit of decent internet though (I am starting sound like a junkie)...

Thursday 25 October, 2006 - Coming to you live on German TV..

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Went down to the yacht club early to rig the boat on the river with the help of Christian from OnSail and Kalle Coster (Dutch Olympic 470 Sailor and now Bladerider Ambassador). Not long after being on the water in the small harbour, local TV station RTL came down to film us out on the river chasing down large container ships. Then a second TV crew (Channel 1) came down to do some filming as well, however they had a female reporter wearing rather nice dress clothes (now all wet from the spray on the RIB) there as well. She did a few interviews on the water with Kalle and myself and they hung around for about 30 minutes. Expecting not to see it on TV when we got back at 6pm (thinking that it was not worthy for German news), but both channels aired it not long after 6pm. Will try and get a copy of the footage and put it on the KA site soon. Hopefully someone can translate it for me one day!

Wednesday 24 October, 2006 - It's here in one piece

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Woke early this morning as we have to collect the Bladerider from the freight forwarder. Spent most of the day putting it together and dropping off some stuff to the boat show area. Should be on the water going for a sail tomorrow with Kalle from Holland.

Tuesday 23 October, 2006 - In Deutschland

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Currently in Hamburg after a solid 16 or so hours of travel. Christian from OnSail picked me up from the airport and took me straight to my hostel of which I am writing this once again in bed. I have got myself a German pre-paid SIM so if anyone needs to call me locally ring +49 174 1002 051. Am collecting a mass of foreign currency at the moment, including Australian, Vanautu, Hong Kong, Chinese, US dollars and now the Euro. As if the Hong Kong dollar and Chinese Renmin arn't similar enough, all the coins look the same. All they do is weigh me down at airport check in's and I have to haggle with the staff to let me check in all my luggage without paying any excess!

Monday 22 October, 2006 - Lucky I have insurance!

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Back at JinLi again today watching the final layup procedure of my new boat. Without a doubt this will be one of the stiffest and strongest Moth's under 10kg ever built. Can't wait to get it on the water. Also got to oversee Amac's boat (Prototype No 3) being finished up and track cut for the tramps. Tomorrow they should be sanding it all back and giving it a high gloss finish. We doubt that my boat will need such preperation as we have laid up the foam a bit different as so the corners should press out a bit more once in the high pressure autoclav oven. Looks like we have also finally sourced some high quality stainless steel ball socket joints for the main foil push rod connection. I have been looking for these for a while, and found a guy that will custom make them to our spec in 316 stainless. So after another long day, we headed back to the Hotel and had an unbelievable smorgasboard dinner at the Hotel with every possible food you can imagine for only $12. Our Japanese dinner the other night was just as good, but cost 10 times as much. I had to leave at 8pm to get a train to Hong Kong, and I got picked up in a taxi at the front of the hotel, from there he drove out of the driveway, and turned left directly into oncoming traffic for about 100m as so he didn't have to drive around the block, cut backinto the other side of the road, and then weaved his way in and out of cars and buses like you wouldn't believe. On several occassion I thought he was going to hit something or someone, but he got me to the train in one piece in the end. So I am in Hong Kong for the night and then off to Hamburg via Helsinki in the morning. Before going to bed though, I wandered around the streets of Kowloon and found the Temple Street Markets (of which I remember when I was last here 15 years ago). I brought a few things and got back to my shoebox room before midnight. Time for bed!

Saturday 21 October, 2006 - Who needs a day of rest?

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Sunday might be a day of rest in most places around the world, but not over here in China. We started at 8am and worked right through with the whole factory until 5:30pm, and then still most of the factory was still working and probably didn't finish until 6pm. They got started on my new boat today (prototype number 4) and I was observing the layup proceedure with the prepreg. Great material to work with, and once it comes out of the autoclav oven, it is as strong as steel. They also put about 10 layers around the bottom of the centerboard case, so I think that if I ever hit a rock at speed, I might actually do some damage to the rock. The factory is quite large with hundred's of staff, including on site accommodation for the workers as well. Everyone seems quite happy to just work for a few years, make some money and go back to live with their family. One of the most interesting things at the factory is just outside the gates is about 20 cut up pieces from the plug of the Chinese AC boat lying on the side of the road. Today most of it had been scavenged by locals looking for building materials. Then in the yard is an old AC boat that the Chinese team brought, with the deck cut out of it and the bow missing altogether. Can't imagine how much money went into that and here is lying on the grass taking up space of what could be a great soccer pitch.

Saturday 21 October, 2006 - Crazy Town

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Arrived in Hong Kong at 6am this morning and got a bus direct to the HK/China border. There was mayhem there with people everywhere, however due to my height avantage over the locals, I was able to see easily over everyone's heads and find my connecting bus enabling me to get to my next connecting bus. This is because the bus companies are only allowed to drive into specific territories. Anyway, finally arrived at my 5 star Jian Hui Hotel where I was met by the first caucasian I had seen in a while (it was Amac with notebook in hand still working on it while standing up). But before he could even check me in for a ridiculous $50 a night, I was asked by the hotel management if I had some "free time". I had no idea what he was talking about, but he ushered me over towards the front entrance and somehow I worked out that they wanted to film me stepping out of a limo/van with my bag and walk into the hotel. "Sure, why not" I said! So three takes later, we got the footage they wanted and then as I walked into the lobby again, everyone was starring at me, wondering who this film star was? So after signing a few autographs as Nicholas Cage (only joking, but apparantly this is who I look most like out of any Hollywood actor), I went up to one of the best hotel rooms I had ever seen. I had a quick shower and spent the rest of the afternoon at the JinLi factory with Amac going through every single fitting, rope and moulded part on the Bladerider to make sure that it was okay for McConaghy's to start production in November. It is quite an operation they have got there, but I will save this for another posting.

Monday 16 October, 2006

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Back in Melbourne after a rather busy week in Annapolis. Gin and I took the weekend off and went to Dalesford to chill out a bit, including a mineral water spa and massage at the Heburn Springs day spa. The boat is now on the way to Hamburg, Germany for the next boat show which I will also be attending. It seems as this prototype boat has spent more time at 30,000 feet than 2 feet above water. Top speed recorded on this boat so far has been around 998kms/hr. Hoping to clock 1,000kms/hr on this trip tho.

Wednesday 4 October, 2006

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Had a great Qantas flight to LA, but can't say much for American Airlines, especially being stuck next to a fat American lady for 4.5 hours. Had some very nice new friends (Geoff & Mary Ewenson) pick me up from Dulles Airport in Washington DC and gave me a bed for two nights. So yesterday Geoff (a 98kg US Olympic Finn sailor) went down to the Annapolis docks to see if we could find the boat. To our suprise there it was with no damage and with little trouble, had it in the back of Geoff's truck and driven around to our show space. So we rigged it up after a cruise on Mary's dad's (Charlie) power boat on the river followed by a very filling lunch at the Annapolis Yacht Club. It wasn't until about 5pm until we actually hit the water in about 5-10 knots of wind, but that didn't stop us from doing fly-bys in front of all the Navy Academy students doing training in various boats. Some had see photos and video on You Tube of the foiler Moth, but none had ever seen it an action before. After a bit of playing around, I let Geoff hop in an have a go. Even tho it was not more than 8 knots of wind, Geoff still managed to get up on the foils for around 30 seconds of flight. It was nearly dusk by the time we got back, but it didn't take long to pack it all up and head over to Charlie's place for a big American steak and baked potatoes.

Sunday 29 October, 2006 - Sprucken ze English? (how we say it in Australia)

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First day of the Boat Show yesterday, and it was quite busy to say the least. After my initial concerns about not being able to communicate with potential buyers, due to my complete lack of knowledge of the German language (mainly because I probably ignored those two years of German at school), I soon realised that most people at the Show say they spoke a 'little' English, when in fact they probably spoke 'better' English than most Australians! We hung the boat from the roof from all corners using some 3mm dynemma, and looks quite good. But the video seems to work best, as we would typically have 5-10 people huddled around the the Mac and laptop showing DVD's and WMV's with their mouth wide open. Consequently we ended up selling two Bladeriders, with another guy calling to say that he will coming in later this week to put down a deposit. One customer even offered for Gin and I to come up to Sweden/Northern German to go sailing on an DN/ice boat in February next year! That might tie in perfectly with Gin's dream to stay in the Ice Hotel at the same time, followed by the London Dinghy Show in early March, the HISWA Boat Show in Amsterdam just after, then a quick stop over at the Dubai Boat Show mid March. Busy times (again)...

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A video from the day's sailing on the Erbe River the other day now on the KA Sail web site. more...

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It is so annoying that the only place I can get internet on my laptop is through someone's unsecured connection in the middle of the shopping district, outside in the freezing cold, sitting on a cold stone bench! Anything to get a hit of decent internet though (I am starting sound like a junkie)...

Thursday 25 October, 2006 - Coming to you live on German TV..

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Went down to the yacht club early to rig the boat on the river with the help of Christian from OnSail and Kalle Coster (Dutch Olympic 470 Sailor and now Bladerider Ambassador). Not long after being on the water in the small harbour, local TV station RTL came down to film us out on the river chasing down large container ships. Then a second TV crew (Channel 1) came down to do some filming as well, however they had a female reporter wearing rather nice dress clothes (now all wet from the spray on the RIB) there as well. She did a few interviews on the water with Kalle and myself and they hung around for about 30 minutes. Expecting not to see it on TV when we got back at 6pm (thinking that it was not worthy for German news), but both channels aired it not long after 6pm. Will try and get a copy of the footage and put it on the KA site soon. Hopefully someone can translate it for me one day!

Wednesday 24 October, 2006 - It's here in one piece

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Woke early this morning as we have to collect the Bladerider from the freight forwarder. Spent most of the day putting it together and dropping off some stuff to the boat show area. Should be on the water going for a sail tomorrow with Kalle from Holland.

Tuesday 23 October, 2006 - In Deutschland

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Currently in Hamburg after a solid 16 or so hours of travel. Christian from OnSail picked me up from the airport and took me straight to my hostel of which I am writing this once again in bed. I have got myself a German pre-paid SIM so if anyone needs to call me locally ring +49 174 1002 051. Am collecting a mass of foreign currency at the moment, including Australian, Vanautu, Hong Kong, Chinese, US dollars and now the Euro. As if the Hong Kong dollar and Chinese Renmin arn't similar enough, all the coins look the same. All they do is weigh me down at airport check in's and I have to haggle with the staff to let me check in all my luggage without paying any excess!

Monday 22 October, 2006 - Lucky I have insurance!

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Back at JinLi again today watching the final layup procedure of my new boat. Without a doubt this will be one of the stiffest and strongest Moth's under 10kg ever built. Can't wait to get it on the water. Also got to oversee Amac's boat (Prototype No 3) being finished up and track cut for the tramps. Tomorrow they should be sanding it all back and giving it a high gloss finish. We doubt that my boat will need such preperation as we have laid up the foam a bit different as so the corners should press out a bit more once in the high pressure autoclav oven. Looks like we have also finally sourced some high quality stainless steel ball socket joints for the main foil push rod connection. I have been looking for these for a while, and found a guy that will custom make them to our spec in 316 stainless. So after another long day, we headed back to the Hotel and had an unbelievable smorgasboard dinner at the Hotel with every possible food you can imagine for only $12. Our Japanese dinner the other night was just as good, but cost 10 times as much. I had to leave at 8pm to get a train to Hong Kong, and I got picked up in a taxi at the front of the hotel, from there he drove out of the driveway, and turned left directly into oncoming traffic for about 100m as so he didn't have to drive around the block, cut backinto the other side of the road, and then weaved his way in and out of cars and buses like you wouldn't believe. On several occassion I thought he was going to hit something or someone, but he got me to the train in one piece in the end. So I am in Hong Kong for the night and then off to Hamburg via Helsinki in the morning. Before going to bed though, I wandered around the streets of Kowloon and found the Temple Street Markets (of which I remember when I was last here 15 years ago). I brought a few things and got back to my shoebox room before midnight. Time for bed!

