D-Zero

Jimbo, i have just sold my Carbon all singing all dancing road bike.  Purchased a lovely Titanium bike.  Should help my poorly back and really is a bike for life.  Its sat in my office winking at me.  Whispering.  Why drift around on a muddy ditch when we could go and smash some hills!!!  Only one answer really...Up early Sunday morning for a bike ride then off down the club to remember which way round my sailing boots go on.

Originally posted by Null Only one answer really...Up early Sunday morning for a bike ride then off down the PUB to forget which way round my sailing boots go on as I sink a 4th or 5th pint of Old Hooky.

By getting the URL right possibly?! 

Well...I suppose I better update the world as to my first sail in the D-Zero. ...

 

All week I have been like a child excited about going sailing again. For the first time in years may I add.  I checked the forecast towards the end of the week and it looked dyer.  I also remembered Friday afternoon that I should insure the boat.  I have been so busy lately with work that I had completely forgotten about it.  Still £95 to insure boat, trolley and trailer with 2 claims in the last 5 years, I thought was pretty damn good.  Anyway I digress.

 

I arrived at the club far too early Sunday.  It just showed how little I had sailed there in recent years.  I was completely out of kilter with the sailing schedule!  So I sat with a cup of coffee and watched what little wind there was switch off.  The river looked like a mirror (if Mirrors were Brown and filled with sh*t) Anyway.  12 30 came and it was time to get rigged.  Still no wind, but nothing was going to stop me now.  First race was part of the autumn pursuit.  There was so little wind we only had 3 solo's a K1 and myself out.  Solos started in at least some wind whilst myself and the K1 started in virtually nothing.  I managed to get through to second, but couldn’t quite catch the lead Solo.  Second race was a personal handicap thing.  Only 3 of us bothered but I was 12 minutes ahead of the other boats so won by a handsome margin.  In fact I was packed up and changed (amazing how quick it is to pack away) before the K1 finished.

 

Now I have never been known to be a particularly good sailor.  Especially in the light stuff, but it was amazing how well the zero ghosted along.  I had my weight well forward next to the mast,  which actually lifted the transom beautifully.  Albeit It is a little more cramped up there than down in the spacious cockpit.  Standing up and healing the boat to leeward helped in the lulls, but because I am so much heavier than the complete all up weight of the boat it can get a little wobbly when hugging the mast.  In terms of set up, I used the standard mast foot and rake position.  I also found I used just enough outhall to give the sail a nice shape.  I would of liked to use more in these conditions but it was so light the wind wasn’t strong enough to even give the sail any shape.  I found that sheet tension was critical.  Its very easy to over sheet in the light.  However for context it was so light I wouldn’t normally bother sailing in these conditions.

 

But still I am so happy with the boat.  It is just breathtaking.  Really looking forward to sailing her over the winter in some big breeze.  Especially racing more D-Zero's as we seem to of developed a really nice passionate bunch of early adopters!

Cheers Rupert, I wouldn't say its particularly spectacular in the light stuff.  What boat is?  But you can really lift the transom and the pointy boy just looks so efficient.  Its a little slower to tack in the drifty conditions of this weekend compared to something like a solo and the lack of weight means you stop just as quickly as you get going.  But i am pretty impressed.  I think with a bit of practice and understanding of what works and what doesn't with the rig, it wouldn't show itself up against more traditional classes in the drifty stuff.