Well on Monday morning I saw Virtual Reality go off to a new home. This is a feeling of mixed emotions when something you created from nothing more than an idea is no longer yours.

That said, it is time to start the creative process all over again with a new boat. I hope I remember how !

Following a few links around the web, it’s good to notice that there are a few new home builders making their own foils. Brent Pearson and Lochy Byrne are both making new foils. Whilst it is hard to tell, it looks like they are using timber cores, wrapped in carbon. I hate to say it, but I think that they simply won’t be strong enough. My first foil was 6 layers of 200gsm carbon and 1 layer of kevlar each side (14 in total), and that snapped through like butter. My replacement foil has 22 layers in total, and that seems to do the job.

The advice that I have for anyone thinking of building foils is that you should expect a long development curve, with equipment breakages. Don’t expect your boat to foil first go, and even when it does foil, you still may have a long way to go to get your setup right. If you love R&D and are prepared for that, GO FOR IT! If you aren’t, then order a set from John Ilett, they are worth what you have to pay for them.

And very purdy with a clear finish.

Saturday was the first day back on the water for 2007, and my last in Virtual Reality. Conditions were perfect, and in a somewhat fitting farewell, I had a huge crash, caused by the front hydrofoil coming out of the water at full height.

Before the session I made some more tweaks to my centreboard flap control and some gantry angle changes. The boat was further improved, but still no threat to a new prowler.

After the race, the boat went through a conversion reversal, with all the wand, cable and other bits and pieces being kept for the new boat.

John Gilmour is making excellent progress with the male plug for the new “St. George one design foiler moth”, and he has now started on the foredeck mould.

The 2006-07 nationals are completed, with Rohan Veal taking out the title again on his Bladerider, “Black Widow”. Luka Damic, sailing his Prowler “Skywalker” has come away with second overall on countback after being tied on points with third placed Mark Robinson also in a Prowler “Fast and Furious”.

This is an outstanding effort for Luka, given that he only sailed the boat twice before heading to Brisbane, and never raced it in a proper race prior to the nationals. This also highlights the impressive out of the box speed that you get with a Fastacraft Prowler. St.George Sailing Club sailors managed 2,4,5,7 and 10th which is also a great result, and is a great indicator of the quality of our club racing.

For those who are curious other Bladeriders placed, 22nd and 24th highlighting the importance of foiling experience, over boat design.

The full results are as follows:

At the time of writing, Rohan Veal has five straight wins under his belt and looks set to win another national title, with the final heat being sailed on the 4th of Jan.