Australian Nationals 2013 - Day 01 / 02

sensational conditions for day 1 - flat and 10-15kts. don't know who won - there was too much rum and if you are reading this, it's probably not for the results.

as the n4rks mentioned, i spent the evening of day 0 rebuilding both foils but managed to get onto the course on time. In the middle of the first of three races i tore thru the middle of my stbd tramp making a great big diagonal chasm between the 380mm wide hull and the wing bar. then one air bag deflated and the other escaped - tacking became really dicey and gybing worse. rerighting after a capsize was not pleasant as there was nowhere to put your bodyweight to keep the boat upright and no air bags to help keep it stable. it was fine once i managed to get onto the wing and get the ship up to speed tho, and i persisted and logged finishes in all races even beating a few more boats than usual. 

nick had a better day. we just had a look at his gps tracks. nice angles upwind and down. he was picking up boats all over the place downwind as he gybed to stay in the gusts while others feared the gybe. a bit of extra gearing may have also helped downwind but the waves weren't much of a test. 

i did the ring around after the race to find a local sail maker and he did a wicked repair overnight. the tramps are looking better than ever. i was looking forward to an early night but helped Robla glue his tiller back onto his BR rudder box.

day 2 saw some 'not usually like this' conditions -and the locals probably had a point. a 40deg heatwave with 10-30kt westerlies that with the direction warbling all over the place. So the race organisers decided to have the layday early and scheduled the 'dash for cash' and AGM and no other racing. we lined the shore in the shade of some of the trees and watched 12 elite sailors sail a short course close to the bank, progressively eliminating sailors until Peter Burling, Scott Babbagge, Nathan and Joe Turner were left. The wind went bonkers - huge lulls surrounded by 20kt bullets that took its toll on all but Peter who took it out.

i know we should be taking more photos but we did get this one:

when you fall asleep at the AGM, the next nationals venue ends up being 2000km away - queensland will be hosting it at keppel bay, yeppoon.


markla and narkla keeping the bloog alive!!