Who was out this weekend?.....

Had a great sail at Draycote this Sunday in the 5oh, F3 gusting 4.  No racing just trying to set up the new mast before the 5oh winter series.  Kite haliard to long, jib Halyard needs lengthening.  Kite halyard chaffing somewhere (nearly snapped) our gybing was shocking and needs some work, but we were getting there by the end of the day. The 505 is without doubt the best all round boat i have ever sailed.  Its fast up and downwind, stable, powerful but yet manageable!!  I'm hooked!

Did my 1st ever Topper open (at the tender age of 41!).  One of my Kids group didn't feel well on the Sunday morning, so the others ganged up on me to "put my money where my mouth is".  Had a hoot!  Fleet of 64 at Chichester and I came 18th overall (including a 6th!).  It was blowing strong, so my 13st 8 stood me in good stead upwind, but planing and surfing just wasn't happening on the reaches/runs.

I went out on a Topper Vibe for the first time. It's a new boat for the helm too and he wanted to give it a try with a crew who's not afraid of swimming. Just as well because we capsized twice! It was in a NE force 5 with big gusts, that's my excuse anyway.

Thanks Bert!

Weeell, there were two capsizes with various factors involved, both on tacks (how embarrassing...).
The first time, I tacked the jib as I usually do in an RS200, uncleating and letting the pressure off one side but not letting it flap and, as the boat tacks, gradually bring in the jib on the other side. Helm said there was too much power in the jib and that's why we went for a swim.

Second time, we heeled a lot coming out of the tack and, although we were both quick to get to the other side (and not light), the boat didn't right itself and it was swim number 2. It later transpired that Helm let go of the tiller extension while tacking... 
Yes, it was very gusty and quite windy so there was little margin for error but, with a boat purchased primarily to take his grandchildren out for fun, you can imagine that Helm isn't impressed.
to be honest, the boat feels quite odd. We were going rather quickly upwind, with me fully hiking and Helm doing his helming thing, but the boat seemed quite rocky, as though the centreboard wasn't fully down.

It's possible we didn't have enough kicker. How much kicker do you apply on that boat? (It's a GNAV, haven't sailed with one since I've done the winter series with Carshalton in the 4k in... Jan 2007!)