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Post by pegasus on Jul 4, 2011 20:41:54 GMT
Having a relatively poor start to the season because of repairs, and strong winds This Sunday’s racing proved successful.
The light winds has meant that my old British Moth came into itself. However I think much of this is due to Roger Witts’s advice at Chippenham though.
Our first race on a Sunday is always a 30 minute pursuit race, with the starts staggered at 30 second intervals. The only Comet on the water on Sunday set off first but by the time it was my turn to start the wind died completely leaving me amongst a load of Solos. We all drifted away slowly at first but good old Bertie suddenly picked up the what little wind there was to be second boat to the first mark, behind the Comet.
The whole race was a matter of luck particularly on the runs when I spent much of the time trying to avoid a wall of sail. The eventual position at the end of the race was 7th after 9 boats all converged on the windward mark for the second time.
The second race was the monthly handicap race. The whole fleet converged on the start line, but it was a Solo and the Moth that got away first, closely followed by an Albercore and an Enterprise. With the front end of the fleet getting away into clear wind left the others struggling. First to the mark were a Laser, an Albercore, a Solo and Bertie. I decided to keep the clean air by sailing to the north of the Island leaving the others to fight their way through the gap between 2 islands. My overall position had not changed.
On the second lap some of the leaders tried the same trick but a massive wind shift left them stranded in the wrong position and I was able to make up a few positions on the water, which I was able to hold onto for the remainder of the lap and throughout the last lap.
Final position on the water - ahead of Solos, Lasers, Enterprises in fact most of the fleet. This shows that in light winds on our water the Moth can be quite some match, I nearly lapped some of the slower boats. (Final results are still to be published)
This was my best performance of the year by far
Simon BM708
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Post by Meat Pie ... on Jul 5, 2011 8:51:04 GMT
Well done "Bertie"....knew you could go better Simon ! What a star !
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Post by pegasus on Jul 25, 2011 14:18:50 GMT
As I was not able to get to Stewartby due to family commitments on Saturday night did give me a chance to get Bertie on the water at Maidenhead.
As we are now have a bit of an issue with weed trying to grow through the dye put in the water earlier this year. Sailing has become a matter of a decision between point-ability and "Weed management".
With shifting winds of force 2 gusting 3 kept everyone on e their toes. However in the pursuit race (don't want to mention that) being first off the start line I was soon caught up by the Solos, and the majority of the fleet but still had a reasonable finish
In the second race which are fleet starts although the Menagerie is the last to go we all soon caught up the tail-enders of the Solos. With one enterprise getting away I managed to stay up with some of the faster boats and finishing a matter of seconds behind an enterprise. Final position 2nd overall.
Simon BM708
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Post by pegasus on Sept 23, 2011 19:54:25 GMT
Last night was our annual night sail. With 13 boats rigged up with green and red glow-sticks it was imperative to have a good start in the next to windless conditions and added floating weed to add to the hazards.
Bertie had a good start being the third boat to the first mark (they were lit up with white lights). The front of fleet positions remained very much unchanged with the front of the pack split into 2 distinct groups.
The wind conditions proved ideal for the Moth, allowing Bertie to take 1st Place and the converted Maidenhead Night Sail Trophy, beating a Comet by 4 seconds on corrected time and the first Solo taking third place 1 second behind the Comet.
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Post by Pie-eyed on Sept 24, 2011 5:53:36 GMT
WELL DONE BERTIE! Simon has found his form... should next years opens include night sailing?
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Post by pegasus on Nov 20, 2011 20:41:31 GMT
Having had a good weekend now time to come back to earth.
Last night was our annual summer series prize giving and good old Bertie has flown the flag well this year. Gaining first place on the Thursday Evening Personal handicap series and coming second in the Menagerie Summer Series.
Today in fog and mill-pond conditions (perfect Moth weather) was able to hold position well. Despite little wind and marks somewhere in the fog was able to hold onto the lead in the first 30min Pursuit race (Lapping some of the boats en route). The second start saw Bertie get a good start which was maintained the whole race to win on the water against an enterprise and GP.
Interesting to note that when the wind picks up the whole of the top section of the mast falls away. I fitted my camera to the mast again last week when it was a lot more windy than today and the upper movement is substantial. The only problem is that when extra tension is put on the rigging the mast goes into an 'S' shape. As my spreaders are not adjustable I am looking at shortening them by about 1/2" either side to see what happens if I can put more tension on to alleviate the bending way of the top of the mast.
