Model Yachting

Saturday, March 15, 2014

TRYC Blow-out, Day One

The Blow-out started today, very steady wind gave a good course with little adjustment. Wind was B-rig most of the day, dropping to A in the late afternoon for a few races. I had a lousy day sailing, which I'll detail later...I've just got to find a way to stay clear. I've had a few zone contacts which killed me with 720's, and when I've avoided that I've been pummeled at the start (twice), on starboard (twice), the windward mark (once), and one boat doing a penalty turn hit me for good measure. On the plus side, the boat seems fast enough, I just need to find clean lanes to sail in, and steer better downwind.

Hopefully tomorrow will go better...Here's a few pics courtesy of Roo roaming with the camera!

Saturday, March 1, 2014

Club Sail, maiden launch of Andy's Blue Splash RG-65 "Peck", March 1, 2014

Took Juno out today for a club sail, but had forgotten to screw down part of the gooseneck rendering it unsailable, then blew a shroud to boot! Going to be spending some time fixing up that new A-rig...want to get everything ready for the Blow-out in two weeks!

The winds were light and good for the maiden voyage of the Peck in it's A-rig however, and she sailed very well, Andy has a good boat and I can finally get to finishing mine! No major problems, some minor leakage but nothing serious, all that's left on the punch list the drain plug, some minor seam work, reinforcing the radio board (which worked lose), lower the rudder a bit so it won't bind the hull, paint touch up, finalize the running rigging arrangement (it was just tied off for now) and building out the other rigs. We had to call it a day when the wind built up to our non-existent B-rig and the radio box came loose.

Maybe I'm prejudiced, but Peck seems fast! With Eric and Brig's help her rig seems pretty well tuned up, and she went well from the start, keeping hip to hip with Maurico. Andy got some good tiller time and is ready for the next point series...

Only was able to run one race, but Peck sprinted right from the gate, hung high and quick with Eric, and rolled him down going downwind. First at the gate, the quickie tie-down of the running rigging slipped loose and he couldn't go close-hauled for the finish...but I'm very enthusiastic about his performance. Here's some pictures and video of the day...

Roo inspects the finished product..

Peck photo-bombs Andy...

...and vice versa!

Off he goes! Peck takes to the water!

Beating with Maurico, Rich's old SC-4 in the background.

Drove well enough, but needs his bow bumper!

Hanging tight with a good skipper, a good test!

Penguin graphic skims the water.

Proud skipper in his Penguin jammies and Peck shirt!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

RG-65; TRYC Points Regatta on January 25, 2014

Sailed RG-65's in extremely light winds yesterday. Lesson learned; I borrowed Eric's DragonForce while finishing up a Blue Splash, and even with good sails, a stock DragonForce is pretty hopeless in light air against high-aspect, swing rigs. Not a surprise really, but a confirmation. Several DragonForce's are showing leakage in the rudder assembly area, whether this a congenital problem, or just a minor one affecting a few boats remains to be seen.

Anyhow, I left after two races, which took nearly two-and-a-half hours in the prevailing conditions. Roo and I should be ready with our swing rig Blue Splashes next time around, and hope to do better!

Note the mast rake here on Eric's new boat...

...and a short video showing the light conditions.

There was a good turn out, and it seems that the RG-65 fleet at TRYC will be drawing 10 or skippers per points regatta, which should lead to a healthy and competitive fleet!

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

IOM; Pictures from the 2013 IOM Blow-Out

For some reason, I don't think these pictures ever were posted from the the 2013 Blow-Out...so in preparation for the 2014 event, here's a look at last year...