Its that time of year again when you are not allowed to eat ouside, or smoke or generally do anything. Ramadan is fast approaching the UAE and Dubai Moth fleet. Thankfully I am going to be away at the Euro’s for ten days of it…… which is a bloody good thing. 80 odd entries is a very good turn out and will make the start line pretty interesting if its windy.
I have not sailed for three weeks now, its just too hot and there is no point going sailing in 50 degree’s to get sunstroke and learn nothing. Its not even worth it to try and keep sharp, so I am flying into the Euro’s on the Thursday and will hopefully be sailing late friday night. Spend most of saturday on the water too. I am not sure I am going to get involved in the dash for cash… I have never been very excited by it to be honest and I do not think its a particularly fun experience worrying about crashing into other people is not what I’m into. I only took part in the US dash for cash half heartedly and didn’t do the one in Dubai as I had the flu. I’d rather go crusing with my friends and just go sailing, funny what money does in the world.
I got my first speeding ticket in my new car last night.. that didn’t take long. Woopsie, I was in a bad mood and driving pretty quickly, as you can in Dubai without fear of the PO PO pulling you up. Good thing here is I won’t loose my license. Its more of a wallet bashing.
I am moving house next week as well… again… all in all, I am so farking broke at the moment I could do without the trip to Switzerland, but I am committed I suppose.
Anyways people.. Peace.
So i just bought a new car. I got a Subaru Impreza WRX, which I am looking forward to getting tomorrow. Not sure its gonna fit any of my sailing kit in there but whatever. I’m very jealous of everyone in Europe doin so much sailing as we are on our off season, I really cannot be bothered to go on the water.
Having said that, not long till I jump on a plane for the Euro’s. I’ve been listening to a lot of Hill Top Hoods’ album of late and I recommend to anyone that likes hip hop to get it on the go.
Now, what upgrades can I do to the new ride… undercar neon lights perhaps…. or new air filter… or new engine tune…. oh dear, another can of worms opened.
I have just about got used to be being heavier. I have been trying to work out the main difference’s that it has cause me.
Firstly I am a lot stronger, which makes life so so so much easier with vang and downhaul. I have had to shorten my bridle a bit to make the adjustments.
I am also now actually able to put the bow down through gusts intead of just dying and not taking full advantage to get across them. Being heavier means that I cannot sail my boat as heeled to windward as I used to, when the rudder tips come out there is a much more pronounced effect for some reason. before I could float the rudder through waves and not really have it affect my sailing but now I need to make sure its in all the time. I think it stems from when the rudder tip comes out you need to bear away slightly to keep your power on and keep the flow attached. with being heavier I need to pull away further to keep the power, especially if all this happens in a lull. Sailing the boat flatter negates this problem but I need to sail lower upwind in general now, not a major as I have never had a problem with height upwind, maybe I am actually sailing closer to where I should be now instead of sacrifcing speed for height. Its taken a while to figure out new modes with the sail, especially downwind where I have been struggling a little really, but it seems to be coming together. From going from blistering downwind at the Dubai Worlds to not really knowing whats what has been frustrating.
The boat seems to make much more creaking noises now, which is a touch unerving but whateva rite!? If it breaks I’ll pay someone to fix it 
. None if this up to my elbows in carbon in 50 degrees. So its the UK nationals this weekend in Torquay. I think Simon or Arnaud will win it, one of those two is going to turn up in Australia with a lot of titles under their belt I think.
Righto, I know there will be others that enter but whateva, I’m doin a form guide because I need a healthy dose of tinternet mothage as it was 53 degree’s the other day and I have had a rubbish week. Do you ever have one of those weeks where nothing seems to go as you would like… I just had one… It was topped by me going to see Karate kid, which one of my mates said Jackie Chan should get a oscar for….. what was he smoking when he watched that piece of garbage. Anyway, the film started and they forgot to turn the lights off in the cinema and we were sat next to some moron who was talking on the phone to his mate in the same cinema…. why pretend to be mates if you can’t even go to the cinema together eh?? Its not what I would call a kung fu movie… there was only one bit of kung fu in it from the old master…. plus…. he did not even do his wall run!! Vintage Jackie would have scaled a 70 foot wall to kick some other bad ass in the head in the good old days. Wow, that turned into a bit of a rant. So to the form guide from the current entry listage.
1) Arnaud Phs…..his: The Euro master and its kind of on his home patch. Is running some new funky looking sail that he says is a weapon. The only question mark over his mental state is if he runs the nets or not, which he should be demoted for just for spending 30 hours making each one.
2) Simon Payne: Current World Champ. Reminds me a little Rodger Federer or Tiger Woods. Not interested in the small events but has the killer instinct in the big ones. If its light he will win it, if its windy (which is apparentley the forecast) then I think Arnaud has the advantage.
3) Rob Gough: Mr 30 knots. Mr I like big air. Mr I go sailing when its almost freezing. Maybe he is Swiss in disguise?!
4) Mike Cooke : British National Champ, has not done a lot of sailing but the sounds of it but is very confident in his own boat and design. British Nationals will be a good marker. I have only ever seen one Ninja so no idea on reliability and speed. Can’t see them matching the top mach two boys though.
5) Chris Rast : He blogs fast. He went to the Olympics. He’s gotta be pretty fast right? Brad Funk gives him big ups so thats enough for me. Unless Brad put his boat together….
6) Adam May: Always there or there abouts regardless of how much sailing he says he has done. Suffers from lack of sailing against others on a regular basis. Is now main stream after his stint on CNN.
7) Tomaz Copi : The quiet achiever in Dubai, alwasys seemed to get to the first mark in a good spot no matter where he started. Pretty good talent to have in a big fleet sailing race I think.
JPZ : Cracking pace in practice, just needs to send that into the racing. Will be a bit more at home on the flatter water of a lake. Will have some wicked gizmo going on that looks like it came from outer space.
9) Eelco Boers : Famously went past Si Payne like he was anchored in Weymouth. I think he will be the first BR. Sailing on the BR will hold him back downwind in any sort of breeze.
10) Olivier Vidal : Don’t know a lot about Olivier, but I sailed against him in 29er’s a couple of times when I was younger, he was good then and for lack of knowing anyone else thats going I thought I’d chuck him in here. Some peeps say he sails balls to the wall, good way to sail a moth!
I cannot see the Assassin’s being on the pace no matter how much gusto they have been given from NZ. I will be pleasantly suprised if one is on the pace for an entire race. I just cannot see one getting through 16 races without a major breakage. Im turning up with my boat on my back as I cannot afford the airfreight, hve not done a lot of sailing and have been boozing way too much. I’m gonna enjoy it and use it for some big fleet experience. Would like to do well obviously, but want a holiday from the heat more than anything else.
