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EXTREME FOOTY SERIES
ACT THREE
APMYC @ HOLLOWELL SC
REPORT BY PETER SHEPHERD
PICTURES BY KEITH BELL
PICTURES BY KEITH BELL
Once again the wind direction came to be pretty near perfect, the big open water tends to encourage us set slightly longer courses, however it still had the upwind down wind gate elements with enough challenge to keep all the Footy skippers on their toes.
After the wind strength had been tested, pretty much everyone opted for the middle range of rigs, the occasional front passing by sent some skippers scurrying to the sail bag for something different and Mike Ewart took advantage of a lull after the break by being the only skipper to grab a bigger rig, and of course by the time the rest of us had reacted for the next race it was just a rig too far.
After the wind strength had been tested, pretty much everyone opted for the middle range of rigs, the occasional front passing by sent some skippers scurrying to the sail bag for something different and Mike Ewart took advantage of a lull after the break by being the only skipper to grab a bigger rig, and of course by the time the rest of us had reacted for the next race it was just a rig too far.
Keith Bell came and supported the event and we put him to good use as Race Officer, score keeper, and being a generally good chap for which we thank him.
Outside of the usual gang, just two visitors came Sid Sims & Tony Butler, both from Sandwell MBC, we did our best to make them welcome, pass on as much of the knowledge we have gleaned over 5 years (OMG is it really that long I have been sailing these wee beasties), hopefully it all contributed to their enjoyment of the day.
Peter Shepherd blitzed the early races and upon changing batteries managed to burn out his sail servo threatening to undo all his good work, Mike Ewart took advantage to threaten Peter's position at the top of the leader board, although it was the consistantly performing Peter Jacksons competition to lose as we went into the last double points race, with the points difference being PJ - 90, Mike -89, & Peter S - 88, from the final table you can see how the last double points jeapody race affected the result.
Outside of the usual gang, just two visitors came Sid Sims & Tony Butler, both from Sandwell MBC, we did our best to make them welcome, pass on as much of the knowledge we have gleaned over 5 years (OMG is it really that long I have been sailing these wee beasties), hopefully it all contributed to their enjoyment of the day.
Peter Shepherd blitzed the early races and upon changing batteries managed to burn out his sail servo threatening to undo all his good work, Mike Ewart took advantage to threaten Peter's position at the top of the leader board, although it was the consistantly performing Peter Jacksons competition to lose as we went into the last double points race, with the points difference being PJ - 90, Mike -89, & Peter S - 88, from the final table you can see how the last double points jeapody race affected the result.
The event had a couple of newish Footy sail idea's, all of Peter Shepherd's Fat Boy 65 wins came when sailing his "B" offset swing rig, the mast is stepped back from the pivot point, in this case about 14mm which moves the centre of effort of the main sail backwards, this is balanced by a larger fore sail (approx 40% of the main), the theoretical advantage is that the sail should generate more power upwind and being of a larger sail area with very little change in centre of effort position gives a wider wind range across which the sail is effective.
Geoff Raygada's Fat Boy (41)was sporting a quick change Bermuda Rig, nicely made and appearing to be quite effective, the sail area of his B rig was approximately the same as the Offset rig and when running side by side the two boats seemed to be about the same speed. It was probably only Geoff's relative inexperience at sailing in this class that left him a little behind the top three.
I for one hopes he sticks with it, as new idea's and interpretations are the life blood of the Footy class, the good news was that he was already seeing opportunities for improvements, so hopefully he will continue along the path he has set himself.
Geoff Raygada's Fat Boy (41)was sporting a quick change Bermuda Rig, nicely made and appearing to be quite effective, the sail area of his B rig was approximately the same as the Offset rig and when running side by side the two boats seemed to be about the same speed. It was probably only Geoff's relative inexperience at sailing in this class that left him a little behind the top three.
I for one hopes he sticks with it, as new idea's and interpretations are the life blood of the Footy class, the good news was that he was already seeing opportunities for improvements, so hopefully he will continue along the path he has set himself.
It is still all to play for at the top of the leader board, the next competition in this series is in Abington Park 4th June 2016, and of course don't forget to enter the MYA Footy National
