evets (10573km):
5824 days ago OO LOC: DNF Learnt a lot Go Bender! Onya Nebs Bigger gear next year Crasher Hiya Bigdog Awsome Slowie .
Fantastic work 25. JP265 84l Rigged 5.7 Raptor but underdone so rigged 6.5 Raptor and used that. Happy with start (probably not underway before Slowie passed first mark though). This event was like trying to run on a sinker over a 2 metre deep eggbox with gusty wind.
IMO (the following applies to me): that does not mean I recommend anyone else applies this to themselves: Practice more on open ocean doing downwinders: that means start at A and go broad to B then drive back to A..... need to do several ks down wind each practice.( not sail upwind and back 'cos I do not get enough time going downwind). scruteneering: they appear to be well meaning volunteers. You need to know the rules really well 'cos they do not. Make sure they tick every box/sheet when checking in( ask them if they have done so 'cos again they seem not to know) so you do not have to go back a second time.
the start is mayhem but you are inn in the same conditions: just go for it!
You have 2 choices: plane all of the time or use a floaty board . Big lumps to run down and gusts mean you are going away from the wind and when the wind also disappears sinkers are very unstable unless you are using a big sail and still powered up. So you pays your money and makes your choice: small board and big sail or big board and big sail. Either way I want some rocker so, as much as I would love to use Iso 105 I would need to be very confident on it across the mogul field from hell
If you are going to fall in use a floaty PFD to reduce time/fatigue waterstarting. 50n is not enough for this. Never get eye contact with a safety boat unless you want to be picked up! They will ask you to give up, ask for your start # and report you as out of the race. If you decide you could go on you have already been recorded as out of the race.
Marks/ safety boats: if you are on a beam reach going towards a mark it is not....... the safety boats hang around and make that very confusing The idea that a safety boat has an orange flag and mark has a red flag is hopeless: differentiating between the colours is the last thing on your mind. safety boats are relative small (e.g 8-10 metres) Marks are on cray boats that are 20m+ and have superstructure. (kites to differentiate the marks would be a far better idea.
Go past the marks by a couple of hundred metres to reduce the broadness of the next leg It is remarkably unlikely you will ever need to use flares. Go to the evening presentation party at the Endeavour: it is great
Summary: do it, this is not a practice nor is life a spectator sport.
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