Saturday 21 October, 2006 - Who needs a day of rest?

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Sunday might be a day of rest in most places around the world, but not over here in China. We started at 8am and worked right through with the whole factory until 5:30pm, and then still most of the factory was still working and probably didn't finish until 6pm. They got started on my new boat today (prototype number 4) and I was observing the layup proceedure with the prepreg. Great material to work with, and once it comes out of the autoclav oven, it is as strong as steel. They also put about 10 layers around the bottom of the centerboard case, so I think that if I ever hit a rock at speed, I might actually do some damage to the rock. The factory is quite large with hundred's of staff, including on site accommodation for the workers as well. Everyone seems quite happy to just work for a few years, make some money and go back to live with their family. One of the most interesting things at the factory is just outside the gates is about 20 cut up pieces from the plug of the Chinese AC boat lying on the side of the road. Today most of it had been scavenged by locals looking for building materials. Then in the yard is an old AC boat that the Chinese team brought, with the deck cut out of it and the bow missing altogether. Can't imagine how much money went into that and here is lying on the grass taking up space of what could be a great soccer pitch.

Saturday 21 October, 2006 - Crazy Town

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Arrived in Hong Kong at 6am this morning and got a bus direct to the HK/China border. There was mayhem there with people everywhere, however due to my height avantage over the locals, I was able to see easily over everyone's heads and find my connecting bus enabling me to get to my next connecting bus. This is because the bus companies are only allowed to drive into specific territories. Anyway, finally arrived at my 5 star Jian Hui Hotel where I was met by the first caucasian I had seen in a while (it was Amac with notebook in hand still working on it while standing up). But before he could even check me in for a ridiculous $50 a night, I was asked by the hotel management if I had some "free time". I had no idea what he was talking about, but he ushered me over towards the front entrance and somehow I worked out that they wanted to film me stepping out of a limo/van with my bag and walk into the hotel. "Sure, why not" I said! So three takes later, we got the footage they wanted and then as I walked into the lobby again, everyone was starring at me, wondering who this film star was? So after signing a few autographs as Nicholas Cage (only joking, but apparantly this is who I look most like out of any Hollywood actor), I went up to one of the best hotel rooms I had ever seen. I had a quick shower and spent the rest of the afternoon at the JinLi factory with Amac going through every single fitting, rope and moulded part on the Bladerider to make sure that it was okay for McConaghy's to start production in November. It is quite an operation they have got there, but I will save this for another posting.

Monday 16 October, 2006

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Back in Melbourne after a rather busy week in Annapolis. Gin and I took the weekend off and went to Dalesford to chill out a bit, including a mineral water spa and massage at the Heburn Springs day spa. The boat is now on the way to Hamburg, Germany for the next boat show which I will also be attending. It seems as this prototype boat has spent more time at 30,000 feet than 2 feet above water. Top speed recorded on this boat so far has been around 998kms/hr. Hoping to clock 1,000kms/hr on this trip tho.

Wednesday 4 October, 2006

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Had a great Qantas flight to LA, but can't say much for American Airlines, especially being stuck next to a fat American lady for 4.5 hours. Had some very nice new friends (Geoff & Mary Ewenson) pick me up from Dulles Airport in Washington DC and gave me a bed for two nights. So yesterday Geoff (a 98kg US Olympic Finn sailor) went down to the Annapolis docks to see if we could find the boat. To our suprise there it was with no damage and with little trouble, had it in the back of Geoff's truck and driven around to our show space. So we rigged it up after a cruise on Mary's dad's (Charlie) power boat on the river followed by a very filling lunch at the Annapolis Yacht Club. It wasn't until about 5pm until we actually hit the water in about 5-10 knots of wind, but that didn't stop us from doing fly-bys in front of all the Navy Academy students doing training in various boats. Some had see photos and video on You Tube of the foiler Moth, but none had ever seen it an action before. After a bit of playing around, I let Geoff hop in an have a go. Even tho it was not more than 8 knots of wind, Geoff still managed to get up on the foils for around 30 seconds of flight. It was nearly dusk by the time we got back, but it didn't take long to pack it all up and head over to Charlie's place for a big American steak and baked potatoes.

Wednesday 27 September, 2006

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If you havn't seen it yet, there is a great interview with Simon Payne on the US Modern Moth Class Association web site. Sounds like the association is on the verge of major decision time, ie to join IMCA or not. I think that if we gave them a go on our boats, there would be no need to make a decision as it would be written all over their faces. more...

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If you havn't seen this yet also, there is a new video of us on the Bladerider on the KA web site. more...

Friday 22 September, 2006 - It's gone

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The Bladerider has gone after only weekend of sailing it, but it will be for a good cause - to help build a foiler Moth fleet in the USA. Have spent most of this week trying to get the boat ready and catch up on paper/electronic work. The beauty of this new job though, is that I can work from home! Tough life I know, but it has to be done.

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This weekend doesn't look good at all with a forecast of a minimum of 25 knots all weekend. Think I will stay inside and do some work in the house and car.

Monday 18 September, 2006 - Oh so different, but oh so fast!

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We got on for the photo shoot on the Bladerider on Saturday in glorious conditions, 5-10 knots, flat water, and clear sky. The boat sailed exceptionally well and the most notiable difference compared to any other foiler Moth that I have ever sailed was how irrelevant it was to sit in the correct position on the wing bar. It didn't matter if if you moved your weight around or made rudder wing adjustments, as the wand corrected the height automatically. It was quite amazing and so different, certainly easy to get used to. It was hard to compare speed against Zac sailing in Amac's Prowler, but I think some of the video will show some signs of fantastic speed and ride height. I should be able to edit something together in the next day or so to download so stay tuned. More photos on the KA web site.

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Attempted to sail on the Beanatau's at Sandringham on the weekend for match racing, but what wind there was faded very quickly. So I left early and went off to buy myself a new mountain bike (2006 Merida Matts Special Edition Disc) after I traded my 10 year old Diamondback hard tail in with Gin's Iron Horse for a new and awesome 2006 DBR Zetec Comp the day before for Gin. So looks like I will be riding the MTB a bit more now instead of that nasty trail bike. Probably the safer option anyway. Hopefully!

Friday 15 September, 2006 - Quick recovery

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After seeing the Chiro, Physio and getting a great massage from Gin today, my aches and pains are a lot better. So much so, that I can actually lift my left arm all the way up now! My back still needs a bit of work, but it should be right by the weekend. Tomorrow we are on the Bladerider off Black Rock again to get some more publicity photos and video for the up and coming boat show in Annapolis. Have just got a new set of tramps from Victorian Sailing Supplies for the boat and have come up great. The big difference with these tramps is they only have lacing on the front of the wing bar. They are a bit harder to get on, but end up being a lot simplier to lace up. The other difference is the inflatable air bags that are sewn underneath the tramps to provide light weight stablity control. I usually give Amac a lot of crap about using them, but they are bloody handy to have. Matt also cleaned up the wings frame up a bit to make them look like new. The boat leaves for the USA mid next week, so have a few more days to get a few more things sorted.

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I have got the A Class up for sale now that I won't have time to sail it anymore. Send me an email if you are after one for under $15,000.

Wednesday 13 September, 2006 - ...oh yes it can!

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With the swelling in my back and tear in my upper bicep providing me with constant pain all day today, I couldn't wait to get to a chemist on the way home and buy myself some Voltaren anti-inflamatoy tablets and gel. Just before taking the tablets, Gin tells me that it was realeased today in the news, that a recent study showed that Voltaren can increase the risk of a heart attack by 40%. Apparantly it only effects smokers, diabetics and the like, however if I end up in hospital later this week, you'll know why. I must say though, it does help ease the pain a lot, so maybe I might be able to sleep comfortably tonight?

Tuesday 12 September, 2006 - Can it get any worse?

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So I woke this morning with a slight pain in back thinking it will pass through the morning. Anyway, one hour later and there I was laying paralyzed on my back in bed with the most unbelievable pain I have ever experienced. This went on for two hours until the spasms and extreme agony finally stopped. I found the courage to finally get up and make my way to my chiropractor. After a few adjustments, he found that one of my vertebrae was out and pressing hard up against my rib cage and possibly a nerve, resulting in my muscles contracting to compensate and hence create extreme difficulty in breathing and moving. No doubt that this was as a result of my stack on the bike on the weekend and therefore I doubt that I will be riding again for sometime (if ever again). So now I have even more restricted movement not to mention a heap of work to do in my new job.

Monday 11 September, 2006 - Ouch!

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Well, I went motor bike riding on Saturday, but there were many signs before I went that said I shouldn't have, but I didn't listen to them. I firstly went to get the bikes and trailer from a mate's house and couldn't find the key to my bike. So I got Gin up out of bed to drive all the spare keys around to us, but the spare wasn't in there either. Some how I found the key in glove box in the end so away we went. Not long into the ride, the track started to get slippery and while I was out in front, I went through a bog hole and my back tyre slid out from underneath me doing about 25kms an hour, and so down I went... and hard! I got up after a 360 spin with the other guys laughing at me, but I wasn't laughing as my shoulder was really sore. There was no breaks, no blood, so I knew straight away what happened as I have done this before while skiing about 7 years ago at Mt Buller on a closed black run. I am quite certain that while clutching onto the handlebars during crash landing, the sudden jolt of the front wheel had torn the tendon where the upper bicep attaches to the shoulder. Needless to say it is extremely sore and have virtually no movement in my upper arm now. So back to the sports doctors at the VIS tomorrow to see if they can put me back together. Somehow I don't think KA is going to want me to ride the motorbike again.

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On Sunday I was around at Amac's house with my arm in a sling helping put together the prototype Bladerider after Amac had pulled most of it apart to take to China on a recent trip. He got it out on the water late in the afternoon and was noted to be extremely smooth, stable and fast through the water. Krystal Weir was down there at the time and had a go as well. Once back ashore Krystal commented that it was "too fast" and it "accelerates extremely quick". I know it is hard to compare to a Laser Radial, but she has sailed a few of my old Moth before and never said that before.

Friday 8 September, 2006

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Back on the motor bike tomorrow for some off-road action as the weather looks pretty bad for sailing, but on Sunday we should be down at Black Rock again to put the Bladerider back on the water. This time we will get some video and photos!

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Some new magazine articles that have been sent to me are now on the Press page. more...

Monday 4 September, 2006 - Big News!

