A lot has happened since I last blogged. One minute and 30 seconds into my bid to take part in the Hayling TideRide last week. I fell victim to the basic design flaw of the Mach2 where the forestay and mounts plate ripped out of the foredeck during a capsize. And it was not an "over the handlebars" moment so I am still struggling to understand why it went after over a year. I should feel grateful for the rescue but the guy in the rib was in a foul mood and kept going too fast. To cap it all a pillock in a Feva capsized and put his mast through my sail on the beach.
Fortunately in this neck of the woods we are very lucky to have Ian Lovering at Ashdown Marine who has devised the solution (possibly with the help of Mike Lennon) to this foredeck issue. Basically what he has done is drill out and glue a horizontal carbon tube in the front of the bow just under where the forestay tangs (were). A hole is then drilled through the foredeck into the carbon tube where I have spliced a dyneema sheave. He also stuck and carbonned the wand mount plate back in beautifully. This now has far less stress placed upon it so should now be OK.
Virtually all of the Hayling Mach2s have had this mod done and I should have done it as a preventative measure ages ago. Anyway, two months to go before Belmont and I need a lot of practice. Today was good although the boat was flying high due to me not screwing the control rod home completely into the ends. However the adjustable wand worked well. I don't know about Belmont but our Nationals at Stokes Bay next year can kick up a good Solent chop so it should come in useful there.
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