Calais Rally.

[DJE]

We got stuck in Dover on Saturday in the high winds. Just made it in time to qualify at 08:00 on Sunday.
Are any of you from Thorpe Bay YC? You certainly had Benfleet worried. As soon as I arrived they went and fetched the book and signed me in. They seemed to think you might have had more boats than them this year.

This overtook us just after we left on Tuesday morning:

 

[mirabriani]

Two questions
1 What is the long thin cylinder just in front of the mast?
2 How does the kicker work with the gooseneck so low?

Regards Briani

 

[DJE]

The cylinder looking thing is the windward dagger board which is raised. I dont think there is a kicker; there is a full width mainsheet traveller across the stern and the stern is very wide.

There were 3 of these beasts in Calais following the Calais Round Britain Race. My son went off in the dinghy and took lots of pictures.