The Woodspring IOM Ranking Event

Woodspring is a difficult location to sail consistently well at. The winds were very light and shifty almost at random. One moment you were golden then the next you could be at the back of the fleet. On Saturday, Craig Richards could do no wrong. When he rounded the windward mark in the lead, a gentle breeze would send him away on his own. On Sunday it was Peter Stollery's turn. The rest of us could say we were robbed but sadly the same people came out in front.

For me with a new VISS, the set up looked superb but I think I made a cardinal error of sailing to tight and not allowing the sails to breath. An eighth place was OK on Saturday but I should have done better.

On Sunday the day started well. Third in race one and two, and third round the wing mark in race three but there things unravelled. The two lead boats got a puff at the wing mark and sailed away. I rounded 10 feet or so behind, gybed as they did and stopped. The compact fleet sailed in a line behind me and sailed round either side in wind. I never saw their wind and by the leeward mark I was at the back of the fleet and never recovered. In the next B heat I was lined up for a port end start and someone sailed in on port, forcing me about and stopping me dead. By the time I got moving the leaders were gone.

In the next B race I was in the top 3 approaching the windward mark. the wind was so light and flicking. One moment left, one moment right and then left again. In trying to manouvere the boat to sail using the rudder, to an observer it appeared I was skulling which was not my intention. The judge saw me and said I was disqualified. I continued to win the race to argue my case, but unsuccessfully. In the protest room he expained it was a grey area with the wind shifting but he had to act on what he saw. My day was done and frankly not in the right mindset for the last race.

It was a disappointment to say the least and I will have to wait to see whether I get into the worlds with last minute drop outs. Still at least it allows me to get on with the worlds planning which is progressing well with the team from Datchet Radio Sailing.

So there are a few events left and then its onto winter training. Onwards and upwards