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As of Monday next week, I will no longer be working in my own web business, as I will be contracted full time for 12 months working for KA Sail, sailing and selling their new Bladerider Moths. At this stage initial, efforts will be made in North America where I will be attending the Annapolis Boat Show with the boat. This will be first time a foiler Moth has appeared on the East coast of North America, but hopefully will be the first of many. By the time I get back in mid October, the first few production boats should be delivered to Melbourne for local orders. This is not only going to be a big change in my life, but will hopefully be a big change to the International Moth fleet as well. I have no doubt that if the KA factory in China can make the 400 boats a year they promised, new fleets will be popping up all over the place.

Sunday 3 September, 2006 - Crazy Swiss

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Looks like the Swiss guys have found their 18 rig now and gone for a sail. more...

Friday 1 September, 2006 - I'm back!

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What a trip! Fantastic people, fantastic location and fantastic food! The highlight of the trip was walking up to the top and rim of the Mount Yasur Volcano on Tanna Island, and hearing the sound of 100 fireworks going off at once about 200m away, then throwing boiling hot lava into the air and around a 100m radius of the great fire pit. As it got dark, it only made it more exciting as the threat of getting killed by a stray burst was real. Yes, this was probably the best thing I have ever seen in my life!

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A few guys in Switzerland have setup some bi-foils on an 18' skiff and been out testing it (without a rig)... crazy Swiss! more...

Thursday 24 August, 2006 - See ya!

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Gin and I are having a holiday to Vanuatu to visit an old sailing mate for a week tomorrow. It has been a while since we have had some time off without boats or bikes, so looking forward to it.

Sunday 20 August, 2006 - Great turn out

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Great turn out at Black Rock today, with a number of new and old mothies having a go on one of the five boats that we had on the day. Mark Turnbull came back for another go and faired much better in the 10-15 knot conditions. Sounds like he might be hooked by the sounds of it as well?

Amac has his Bladerider out with a new main foil and looked very quick compared to Marty on his Formula board. After a couple of newbies (Nick and James) had a go on Amac's Prowler and Bladerider, they seemed to get the hang of it after a while, but obviously it was nothing like a Laser.

Almost forgot that Aaron came down as well with a new main foil (pink in colour this time) and only had a small issue with the push rod, put seemed to go quite well.

Thursday 17 August, 2006 - Bored?

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Got a few hours to kill? Then why not read the 16 pages of discussion on the top speed of a foiler Moth on the BoatDesign.net forum. It is interesting to see that so much controversy still surrounds the class. I prefer to not post on these public forums as it doesn't achieve anything apart from arguements. However I will give my two cents worth here, because no one can reply and I don't get caught up in a forum war. Basically the way I see it, the foiler Moth is not this 'magical creation' that will solve all the growth and media problems in the sport of sailing like some say it will. It would be great if it did and I will do my best to help with that, but I think I would rather see it this way....

The foiler Moth is simply just an extemely enjoyable yet challenging high performance racing boat, suitable for anyone aged 15-70 with good fitness, weighing 50-80kgs and most importanly is bored with sailing other dinghies or doesn't have much storage or money for a bigger boat of similar speed. The class is not for everyone and nor are we pitching it that way.

Sure we might go just as quick as an OK in sub 5 knots, but who cares? When the wind gets up, it all makes it worthwhile. Sure the +80kg sailors will not be able to keep up with the 60-70kg guys in light-mod winds, but Moth racing has been like this for 20 years! Sure the boats might be hard to sail in gusty or big seas, but that is all part of the challenge and after a while of sailing, most will welcome these more 'challenging' conditions because sailing in flat water is honestly quite easy to manage, even after a few weeks. We also don't claim to have the numbers that other classes do, but we might in a few years once more builders come on board and they all build more boats. There is certainly no shortage of people wanting to get into a foiler Moth either! Clearly this is a development class and if there are any issues with the any of the boats that posters go on about, I am sure someone will come up with a solution soon enough.

Tuesday 15 August, 2006 - We need more boats!

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Speaking to Mark Turnbull (2000 Gold medalist - 470) recently at the Victorian Yachting Awards, he mentioned he was keen to have a go on a foiler Moth. But before we could borrow Amac's moth, we realised that there were no spreaders (they were in the boat box coming back from Denmark). So Amac whipped up some out of some plywood and some spare stays we had lying around. I have never seen anything like it before!!! check it out... (and believe it or they actually worked and didn't break)

Anyway, we finally got down to Parkdale to find some flat water and softer wind as it is blowing +20 knots on shore at Black Rock. Mark sailed one of my old skiffs a few years ago, but this was a different story. It was difficult conditions for anyone of us to sail in such gusty conditions, but he managed quite well considering, with many decent rides over the 30 minutes or so he was out there. So it sounds like he is keen to have another go now, so might have to make another time this weekend (weather permitting) and get everyone down to Black Rock again for a go. Amac should have his Bladerider back from Denmark and on the water as well by then, so if anyone is keen to come down and have a go on either boat (or you can bring your own), let me know, as I can probably take out an IRB as well and do some coaching considering I am not supposed to be sailing.

Friday 11 August, 2006 - Doxycycline or else

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Saw my sports doctor yesterday at the VIS and he is still concerned about the small amount of swelling still in my knee, plus the risk of it reinfecting again. So I am back on antibiotics for at least another month along with some rest and hopefully that will kill off any left over bugs. Failing that, will need minor surgery to remove the bursar sack. I didn't even notice, but as I had been nursing my knee for the last four weeks, I have lost a lot of muscle mass in the right leg, so will need to build that back up with some cycling soon.

Monday 7 August, 2006 - Now that's a wrap up

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Great wrap up, photos and review of the Worlds in Denmark by Simon Propper of IMCA UK. I am glad to hear that the culture of the Moth class has changed to much more positive and friendly environment compared to that of what I went through a few years ago. Better still was the number of foilers in seen Denmark! Looking down the list of photos on the IMCA UK page below, it is like a dream come true for me. Every championships that I have attended since 2003, the numbers of foilers has doubled. So that means next year we should have around 50 I would think. more...

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Get back to work Alex!

Saturday 5 August, 2006 - Just what I needed

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On the way home from work last night, some idiot drove straight up the back of my new car smashing in the bumper bar. Now I will be carless for a week or so while it is getting fixed. Luckily I still have not sold my Subaru, so at least I will have something to drive in the meantime.

Thursday 3 August, 2006 - Back home

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Bloody hell that was a long trip home! From the time I left Torbole (5:30am) and by the time I got to Melbourne airport, it was over 40 hours of continuous travel with only about 5 hours sleep in there somewhere. When I walked out of customs at Melbourne Airport, I expected to see Gin there waiting for me, but she was no where to be seen. I called the mobile, but no answer. I called the house, and there she was in bed asleep, thinking that she had to pick me up tomorrow night! So I was lucky that I could get a lift home with Amac and by 4am I finally got to bed. I didn't wake up until 4:30pm and I was still tired by then.

Tuesday 1 August, 2006 - It only gets better...

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Just got back in Hamburg from Torbole, Italy after meeting with the club who are organising the World Championships next year. Looks like there might be a date change now due to a big bike event on the same week in nearby town Riva del Garda. At this stage we are hoping to have the worlds over 4-5 days (no rest day) either in the last week of June or first week in July. This will also allow more British sailors to come as it will be during their school holidays and allow more Europeans to come as it will only require one week off. IMCA will notify sailors of the changes later this week.

The club itself (including launching, race area, wind, water and parking) is possibly the best that I have ever seen (maybe even better then Black Rock)! I have taken several photos and will send to IMCA for publishing. Have also checked out a lot of accommodation there as well and have found 3-4 fantastic options to cater for everyone's needs (all within walking distance to the club). I have no doubt in my mind that this event will be the biggest and best Moth regatta ever held. We are expecting about 50 boats (and probably at least 40 foilers). Have been thinking a lot about getting the Australian boats over there and with the level of interest, I think we will have at least 10 boats, but maybe up to 15! Therefore the best option for transporting them to the Italy would be by a container to Trieste and get it trucked direct to the club and left there for 2-3 weeks. I will look into this a bit more in the next few weeks and post something on the Australian mailing list.

The club has also expressed interest in running a pre-worlds regatta, not to mention that there may be a sponsor for the event which could include cash prizes. More on this later as well.

So now I have a few more planes to catch from Hamburg, making it a total of 10 planes, 3 trains, numerous hours in the car and countless hours sailing within two weeks, making for a literally non-stop journey. Looking forward to getting home and sleeping, something which I think I have forgotten how to do properly.

Sunday 30 July, 2006

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Quite a pleasent presentation night last night, as I think most were still recovering from the weeks high intensity sailing and were welcoming the good food and free beer. I am on my way to Torbole, Italy on Monday to speak with the organisers for the 2007 Worlds so I probably won't have time to upload anything else until I get to Dubai airport.

Big congratulations to Scott as well who has just taken out the 29er Worlds in the UK. It has been a long time coming for Scott, so if anyone in the world deserves to win that title, it is him! I am sure he would have had a drink or 10 last night to celebrate.

Saturday 29 July, 2006 - Moth Worlds (Heats 9 & 10)

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Got down to the club early this morning to make all the changes to the boat necessary to what I think would help improve my upwind speed and height, only to sit around for 6 hours waiting for wind. By 3pm until they blasted three guns to announce the abandondment of racing for the day.

So Simon was crowned World Champion for 2006 by 3 points from me, and then Adam was in third another 6 points behind. Simon sailed not only sailed brilliantly to win the title, but he was cconsistent in all areas of his racing and preparation. I have certainly learnt a lot from him over the last week and will ensure that I am better prepared for next years Championships in Torbole, Italy.

My Ronstan Stealth Moth is now on the way to France to the new owner Sebastian Josse. I am sure he will be very keen to get it on the water as soon as possible.

Thanks to my wife Virginia and all the doctors who got me here in the end, as I was very close to not even coming last week. Big thanks to all my sponsors and supporters over the last 12 months, including Ronstan, Fastacraft, VIS, KA Sail, Club Marine, Velocitek and Victorian Sailing Supplies. I couldn't have done it without you.

Friday 28 July, 2006 - Moth Worlds (Heats 7 & 8)

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After a establishing a marginial lead over Simon after Thursday's racing, I threw it all down the drain today.

In heat 7, I started near the boat, foiling off the line with the usual gang, but for reasons I am still trying to figure out what the hell happened. I always seemed to sailing lower and slower than everyone else the lighter the wind drops below 10 knots. So I rounded the top mark behind the main pack, but as usual I caught up a number of spots downwind to get up in the top 5 due to better technique sailing through the waves (something that I have practised a lot doing over the last 10 months). Upwind again the same problems occurred combined with my inability to pick any wind shift, meanwhile Simon was pulling away as usual with good height and speed upwind. Next lap was the same, but I managed to get close to Adam and Robo at the top mark. I then sailed well again downwind to get into second place and hold that to the finish while Adam and Robo fought it out for 3rd and 4th. After the race I felt as though I didn't deserve to get 2nd place as even though I know I had done everything possible to do well, I felt as though everything I did do was wrong.

