ISO Open - Calshot SC (11th & 12th June 2009)

The day started off grey cold and 18- 20 knots of wind.

As we started to rig up our boats, the rain started, not heavy but the sort of rain that you don't realise you are wet until you take your shirt off.

After a briefing and some coffee we set off, we left Colin behind, he was not happy with how his mast was looking, something about it looking inverted. I don't think he wanted to go and get wet, because by now it was raining properly, nice big drops.

The first race started well, by the first mark Lyndon was in the lead followed by my self and my stand in crew Ben. Mike and Josh close behind. Colin smugly watching from the Club House.

As you all know there is no excuse for bad preparation, so how did this happen?
  1. We all know that the pole is meant to come out as the kite goes up. It does not happen if you forget to have it as part of the system.
  2. The kite sheets are meant to be out side of the shrouds, it is not fast to have them in side.
  3. Oh, we have already said about Colin's mast inverting problems.

The race Officer took pity on us all and finished the race after 2 laps.
1st Dave
2nd Lyndon
3rd Mike

Before race 2 there was much re-rigging of boats, drinking of coffee and eating lunch.

Race 2 was another close battle up the beat from the start. Once again Lyndon was first around the wind ward mark, followed by Colin, then us and then Mike.

The run was fun with a good 1 meter plus swell and 20 - 25 knots of wind by now and still raining.

On lap 2 we passed both Colin and Lyndon who were still upside down after a capsize on the first lap. We gave them a wave as we went passed, they looked quite happy sat on there upturned boats.

The nasty race Officer made us do 3 laps this time, but it was fun.

1st Dave
2nd Mike
DNF   Colin, Lyndon

That evening we were all chauffeured to the pub by Roger and Pam, so we could have a hot meal and a couple of drinks, then talk of the days racing.

The Sunday was warm and sunny but with 30 knots of wind.

We all found mast head floats, to try and stop us all having the same trouble as Lyndon the day before. No-one likes to see boats and masts getting damaged.

With some of the boats going of to do the Euro Cup in a couple of weeks, there was concern if we should race, Ben and I went out for a test sail. We went out for a short run and came back as it was getting a bit too much to race in. So that was the end of the weekend for us all.

Only 2 of the 15 or so Club boats finished the race, I think that we made the right decision.

I would like to thank the Club for the friendly welcome, Ben for his efforts in keeping me up-right and also to Mike and Josh  who showed the others how to do it.

In the 3 years of running ISO Opens at Calshot, we have had 2 days of sailing, it has to get better soon or we shall have to give up and get a fleet of Optimists or take up wind, or kite surfing.

Next year........................................