Well the states have come and gone and I can honestly say that if the worlds are anything like that it will be the best regatta ever. The states provided excellent sailing conditions and the competition even down the back half was fast and furious.
I had a couple of DNFs through gear breakage, and the were both rudder related. The first occurred when my gantry sheared off in a gybe with the 6mm carbon plates crying enough. The 1/2 hour wait for a rescue was disappointing, and will need to improve with 100 boats on the course. The gantry Was repaired thanks to Matt Day’s magic toolbox and a quick trip to the local chandlery. Back on the water for the first race on Sunday and the tiller adjuster screw broke. This really pissed me off as I had replaced the uni rubber 2 days before the regatta as it looked dodgy. The act of replacing the rubber was probably the last straw for the adjuster. At least I had finished 2 laps so I got a result even though I didn’t sail through the line.
A quick trip to the shore steering with my foot and some rope and I was about 2 mins late for the start, but not the last foiler at the first mark
So I sailed the rest of the day with no rudder adjustment and I am leaving it like that for the rest of the season as I haven’t missed it yet.
Overall I was very happy with my boat speed especially downwind but was let down by my upwind and my tacks and gybes. I have already made some changes since the states which have improved things significantly in this area but more practice is still needed.
So it looks like, if things go to plan that was the last regatta for me and “Teknologika” as work on the next boat starts when the season ends in a few weeks.