Things didn't get much better for the start of heat 8, where the wind was pushing left and dropping fast. So I thought I could stay foiling for the whole time pre-start and then come across the fleet on port tack at the pin. Then the wind dropped off and I was stuck at the wrong end of the line lowriding behind the crossing fleet. Simon foiled across in front of me first, so I tacked to go with him (as I should have), but struggled to foil let alone sail as high as him. So I did what have been practising a lot recently and that was gybing upwind in the marginal conditions, as I knew that if tacked, I would not be able to get on the foil again. I pulled off no less than 4 perfect upwind gybes loosing only a few meters to windward each time, but was doing no less than 10 knots the whole time. However with my 'luck', everytime I went on a new tack upwind, I sailing so low that I might as well just been reaching. It would have been quicker to low rided to the top mark as Robo and Adam proved. Meanwhile, Simon was blasting off higher and faster than anyone on the water, foiling the whole time putting a massive lead into the fleet.

So after putting in so much effort to foil and gybe upwind, I was getting nowhere fast, and could only thing about giving up and going in. By the time I got to the top mark, I rounded back in the 20's and then set about gaining back some dignity off the breeze. By the bottom mark I was back up to about 3rd behind Robo, but lost valuable ground to him after gybing too high out of the water and getting air on the rudder. The boat slipped sideways immediately and there was nothing I could do apart from falling in the water. The next lap I stayed in clear 3rd in front of Adam, with Simon pulling even further away from us, until things started to go downhill big time. My first tack upwind was in minimal pressure and I was fighting the whole time to keep the same height and speed as Robo directly in front of me and Adam directly behind me. By this stage I had lost over 100m and Adam was now in front. Then we all tacked on the starboard and that was it. I don't know if it was weed (again) or my wand configuration, but I could not foil at all on that tack, and lost considerable ground to everyone, including Jason who was now approaching fast (on foils) from hard left. Now more frustrated than ever, I limped my way to the top mark to round just in front of Jason. Even though I managed to foil partly the way downwind on the first reach, I still lost 4th place to Jason. By this stage the wind had completely gone and we were all well and truely low riding. There I stayed in 5th place cursing myself the whole way to the finish line, unable to manouver the boat as I would have done previously, due to my problematic knee, to try and claim 3rd or even 4th spot.

It was about 7:30pm by the time I got in, and for the next 3 hours all I could think about was all the reasons why I am sailing so low and slow upwind when the wind lightens off. I know that if the wind gets up over and above 15 knots then I know I will be at my best, however as expected, there was never going to be such wind here in Denmark. I still don't know what it is, but I know I certainly can't win a World Championships again if I can't compare upwind boat speed in typical European conditions, against someone of similar skill and speed back home.

When we finally got back to our accommodation, all I wanted to do was sleep off all the aches and pains. Apart from the obvious knee troubles, every muscle in my body aches, plus I have numerous blisters on my fingers (even with wearing gloves), one of which is now infected making the finger difficult to bend or grip anything required to in the sport of sailing.

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Heat 6 video is now available to download on You Tube.

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Heat 5 video is now available to download on You Tube courtesty of a cool song by one of my favourite bands - Tool.

Thursday 27 July, 2006 - Moth Worlds (Heats 5 & 6)

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Two races today in about 10-12 knots from the east this time, which meant we had a bit of choppy water in the race area. The first start was boat end favoured and I lead out with Adam. Adam rounded the top mark first, then me, Jason and Simon. I picked up Adam downwind with a slightly better angle to the marks and rounded the bottom mark in first. The next two laps I cover the leading pack upwind to put a bit more distance in them, but suffered a couple of boat launches downwind through some waves, but saved the capsize. The winning margin was about 30 seconds or so, with Jason in 2nd, Adam 3rd, and Simon in 4th after snaging some weed on a windward work.

The second race started with a pin end favoured so most headed to the left, but Adam headed right. Simon sailed well to round the top mark clear in 1st, with Jason 2nd, Adam 3rd, me 4th and Robo in 5th, but all within 10 seconds of each other. I sailed lower downwind again and climbed up to 2nd rounding the bottom mark. Robo hit the right side of the course hard to pull back up into 2nd just behind Simon, but I was able to peg him back downwind and get close to Simon. However on the second last gybe to the bottom mark, I got my tiller extension stuck in my foot and boom, and did my only capsize in a Moth championship over the last 4 years!!! However the good thing was that I was dragging around some weed for the last lap, so that was now gone and I could concentrate on catching Simon on the last lap. I closed the gap downwind again, but it wasn't enough and came through in 2nd. Adam got 3rd, Robo 4th and Jason 5th.

This now gives me a 1 point margin over Simon for first overall, but there is still 4 races to go over the next 2 days. The knee is also holding up well now with minimal pain and swelling. I think it should be fine for the rest of the regatta pending we don't have any light wind races. The forecast tomorrow is for a change and slightly increased wind strength. If I get time tomorrow morning too I will upload some video from the races today. Check out heat 3 & heat 4 on You Tube.

Wednesday 26 July, 2006 - Moth Worlds (Lay Day)

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Ok, you can download heat 4 now thanks to some cool tunes by the Chemical Brothers - download heat 4 video (have fixed this link now - sorry about that).

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Dad got a bit of video yesterday of the racing, so I ripped it to my laptop and chucked on some music for your entertainment - download heat 3 video.

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Thierry Martinez has also uploaded some more photos from yesterday - www.thmartinez.com

Tuesday 25 July, 2006 - Moth Worlds (Heats 3 & 4)

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I woke this morning after great nights sleep thanks to some more sleeping tablets and it looked like the breeze was in for day two, but as the fleet sailed out to the start it was obvious that offshore breeze meant +/- 20 degree swings in direction and 10 knot pressure changes across the course.

In Race 3 I scored a perfect start off the boat, but was robbed with no wind as I approached the top mark while Adam sailed clear ahead gaining a nice shift out to the left. Simon recovered from an average beat to pull up to second in hot pursuit of Adam. I then went round third, neck and neck with Jason Belben. Payne closed the gap downwind, but May responded with a killer beat to (once again) lead comfortably at the windward mark. Simon and I gybed into more breeze and the three boats went round the gybe mark with nothing in it. With three spectacular foil borne gybes, pausing only for the camera of internationally aclaimed sailing photographer Thierry Martinez, the three of us screamed downwind. Simon stole the lead on the run to the leeward mark but I tacked off to the favoured left side first and hooked into the new pressure. This ultimately was the winning move of the day with Simon in second, Adam in third and Sam Pascoe in a very comfortable fourth.

Race 4 started 20 minutes or so after the last boat crossed the line of the first race. I got another good start at the pin and headed left but was tracked by Jason Belben and Adam and Robo. Germany's Sven Kloppenburg sailed a absolute blinder first leg and was nearly at the bottom mark by the time I rounded the top mark for the first time. ISAF President Goran Petersson watched on in amazement from a spectator boat as the chasing pack charged downwind to catch Sven mid way up the next windward leg. Normal order was resumed by the end of lap two with Simon rounding the windward mark first for the final time with Jason and Adam not far behind, but I got stuck in no wind again at the top mark to round in a distant fourth. With gusts appearing from all directions I scored a great bit of wind rounding the top mark to close in on the three leaders. By the last gybe mark there was little wind, but Simon and I sailed off to the right side to catch some pressure coming down that side while and Jason and Adam chose the right and sailed into no wind. Simon and I then rode the 17 knot gust down to the finish clocking my top speed of the day at 21.3 knots (average 19.9 knots). Payne had to gybe to make the line, however I only needed to put in a quick gybe at the pin end to get the win, but the pressure was still too far right and meant I had to sail to high to keep my speed up, so Simon crossed about a boat length in front after 45 minutes of racing. This puts Simon and I one point apart after four races, with Adam close behind.

It seems as though anyone of the foilers can lead around the course for the first lap, but there are only a few guys that are capable of winning a race after three laps due to the high skill and fitness required to sail these demanding boats. But in these extremely shifty conditions and the possibility of shortened course at any time, anything can happen. Tomorrow is a lay day for a well earned rest.

Photos - http://www.thmartinez.com
Results - http://www.horsens-sejlklub.dk/IMWC2006/Results.htm

Monday 24 July, 2006 - Moth Worlds (Heats 1 & 2)

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The International Moth World Championships kicked off today on a Danish Fjord in Horsens, Denmark. The entry list promised a super high quality regatta with many new faces joining the established font runners. However it seems as though the 2005 European Champion Simon Payne (GBR), and runner up Adam May (GBR) will be my main competition. With all but a couple of the 33 strong fleet now using hydrofoils this is a landmark event in the sailing World.

Race one saw Sam Pascoe (GBR) lead out of the blocks to establish a huge lead at the first mark in a shifty and gusty offshore breeze. I caught up to Sam on the end of the second lap, and then passed him upwind in dying pressure. I was then able to cover the fleet and pick enought shifts to extend my lead on the chasing pack, which included Payne, Jason Belben (GBR), May, and Mark Robinson (SIN) from Singapore. I ended up winning comfortably by around two minutes. Payne lead the charge downwind but May was quicker to the line by ten metres. Sam sneaked fourth with Jason fifth and Mark sixth.

In race two, I started mid line with Adam but shortly after crossing the line, I snagged a plastic bag in the water dropping 3 knots of speed instantly. I tacked to starboard to try and clear the bag, but it stayed on. I then tipped the boat over removed it and got going again. By this stage I had nearly crossed the back of the entire fleet but was gaining ground back quick. Meanwhile Alex Knight (GBR) sailed briliantly on the first leg to round the windward mark so far ahead he made the gybe mark before the next boat rounded the windward mark. John Ilett (AUS) rounded second followed by Jason Belben with the all the established stars all outside the top five.

The main pack bunched up at the first gybe mark with six boats a couple of seconds apart on the tight reach. Alex Knight ended his fifteen minutes of fame with a capsize at the bottom mark, handing the baton to Jason followed myself, Adam and Sam. The leaders headed left but May lost wind and dropping off his foils gambled on hanging a right. As we approached the top mark a fair way ahead of the fleet, the wind dropped to around 2 knots and we watched Adam come in to us doing 12 knots with a twenty degree lift. At the windward mark, it was Jason ahead of Payne just infront of May with myself not far behind.

Payne took the low road to hop Jason downwind who also lost out to Adam and myself. Rounding the bottom mark, Simon and Adam went left while Jason and myself went right looking for nice shift. Unfortunately for us, the left paid off big time with Simon leading Adam at the windward mark with Jason and myself together taking at least a 100 metre hit. Jason sailed extremely fast off the breeze to pass me, but I clawed it back on the tight reach clocking my top speed of the day at 21.1 knots, only to get passed again to the finish as Jason scored some nice pressure out to the right.

Once ashore, my knee felt like it had been beaten with a hammer. The swelling is still there, but it is going down slowing with the help of Voltaren. I dread each tack and gybe on the water as I know what the pain I expect. On top of that, my body is in need of a massage after a long day on the water and sun.

Race 1:

1st Rohan Veal
2nd Adam May
3rd Simon Payne
4th Sam Pascoe
5th Jason Belben

Race 2:

1st Simon Payne
2nd Adam May
3rd Jason Belben
4th Rohan Veal
5th Sam Pascoe

Sunday 23 July, 2006

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Practice race today for the Moth Worlds, and I woke with a headache that I carried through the entire day, which only seemed to get worse and worse. I lead the race from the start until I pulled out after two laps as I had enough. Went in for some pain killers and good night sleep thanks to some sleeping tablets. Somehow I think it is going to take a while to get over this jet-lag with the sun rising at around 3am and setting around 11pm.

