49er Update

It seems all the feedback coming out regarding the new 49er rig is unexpected. Prior to the rig change we were told that information that was given prior to the construction of the new rig, the longevity of 49ers could be improved by changes to the life of the rig and the sails, but this seems to be pretty much crap.

From what I’ve heard from the guys using the rigs in Hamilton Island with the AST, the boats are not as fast with the new rigs. Although they have found some ways of minimising the speed difference it seems to require little D1 tension and a busload of shroud tension. To cut a long story short, the rig will last longer but the enormous strain on the hulls means the boat life is compromised. It seems I was a little quick to jump the gun and assume that the new rig change would make the boats cheaper. Sure a $10K rig will last longer than the current/conventional rigs and thus a saving could be made. But the need to replace a +$25 hull every year pushes the prices up.

Once again we are seeing a failure to allow high perfromance sailing to be achieved in an Olympic class. Moth 2012 anyone?

Surely, if the 49er one day ceases to be an Olympic class it will become just as defunct as the Flying Dutchman or indeed the Tornado, where prices mean that noone wants to sail them.

It makes me wonder if boatbuilders understand the cost/demand ratio at all.

GOING OFFshore

This season I’m going to be doing a bit of offshore racing in the absence of doing pretty much the other kinds of sailing I’m supposed to be doing.

I’ve been asked to do a couple of Commodore’s Cup races out of RPAYC and I’ll be doing the Sydney-Coffs Harbour race in January.

I’m not really sure how I’ll go with the offshore racing. The sleep deprivation could be a problem but the 100% committment required to succeed in such races gives me a bit of incentive.

The only major issue is that the boat I’m sailing on is coming first on the yearly offshore racing results. The pressure is on.

Long Long time no blog

There is a reason that I haven’t blogged in a while. There is nothing to blog about. Since our head on crash at Woollahra a couple of months ago I haven’t really done any sailing and the 49er is in the backyard gathering dust.

The last time I got on the water was for the Port Stephens Winter in Paradise Regatta aboard none other than a Tasar. That was an interesting experience, but given that they go slow as all hell I don’t think I’ll be joining that campaign trail for a while (until I’m 75 at least).

I’ll blog when there is something interesting to say. Could be a while on that one.

Long time no blog

It’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here, in fact I have hardly used the Internet since my computer ceased functioning properly about a month and a half ago. Anyway, here’s an update.

Winter sailing at Woollahra starts in a couple of weeks and we’ve been sailing sporadically for about a month and a bit, so it will be good to get back into fleet racing again, albeit will be slightly cooler than the last time I sailed a 49er race; the worlds.

We’ve began preparation for the Nationals in Perth in Januray 2009, and I’ve begun to run through the logistics of getting the boat to and from Perth. Getting it there is relatively easy. Getting it back will be tougher and I’m likely to have to pack any container by myself as Mitch has to rush back to do the 16 nationals. Not looking forward to that.

It looks certain we will also be going to Lake Garda next year for the worlds. We’re pretty keen to go over there and give things a good go.

We’ve also been weighing up the rig options and we’re going to try and get the new carbon rig as early as possible. By as early as possible I mean as early as it is clear that there are no underlying faults in the rigs that are produced in the early batches. As such the topic of a new boat has come up. The aim is to have a new boat for Garda, although we’re currently holding out until our skills, finances and the changes to the rig and wings are finalised.

All in all things are going smoothly, but rather slowly but that is expected given that we are a new team and going through some teething stages; nothing time on the water can’t fix.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have to go and buy a wetsuit top… I hate the cold but these things have to be done.