Nat Champs,

Today I had undoubtedly the worst race of my life, at least on the helm. I can remember only a few others : two croabh havn to oban feeders and the one we broke a mast on the overnight, a couple on the old dog boat where we were last.

I was burried on the start: everyone else had speed, we were dead and low. A crafty port tack got us out and back in the mid lane which as clear wind, then we met a good pal on stb and instead of ducking him I tried a lee bow, doing it too early. So a 720 resuled. Followed by hitting the mark: we hit the windward finish line mark and the leeward twice due to an adverse tide and a crap angle.

L8r we picked up lunch, only the rib hung about the finish line drifting towards it: we did a nice leeward come too, while asholebjørn bore away ontop of our bow from the stern of the rib for no good reason other than total distraction.

That was not too bad though because we rescued a 17th , which should have been our worst position.

We were a heavy crew but it felt like we had a bag on the keel, unlikely as it is a long keel.

Classics have their appeal but are an unlikely bet for me without a joiner or painter being a part owner. The rig is a bit of a mystery: I have suceeded in getting it straight at least, but don'tlike the set up with straight uppers and swept back inner/lowers.

The helm is totally neutral if it ain't blowing and the triangular main is just a POS which needs some precise use of cunningham and halyard to get it going.

Hardening up is a pig: you need to stick the boat into the wind and wait. Falling off needs coaxing and hard use of rudder and main slacking.

Anyway, guees I am off the helm tmw and that is fine.