Friday 21 July, 2006

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After a few changes in flights, I finally boarded EK405 from Melbourne to Dubai and the another plane to Hamburg. I am current writing this entry on the train on the way to Horsens with a solid 30 hours of travel under my belt so far (plus about 5 to go) but a good 6 hours sleep in the last 48 hours thanks to some sleeping tablets and some Melatonin. A business friend put me onto Melatonin, as it is a natural chemical that your body secretes when you are ready to sleep. After we landed in Dubai I could barely awake and one of the air hostess asked me if I had a good sleep as she said she had never seen anyone sleep non-stop like that before.

For most of the trip I have been glued to a book I brought in Melbourne Airport by the legendary Lance Armstrong called 'Every Second Counts'. I have never ever read a book like this before, in that I just wanted to keep reading page after page, even though I already knew of his amazing achievments and I hate reading books, especially on the plane.

Wednesday 19 July, 2006

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I saw another doctor at the VIS yesterday to get a second opinion on the knee and she recommended to do nothing to it fearing that it could make it worse. So I am back home again resting as much as possible. I also changed my flight (again) to leave tomorrow night at 1920hrs from Melbourne to Dubai then to Hamburg, followed by 3 trains to Horsens arriving in around 9:30pm... a nice 39 hour trip! Will be looking forward to having a good sleep by then I would think. The knee is still swollen, but no way near as much as last week, and the infection is nearly gone. Will just have to take precautions over the next few days when travelling to make sure that I don't aggravate it anymore. Apparantly the boat has been picked up safely from Copenhagen by Ken & Zac Douglas too - thanks guys. All that is missing is me!

Monday 17 July, 2006

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After doing absolutely nothing all weekend except for watching movies and the Tour de France late at night, I went back to the hospital this morning to get a check up and give me the last dosage of the super antibiotic via IV. So I have the tap out of my hand now (big relief) and am able to walk a lot easier as well. There is still an amount of swelling in the knee, but they were reluctant to take it out due increasing the risk of infection again. So for now I am on a new course of a milder antibiotic plus some Voltaren to reduce the swelling thrown in as a bonus. Still at home and still plenty of movies to watch. Have another appointment at the VIS doctors tomorrow morning to see what else they can do to help get me on the water for next week.

Friday 14 July, 2006

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Well, only a few hours after writing the post yesterday, I started to go downhill and ended up in hospital not long after. After a few blood tests and me hyperventilating afterwards, they gave me an extreme dosage of another antibiotic (of which I reacted to as well) and ended up going home around midnight.

So I am now at home (on strict instructions to do nothing) with a permanent tap in my hand, to feed me the course of these IV antibiotics for the next 7 days. Fingers crossed the infection and swelling will be clear in a few days, and hopefully allowing me to fly to Denmark on Friday night, arriving just before the opening ceremony. I just hope I have enough DVD's here at home to keep me entertained until then. Might have to watch 'The Challenge' (classic Australian 4.5 hour mini series on the 1983 Amercia's Cup Challenge) as few times for inspiration.

Thursday 13 July, 2006

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Some of you already know from old posts about the issues I have had with my knee over the last 6 months after I knocked it very hard in January and split the bursa sack over the patella wide open. Since then I have had the excess fluid taken out a couple of times to help with movement, but minimal pain luckily.

Yesterday morning I awoke with a slight pain in my knee. Within hours it had swollen up bigger than ever before and got extremely sore, ie too sore to even walk on. I went to the doctor that afternoon and found that I had an infection, and so he put me on antibiotics and strong pain killers.The infection may have started in my throat or a small cut in my leg and it has obviously spread to the knee.

Today it has swollen up even more (have a look and see what I mean) and has limited my movement to hobbling around on crutches. It is still extemely sore to touch let alone move or bend. To top it off, my whole body aches and I feel like I have the flu. I am not sure if it is drugs doing this or if I actually have the flu as well to top it off. From speaking to the doctors today, it seems unlikely that I will be able to fly on Saturday morning to head to Denmark, but rather I may have to go into hospital to get the antibiotics feed through an IV.

I am seeing a sports doctor at the Victorian Institute of Sport tomorrow to get a second opinion and see if we can reduce the swelling and the infection over the next week so I can at least fly over there late next week and hopefully race in the world championships. I am confident that I will be able to do this, as long as I can bend my knee, as I can block the pain if I have to and then worry about fixing the problem with possible surgery when I get back.

It is a real let down for me after I have put so much preparation into these championships, but there is not much I can do about that now apart from resting as much as possible.

Monday 10 July, 2006

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I sailed in a local match racing competition on Sunday at Sandringham against a few hot shot sailors, including old Sabot sailing friends like Peter Williams, Mark Turnbull and Michah Schuwalow. We were all using their reasonably new Beneteau 7.5's. I was on the mainsheet for Michah's boat and we ended up only just loosing one race of the round robin against Mark's boat. So it came down to the last race and final heat where we had to beat Peter's crew to win overall. We started and sailed really well and ended up taking home the slab of beer as first prize. It was a lot of fun and would happily do it again. Won't be long though before I get on the helm and see I how I go then.

Friday 7 July, 2006

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The wind has been up all week last week and ended up going out about 7 times in 9 days. Got some great sessions in and ended up shortening my 'boat to-do' list substaintially as well.

On Wednesday night last week I packed the boat up and dropped it off to my air-freight friends at Jupiter Air the next day. With all the equipment, gear, clothing and sails packed into and around the boat, it only cost me AUD $911 which included a $85 document fee. How good is that for air freighting a boat to the other side of the world in 3 days!!!

Saturday 1 July, 2006

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Had another great 2 hour session last night pulling off about 30 or so airbourne gybes in a row in a long downwind stint until my centerboard pushrod, pushed right through the bottom of the flap. Trying to sail downwind in 15 knots was like sailing with about 200kgs in the boat. So I made a quick repair that night only for it to fail again today not long after heading out in about 20-25 knots. Hopefully it will be fixed for good for tomorrow, although the weather is not looking too great at the moment with 25-35 knots forcasted.

Scratch that, it is now forcasted for 10-15 knots... the forecast changes quicker than the weather down here! ;-)

Thursday 29 June, 2006 - So which GPS is the fastest?

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I read with interest on the Moth UK site about the difference in peak speed readings on popular GPS units. Seems like the best way to see who is the 'speed king' is to measure the best 10 second averages like the sailboard guys do on www.gps-speedsurfing.com. Hopefully they set up a sailing version of the site soon, as I think there will be some demand for it over the next few years when more sailors start picking up GPS units. Seems like my recent max speed at Hazelwood has been giving a decent score on the Yachts and Yachting (UK) Speed Freaks web page. Still early days tho, and I am sure someone like Sam Pascoe or Ben Crocker will knock it off in the next few months. For the time being, I am going to make the most of it and gloat some more while I can! ;-)

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So we have had no wind for 3 months, and every day this week it has been some of the best sailing conditions on Port Phillip Bay I have probably ever sailed in. Great Northerly winds providing a relatively flat water and some great squirts allowing me to send my boat up to 22 knots with ease (which is unusual on open water) in tonight's two hour session. I was just loving it so much, that I didn't come in till about half an hour after the sun had set. The next three days look good as well with at least 15 knots forcasted for the entire time.

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I got around to linking to some new videos, including the full 1 hour video of the 2005 Europeans (be aware that it is 100Mb, so I hope you are on broadband) and my rather crappy interview with local Channel 31 segment - On The Water. I mentioned it before, and I will again - that is 16 year old Samantha England sailing my boat like a 'grand-master', so no, I havn't grown a pony tail. more...

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...and finally, it looks like I have been given 3-1 odds to defend my World Title by the UK Moth web site. I might put a wager on that, as that is a pretty good return! ;-) It seems obvious though that they have based these odds on last years European Championship performances, as I suppose without actually seeing the time that all of the contenders are putting into their campaign, it would be difficult to know how anyone might fair. However something I was told once always sticks in my mind when competing at top level International Moth events. Apparently the winner has always finished in the top 3 in last years event. I think I would need someone like John McAteer to check that one out, but in my experiences, I would probably agree with that.

Tuesday 27 June, 2006 - It's back!

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Finally got out for a sail on Sunday off Black Rock in a nice 10-18 knots, and sailed up to Sandringham to do some short course racing against some local 420's. Ended up nearly doing 2 laps to their 1 lap everytime. Gotta head off now and go for another sail. Wind looks good all week as well; 15-25 knots everyday!

Tuesday 20 June, 2006 - Where's the wind?

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It seems like we are not the only City/State/Country suffering a lack of wind at the moment. In Europe they seem to be having the same problem with a number of regattas loosing days to no wind. Hopefully this won't continue for too much longer over there and here, as the max wind speed we had for the 48 hours over the last weekend here was about 9 knots, and that only last a few hours early on Saturday morning.

On Saturday night, I was asked to attend Flinders Yacht Club's annual presentation night as a guest speaker. After driving around for a while, we finally found the club and was warmly welcomed with plenty of food and drinks. After showing a short video of the foiler Moth and answering a few questions, it seemed like everyone was totally blown away and as a result have probably recruited a few new or potential Mothies. Just need to find a free weekend to head down there and give them a sail.

Monday 12 June, 2006 - Can we crack 30?

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About two years ago, a few of us wondered if we could break 25 knots on a foiler Moth. Last month Sam Pascoe (GBR) clocked 26.3 knots topping Simon Payne's previous record. However yesterday I clocked a peak speed of 27.9 knots with a 10 second average of 23.3 knots, leaving most people (including me) to question whether this speed reading was a spike and if it wasn't, can we break 30 knots?

Firstly I asked Alec Stewart of Velocitek for his thoughts on a possible spiked reading on my S5...

• The 27.9 value is actually the highest average of 2 consecutive readings.
• The data is filtered to remove unrealistic accelerations.
• The 10 second average is basically 100% reliable. Given that your max is only 4.6 knots above the 10 second average, I would say that it is very credible.
• Sometimes in crashes the device will record spikes way above the 10 second average but this doesn't seem to be what happened in your case.

So with that in mind, I think that 30 knots is not unrealistic. My theory still stands that the bigger the person, the better the chance of getting a top speed. I was always amazed that Simon, Adam and Sam regularily posted speeds over my previous best of 22.9 and wondered what they were doing different to me. Well, here is my thoughts on posting top speeds on a foiler Moth...

You need flat water for starters, preferably a small lake and go out in 20-25 knots. I always thought that you would do the best speeds reaching (ie 90-120 degrees to the true wind), however this becomes difficult to manage at high speed. Once you build your speed up to around 20 knots, start bear away, but only once you are well into a decent puff of wind and can see the gust to leeward of you. You should start to see your speed go up to around 22-25 knots, and then just keep pressing the boat, sheeting in as much as you can. You'll have to be ready to move your weight forward tho, as trimming the rudder to push the nose down will cause some drag. Be very careful not to use too absolute minimal tiller at this stage too, as steering is super sensitive. You can dampen down the tiller by putting elastic over the top of the tiller if you like.

I reakon that in a 25-30 knot gust, we can hit 30 knots, but you will need to make sure that you have a bit of lift on the rudder (say 2-3 degrees AOA) to help keep the bow down at speed, as I had difficulty putting my boat back on the water doing 22-23 knots on a broad reach with a neutral AOA at one stage, even tho I had my rudder flap fully cranked and I was sitting a long way forward. A smaller main foil would definately help as well I would think. I tried to keep the boat as close to the water as possible without touching it initially too, as the higher you go, the more risk you take and the longer it will take to come back down to the water if you need to.

