Weston Grand Slam

[Banshee Ambulance]

dave ching is looking for a medium/heavy wind crew but im not reli that heavy to be honest, about 70kg

I'd sugest talking to him. I think weight is not really the issue when it comes to heavier weather !

It's more of a case of 'How tight can you hold on?' isn't it? 

John, really sorry about letting you down last minute. As I said, project has sort of taken over. The offer of a uni visit still stands if you are still thinking of Southampton, if we leave it till after exams we could have a sticky weekend too as there is now a shell in my garage! 

[john_hamilton]

how was the first day?
i think ill be joining you guys on monday

[phil_kirk]

We're heading down saturday. 1st start is 1pm. Looks like 14-16 knots dropping to 8 knots by the end of the second race.
Sunday looks drier but wind more or less 15 knots.  Monday add a couple more knots.

If E-numbers is a bit too much for us we would be happy to see the slug shell and share the benifits of our experience with you Rob.

[john_hamilton]

what time is monday start?

[MK]

SIs i have say 12 o clock start all 4 days, as for day one, chains broken, dogs everywhere. We didn't do the first race, but started the second when it dropped a bit, soon before it went to full survival mode again, 25 gusting 29 on sotonmet, no major breakages, so a success, managed the rip a rivet out of the foot loop when we wiped out with me still firmly attached..

[roland_trim]

Sat am - Lymington
Sounds like the set of zulu. Natives less agitated than during the night, but guessing it is still fairly windy at weston.
 

[simon_jones]

How did the weekend go? any news.

[Tim Noyce]

Our sailing was cut a little short after Matt twisted his ankle on day one as he was still attached in a foot loop when we wiped out in a big gust. We persevered on Saturday and went out again but after realising that he couldn't put any weight on his leg we were really struggling in the testing conditions! Myself and Dave went out for a blast on Saturday afternoon in the SK and did 4 laps (one practise lap as we kept going after the general recall!) We both realised that although on paper there are a lot of similarities between the SK and a cherub, it was really a completely different animal. More like an 18 than a Cherub... Most enjoyable all the same though!

E-Numbers joined the party and got on the water. Was good to see the boat being sailed as it looked excellent. Unfortunately the conditions were testing with big winds and bigger gusts... not the best time to be trying to get to grips with a skinny 05 sailed boat! Stu and Ross made it out in Ronin but also found the conditions tricky as they are still learning the ropes in the new boat. Smiles all round though.

Sunday we decided to get some boat building jobs out the way so one legged Matt and myself got on and did lots of laminating. We made a rotating gantry with the E5 mould as kindly leant to us by the Lees, a sleeve for a t-foil rudder stock, some carbon plate and a carbon fibre reinforced broom handle tiller.* We initially decided to use a florescent tube to laminate round for the tiller as it looked perfect and was very smooth, but unfortunately after the first layer a savage gust blew through the garage and blew it onto the floor smashing the bulb! At this point with the last of the UD carbon wet out we needed to find something quick. grabbed a broom handle, taped it and finished the job. Come Monday morning we realised that broom handle removal wasn't going to be a quick and easy manoeuvre having tried many different ideas! On later inspection we spotted 3 or 4 better looking mandrels which we had missed in the excitement of the broken bulb! Oh well...

In the mean time Shiny hit the water with a guest crew... but not sure of the exact details here as I was busy in a garage getting high on the good stuff!

Monday was uber windy (but sunny) so all concerned decided to have an early pack up and hit the road. Racing was held for one race and some of the less extreme boats made it out for some spectacular racing. John came down to sail Shiny but conditions meant that we could only stand around and chat boats, which was equally useful for the budding boat builders / bimblers.


(* I will get the broom out at some point!)

[john_hamilton]

nice picture, couldnt quite see the details in the light on matts iphone. looking nice

[phil_kirk]

E-NUMBERS experienced her first race on Saturday at weston.

We missed our first start after deciding to rake the mast back to make her more managable.  On our first outings at chew we found her to be powerful in the light airs and improve the ballance on the helm.

Whilst re setting the jib sheeting angle we missed the first start but went out for a blast anyway.  Upwind was ok and fast. She powered through the chop and we survived the tacks.  We were sailing in more wind than we had previously so it was good to see that we ould manage the conditions.
We followed the racing fleets but stayed out of their way.  The bear away went ok after we talked ourselves through it and we hoisted without a hitch. We then realised the other spinny sheet was rigged outside of the tack line so dropped before the jybe point.

We reached back to the club house and did the same again.  whilst trying to get in we did about 5 capsizes.

after a break we took part in the second race.  The pre start was a bit scary and we were much closer to other boats than we had been before.

We found it is difficult to sail an e5 slowly unless we let the t foil off a bit. and kept catching up the B14's. After several general recalls we set off up the beat safely towards the back of the fleet. We were moving fast and were defnitely catching some B14's and some other boats.  We could even see Dave and Tim in the SK4 ahead.

We delayed our hoist whilst trying to work out where the spreader mark was  and let the fleet get away.  We capsized on the gybe and i sat on the tiller extension.  This was our race over and with a 2 foot tiller extension we would find it even harder to control the boat.

This was fixed over night thanks to Dave and Lara's garage and materials.

SUnday was windier so we helped Weston counting the boats through the line.
Monday was windier still so we packed up early and went to check out Nettley Abbey.

[Banshee Ambulance]

Sunday we decided to get some boat building jobs out the way so one legged Matt and myself got on and did lots of laminating. We made a rotating gantry with the E5 mould as kindly leant to us by the Lees, a sleeve for a t-foil rudder stock, some carbon plate and a carbon fibre reinforced broom handle tiller.* We initially decided to use a florescent tube to laminate round for the tiller as it looked perfect and was very smooth, but unfortunately after the first layer a savage gust blew through the garage and blew it onto the floor smashing the bulb! At this point with the last of the UD carbon wet out we needed to find something quick. grabbed a broom handle, taped it and finished the job. Come Monday morning we realised that broom handle removal wasn't going to be a quick and easy manoeuvre having tried many different ideas! On later inspection we spotted 3 or 4 better looking mandrels which we had missed in the excitement of the broken bulb! Oh well...


(* I will get the broom out at some point!)

Which boat is this for? Is there a new ship on the way? Also, can I borrow the gantry mould?

[john_hamilton]

i think the mould is the Lee's and i think tim made the gantry for badgers

[Tim Noyce]

True. I am cutting the solid gantry off of the Badger and fitting this new rotating system.

The mould is Will and Lucys. Dave and Lara now have it.

[phil_kirk]

Sounds like a gantry making sticky weekend is in the offing!

[john_hamilton]

can i have one