Isle of Sheppey around the Island Race.
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11581
Printed Date: 13 Jul 25 at 6:00am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Isle of Sheppey around the Island Race.
Posted By: transient
Subject: Isle of Sheppey around the Island Race.
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 12:48pm
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We've done this race a few times and had great fun. We're not doing it this year for various reasons. However, I've just been to their website and there's no info for the race this year?? There is this statement though:
The origins of this website go back to 1996. Since mid-2003, it has developed into one of the most popular weather sites in the South East of England (up to 2.7 million+ page views annually), due to its bespoke state-of-the-art WeatherCam system developed and run by Designbell.ukOriginally created on a voluntary basis to promote the IOS Sailing Club (successsfully for 18 years), in July 2014, the club's management committee requested a parting of the ways. This site will continue to evolve - now as a fully independent site - and will continue to provide high quality weather and sailing related info for IOS and surrounding areas, plus the wider sailing community.. Anyone know what's happening to the race? |
Replies:
Posted By: 2547
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 12:53pm
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Looks like there has been a fall out between the club and the person running the website. Quite how that can happen boggles the mind; it was an excellent weather / cam site and asset to any club ...
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Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 2:25pm
| It does seem that way, shame as it does leave iossc without a web site. Hope the race is still on. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 2:31pm
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They're always falling out with each other over there, Cat sailors will no doubt be at the root of the problem, anyway http://www.iossc.co.uk/island-race" rel="nofollow - There seems to be a new site being built ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 2:34pm
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No I bet it's because of the Underbiters.. They've let Stand Up Paddleboarders and canoeists in, still it would give some entertainment for point scoring on the way round, seeing how many you can kebab on the bowsprit. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 2:49pm
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thanks for finding that......I seem to remember sup's at previous events.
This race has wide appeal IMO because you don't have to take it too seriously (although some do). Most just treat it as a days pleasure sailing around an interesting and sometimes tricky piece of coastline........glad it's OK. |
Posted By: GybeFunny
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 4:20pm
| I have had many fantastic sails in this race and I hope it continues for many years. I hope they get the website sorted out so that the race this year can be the usual success. Sadly I cant make it this year but hope to do it many times in future. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 4:33pm
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I'm thinking of introducing Trev to it, tbh it's a bit of a marathon not to be take too lightly especially if you have fixed plates.
I've never done it without breaking something, the kicker my first year and a boom the next time, I think I'll take careful note of the weather before committing, but there has been no greater moment in my sailing life than the screaming 3 sail reach down the back straight into the swale with Steve (RIP) whooping and hollering (whilst we quite literally stripped about every centimetre of gel coat off the Alto) we were going that fast and on flat water, something new to us back then. Watching a B14 discover a shallow bit at speed, upending and tipping it's washer women into the water was also quite amusing. It's a race you should do once in your life. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Punky
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 6:05pm
| I love this race! Hope it continues for many, many years to come. |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 04 Aug 14 at 11:04pm
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Greame So what about the loan Icon this time ? There may well be a couple more at least including 'Trick of the light' (aka '03') for us if Andy the dancing farmer is available having got the harvest fully sorted in good time. He tells me it is probably going to be a record one this year as well based on the results of the first few weeks... but I wish he would really concentrate on the important things each Summer ! It is all about wind direction really depending on what you are in/on and having a decent run at the bridge ... Mike L. |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 05 Aug 14 at 8:20am
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Hike? 35 miles? Anything from 2 - 4 hours? I come ashore knackered after just an hour race in it, it's a very 'energetic' boat.
Then there's the risk of damaging a loan boat, we've been very good with it so far, lifting it on and off its trailer. Graunching it under that bridge, no question of grounding the centre plate up that Swale, I've never been round yet without hitting something.. Hmmm that or the comfy armchair that the Alto offers.. And we've got our summer party that night. I think you might be mistaking me for some young fit bloke from 40 years ago.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 05 Aug 14 at 10:19am
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Greame You are starting to sound like you need a lump of lead where it counts ! 1) 'Dancing Farmer' and me have 115 mispent 'yoofull' years behind us and you two are 'how old' exactly now ? 2) Loan boat 'care' ... this does not sound like the GRF we know on this forum ! 3) Comfy 'armchair' ... We must obviously refer you to SAGA holidays for old codgers. I'm sure they have a few suitable comfy chairs as well - They will also wake you up when it is time to go to bed with a nice cup of warm milk. 4) 'Summer party that night' ... how long were you intending to lurk around the back of Sheppey ? It starts in the MORNING .... presumably sailing up to everyone saying '" I'm 102 (or whatever the true number) you know" in a random sort of way. 5) What exactly is wrong with growing old disgracefully ? 6) You will be telling us next you want a trapeze etc ... Mike L. .....  |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 05 Aug 14 at 11:31am
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Well we need to fit it with 'Trevs Handle' Trevs Handle is a device that could probably best be described as a halfway house, an extended 'T' handle we're going to clip to the shrouds so he can hang off it, you'll note there isn't one for me in his immediate plans.
