Heavy lifting
The 18 footer season started yesterday with
a nice easy warm-up on the Harbour in a 12 knot Nor-Easter. We
started the race well and led for a while, before a right-handed
saw a few boats slip by, and a dodgey layline at the top let
through a few more. We raced around the track with John/Tom/Sam on
Panasonic swapping places a few times before they eventually beat
us to the end. The fleet was only small, with most of the new boats
still unfinished, and a lot of boats still in transit from San
Francisco.
So… not too bad, but not that flash either.
I’m going to go back to the gym even more than before now though,
with the lift out of the water requiring way way too much effort.
Apparently I’m going to have to get used to the constant bruises on
the back of my neck and shoulders from where the boat is supported.
That’s what we in the sailing world call fun by the way.
The boat we have is ok, faster than last year, but still a way off
all the shiny new boats. It’s not the Rag from last season, but the
one before that - so it’s done a bit of work. It needs a good going
over to make everything work properly, but to do that we need to
throw a few k at it - which all of us seem a little reluctant to
do.
It’s going to be a good season by the looks, a lot of new people, a
lot of new boats. A lot of work to be done before we’re on the pace
around the course!
And to keep my occupied in the Saturdays when I’m not racing the 18
- the 49er - which of course I’m yet to get.
If anyone finds a good one on the market - give me a call.
