A brief history of everything ...on the water. Part III

In 1998 or late 97 I bought my first boat, a Tasar, which was in usuable condition. A nearly new mainsail in 98 got it going pretty well. I had one good pursuit race out paing an ISO until the last running leg. Steve from up the road answered an ad' to come sailing in 98 and that was also my introduction to Roger Raven and "Wings" the J125. So my biggest breaks in offshore racing both came from as far inland as you can get in england!

( I Must look at my sailing CV because I am losing track of 93-95 and 97/98/99 events!)
In my first weeks in the manchester area I was living up Saddleworth, a place far more jolly than it's grim association. I was nightly drinking and noshing up at the Church Inn, uppermill. Haileys comet was high above the moors on those February and march nights I would stride up the steep hill and down into the gulley where t'pub was. The land lord took me under his wing and introduced me to the crowd. He then mentioned that Dave Cummaford was a big sailor. So at an after hours one friday I think I got to know Dave and playing softly softly I was asked at the end of the night to come for some offshore racing that season. "We'll need you!" was his response to my grateful acceptance.

Converting Machine 96 was probably without doubt the most serious CHS racer outside the Solent at that point. The scots/irish BH36s and J35s were better boats but not custom racers with big logos and crew jackets....Dave would have done much better with either of those boats atually under CHS. The boat was really only spectacular in appearance - fine lines, big logo, the now 'patent' Corby cross bars on the transom and the masthead rig. But it was a heavy ballasted boat and really although it would do 7.9 up hill it struggled to get double figures down wind without major waves.

ISORA 97 and 98 was a fairly light airs affair with only force 6 to contend with on one beat all the way from Conway to Dub'. I think this was actually my first or 2nd with them and I got main but it was bloody hard work. There after it was Celtic Week 97 which marked my losing interest. The glamour pusses from the Merlins came on board, having not done any offshore and took over winches to no really good effect. After being sent down to reduce windage my game was up. Dave had a reputation and a temperament and a greed which made him a little cold. Anyhows with his 99 attempt at silver in CYCA at scottish series and accompanying crew walk-off that year I was on the right track out. CVMach was a pretentious boat and he never did anything big with his Cork 1720 later in OD fleets.

It was all offset with the fact I had an Irish girl in 1998 which made for a couple of cosey overnights.

I think I did one more ISORA with dave that July 97 and maybe august. In total it was probably 6 offshore races plus half of celtic week before giving exuses for the late season offshore, and actually getting some silver ware at Cumbraes- MR DF in full colour side 79 Y&Y from T'jig II. ( i remember it was either 97 or 98 now becuase I had my golf and the brakes went glassy near the foot of the hill from Glasgow!)

I was keeping a foot in Scottish waters with Rover Series 98 and 99, with a view to the smeg 38 'fleet' which never got off the ground again. I split my efforts between the Raj and Moon dance and got bommed off moon dance for my fuk up with the dinghy. I guess by 98 I had still not committed to Angel terra. I was aiming for a 98/99 scottish series and Smeg nationals thereafter. I held my shore bed in Tarbert and told Dave I could do some days. 98 was cork week so it was I think scottish series on the braveheart followed by training weekends up to Cork and me being a bad smell for Vmachine that year in pubs/shops.

Also I squeezed in my first ever West Highland Week, with the Crinan-Oban, Lorne and Round Lismore days. I came back to do more of the event in 99 on the same L28, the badly 'capped B31.7 cheating us. But we got that bloody stupid life boat thingy. Luckily on the impala we got a cup we could drink outta in 2000/2001.

Jesus 99 was a big year! It was also 99 that I did the big myth of malham race on "wings" the J125, getting asked back! 9 knts up wind!!! A new asthmus but you know it is always good to avoid travelling and terra scotia was on the cards that July anyway. In 99 we as mentioned above did TWHW on the L28 with some success and BS from Mr. H junior in Tob'. A couple of race wins at least but the 31.7 beat us. I grabbed the win on the shortened Tob-south race by calling a bannana with Defiance parked in mid sound of mull. My first big call?

What I learnt from all this was that winners don't do that much different than perennial losers like Rajah ( still back of fleet in only 7 boats now!) They make fewer mistakes and get off the start line at speed. When they do make a mistake they get out of it and then work their way back into the race. When robbed of information or reliant on bad navigators they tend to mess up just as much as the next man. Also sails are immaculate and numerous. Boats well prepped.

99 marked my come back to Scotia which is really part 4. I built upon my apprenticeship and big-boys experience and kept the learning curve going.