My knee brace extension to triangulate a line between the toestraps and my shoulders is still in development at this stage. It's looking a tad 'Mad Max' at the moment, but if it stops the pain I won't care what it looks like. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Neal_g
Date Posted: 05 Aug 14 at 12:38pm
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might take the miracle to it see if it a true bandit boat
------------- (Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com |
Posted By: transient
Date Posted: 05 Aug 14 at 1:14pm
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......Miracles have won the slow boat trophy on more than one occasion.
....and as for Miracle Banditry, tide, tide, tide. 
|
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 05 Aug 14 at 2:38pm
Ooo going to risk those all carbon foils on those sharp sand banks and having to capsize under the bridge?hmm come to think of it you can probably sail that matchbox clean under it.
So the thing will be with half an hour start wether we bet a beer on who gets home first.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 05 Aug 14 at 3:53pm
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I really want to do this race at least once in the next few years. It looks like great fun (and a slog).
Thanks to a helpful advert I saw on the left of this wonderful website, I found a link to the race's own website: http://www.iossc.co.uk/island-race" rel="nofollow - www.iossc.co.uk/island-race |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 28 Aug 14 at 9:17pm
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Right, what with Ice Bucket Challenges, this is another fine mess I've gotten myself into, anyway it's game on, gird your loins, we're coming .
And if any of y'all have travelled all the way down and want to stay over, it's our summer party down at Hythe that night, where we'll be drowning our sorrows blaming the PYAG for our crap result and generally berating all and sundry for our failure to place.. Then there's the question of Pancho Villa getting an hour start in his Miracle boat 'Carbon Quest' will we even see him I'm wondering.. Either way, it'll be a blast, we can't wait.. See you there. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Neal_g
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 9:32am
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tell you what grf i'll cancel my one hour head start and start with you. 10:30 is far to early to be going sailing
------------- (Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 11:57am
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They'll turn you round at the bridge, they do that if you don't make it by 18.30..
You're going to get creamed, there are exposed buttocks hanging over the side of an Icon in your immediate future, steel yourself for the inevitable, i'd go two hours early if I were you..
Edit.. Doh I've just clicked you're going to do it in a 'jeep' so it'll only be half an hour.. Right that's a definite then, almost worth getting my butt tattooed especially for it.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 12:29pm
| Now there is an incentive for everyone to get a move on .... and away in front as quickly as possible ! |
Posted By: Neal_g
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 12:59pm
not the gp got something a bit retro yet modern for you at look at the transom of. ------------- (Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 1:56pm
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Neal, just been looking at your Gibson Sails website - have you ever made a cocoon cover for a dinghy? Interested in one for a Firefly, please! Also, please could you remove the apostrophe from "photo's" in the buttons, please! ------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 2:11pm
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Merlin you're using that bloody merlin, the one you have the kite up every which way including upwind.. I had a chat to see if our Merlin boys were up for it, haven't heard back from them yet..
Hmm, long kite reach down that sea front, unless it severely drops up the swale I reckon we will be transom spotting, I don't even think we'll beat Tasars on handicap, the last time we raced one on open water in a breeze there was very little in it, with the Tasar having a bit of an edge very deep running which I found a bit weird, we were probably doing something wrong. Still we'll that two and a half hours working out what exactly that is.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Neal_g
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 2:51pm
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Merlin nah thats not modern but retro. you'll just have to have a sleepless night worrying about what wonder bandit i've stumbled across to use against you. the only clue i'll give you is mankini style. yes rupert we've done cocoon covers. so more than happy to quote you. ------------- (Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com |
Posted By: iiitick
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 3:00pm
| Mankini is a garment (swimsuit) with all the non essential bits removed....like Hyptocle......or hydrocept....that French skiff thing with a hull made of scaffold....... |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 3:21pm
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Hmm, it's not too late for us to break out the V3000. looks windy enough...
