Tiger Trophy

Hell yes! Shortie the first day, but went borrowed full wetsuit for the second as sialing a friends 4k instead... and you know what... the shortie wasnt all that cold! Did the job well enough, it can help hiking when your legs are numb

Thanks for the advice - and that from Chris & Sten & others. I'm learning the 29er and had thought that in some conditions, it seemed quick sailing it on its chine (bit like railing a board). But on Sunday, just like a board it was prone to 'spin out' (Where skeg/foil loses flow and so control) - especially if we bounced out sideways over a wave. It certainly didn't help that we were trying to carry a kite on a leg that hardly any other boat was -  and the boats coming the opposite direction on a collision course certainly made it interesting.

I was worried about sheeting out the main as I've seen photos of 29er masts hugely inverted (and that one of a 49er) and so I'm not suprised a couple broke. Sanme applies to flogging the kite too much as the sudden loads could also snap a mast. As its a temporary reduction of speed we're after I guess in future I'll try the oversheet kite method before main out or flog - if I ever have to tight reach in a F6 again! Let's hope so

G.R.F. Thanks for so graphically reminding me of what happens when spinning out a Mistral SST with a stupidly big rig on and then catching the rail. Cheaper than a health clinic!

And I thought it was just me that had trouble with 29er foils letting go. Racing round the cans on a river we often have some tight reaches to contend with and it’s a not an uncommon problem when the wind is up. I also find that some heal is good as there also comes a point when the foils start to generate some lift and you can climb to windward.

I find that if the boats well trimmed you get a couple of seconds from the rudder loosing bite before things get scary so I normally warn the crew then try and flatten the boat gently while wiggling the tiller from side to side. Not sure how this came about, probably developed from a panic reaction but it seems to work for us. Lost the crew through the jib the first time it happened but we have managed to save it every time since

Ian