No mince pies?

Most of last week was spent in the office, working on Filmaker, a software programme I am using to create an online database for our sailors to access. This has meant sitting at the desk for hours on end, not easy when there is a good breeze blowing and my dream boat, the Mini, sitting quietly in the Yacht Haven. I was lucky enough to escape for a sail on Thursday morning though, when Nikki and I took out the guys from Sailspy (a UK dealer for GO-PRO), to get some cool film and photos of the Mini in action.

SailSpy were very kind,  giving Nikki the latest GO-PRO to record our experiences in the Mini this season; she is going to get some exciting stuff when she does her solo, 1000nm qualifying passage- as long as the camera isn't lost overboard! In the New Year there will be some planning to do with the graphics on the boat, to add a couple of GO-PRO stickers on and touch up the Artemis branding.

The next dose of excitement for me came on saturday, as I was at home this weekend, sailing my RS 700 dinghy. The RS 700 is described as 'a super quick trapezed genneker weapon- yet it is also the most user friendly single handed skiff by far'. Clearly I fell for this selling pun! Most sailors in the fleet average 75-85 kg, a good 15 kg + heavier than me. I had a hard time launching on Saturday; with an onshore breeze and my rig raked right back I found the boat turning up into the wind the whole time, while also sinking (it has a minor leak issue). After six tacks I still hadn't made it out past the jetty, ending up capsizing on it, and nearly wiping out an entire family and their RS Feva. My friend came to the rescue though, and then I was off, avoiding any major incidents for the rest of the day.

 

Some of the boats in action at the 2006 Worlds

  I'm hoping over Christmas that I will be able to spend some time fixing the leak, replacing a couple of blocks, cleats and halyards, and giving my carbon mast a good haul over and touch-up. I have nearly one a club race before, against the big old men- so I'm determined to get my boat sorted and too trapeze better, with the aim of being capable enough to do an open event on the sea. The RS fleets do a lot of racing on Lake Garda, in Italy, where I competed at the 2006 RS Feva worlds with my sister. To get back out there at some point in the 700 would be a dream- clear water, predictable winds, water snakes and the most scrumptious ice-cream I've ever tasted, it's a pretty special place to sail!

The RS 700 in full planing mode

The weekend was wrapped up with the annual Queen Mary Christmas dinner, after racing around a tree shaped course, which resulted in some interesting mark roundings, and an endless number of kite hoists and drops. The food was good; a bit of salmon, some sort of nut roast dish and cheesecake, but unfortunately no mince pies! However with the OC office party in a few days time, perhaps I will get one then!


                                                                       
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                                  ....how I spend most of my time!