Dohh you're in Rob's L3k you b'stards and you'll get the half an hour start... 
and you'll be using that nice van I gave away to get it there I bet...  ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 3:35pm
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Greame ... just have a chat with Mike B. who will be there in '04' - forecast is top of F3 to F4. Just sail flat and freeish and flatten the main with a handful of kicker and cunningham. The key technique with Icon is playing the main ... the jib does plenty of work for you so you can dump handfulls of main if needed and still keep flying so let the jib do its job and only dump a lot of it if you really get overpowered. Anyway flat mainsail and play that mainsheet even more so than in many many other boats. You may not win tomorrow but I bet you come back smiling. You'll 'slice and dice' up the Swale chop for sure and really fly on the reaches. Just keep going and concentrate on the most important thing .... enjoying it. Mike L. |
Posted By: Neal_g
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 3:45pm
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nope not a l3k told you we'll start the same time as you give your golden shot at us on the line that you missed that thusday night. keep guessing worrying it'll help concentrate the mind old chap.  ------------- (Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 4:57pm
See this...
That's me smiling.. I'm always smiling in those Devoti boats
However I ran aground two seconds after that was taken and now I'm thinking I wonder if what's he's got has a dagger or a cb and I'm painting that mental picture of those Washerwomen pitchpoling arse over t*t a couple of years back and I'm smiling still.. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 29 Aug 14 at 6:38pm
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Years ago when the ISO was regarded as a sexy beast, maybe that first year or the second (yes a long time ago ..) we did the IOS race in one and finished first asymetric and 4th overall. We could have won imo but the crew had a couple of proper major sulks as I put him round the spinnaker when the dagger hit the sticky stuff on sandbanks ... twice. He would not talk to me for about 40 minutes after the second occasion ... in the end I told him "if you can see the ****ing shallows with your bloody vantage point on the wire just tell me next time - and stop *****ing sulking" It broke the ice and we recovered a few positions and hads a laugh about it in the bar afterwards as we displayed the bruises - you see the water is a tad 'muddy' up the Swale and you can see not a lot at all under the surface. So "go wide .. or be prepared for a few tears" is the advice .. or go centreboard of course We vowed NEVER EVER to do the IOS race again with a bloody dagger ... went our seperate ways and in my case that was the Blaze - nice leverage and no more sweaty palms and a few decent IOS races in the following years ! (you need to cut every safe corner you can at Sheppey !) Mike L. |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 30 Aug 14 at 5:55am
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My only IOS experience so far taught me about the shallows... sailing an iCon with Peaky, we took the experimental fixed rudder off! ------------- -_ Al |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 3:46pm
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Well I've no idea where we came, but we got round in that rock n rolling slipping and sliding brute of a boat, that's the last time I do that race without a kite and we almost nailed Pancho Villa in his 'weapon' which turned out to be a Buzz, but the last bit went very light and punching a tide an no matter what we tried we couldn't make it go at all off wind. Both the other icons absolutely drilled us downwind despite a decent start and early lead, they just came inexorably by and by the time we got to the bottom into the swale they must have had at least a quarter mile lead and all the kited boats were gone.
