I am envious of those lining up to go to the Europeans in a few weeks time. In particular, I wish Si good luck there and hopefully he can make it a hattrick. Having had such a good UK Nationals, I am up for more. However, I cannot afford to go to both the Europeans and the Worlds in Belmont so I had to make a choice. Olivier Vidal is not helping my envious state as he is just about to take part in the Italian Nationals on Lake Garda, go onto the Europeans and is coming to Belmont as well!
What's on the cards for me? I am looking forward to Chichester Harbour Federation Week which should see a good turnout from Hayling Moths plus some visitors which is on at the same time as the Europeans.
I am slightly boomless at the moment following a breakage but as always, Si Payne, Amac and Betty Yin of McConaghy, have been fantastic and a replacement is winging its way to me as I write. In spite of this, I still think the Mach2 has proven to be the most reliable professionally built Moth out there. I have lost count of the number of times where I have put my cover on and gone for a beer whilst the smell of epoxy and the sound of feverish repair work fills the dinghy park during an event.
Anyway I am off to make up some new rigging from some bargain SK78 I have received from Pete Barton of Skifftastic. I am also looking forward to seeing the fruits of Phillippe Oligario's labours soon as he has kindly offered to make me an adjustable wand. It has to be said that the build quality of Phillippe's new home built boat is mightily impressive and has proven to be bullet proof as well as fast. We had some good battles at the Nationals and I look forward to many more.
Can you tell us other Mach 2 owners more about the boom? how much vang purchase do you run? was it on hard? Where did it break? Bear away, upwind?? Anything you will do to your new boom to prevent a second breakage? any info would be great as i fear a boom breakage!
ReplyDeleteI too greatly enjoyed the battles! I am sad that you won't be doing the euros but I am sure there will be plenty of skirmishes next year! Especially as there is talk of moving over to join the hayling crew next year.
ReplyDeleteOne bad thing though, once you get your new wand, looks like I'll have to work more on improving my own sailing!
Cheers,
Phil
Anthony - I am just glad it did not break during the Nationals! It broke over the mainsheet blocks. Why I don't know but it just went crack, bang when I set up (what I consider to be) normal vang for upwind and sheeted in. I am having a spectra tape strop made to replace the rope I currently use around the boom to spread the load. I have just learnt my new boom is at Heathrow so I should have it by Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteHi Graham,
ReplyDeleteWe had a broken boom at the Gorge last week. May be Si could comment on this but I think it's to do with where you attach the vang loop on the boom. I loop mine around the back of the main sheet attachement bar, rather than as some do, through the front of the bar. I didn't have any specific instruction on this but when I got the boat the lengths of the lines suited this set up. Also gives more leverage, as well as focusing the forces on the strongest point of the boom. Would be interested to know where you had yours and any input from Si. The boom that broke at the Gorge had the vang loop through the front of the main sheet attachement bar.
All 10 Hayling Mach2s including Si wrap theirs around the back of the mainsheet attachment plate. I think mine arrived with it already in place. I note that there is a thickened section on top of the boom. Apart from using spectra tape and not being too ballistic with kicker I don't have any other answers.
ReplyDeleteGraham...slightly concerned you are becoming a bobble hat! Sounds like a lot of boat work going on there!
ReplyDeleteNo I still remain loyal to my Henri-Lloyd old mans hat courtesy of Moth Foil Fest!
ReplyDelete