by GJD » Thu Jan 13, 2011 6:19 pm
Well, summer came and went pretty quick. While we had our moments our there, I certainly have a lot to learn in order to sail this thing to its rating. Several problems, skipper who yelled to much at other boats, lack of crew (maybe related?), frankensail for a main, LOL. Despite all that, it really was fun and I did develop a good core group to move forward into next season.....with the promise of no communications to the outside world while racing :)
I had a trailer built so if the financial gods permit, I might get out for a US event for next year. Thinking Mac. My little girl is growing up quickly and of course she will pretty much determine a racing schedule but I am sure but we get out regularly at the club to mix it up with the J35's, Santa 30, and I forget what Steve Green's boat is - but "spectrum" rates 144 and destroys me on a regular basis.
To be fair, we didn't use a watch once on the start and pretty much set out to build crew and have some fun. The trouble came when I as a small boat sailor actually expected people to do spins. I will never get into an online shouting match (its bad enough onthe water) but what is the deal? How is it possible that I am the only boat to do spins all year?? (Once for a mark, and once due to an override on the winch taking around the windward and fowling.)
So the plan next year is to suck it up, not care. But the secret plan is that I have taken about 600 - 800 LBS of crap off the boat, the bottom was never scrubbed and my new main has arrived. My forestay length was only 40 feet, as soon as I got up to 15 knots I was over powered. So I am going to 40'4", adding the other 400 LBs of crew, and going out to get beat up again :)
I am also buying a protest flag and designating a crew member (of the calm nature) to enforce the rules. It sucks because our protest nights are on a non-race night so you lose another night during the week. It also breaks a key rule I have always lived by - don't protest at club races. Unfortunately with a boat this big, it now costs a lot of money to go out and sail against folks that probably haven't spun a boat in 10 years.