Mini madness!

Since the Mini was launched back on the water it has been quite an energetic few days. Over the past week I have been out training with Nikki, while the boys sailed on the Figaros. Spending a solid three days focusing on the basics- straight line speed, tacks, gybes, hoists and drops, we both now feel much more confident in the boat. At first we were a little clumsy, with the two of us bumping into each other as we moved around the the tiny cockpit. To tack, the crew has to sit on their knees, back against the mainsheet, ducking and diving under the boom; while the helm squats, awkwardly reaches behind them for the backstay while at the same time trying to steer the boat effectively through the wind and adjust the traveller to set the main properly. After a few goes we finally got the hang of it, finding that through looking back at some video that coach, Mike Hart took, the boat turns a lot slower than you think!

Gybes are a similar carefully timed operation, only with a lot more to do; setting the pole straight, sorting out the sheets so they're in the right place, and then steering under the kite so that you can goose-wing, before finally completing the gybe. It's great fun, although I imagine going to be 10 times harder in some real breeze! We had an opportunity to also look at a few more of our sails that we have in storage; two of the jibs we have are designed with no battens and overlap the shrouds, so require a completely different set-up the reefable jib which we will use for most of the racing season. It was pretty exciting launching the biggest kite we have, which swamps the boat; when your steering you can't see underneath it at all, which is a little daunting when your blasting along in the Solent, as there is a lot of traffic around!

One of the great things about the Mini is the lightness of everything- you can carry three sails down to the boat in one hit, whereas on the Figaro it is quite a task just getting the genoa on deck. Hosting the kites and jibs is not too bad either, with a few hard pulls and your raring along. Despite the loads being light though, your kept on your toes the whole time; one small lapse of concentration downwind and you're easily over on your ear, having broached out. You need your wits about you the whole time!

Below you can watch a short video summarizing the week's training, aptly called 'Mini madness'; it is quite an addictive little boat to sail, and pretty crazy when it takes off downwind!

Over the weekend I enjoyed a nice rest away from boat work and the office, cycling around the Island with Mark, Jack and some of the OC Sport team. In total we did 64 miles, starting around 9am and finishing at 4, just before it got dark. We even had the Artemis Van for support, which was full of cookies and cake....yummy! The ride was brilliant, with sunshine and not too many cars. Plus my chain only fell off once and I think I have finally learnt how to change gear a bit more effectively. Can't wait for the Sportive I am doing in December, which will take a familiar route!