Peter John you owe me a beer!
So I went to Sprecks today after an epic day of work. I got there at about 4:40pm and the wind had dropped somewhat. Eric had sailed earlier and put up a 35.8 knot 100m speed which tied his 2008 best. Peter John was still there and had sailed his 5.8 all day. He looked at me like I was crazy when I rigged a 6.6, but the wind had dropped and he eventually conceded it was probably OK. It was slightly on-shore and really not that strong so I was confident I made the right choice. Unfortunately, it was high tide and things were getting seriously lumpy. In fact, it looked downright ugly. Peter bet me one beer that I could not post a 100m run better than 33 knots.
Well, when there is beer on the line things get serious!
To cut an unnecessarily long story short - I have 4 x 100m runs over 33knots! Not a lot over, but enough to claim that beer! Best run 33.5 knots with a 33.8 knot peak!
It was seriously sketchy. My last run was a hot one, but I came across a small wave in the middle of the run. Here is kind of what happened:
Coming off the beach - wait for gust then waterstart. Slowly sheet in as velocity improves and start loading fin. Slogging out and searching for footstraps. Feet in straps now starting to sheet in and power up. Hooked in ready to go but sheeted out waiting for a good line. Finally things start coming together and a gust and lane co-incide. Full power now trying to sail a good flat line. Sheet in, sheet in, hold it now, the lane is open! Maximum power hold it in, keep it sheeted there it is! almost no waves to cross just keep it powered DO NO BACK OFF! Hit a wave and a liitle airbourne, oh no! land and the fin gives out sliding, but before I can yell F*** due to the enevitable crash the rail catches the water and flow re-attaches to the foil. I survived, but the run is shot. My heart is doing 200 bpm! Enough already, it is a slow day and I have pushed things too far. I am however impressed with my 24cm fin I designed. It has to be the best rough water speed fin ever!
The wider tip makes these fins very forgiving in rough water.
Well, when there is beer on the line things get serious!
To cut an unnecessarily long story short - I have 4 x 100m runs over 33knots! Not a lot over, but enough to claim that beer! Best run 33.5 knots with a 33.8 knot peak!
It was seriously sketchy. My last run was a hot one, but I came across a small wave in the middle of the run. Here is kind of what happened:
Coming off the beach - wait for gust then waterstart. Slowly sheet in as velocity improves and start loading fin. Slogging out and searching for footstraps. Feet in straps now starting to sheet in and power up. Hooked in ready to go but sheeted out waiting for a good line. Finally things start coming together and a gust and lane co-incide. Full power now trying to sail a good flat line. Sheet in, sheet in, hold it now, the lane is open! Maximum power hold it in, keep it sheeted there it is! almost no waves to cross just keep it powered DO NO BACK OFF! Hit a wave and a liitle airbourne, oh no! land and the fin gives out sliding, but before I can yell F*** due to the enevitable crash the rail catches the water and flow re-attaches to the foil. I survived, but the run is shot. My heart is doing 200 bpm! Enough already, it is a slow day and I have pushed things too far. I am however impressed with my 24cm fin I designed. It has to be the best rough water speed fin ever!
The wider tip makes these fins very forgiving in rough water.
posted by Jeffrey, Glenn and Tom at
7/23/2008 08:57:00 PM
2 Comments:
Well done and Cheers!
whats the story about the fin?
Great story, so your fin is out there (pics). How long till your boat goes into production? ;)
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