Nab Tower Race Report

NAB TOWER



As ever, the JOG season for Team Whistler started with a trip up to Cowes, the crew house and then an evening imbibing the diet specially designed for optimal performance by our nutritional consultants - beer and kebabs.



A mystery ailment (possibly gin-related) laid low one of the team but hauled another friend from her bed (a restful Saturday vs. a day with Team Whistler - no decision!)



Despite a good early departure we didn't really get our run to the line timed and were still way off at the gun and near the back of the pack. Undeterred we settled down to the task in hand and started to work our way through the fleet, hugging the northern side of the deep water channel and heading for North Sturbridge to get a bit more tide. Electra dropped below us and then Imperator and Alchemist had a tussle, which let us through just before the forts - at the head of the fleet!



As regular readers of our reports will appreciate this put us in something of a strange situation, throwing our carefully planned navigational strategy (follow the leaders) into complete disarray! We surveyed the scene with the same emotion that Columbus must have felt as he set off across uncharted seas and, with a few whoops of joy, pressed on.



We hardened up (yes, it was that exciting) and headed for the Nab, verging on the edge of control but dropping off the desired line whilst Alchemist held up much better. Hard work and with a lot of flogging and near broaches; until suddenly BANG, the ring that the pole clips to on the mast snapped and the pole was flapping around, requiring a lot of shouting until it was reattached. upside down with the guy wrapped round it. more shouting, flapping and banging and it seemed that it was probably time to get the No:3 back up and head for the Tower just behind Alchemist. We went a little early and with the swell heaving us ominously toward the structure we had to tack again to round it, allowing Imperator through.



It was then time to settle down and sail for the forts, and enjoy the sensation of waving at friends in Class 4 as we went past (OK we had started 30 minutes earlier but it was a new experience!). We held our line well and picked through the moored vessels, whilst Manaru and Electra had to drop round the stern of one vessel (we did contemplate calling up the vessel and asking to ease more anchor chain to make life even more difficult for our friends!)



Back through the forts, tacking into to shallower water worked for Alchemist and Electra. For some reason we couldn't get both height and speed and even the unwitting help of a couple of Red Funnel ferries couldn't prevent both Electra and Imperator getting through us. hey ho - back to Cowes for more beer and kebabs!

Water Butt

Water Butt
Originally uploaded by duncan_s_wort.

Bought this a few weeks ago at the local Garden Shop, and got the pump off Ebay, what a God Send, we have a hosepipe ban on as there is a drought

Summer is Here Yipee

This weeks been hectic, Last Weekend we had Round the Island Race, reported to be the largest one day Yacht regatta in the World. We came about 310th! You think that is mad! Well there were 1600 boats in the race, so to finish in the top quarter was pretty good we thought. Lack of wind mean't that nearly half the fleet retired from the race...as they couldn't get round the Needles before hitting the fowl tide..

So the B&B was of course full, then we had a Danish Crew in for the entire week, (they have left this morning) Quick change round of all the Linen for the third time this week, and now we are into Rock Festival Weekend! Whew! Monday got another big change again....another Pharmacy Regatta and the lot from Hot Dog and Mustard staying. One days grace and then the walkers arrive!!!

Blooming Spyware all over my computer driving me mad!!!!!!!!