The only other problem is at what speed will the foils start to cavitate? I noticed some rumbling noises coming from the foils once I hit 25 knots, but at this stage I stopped looking at the GPS and started to concentrate on not destroying myself or the boat. I probably only went over 25 knots for no more than 2 seconds, before I brought the boat back down to the water to kill off some speed. Not a good idea to go stupid four weeks before sending the boat overseas for the worlds. So maybe after the worlds, a few of us might head back out to Hazelwood Pondage on a strong southerly and see how hard we can push the boats and the foils.

Anyway all this speed sailing was in just 20 minutes of stuffing around in a small squall in between races at the weekend's Sauna Sail regatta. The first day Aaron, Zac and I went out, but none of us finished the first race due to the wind dropping to nothing. The only interesting thing to come out from the day was that before the race we had around 5-7 knots, but I was still able to foil on occasions and somehow hit a top speed of 14 knots over the top of the steam rising from the heated lake (from the local power station). It was noted by a few people that you could steam coming off the foils as they threw a small rooster tail off the trailing edge.

On the Sunday we had a bit more wind of around 12-20 knots. Aaron and Zac both had breakages on their main foils during the day, but Zac's was repaired for the afternoon session, only to have the repair fail during the second race of the day.

Each race of our division started 5 minutes behind the F18's, but by the end of my three laps, I had nearly caught and passed most of them. The highlight was passing them one at a time (to windward and leeward) on a reach with their kites up! Only a few of the top guys on a Tornado and Hobie Tigers stayed ahead, but they wern't anymore than 2-3 minutes in front. Needless to say I am feeling extremely confident with my Mk4 Prowler now that I have all the configuration and teething issues sorted out. It took 8 months, but I think Moth development is a case of one step backward, and two steps forward.

Check out some of the photos from 2006 Sauna Sail...

Monday 1 June, 2006

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Well there still hasn't been much wind around, but I have had three awesome sessions in four days! On Thursday night last week, I literally left the beach at dusk and got in a good 20-30 mins of awesome foiling in flat water and 7-10 knots of wind. However by the time I started to head in (nearly dark by this time), it took me 15 minutes to sail the last 150m and get back to the shore. By then it was pitch black, but I was just thankful that I had my full length Ronstan wet suit on as that water was getting damn cold.

On Saturday night we had a fancy dress party at our place, but didn't stop me going for sail at dusk again, as this seems like the only time we get foilable wind. Had another great session for an hour or so, testing the new wand. It is very responsive and seems fast upwind as has more lift more often, but maybe a little too stiff as the ride is quite bumpy, ie like flying in a plane through turbulance.

So on Sunday I took the boat down to meet Zac and Sam at Blairgowrie in the morning (after a decent sleep in mind you from the night before). While waiting for the wind to fill in I grinded back the wand to make it more whippy and springy. Once the wind got to about 7 knots, we hit the water and flew away for the next 2 hours or so. Had a minor incident with a ripped tramp, but didn't stop us from doing 18 knots average speed over 10 seconds in 10 knots of wind! I think Sam topped the max speed of the day with 18.3 knots in a what was no more than 12 knots of wind. I also noted that with the springy wand, the ride was a lot smoother, but felt like lift was reduced as the flap was coming off sooner. So now I think I should be able to come up with a comprise on upwind speed/lift and ride comfort. Stay tuned...

Thursday 1 June, 2006

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Didn't get to sail last weekend, as you guessed it... no wind again! Unusual for this time of year, but what can you do! Well I changed my wand over to a McWand, however seeing a recent photo of Adam's boat, it looks like Adam might have got to the McWand first? Need to have a closer look.

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Ronstan have just launched a snazy looking new web site so you can now browse their entire catalogue online. But somehow it looks like I have scored my own 'Ronstan Stealth' wallpaper and screen savers. more...

Sunday 21 May, 2006 - Finally!!!

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Finally a decent weekend of foiling! Well Saturday started off okay, and Yarrek, Amac I and flew around before the start, but the wind dropped as soon as I crossed the start line with the 14's and basically low rided for the remainder of the race. On occasions the wind came up and so did the boat but with difficulty, mainly due to the choppy seas and lack of persistant wind. Amac went in not long after the start to make some adjustments and came out to meet me on my 3rd and last lap. The wind dropped even more on the way in, and when I hit the beach I noticed that both of my new stainless steel push rods in the centerboard and rudder had slipped, which meant that both flaps were in an up position most of the race, which explained my difficulty in foiling. Happy to report tho, the hull leaks seem to be finally fixed!

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On Sunday, the bay had flatten off quite a lot due to the lack of wind over night and in the morning. So I casually rigged up fixing a few things in the process. Within 5 minutes, the wind picked up to 12-15 knots and Amac and I quickly rigged to hit the water. Amac was sporting a new prototype centerboard, but it wasn't long before one side of the wings broke off leaving me to retrieve it. So Amac limped in and came back with his regular foiling centerboard. We headed upwind again and it was now obvious (after a few weeks of having doubts) that I was sailing a lot lower that Amac updwind and even slower at times. After a few on the water adjustments to the main foil cable and the gantry, I couldn't believe the difference those small adjustments made to height and speed. Amac has also been experimenting with a new wand configuration which seems to make a big difference to the gearing of the main foil adjustment. Dubbed the 'McStick' I think it will become version two of the 'May Stick', which was in effect an enhancement of the 'Ilett Wand'. After two and half hours on the water, the wind began to drop off and we headed in. Once ashore, I commented to Amac that it was probably the most productive and enjoyable sail that I had in 6 months, and to top it off, finally I could gome home without the need to repair anything, but I think it might be time to try a McStick.

Friday 19 May, 2006 - Foiler for 2012?

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So I suppose it is no big secret now that I was in Berlin two weeks ago to talk to ISAF committee members to see what interest there would be in considering a one-design foiler for a future Olympics. There is not much I can say at the moment other than most seemed very interested and enthusiastic about what the International Moth Class members have been developing over the last six years. Once such enthusiastic committee member is Carolijn Brouwer from Holland. So give her a taste of un-real sailing, Burkhard Staabs (local Mothie from Berlin) and I had arranged for Carolijn to have a sail on Burkhard's new M3 Mistress on a neaby lake. Carolijn is now sailing Tornado's, but hadn't seem to lose her dinghy skills and manage to foil on occasions in the rather gusty conditions. Considering my plane wasn't leaving for another hour and half, I decided to have a go as well, and managed to foil around for around 10 minutes in a borrowed dry suit, before we packed up and went to the airport. So I suppose you could say that I went for a fly but then I had to fly!

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By the way, if you were lucky enough to get Channel 31 in Melbourne last night, you might have caught an interview with me on a new program 'On The Water'. I probably should have done the interview later in the day as I sounded half asleep. Anyway during the promos, you might have noted that I looked rather feminine sporting a long pony tail. But don't despair, I have not gone for the 'girly' look, that was Sam England having a sail of my boat the other week. Needless to say I think she did quite well and if it wasn't the long hair, you probably couldn't tell that it was her. Apparantly you can download the episode on their web site www.onthewater.com.au. I try and get a copy and put it on my site when I can.

Thursday 18 May, 2006 - More discussion forum time wasting

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Today I was made aware of post by a foiler enthusiast in the USA, to the boat design forum and was told that I should probably respond as this bloke seem to think that foilers wern't as good as they were hyped up to be. Now normally I wouldn't bother with these things and most people have nothing better to do and have no real knowledge or evidence to back up what they are saying. So for once I conceded and wrote a lengthy reply, only to find that when I submitted it, it logged me out and I lost the entire post! Stuff that... never again will I bother. Maybe that post was never meant to go up, otherwise I probably might have started a forum war. Anyway, I think any foilers would strongly argue against this guy (as I probaby used to do against anti-foiler mothies many years ago), as he clearly has no experience in using foils in weed. Personally I have only had one issue with weed, sailing high performance boats or Moths. In my experiences, weed is easily cleared by lifting the boat as high off the water as possible and last time I raced a 49er, I beat them! Anyway, feel free to post something as I certainly could not be bothered anymore.

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Picked up the boat today from Kelly Marine today. Matt has been trying to find and fix a high pressure leak in both tanks, but it looks like the problem is solved now. It seems as though the resin didn't quite get into the outer corners of the hull and left tiny pin holes that suck in water when the boat is hot and water is cold.

Monday 15 May, 2006

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Seeing the boat wasn't ready from recent repairs, that made my decision not sail a little easier. I went down to Black Rock anyway and Amac had some new foils he was experimenting with and Yarrek had his new Prowler there too. Jarrek decided not to go out as it was a little rough for his first time out, however the wind dropped off to around 5 knots by the time of the start no one could foil anyway. Amac's new foils look very promising and quite different to any foil seen before on a Moth. Amac had a few fly-bys before the wind died, and commented that there was air rushing down the centreboard case causing a massive air pocket around the foil at speed. Obviously not a good thing, but easily fixed.

Thursday 11 May, 2006 - Bloody Knee!!!

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Just got back from the VIS doctor where he pulled out some more fluid from my swollen knee (from knocking it on the corner of my trolley handle four months ago) and gave me a cortisone in there to help reduce the swelling. Hope it is crappy weather this weekend as it doesn't look like I will be sailing. If this doesn't work, will have to have surgery after the worlds it seems.

Tuesday 9 May, 2006 - Moth.tv

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Looks like the Aussie's have been out done this time with Paul Larson's video of Sam and Alex at Foiler Town (aka - Portland Harbour, GBR). This is some of the best sailing footage I have seen. Good work fellas! more...

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On Sam's awesome 26.3 knot record, my thoughts have not changed for sometime now, I reakon that if you got a +90kg bloke on a foiler with a MSL10 in +25 knots, I reakon they could hit high 20's. And I reakon Ben Crocker is the man! The only reason why Ben weigh's more than us is that he has balls of steel. It is no different to sailboarding in that the heavier guys are much faster downwind when it blows, the only difference is that we can only use one sized sail. So anyway, we will see what happens...

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On another topic, when I started this web site (a few years ago now), I used to just write what I want and the few that read it, didn't really care. Now I am getting over 200,000 hits a month (around 9,000 visits - just goes to show what regular updates on a web site can do) and so I have to be very careful about what I write now. I hate it! If I was allowed to, I could write 10,000 words now without even thinking on a number of different topics. But I can't. This web site might end up being like every other sailing web site, ie news about what everyone else is doing and what I am not. The only exception is Sailing Anarchy of course. I might even be advised to remove this post. Ah well, we'll soon find out if this post is not here tommorow. Anyway here are a list of things I can't talk about on my own web site at the moment:
- XXXXX
- XXXXX
- XXXXX
- XXXXX, oh and I almost forgot....
- XXXXX

Wednesday 3 May, 2006

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Just an update from last Friday, looks like we have agreed on a design, builder, construction, seating arrangements in the 'God Pod', proving method and venue (Botany Bay). We have a great team with ex-Mothie John Biddlecombe starting construction in the next week or so. John has been working on LeMans cars recently in Europe and is now back with a new job... to build the fastest boat in the world. Andy Dovell has finalised design of the 29' long main hull, pod strut, pod and wing sail. We are still to work out adjustments of the sail, rudder and foils, but my job will be to squash up in the back behind sean and keep the boat at a suitable boat height. At this stage we are hoping to be in the water doing stage 3 testing by the end of August 2006. Stage 3 involves towing the boat up to an appropriate speed (around 30 knots) and let the super-cav foils kick in and hopefully sail up to 50 knots. Once we can prove this, we will then work out how we can sail the boat up to 30 knots from a standing start. At this stage we think that we will need some low speed fully-submerged t-foils to get up to the super-cav foiling speed, and then somehow 'eject' these foils from the hull and sail up to 50 knots. Easy!!! More on this later...

