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.