It was a fresh Westerly blowing 5-6 and there were some planing moments dead running goose winged and the bit up the back was a bit bouncy choppy especially if you stuck in the wind over tide channel which we did and it helped us pull back quite a few places on the upwind leg. We eventually caught site of the two icons upwind of us which gave us some focus to something that until then had been an entirely unpleasant experience coupled to the thought our flushing strip was knackered again since there were fountains of horrid brown water gushing up into the back of the boat. By the bridge we were more in touch and manage to snake mike 'bellingforth' as he went mid tide for a drift back downwind.. We'd been tussling back and forth since one of his groundings had brought him into our sights, we'd been ahead but as the wind dropped in the bridge approach he overtook on a reach, that and a furball and 505 getting in the way had made quite a battle in the mid stages of the long upwind slog. Then we spotted the 'Villa' brothers as they pulled away from the bridge as we docked and we had to engage another gear. They along with some other Island race virgins had made the mistake of sailing too far upwind to round one of the long slow bends and we gained a lot of ground staying low, then as we rounded the last bit into the moorings lo and behold there they were having a nice little swim, they must have gotten warm or something.. Did we chuckle? Not at all, we fell about. But Lady luck deserted us as we approached the main channel again and their kite along with the lead Merlin we'd overtaken, took us back out, only the lead Tasar who had absolutely mullered us to weather earlier sailing a bit lower and faster couldn't haul us back in and it was over. For another year thank God, we left, knackered I haven't seen the results and they don't appear on the website. I'm fairly sure the other Icon toasted us, he was gone, but it wasn't a fair fight, he used a red boat and everyone knows they're faster. Oh there was one sour taste, apparently our young lass Genna (she of the snipe fame)Gibson went round on her windsurfing longboard, she not only was first craft home, she had the fastest time, her reward? They gave her a handicap of 700 to make sure she didn't appear in the results ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 4:01pm
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Not a fan of the Icon then Graeme?
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Posted By: Neal_g
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 4:34pm
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Grf managed a 19th place out of 81.
Sadly it was bandit oclock and we ended up 11th one place behind the lead icon. 3 swims and 5 groundings slowed our pace somewhat ------------- (Redoubt Sc) Miracle 4040 GP14 13407 Crewsaver phase 2 range now available to buy online on at http://www.gibsonsails.com |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 7:36pm
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Greame - sort out the rudder - it is almost certainly not 'balanced' unless it was finished over here and the symptoms you describe are exactly right if you have it wrong. It makes downwind a doddle if it is right. It must be angled a couple of degrees forward of vertical .. and every Devoti supplied one we have seen so far has a few degees of rake backwards ..... . The pivot hole needs filling and re-drilling to achieve this change ... just do it and don't be suprised as we told you so ! The conditions on Saturday would 'find out' anything not 100% right - but as far as I know all three Icons got around wthout capsizing or breaking anything..... now imagine if you have the boat set up right ! Mike L. Try this - oneof the starts .... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOGOIgVNmO8 |
Posted By: winging it
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 8:28pm
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I seem to remember being told that had been done on that boat, but I could be wrong. Certainly no one at Hunts complained about it, but then we are a mere puddle. ------------- the same, but different... |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 9:06pm
How long after the start was that filmed? Huge spread of boats - some already nearly two minutes adrift, others not hoisting their kites. It looked as though Grumph brought with him the outbreak of Hythe-itis we saw on the video he posted a while back. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: Null
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 9:19pm
| Graeme 19th is not a bad result, well done. (Not meaning to sound patronising) but with a newish crew in a boat you don't know I would say that's a good result |
Posted By: Rupert
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 10:05pm
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The boat must be a bandit...
------------- Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686 |
Posted By: Null
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 10:09pm
Now, now Rupert that's naughty...you will get told to stop posting unless you have something constructive to post.
|
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 10:24pm
Upwind it was fine, it points well and we took plenty of scalps including that lead Merlin (the one that got away from us with the Blue spinnaker at the start, that's us third boat, we had got away first on Port headed out to sea but a bunch of them chickened it on Starboard forcing a gybe on us.) But the boat is too slippery, I've complained about that before the last time I sailed it in a bit of a breeze, but that was a force 5-6 which is a whole different ball game, had we been in the Alto it would have been a different story, there was an Alto there, I never saw it but I bet it finished way ahead of us. To me I like a boat to be comfy on every point of sailing and downwind it sucks, obviously we weren't doing something, or the flusher was off (I haven't checked it yet not wanting to go near it again ever whilst memory of that 15 mile downwind rock n roll was still fresh in my scarred mind.)because the other two boats who we'd left at the start, came by us and stretched out a good 1/4mile lead, but honestly the way i feel at the moment I'm not really interested in finding out they were all so different the red boat had a different mast and the white boat had Hyde Sails, so hardly strict one design is it? Underlines what i always say about class racing, there is no such thing, whatever you have, someone will have something different and if you say anything they'll um and ah and suggest it's your skill in doubt. One day someone will build the perfect two hander, like an Alto with a wash through hull. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 10:52pm
To suggest that a 1/4 mile lead after a run is down to different sails or minor differences in build on the same hull shape rather than skill is, frankly, self delusion. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 11:12pm
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Perhaps the conditions were not right for lee-bowing the opposition????