Monday 1 May, 2006

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Some very sad news recevied on the weekend. Ray Babbage (Scott's dad) drowned whilst surfing at his home town of Coffs Harbour last week. His on-shore race commentary and general help at future Moth Nationals will be surely missed by all.

Wednesday 26 April, 2006 - IT'S BACK ON!!!

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Got the word to head up to Sydney on Friday for another meeting with Sean Langman and Andy Dovell to discuss the world speed record attempt. Andy has nearly finished the boat design and is now working on testing it. Sean has also apparantly secured a factory to build the 40' long foiler hull and rig. At this stage we are planning to do the attempt near the runway on Botany Bay, but as mentioned in a recent interview with Sean in Australian Sailing, there will be three stages to get to the illusive 50 knots. At the moment we will be just focusing on stage 3 to prove the design and structure, ensuring that it can handle the stress and speeds. This will more than likely be done by towing the boat up to 35 knots or so and letting the super-cavitating foils kick in, taking it up to 50 knots - hopefully! Saftey and weight are also big issues, so I assume we will be looking at this closely on Friday as well. However I am not sure how much I can write about the whole project at this stage, but I will find out on Friday and either post a updates to this site or start up a new site. Stay tuned!

Tuesday 25 April, 2006 - Big Night Out

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Last night was the Victorian Institute of Sport annual awards night. I actually didn't intend on going due to a very busy schedule at the moment and all of the other scholarship holders (Glenn, Krystal, & Sarah) were overseas racing. However I was told only a few weeks ago that I should go as I was up for an award again. Fearing that I wouldn't know anyone there, I soon made friends with the other nominees sitting up the front of the huge Paladiuim Room at Crown Casino, including Jamie McDonald (Water Skiing), Kate Quigley (Softball), Monette Russo (Gymnastics) and Katie Mactier (Cycling).

I soon found out that I was up for the same 'Spirit Award' as last year, but this year up against 14 year gymnast Ashleigh Brennan who competed in Athens and Melbourne recently after recovering from injury and Jack Larner from Baseball who was also injured and has come back to score a US college baseball scholarship. Supringsly I actually won the award along with a handy cheque. Kate won the City of Melbourne Lord Mayor's Award, while Katie won the Award of Excellence as expected, from Craig Mottram and Monette Russo.

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Apologies to Scott as well, as his 2006 NSW State Championship was actaully his second Moth regatta win. I forgot that he beat me in the Queensland State Titles many moons ago when I got my first foiler.

Monday 24 April, 2006 - It's starting to get bloooody cold!

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Early start on Saturday morning, as Sam England (2005 Australian Female Youth Champion) was meeting me at Black Rock for her first go on a Moth. It was far from ideal weather, but did extremely well considering we had a strong westerly pumping in with some decent sized Port Phillip chop in rather 'cool' water temperatures. Sam was quite keen after this and is looking forward to giving it another go next weekend. Hopefully she sees it through as I think she will give a lot of Moth guys a run for their money.

Raced in the first heat of the Icicle Regatta that afternoon with Amac, Marty on his Formula (rigged with an 11m) and a few 14 footers. I led out from the start just in front of Amac, with Marty charging off to leeward, but a lot lower than Amac and I foiling in about 12-15 knots. With the windward mark about 1.2NM away, I passed all but one boat of the whole fleet that started in front of us. However that one boat was a bloody Contender that assumed we were racing a port course and so I followed despite my doubt. It wasn't long before I passed Lindsay (still heading upwind) in the 14 who confirmed my doubt that it was in fact a starboard course, and therefore giving up any possbility I had over Lindsay to beat him around the course.

By this stage my rudder linkage had come apart (again) thanks to a quick fix with some Araldite over lunch and therefore had minimal rudder flap usage which didn't help when charging downwind doing +15 knots in 1-1.5m steep chop. Luckily the boat was still sailable and I raced on the tail of Marty on his sailboard. As expected, Lindsay pulled away each sausage return, but I clawed him back on each of the windward works. Four long and freezing cold laps later, Lindsay had opened up a decent lead to take the win from me with Marty in 3rd who stuggled downwind in the dying breeze. Behind us was daylight followed by the remaining 14's and whoever else started with us. Amac had rudder and centreboard trim issues (as usual) and therefore ended up just two boat tuning against me on each upwind leg. On one occasion he actually beat me to the to top mark! Don't know what happened there, but hopefully it doesn't happen again.

Tuesday 18 April, 2006

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Tuesday 11 April, 2006

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Club Marine Sail Boat Show was on over the weekend and we put my boat on display there. Despite the weather, there was good response and we handed out a heap of posters and stickers. On Sunday the weather moderated enough to go out and do a few laps with the junior/youth fleet on Opi's and Cadets. On the way in, there was just enough wind inside a small area of the marina, to do a few fly-by's. I literally could only foil for max 5 seconds before I had to tack or gybe as it was so tight, but good fun tho. Apparantly the spectators enjoyed the show, especially after I gybed airborne and straight into an oncoming 470!

Thursday 6 April, 2006

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A date is set for the 2007 Moth Worlds in Torbole, Lake Garda, Italy - 28 May - 3 June. Could be one of the biggest and best World Championships the Moth Class has ever seen!

Tuesday 4 April, 2006

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Race duty for me on Saturday, but lucky for me is was 25-30 knots, so we called the race off and I went home to do some more work on my decking. Not a nice day to sail off Black Rock today at all!

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On Sunday morning I went down to Carrum to have a crack at their 'Cambur Motors Speed Challenge'. Seemed as though the top speed was held by a Paper Tiger catamaran at around 20 minutes for the 2 NM loop. The wind was looking good after yesterday's blow, but it was dropping quick by 10am in the morning.

I headed out as quick as I could and before I even got over the line, my foils got wrapped around the anchor line. About a minute later I was finally off low riding in stuff all wind. What a waste of time I was thinking to myself. But then I got a bit of pressure and foiled off to the rounding mark. The mark wasn't exactly laid perpendicular to the wind as it should have been, but I got around it without needing to tack and heading back ashore barely foiling.

Had to chuck in two gybes to get back to the finishing mark and was quite dissapointed with the whole thing and wondered why I even bothered. I then charged back out to sea to tell the guys on the boat to move the rounding mark and make the course a bit 'better' and have another go at it after the wind had swung 40 degrees, but by the time I got back in, the wind had gone and I had enough. I packed up as soon as I could and went to Bryn's place about 100m away for a spa to warm up.

Suprisingly though, I think I still got the best time for the season so I might be in the running for the $500 prize money. Will have to seriously contemplate doing that speed challenge again tho, as it could be so much better!

Friday 31 March, 2006

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Raced in the last twilight race of our summer last night against Amac on his Moth and a number of 14' skiffs. We had about 15 knots from the SW with choppy seas and Lindsay Irwin on his 14', Amac and I charged off the line to the port lay line. I rounded the mark first ahead of Lindsay and just held them off to the bottom mark. We then pulled away from the fleet on the next lap, but I had established a bit of a lead from Lindsay which increased out to about a minute or so by the last lap to take the win. Amac had some 'stability' issues on the last lap but just beat home Jim Scott on the F15 with new masthead kite.

Tuesday 28 March, 2006

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Saturday morning looked like a 'pearler' of a day, 20 knots from the north, flat water and 30 degrees. So after some work on my neck timber deck at home, I rushed down to Black Rock to get in some foiling before the wind shut down in time for the sea breeze. Good turn out with 5 Moths there, but by the time I got out there, it was barely foilable, however I did clock 18.2 knots in what was no more than 10 knots of wind before the start.

By the time we started, it was down to 5 knots and dropping fast. I headed out to sea lowriding to get some wind that no one else saw, which allowed me to foil to the top mark for about 200m to round ahead of the fleet, which included some fireballs, tasars, etc. Craig, Yarrek and Steve went middle right and stuck in bad air. I then foiled another 400m downwind until the wind completely dissapeared. The next leg took +30 mins and was painful in some many ways, the worst was getting passed by an OK!

With only 20m to the finish line after a shortened course and against the tide, it would have taken me another 30 mins to cross the line, so I paddled home and got out of there as quick as I could to do some more work on my deck.

Friday 24 March, 2006

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Great sail last night at Black Rock's twilight race. Unfortunately dalight savings is nearing the end and only one more week of twilight sailing. :-(

Tuesday 21 March, 2006

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Had club racing on the Moth at Black Rock on Saturday, along with the OKs, Contenders and Steve in his Moth Skiff. Couldn't foil at all upwind on the first leg, but held off the fleet to the top mark, until the wind had picked up enough to fly from then on, all the way to the end of the rather lonely 3 lap race. I believe I won by about 45 minutes from Bruce Ashton's OK in second place, which meant I was packed up and gone by the time most had made their way in. Couldn't really say that I had a good race against anyone, but I am finding racing against the VMG numbers on a new Velocitek GPS I am playing with quite interesting. It certainly lets you know if you are doing any better by low-riding or foiling upwind in moderate winds or how low you should go off the breeze. results...

Tuesday 14 March, 2006

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Ended up 19th overall in the A Class State Titles out of a very good turn up of 33 boats (much better than my 30th or so last year anyway). First two days were mostly moderate winds and had a few ok results, but after some rough weather on Sunday night, I decided to sail my Moth on Monday morning in their last race against the strongest Victorian Moth fleet we have seen in a while, racing in their State Titles as well also from McCrae. I was hoping for some strong winds to come in, however this never happened, and the wind actually dropped off leaving sloppy sails to try and foil in and me being annoyed that I could have sailed my A Class to improve on my 16th position overall after Sunday's racing. Amac won every race of the Moth's (apart from the one race I did) and seems to be sailing better than ever, while Mic Boode got second overall in my boat, and Craig Smith third. Gin attempted her first regatta ever, but didn't quite make it around the course in the first race on Saturday to score a result (and Victorian Ladies Champion to go with it), but did a stirling effort to make it to the top mark on a 40 year old scow recently restored by Rainer. BTW - Glenn Ashby won every race of the A's that he sailed in too so is obviously still on form despite recent a recent injury. results...

Monday 6 March, 2006

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Great day on the bay on Saturday, but no wind! So Amac and I waited ashore while everyone drifted about for an hour until the wind came in. Amac and I headed out to join the race before I had to head back in after 15 mins due to a join failure in my rudder gantry. Ended up going back out on a 29er (for the first time) with some Sabot kids on wire. Not a bad boat, just very heavy and slow. Could be a worth contender for a youth boat at Black Rock as they are very robust, however I don't the Bethwaite boats go down very well there as it has been a big 14' skiff club for so many years. Therefore I could see the foiler Moth getting a vote over a 29er easily, just need to beef them up a bit in a few spots and provide a solid case for them to consider.

