We’ll the nationals are done, and I am not sure when, or if I will return and do it all again.
Back in the old days, there was always someone to race against, at all levels up and down the fleet. These days the standard has risen so much, and foiling moths are so unforgiving to mistakes that you very quickly look like sailing chump in stead of having a good fun time.
Being away from the family for long is simply not an option either anymore, and that led to some serious depression mid regatta for me.
Anyway, with that out of the way, what in the hell happened.
It took me 2 days to get the boat together. Only to have the rod end fitting file for divorce in heat 1, and that was that.
That was repaired overnight and heat 2 and 3 saw marginal foiling conditions that frankly, sucked unless you are a master of the pump-o-matic technique. Heat 4 saw the breeze fill in and another DNF for me I knew I had reached the very low limits of my ability and headed for shore.
Upon inspection on the following lay-day, I noticed that my t-join was showing some cracks on the outer laminate, so at midnight I went to bed after adding some additional carbon plates. It was at this time that the grinder decided that my finger would be a good place to visit.
The laminate had not fully cured for the start of heat 4, so I returned to our accommodation to spend an hour with hair dryers moving things along and was ready to hit the water for heat 6.
I got around reasonably well in heat 6, until the last downwind when I threw it in on the gybe and drank a gut full of salt water. The breeze filled in for heat 7 and I headed for shore and that was the end of the regatta for me.
So am I going to give up moth sailing … hell no, I am as keen as ever to keep doing that. But I am not going to head to a nationals unless I am well practised, have sorted equipment and have my family with me.
On the upside though, I am returning home with a sorted boat, and I am 2.5kg lighter so I am now only 89kg.
Big thanks to Bora for endless entertainment throughout the regatta, and my “Mum” and “Dad” Luka and Kylie for getting me there and back.
Moth sailing is a roller coaster ride especially if you build your own kit. It does not always go well and I really feel for you as I have been there a lot in the last 4 years.
Hang in there and things do get better and become more routine. The important thing I found is to make sure you get some rewarding sailing time in, and not just repair and workshop time. I think you have to set realistic goals too. It is not realistic to think you can throw a boat together and turn up and win. If people manage this then it is because they have done it lots before and so they are in their routine.
Hey Bruce,
As much as I would love to do a Nationals, It is long time away from the family would get to me too.
Don’t ponder on the your regatta results, You would have to be the World Champ at Moth publicity. what you have done with the Moth cast is great, most if not everyone in and out of the class appreciate it.
I’ll always be mid fleet to keep you company
Bruce:
As Doug commented: “Been there, done that.” My Weymouth experience resulted in one completed race in the series, mostly due to the wind strength and my lack of sailing the foiler in strong breezes, but also with equipment issues on the last day when my gantry pitch screw came disassembled and I couldn’t reasonably control the boat downwind (I really wanted to race on the last day but couldn’t get downwind to the start area…) And yes, I missed my family and couldn’t wait to get home.
These beasts are not the moths of the past. Hell, I have always relished the big breezes and have managed never to not finish – I’ve learnt to make the usually vunerable parts (rudder, gooseneck, vang, etc) bulletproof and have never had to worry about the “kit,” just my sailing ability to get around. Before I built Try-Foil I sorta chuckled at seeing how in the big breeze most of the World’s fleet at Garda failed to finish. I thought in my naivete that all I had to do was show up, finish, and I’d beat half the fleet! Well it’s that “finish” part that got me at Weymouth.
Even so, I’m still addicted to the boat. Yes, sail for fun. Yes, race because you love racing. Keep fixin the stuff that breaks and know that you can fix things and not rely on a factory rep to manage your equipment.
And maybe I’m hard-headed, but the next adventure will be to drive 2900 miles to the Gorge Worlds in Oregon and try it all over again. My wife will make the trip out with me (and then fly back) so at least I’ll have some companionship on the five-day drive.
Best wishes,
Joe