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Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 31 Aug 14 at 11:38pm
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Well we got round 11secs slower than Mike Lyons who sailed exactly the right craft for the job, so not such a bad effort, he just happened to have a better handicap and two sail against three sails over a dead run? Sorry skill has nothing to do with it. We didn't broach, fall over sail the wrong course, we were all side by side for a while and looking at the way they were wobbling about at the start I wouldn't have said their skill was any different to ours, their boat speed was faster.
In fact i could argue pulling back a 1/4 mile lead on the upwind leg in a force 5-6 at my age and weight took some considerable skill and knowledge of tide and wind shifts, a lot of them were doing it all wrong. That bit we enjoyed and it was fun, with that handicap we were never likely to get into the chocolates, the fact we got into the top twenty all things considered I'll settle with, a shame it couldn't have been the top ten which I note the Alto achieved. And as it happened the lee bow worked every time and was exactly what did it for us, we used it more than most of them. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: blaze720
Date Posted: 01 Sep 14 at 8:14pm
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Icon differences ? One Design ? The Icon with the white carbon mast (standard option btw) carried a development Hyde main at IOS and on a prototype mast (heavier than yours note !) .. not because it was quicker .. but because it 'saved' their nice new crispy North sails in a wind where trashing good new sails would have been pointless (if you owned them that is ... ) They are accepted in the class and a few old sets are still floating around but we do not supply anything but standard North sails today. You will be relieved to know your North sails were/are 'faster' .... and a lot newer of course.If you race against other Icons a couple of times you will quickly learn how to match speed on all angles - I suspect this really was your first encounter with other Icons of course so we would not necessarily expect you to be totally 'on the money' yet anyway. A few of us will be doing the 'Sailjuice events' in the Autumn starting at Draycote ... why not come along if you still have access to a loan one ? We are also very happy to organise a Forumite type event / Icon race&train&social session as well if a few more are interested. (It has got to be fun as well ...) Mike L. PS - The 'age' card ... eer ... Don't play that one until you have to. You are not the only one there I'm apparently of 'grand-master' status myself but think we should have no real wish to compete in any event of that ilk that would have us ... yet. |
Posted By: MerlinMags
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 9:37am
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No-one has sent a race report in to us yet; we'd love to publish a report and the results.
I have been sent a set of photos, so I am all ready to go if someone will just pen a report... 
[Thanks to Tim Olin for pictures.] |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 10:51am
They're Cat sailors it'll be in the CAT Gazette I expect, written with words of few syllables. "We had this race it was windy we all went really fast some old single hull boats came some fell over, some Windsurfers and those Standing paddling boards came, we ignored them, we won that's all that matters, The End" Here are some pictures of Cats going really fast. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 1:19pm
"Like" (for once). ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 3:15pm
you know, you said "To me I like a boat to be comfy on every point of sailing", and to me, if I sailed on the sea, I'd have a hard time thinking of a boat more comfy on every point of sailing than a nice, quick, carbon, wiring-so-no-moaning-about-hiking, catamaran
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Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 3:21pm
And everyone think you're one up from a jet skier in the evolutionary scale(or from Essex), do i have to publish my nice internet IQ certificate again? ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Xpletive
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 3:51pm
| Oh....and don't forget, start with an F18 |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 3:53pm
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I guess this must be an east-coast thing... the south coast and dutch multi-hullers I've ever met have been a pretty pleasant bunch, no where near the knuckle-dragging drooling simpletons who like jet-ski's, at least in the case of jet-skiers their white range-rova's and cackling "beaches" give them away when they blunder away from their noisy craft for an ice-cream/stella/malboro break..... whereas I have very happy memories of a pleasant afternoon's enterainment somewhere near Texcel one year, you should have, like, a more open mind, man
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Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 4:20pm
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Or a bigger boat park ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: getafix
Date Posted: 05 Sep 14 at 5:41pm
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Unfortunately, British sea-side councils seems to view boat parks as either an annoyance to be banned* or a cash-cow, or both, reactionary nimby Luddites the lot of 'em *along with a long list of other things like playing ball games, sun bathing, swimming, surfing, wind surfing, walking your dog, having any kind of fun whatsoever etc, etc...
