jason -and the arguenauts
Well-Known Member
Yesterday was the first race of this years winter campaign and it's got an old man all excited once again. OK it isnt yet winter but nevertheless it was great to spend 5 hours "with the lads" racing in a fleet of 10 other PY boats. Summer ( defined by SWMBO as May to September) is for cruising "en famille" which means keeping the boat fairly upright and being very conservative about the weather. Winter is for thrashing the nuts off it. 
Forecast was 4 to 6 rising 5 to 7, but we never saw anything much above 22 knots over the deck. But anticipating stronger winds and being a bit of cautious for the first race, we started well over reefed. Things didnt get a lot better after that because we were sailing with two novices in a scratch crew so we didnt use coloured sails on the long downwind runs. The result was a miserable 5th place. But roll on next Sunday.
I always end up wondering why more people dont use their boats and race them in winter. In our miserable UK climate, the difference between winter and summer is little more than a few degrees, but having to go sailing because you are in a series gets you out there in decent sailing weather when the glooms of the Met Office would normally have you staying at home.
And it's fun both at the time and in the club bar afterwards.
So come on, you lot. Get some use out of your investment and come racing!
Forecast was 4 to 6 rising 5 to 7, but we never saw anything much above 22 knots over the deck. But anticipating stronger winds and being a bit of cautious for the first race, we started well over reefed. Things didnt get a lot better after that because we were sailing with two novices in a scratch crew so we didnt use coloured sails on the long downwind runs. The result was a miserable 5th place. But roll on next Sunday.
I always end up wondering why more people dont use their boats and race them in winter. In our miserable UK climate, the difference between winter and summer is little more than a few degrees, but having to go sailing because you are in a series gets you out there in decent sailing weather when the glooms of the Met Office would normally have you staying at home.
And it's fun both at the time and in the club bar afterwards.
So come on, you lot. Get some use out of your investment and come racing!
