February started much the same as January, high winds only this time accompanied with a dusting of snow and bitterly cold conditions. Social Sunday sailing with friends is some 75 miles away so it was a bit of a pain to need to set alarms for 6.30am to then decide to abandon the thought of travelling to Plymouth and head back to bed!
Winter Talk 1 - Rules At the Start Line - I was very lucky to be invited by Paignton Sailing Club to attend a series of winter talks by Natalie Lloyd, RYA Topper Head Coach. Our first talk was “rules on the start line”. Natalie made this an interesting and interactive discussion on definitions and thought provoking on how to use rules on the start line and to be confident in our actions.
I look forward to our second winter talk in March but mum hopes we get home before 11.45pm next time, well it was a school night for both of us!
NS2 – Topper Winter Regatta WPNSA – Saturday was sunny but bitterly cold and accompanied by strong winds so we were soon under a postponement until the gusts had dropped enough to allow the mark layers to set a course. The ribs launched twice before that was successful!
When we launched I reefed to stay safe and to try to complete the race upright! We used the windsurfers’ slipway due to the onshore wind and then made our way to the start line through choppy seas accompanied by strong gusting winds. Red flight had the second start and I finished a very pleasing 40th, after which we all returned to shore to regroup and consider a second race. Sailing kit that proved essential today were my GUL Windward Sailing Gloves for on the water and my GUL Rigging Jacket for when I came ashore. The conditions were no easier for race 2 so I decided to stay ashore and prepare for a full day of three races tomorrow.
Sunday dawned bright and early and we launched on time. The wind had dropped, perhaps a little too much. I posted a couple of reasonable results and was especially pleased with pulling a 15th out of the bag. I finished 86th overall which was great for my first competition on a full rig and it was good to catch-up with friends I hadn’t seen for a few months.
New VR Kit - the land based highlight of the month has to be the arrival of our new VR Jackets. They are soooo cool and I have hardly taken mine off since it arrived.
Now I am looking forward to March which has a full sailing calendar. An interesting mix of RYA Zone Squad training, our second winter talk, a day of Team Racing Coaching (a first for me), a National Series event and a local Traveller to complete the line up :)
