By way of proving the board is OK and also in greeting.
The strange bloke wandering about on the pontoon talking to your family today (saturday),as you were unloading one gaggle of kids and embarking another load, was me. My son and I had just stopped by to see if the Topaz class were out with all the other Topper Classes (they weren't) at their Multi-Gala series. Anyway we stood talking to an exhausted Blaze X sailor and noticed your Stratos plowing across the race course in a determined manner. Parked at the top of the ramp was our Brand New C/B Stratos which we collected this morning! So I came down to say "Hello" It was obvious, however, that you were far too busy being "Le Captain" at that moment so I send greetings now instead. I hope to speak with you another time when things are a little quieter for you.
Queen Mother Reservoir - Datchet Sailing Club's water. Just off the M25 near Heathrow.
We spent Sunday unpacking and rigging the beast. That took us from 10.00am till 4.00pm. It was blowing about a 4 so we said OK we'll give her a quick spin! Well quick was right. We shot off the weather bank of our much depleted reservoir (Sutton Bingham) The first impression was of size my crew was miles away! I'll have to learn to shout! I looked over my shoulder and thought from the wake we were leaving that the rescue rib must be right behind just out of vision. We rounded up to climb back to the club house and that's when I first felt the power of the boat. Coming from an Enterprise it is like the difference between an MG and a Jaguar. The power feels heavier and more purposeful. There was so little water that we feared for our foils so didn't try out the Genniker as there just wasn't room! We hope the weather is kind for the nationals next week.
By the way Paul James tells me delivery is out to next March now!
We were up at Queen Mary SC the other w/end for a test sail and the water looked very low. A few more years of summers like this one and it'll be coastal sailing or nothing! (fine for me down on the south cost ;-) )
Sorry to have missed you that day. As you observed, I was indeed busy very an average of 3 kids on board and F4-5. We had really good sailing though. Are you keeping your Stratos at Datchet? At last I will have somebody to race with, though I will probably be trailing behind!
With the weather getting colder the outings will get fewer but I'll let you know if I get there.
So you you want activity Eh...
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Posted - 19 Oct 2003 : 00:59:19
