This week has been long and hard so I am so looking forward to joining Alan and everyone in Mar Menor. Loads of us are catching the 4:20 plane from Bournemouth to Murcia today so I hope Ryanair does not let us down.
The reason this event appeals to me so much is that I get to sail with other Moth sailors, try out new ideas, and benefit from Si Payne's coaching without the stress of a major championship as well. I am hoping to nail a lot of my personal demons which I think possibly are shared by most people:
1. Improve boat handling and get rid of that feeling of impending doom everytime I go for a gybe. Where we race at Hayling it is essential that you can gybe confidently and reliably in the narrow channels.
2. Speed - when the Mach2 gets in the groove the speed difference is palpable. First impressions were that the Hydes sail helps achieve that groove more easily than the MSL13. Having said that it is possible I am not squeezing the nuts off that sail enough but we shall see.
3. More Height - The Mach2 can carry height no problem but my brain is still convinced I am going to lose control (possibly harping back to my 600FF days). Ricky Tagg has suggested I mark the main foil with lines so I can tell how high I am which is a good idea. It would help to take a more scientific approach to the issue and overcome my fear.
4. Racecraft in general - nailing all of the above would get me back into thinking about the race itself and what the best strategy and tactics are to follow. For example improving tacking so that you could justify tacking on a shift would be a revelation!
Oh and I want to have fun. I have done some research and apparently there are gyms both in the CAR centre and the hotel I am staying in so there are lots of places for Ben Paton to work out in (see Alan Hillman's blog). I will toast his youthfullness with a bottle of beer whilst I wonder which bits of me don't ache after a long day's sailing.
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