Boating chit chat thread.

neris wrote: »

Those boats are probably the most unenvironmentally friendly things ever made. Man made chemicals and fibres baked in a huge oven

Alkers wrote: »

Is that the one with Robert Redford? I brought my OH to it and she almost disowned me!

neris wrote: »

Anyone know when the DMYC kish race is on?

neris wrote: »

The little cruiser at 4 minutes was sailed across the Atlantic after being bought in America. The guy who owns it co built the first Corby in Ireland & a Falmouth quay punt

Van Doozy wrote: »

Anyone any tips for an inshore racing noob!? :pac:

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

Just ordered some anti-fouling from the U.K. there. Anyone have any experience from importing from the U.K.? Any issues getting it shipped?

Went for International Micron 350 (plan will be to stay afloat next winter, so want the benefit of the 2 year stuff).

BowWow wrote: »

Interesting! I always believed that "paint" was a hazardous substance and therefore couldn't be couriered into Ireland. Let's know how you get on...

Also, keep boat moored in Howth. Used the 2 year stuff once - found it useless, lasted one season.

AndyBoBandy wrote: »

I had planned to lightly sand the hull with an orbital sander I picked up in Lidl, using fine discs (200/320+ grit), then fill and fair a few bits on the keel where some of the (looks like gel coat) has come away (will use Plastic Padding Epoxy filler). Then a coat of Primer and 2/3 coats of anti-fouling (depending on which type I go for).
Should I be looking at a keel specific primer first? or for this would I need to bring the keel back to its metal? (Not a job I'd fancy doing).

Next job on the list then will be an engine service, something I've not done before (it was supposedly serviced just before I collected it in August 2018), I'm guessing its an oil/oil filter change, fuel filter change, and replace the impeller? Anything else I should be doing?

My worry is the impeller cover, and one of the screws looks to have been broken off, although this was noticed in the original photo's of the boat so if it was changed in Aug 18, it was done so with only these 3 screws holding it on.
I guess I won't really know what it is until I whip the cover off.
I'm also thinking the engine service should wait til she's launched again so I can warm the oil before removing it.

Thoughts anyone?

PERFECTION IS KILLING SAILBOAT RACING!

So says internationally acclaimed racing sailor and sailmaker, Ken Read in the latest copy of Seahorse Magazine. And I agree with him completely. For too long we have sat around waiting to race - not so much waiting for the wind gods, but waiting for race committees to lay ‘perfect’ start lines to perfectly placed windward marks.

Ken makes compelling points, in his excellent article that today’s sailors are far more sensitive about their own time management these days and therefore they would get more enjoyment out of racing if they spent more on water time actually racing rather than getting too the ‘perfect’ venue and awaiting perfect conditions.

The modern obsession with ‘perfect’ race course was, in my opinion, the beginning of the end of events like the Admiral’s Cup so the beginning of this problem highlighted by Ken Read can probably find its origins way back in the mid eighties. Many people put the demise of these style of ocean racing events down to lack of available time, But it is interesting to reflect that maybe too much time was being wasted.

I really like Ken’s ideas that the postponement flag should by retired and that start time delays through lack of wind could be, with modern forecasting, decided the night before. Why stop a race just because the start line is no longer square to the course. Don’t stop a race once it has started. Just shorten it, to one leg if necessary. People want results for their efforts and if its a bit of a lottery sometimes - so what! It’s the same for everybody.

I particularly like Ken’s idea of making the last race of the day, or if it’s the only race of the day finish just outside the harbour rather than miles away at a committee boat.

Conchir wrote: »

The delays are a nightmare, completely agree with everything in that quote.

The offshore race at the VDLR this Summer had its finish line in the harbour, and the run to the harbour mouth, gybe, and tight reach to the line was epic. The whole time wondering if we’d hold the kite to the line, and then the scramble to douse the kite in time after crossing the line just added to the excitement. So much better than finishing miles off shore and facing a long trek in.