Simon
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Post by Pie-eyed on Nov 21, 2011 8:13:42 GMT
Good old 'Bertie' nothing like an old Moth to reek havoc when the conditions are right.... You might want to check with the tech boys before getting the hack saw out.... I think you need to be increasing the length of you spreaders if you are aiming to stiffen up the top section a little... and sort out yours lowers if you are getting an 'S' shape. But hey what do girls know...
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Post by Pie-eyed on Nov 21, 2011 8:16:54 GMT
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Post by pegasus on Mar 26, 2012 19:59:34 GMT
The winter series this year has been tight with some very close results. Sadly I have had my bad days , which has seen Bertie not perform to the best, (pilot error), in what should have been perfect conditions.
Last Sunday with the flukey wind conditions, position on the lake was the prevailing factor, and in some cases luck.
Any way with some interest being shown in the Club particularly rescue crews who seem to insist in buzzing round me during the pursuit race, there are going to be more trials by various members this summer.
The frost earlier this year has taken its toll on the Port deck, and at the moment Bertie is sat in my front of my house having just had the deck re-glued back on and sanded ready to take its first coat of varnish. The question is will it be ready for Frampton... I only hope so but it is going to be tight to try to get at least 4 coats of varnish on before Saturday Morning! I have visions of towing it up the motorway with the last coat drying en route.
Simon BM708
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Post by pegasus on May 27, 2012 20:15:46 GMT
Today was the first time 847 ventured out onto Maidenhead water. Having been press ganged last week into rescue duty last week and having agreed to do a bit of food on Thursday evening.
The first Pursuit start had a bit of a rocky start as a solo was in the way for my start. However once I got clear, managed to open up a substantial lead on the fleet. It was only on the last leg did the leading Albacore, Laser, and Enterprise catch up with about 5 minutes remaining. I managed to hold the Enterprise off to the end.
In the second race with the wind starting to shift all over the place made the first lap interesting. This time a Phantom and the Enterprise I was battling with went in one direction on the start and I went in a another direction. Between us we opened up a big lead over the rest of the fleet. However some brave sole in a second Enterprise decided to go the opposite side of one of our islands and made up substantial ground.
They managed to get a way but only just managed to break through the 4 minutes / hr lead they needed to get a place above me, only to have some gear teething issues meaning I had to do some prompt repair whilst going down wind.
Final result 4th. Not bad for the first time on this water.
Bertie is still at home having the decks re-varnished, but has now appeared on the For Sale board at Maidenhead SC.
Simon
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Post by pegasus on May 6, 2013 19:41:05 GMT
The winter series this year seemed to be going British Moth's way up till January with the clubs only moth leading the fleet in the Pursuit, Monthly handicap and General Fleets. With various issues meaning that I was either unable to get on the water or the weather had turned against the "moth". it all went down hill.
However still have had some of the best finishes in a season 10th, 5th and second in the general fleet. Picked up my second place glass this week.
Ghost Swift is back on the water for the first time for the spring / summer series and managed to knock up a second in the pursuit race and mid fleet in the monthly handicap race.
Simon BM847
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Post by New Boy on May 7, 2013 9:24:57 GMT
Nice one Simon. Hope to see you at some opens if you can make them. New Boy
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Post by abby on May 7, 2013 17:18:29 GMT
Good sailing Simon - and I am glad you got on the water, rather than just taking care of the shoreline bits behind the scenes. Abby
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Post by pegasus on Jan 25, 2015 21:57:15 GMT
THere are now 4 Moths at Maidenhead and they are now giving the traditional fleets a run for their money.
Today with one moth in the garege for repainting and the other on duty 2 took to the water.
With the rescue boats having to break some ice on the water before racing could take place. It proved a good day for moths. Paul didn't sail the first race, but I was there, being slowed down in some of the ice that the pointy boats were able to push through. By the time the second race started the ice had effectively gone and as the general fleet got a away the phantom made it to the foirst mark only to becaught on thr down wind leg. Paul and I battled each other all round the race swapping positions at each mark. However Paul finished 4 seconds ahead to take first place on handicap and I took second place with the Phantom in third.
Simon BM847
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Post by bertfatal on Jan 26, 2015 9:07:32 GMT
Well done you! I haven't sailed so far this year, it is either too windy or I am working or I have something else planned.
RK
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