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Posted By: oldarn
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 11:41am
We AltO owners know that the AltO is a best kept secret but appreciate your often favourable references to it. Somewhere just recently you made to your often repeated comment that it is a pity it was not designed as a self draining boat. In fact much consideration was given to making it that, but it would have resulted in it not having it's many benefits. Longer self draining hulls have to be flatter than single skin boats with more rocker for across the wind range performance. They are heavier if n0t made with carbon fibre and are far less comfortable unless high freeboard which adds weight, increases windage and looks ugly. The AltO in any breeze drains quickly and being single skin with rocker is far less likely to turn turtle. Graeme, the one time self draining is a great advantage is launching into waves and especially if combined with light airs. Clearly a not uncommon situation at Hythe. I recall your prototype boat has only medium size selfbailers, and have you removed the plastic grids?. You can't have it all ways, i.e. all the advantages without foregoing that fashionable but not very necessary self draining option. I note the AltO was the fastest non Cat round the Island, and that was with a capsize. It must have drained quickly!. ------------- thefastexcitingrunningasymmetric |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 12:00pm
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All true, we wished we'd taken the Alto, but it's in need of a rub down and refit, 7 years hard use have taken their toll, but it's still on its original main and jib and remains a favourite of mine.
Yes the self balers are crap, and yes if you go over it takes a while to empty, but you have to do something silly or get suddenly snaked in some boat interaction requiring emergency avoidance before you go over these days. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 12:19pm
The best solution for the Alto would have been a partial double bottom, with bailers in footwells. Best of all worlds - deep cockpit comfort and effectively self-draining. My old Jacksnipe always sailed itself dry in seconds in any sort of capsizing wind.  In many respects the best boat I ever owned. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 12:43pm
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Well the RS500 seems to work OK except for it being an unpleasant shape to sail. I haven't really looked hard at a Buzz, but that is also self draining, had it a centreboard like they have in France and built a deal lighter that could be a nice boat as well.
But none of them have the ace in the hole the Alto has with it's swivelling pole which enables tactical options when handicap racing Syms, so what do they do? Increase it's handicap, can't have the precious Syms being challenged can we? We want to stay old fashioned cheat our way, building lighter Merlins and sailing them on ridiculously low handicaps... ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Medway Maniac
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 12:51pm
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PYS is currently recommending 903 for the Alto at WSC. You must try to keep up, Grumph. ------------- http://www.wilsoniansc.org.uk" rel="nofollow - Wilsonian SC http://www.3000class.org.uk" rel="nofollow - 3000 Class |
Posted By: oldarn
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 2:38pm
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[QUOTE In many respects the best boat I ever owned [/QUOTE] But you haven't owned an AltO, and do you mean the V3000. I thought the AltO is fast becoming the largest fast class at your Club. I wonder why? ------------- thefastexcitingrunningasymmetric |
Posted By: oldarn
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 2:47pm
I'm sure Grumph is aware that is quite unfair. About as unfair as the Osprey at 944. Mind you the AltO prerformance well surpasses all expectations, not just fast but well mannered and flexible regarding all up crew weight. Geoff and I sail it at 145Kg only and with a combined age of only 15 kg less than that. ------------- thefastexcitingrunningasymmetric |
Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 2:48pm
Clearly they have no competition. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: oldarn
Date Posted: 08 Sep 14 at 3:07pm
Sorry I did not answer your point. We certainly looked hard at that option, but still would not work with forgoing other advantages ------------- thefastexcitingrunningasymmetric |
Posted By: simsy
Date Posted: 09 Sep 14 at 10:45pm
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How windy was it this year? I've had a few people tell me it was quite windy, but having a quick look at the times, they seem rather slow in comparison to last year and as I recall it was pretty breezy.
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Posted By: iGRF
Date Posted: 09 Sep 14 at 11:07pm
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It was a strong Westerly Wind which meant a dead run, which had the fast cats and assyms zig zagging downwind, then a beat all the way up the swale, in a SW or NE the two prevailing winds that bring fast times, both the long legs are fast reaches. ------------- https://www.corekite.co.uk/snow-accessories-11-c.asp" rel="nofollow - Snow Equipment Deals https://www.corekite.co.uk" rel="nofollow - New Core Kite website |
Posted By: Marc di Maria
Date Posted: 16 Sep 14 at 11:05pm
My close friend told me that he have had done many fantastic sails but this race is very exceptional & and I hope to take part of it very soon. 
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