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Gin had her final sailing lesson at McCrae on Sunday, followed by an afternoon race, so I did some work on the A Class and went out for with them in a nice 10-15 knot southerly. Am now using a big head Ashby sail, which was built for another fly weight A Class sailor - Tim Daddo, so it suits me just fine. Only problem is I am still completely overpowered in about 12 knots.

Friday 3 March, 2006

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Black Rock club racing tomorrow it seems as the gang is all back including Azza who has repaired his broken foils, but with the exception from Craig who's boat is still being repaired I believe.

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Looks fairly likely that IMCA Italy will be hosting the 2007 World Championships next year at Torbole, Lake Garda. So far no country has opposed the change from Holland to Italy and I think we should expect a much bigger fleet than in the past as we should have a lot more foilers on the water by then.

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Just waiting on confirmation from the organisers of the 2006 Moth Worlds in Denmark to see if Aussie/Danish Princess Mary will be coming to our presentation and closing ceremony. That will surely raise some eyebrows!

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Like most yacht clubs around Australia at the moment, Black Rock seems to be struggling to retain youth sailors (15-18 year olds) in dinghy sailing. However there has to be a solution and as a result, Black Rock have responded with a bit of a crisis meeting next week to discussion possible direction.

Personally I don't think traditional youth boats like a 420 do it for anyone anymore, except for maybe the hard core sailors who want to go to the Olympics in a 470. Then there is the 29er which is not a bad boat at all I must say (even if I have never sailed one). The big advantage of double handers is that they do allow for more interaction with different crew members, but there will always be the problem of the reliabiliy of a crew (it must be hard to get two non-highly committed youths available at the same time).

I maybe wrong here, but I believe in the single hander fleet, the Laser Radial is a clear winnner at the moment. But the current fleet numbers are probably only about 10% of the total number of sailors that took up sailing before they were 15. Where have they all gone and why?

I think that youth's lose interest these days in sailing after 16 or 17 (like I did whe I was that age) due to the following reasons:

• costs of a boat or membership (if independent)
• time restraints due to school or part time job
• lack of girls/guys to interact with
• lack of transport or trailer
• lack of excitement in any current affordable club/fleet boat; or
• inconsistent weather or conditions

I would be curious to know whether I am close here or whether I am a long way off the mark. However, if I am close, I think that club's should have a vision/mission for youth's like the following:

To allow regular use of fast, exciting and simple boats for training and racing, at miminal cost, and in a socially inviting atmosphere.

Ideally I think we need more modern and exciting boats at a club for either part-time/casual use by members on a web based/SMS booking system (as this is the only way they communicate these days), or a charter arrangement from the club, where the club buys or leases the boats, with the intention that they enjoy it so much and they want to continue doing it by getting their own boat when they save up enough cash when they have a full time job.

So now here comes my pitch for the foiler Moth as the tool to resurge youth sailing...

Sure the moth maybe a big step up from any other dinghy like a Laser or a 420, but we know it is possible for any youth to jump in these days and get foiling after an hour. No one goes out for a social sail on a Laser or 420 these days, but we certainly do on a foiler Moth. With no kite and trapeze as well, it makes rigging simple, not to mention the boats being small and light for transport or launching. Cost is a small issue, but as the voice said in the movie 'Field of Dreams' 'if you build it, he will come'. Clearly these boats have the 'wow' factor which is lost on most dinghies these days, so now all we need to do is get some more boats built and on the water!

Monday 27 February, 2006

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Headed down to Black Rock on Saturday morning, rigged the boat, and then a massive front come through dumping a heap of rain, thunder, lightning and wind on us. Needless to say, the race was postponed and most proceeded to pack up and head up to the bar. However I didn't hang around to see if there was actually going to be any race that day.

Friday 24 February, 2006

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Got the boat back yesterday with the new rudder gantry fix from Matt. Hopefully the simple solution of glueing in a stainless steel washer will do the trick!

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Also got a new Velocitek S5 GPS sent to me this week for testing. Big difference is that it has a new VMG tool that allows you to project a line to windward of the start line as so you are always sailing upwind or downwind knowing how fast you are getting to the next mark.

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And finally Simon Payne (GBR) clocked 23 knots on his first outing on his new Prowler the other week. The air must be so cold and thin up there that it allows them to sail at higher speeds with less resistance. Wonder how quick we'll be going at Denmark in that case? ;-) Looks like there are few more members in the 20 knot club now too. more...

Monday 20 February, 2006

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No sailing for me again this weekend. Too much stuff to do around the house and Gin had her second sailing leason at McCrae on the Pacer. The Moth is in for some minor repairs and upgrades at the moment anyway. I am still having problems with the carbon rudder gudgeon wearing an eliptical hole from the bottom strut pin. Hopefully Matt from Kelly Marine can work something out for me.

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Scott has put some video on YouTube from the Moth Nationals. Video 1 and Video 2.

Monday 13 February, 2006

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Sick as a dog today and yesterday. Couldn't even move let alone get some house painting done. Don't think it helped sailing a 14 on Saturday, followed by another photo shoot with Thierry on the Moth either. I replaced Roger Blasse who helms his new 14 with Andrew Gilligan, but Roger is off sailing his OK in the Worlds at the moment (he actually won the Nationals last week, giving Black Rock Yacht Club their 4th National Championship this summer along with Lindsay on the 14, Marcus on the Contender and myself on the Moth). Both my starts sucked, but we climbed back during each of the two lap races to finish with a 5th and 3rd (just in front of Lindsay in the second race) in 10 boat fleet. Not a bad boat to sail, bit slow off the mark, but I could get used to it. I think their foils need a bit of work tho. They require a lot of effort to adjust them and feels quite dragy at times. If it were me, I would be using a smaller wing closer to the bottom of the rudder as there is more moment down lower and less drag with a smaller wing. Dunno tho, maybe someone has tried it already and it didn't work? I also met Peter Moor (ex Moth and 14 World Champion I believe) who was out having a play with Mark Elmsworth (also an ex-Mothie) on his 14. Wonder how long before I stray to the more comfortable style of a bigger skiff with foils?

Thursday 9 February, 2006

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Amac and I went off Black Rock after work in a nice and warm 20 knot northerly, while Thierry Martinez came down to take some photos. Check out the Gallery for all his Moth photos including those of the UK boys. more...

Monday 6 February, 2006

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Went out off Sandringham this morning for a photo shoot with Ronstan. Not the best conditions with 20-25 knots on shore and 2 meter breaking waves. Got the photos and went straight in as I didn't feel like hanging out there for too much longer, especailly after probably one of the biggest and hardest crashes I have ever done in my life. Michah thought it was pretty funny, but I wasn't laughing. Not sure what the photos are for yet, but I think they have something new and secret planned. Stay tuned!

Sunday 5 February, 2006

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Gin and I went down to McCrae on this morning where Gin had her first sailing lesson and steer of a boat (Pacer unfortunately). Another first was that I actually didn't go on the water either, as I am still trying to rest this troubling knee of mine. Swelling is still there, just hope it is right for this week.

Friday 3 February, 2006

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Took up Sebastien Josse's offer last week to go out for a sail on ABN Amro 2 yesterday, and ended up driving leisurely for half the day around Port Phillip Bay. Later in the afternoon, the wind got up a bit so we put up the big mast head kite up doing 18.5 knots in 18 knots of wind, showing off for media who were snapping away at Ricky Ponting who was driving Amro 1 for a minute or so. Couldn't resist the urge to roll over the top of him as he was steering all over the place with their big kite up. All the other VO70's were on the water too for training (except Brasil 1 who is still undergoing repairs), including Skandia Wild Thing who was two boat tuning against the newly painted Brunel (hardly close in speeds tho). Seems like there are still some keen VO70 guys still keen for a sail on a foiler Moth, so looks like Amac and I might have to schedule a day next week to take them out before they head to New Zealand.

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Went to the doctors again today to try and see if I can get some explaination on why my knee is so swollen, as I still have no pain. So he stuck a needle in and drew out some fluid. Hurts more now than it did before! So probably no sailing this weekend, instead rest might be in order. Might go and watch the in shore race up the bay tho if we get time.

Monday 30 January, 2006

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Skandia Geelong Week has been and gone for another year. I won two races on handicap (racing off a yardstick of 83 which is lower than a 49er) but all the other races were very light or patchy winds meaning that there was a lot of time spent sitting in the water getting passed by Formula 15's, OKs, 420's and Tasars or fighting for height upwind. I didn't even go out on the last day due to a complete lack of wind and the race committee's lack of ability to postpone the race on shore, so as a result I lost my 2nd place overall on Saturday, dropping back to 5th overall. results...

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On a more positive note, a couple of guys from ABN Amro 2 came down to Geelong on the Thursday to have a ride on my boat. Sebastien Josse was so keen, it looks like he'll be buying the boat after the Denmark Worlds. download video...

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Scott sounds like he has converted a few more up in Sydney too. more...

Wednesday 25 January, 2006

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Download the video from the weekend's High Performance Exhibition Racing as part of the Volvo Ocean Race - Melbourne Stopover. more...

Monday 23 January, 2006

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Interesting day yesterday at the Docklands Volvo exhibition racing with 5-30 knots, 43 degrees and a 150m course to race around! The foilers turned a few heads, but the heat steered most away from being outside at all. I ended winning all 3 races from Robo, then Amac then Zac. Ended up clocking a max speed of 22.9 knots too in a nice gust (but ran out of room to really send it in the 5 knot speed limited area), but better still, clocked 21.2 knots as the best 10 second average! Have got some video that Gin took, and will put some on the web as soon as possible.

Thursday 19 January, 2006

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Phil Stevenson's report from 2006 Australian National Titles along with overall results and gear usages from all competitors. more...

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Looking forward to racing this Sunday at Victoria Harbour for the Volvo Round the World stop-over in front of some big crowds hopefully. We are expecting a hot day too (41 degrees) with a strong and gusty Northerly wind. Racing will start around 1pm for us, with four foilers expected - Amac, Robo, Zac and myself. At 4pm the top two boats from the Moth, i14 and F18 racing with go head to head and race for glory! more...

Tuesday 17 January, 2006

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My birthday today. Gin got me a drop saw with a laser eye for building the new deck out the back of our house... hint hint. Scored a cool motorcross jersey as well from her parents, plus I got the whole season 3 of South Park from my parents. Can't get enough of South Park!

Friday 13 January, 2006

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Bloody Friday the 13th!!! I went out for a sail with Amac to do some tuning and he lost a bolt from his outrigger, so I tipped over near him to help him fix it to get back in. Then I accidently stand on my boom, and it folds in half! This super light boom that Brett Burvill made me was a beauty, but it wasn't meant for standing on when under heaps of load from the vang. So back to Victorian Sailing Supplies for more repairs, as I don't think Craig and Amac have given Matt enough work to do yet. ;-) You're a legend Matt! (NB - Craig was towing his Moth home from the Nationals when he was involved in a four car pile up, which resulted in a smashed up transom.)

Monday 9 January, 2006

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My report from the 2006 Australian National Titles. This was my third Australian National Title, but was by far the least controversial, which is nice for a change. more...