That sounds like Windsurfer or Kite weather. Do they have any of those over there? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Paul went out on borrowed kit Tim. Bic raceboard with a 5.6m sail. Support RIB clocked him at 25kts plus several times before he crashed and burned!

When he got ashore he reckoned the gusts were probably somewher near 2x windspeed and it was just impossible to hold onto the sail as it powered up too quickly to react!

I remember my layovers in Brighton (one of my favorite places) when the big storms would come in, the size of the waves breaking up on the beach, sometimes all the way up to the roadway. One time when we landed at Gatwick, the wind was 50 gusting to 65 knots! Luckily it was straight down the runway but after we got to the hotel (the Metropole) I went out and tried to walk down the street...into the wind I had to lean forward about 45 degrees just keep from being blown over! Luckily it was a short walk, to the Fiddler's Elbow for a pint of "Courage"! But I did see a few (3) windsurfers out in some HUGE wind and waves with the smallest sails I've ever seen.

They were only out about an hour going back and forth between the two peirs (back before the "old" peir was destroyed). Great fun to watch those guys in that stuff but I didn't feel the need to join them! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I hope you guys can sail tomorrow. How's the forecast?

Windguru WRF9km forcast for Monday and Tuesday is F5-6; so looks sailable and the 2 up boat may have the advantage.

Aww, come on. It is all about skill you know <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I really hope you guys get on the water tomorrow! Who is leading at the bar?

Some went for a walk......

Looking at the webcam there are still loads of surfers (on a monday!! *humph* ) and large waves. Hope conditions are more sheltered at Mumbles. None of the usual suspects are on Skype, so I hope they are out there rigging or sailing to the course.

Well what a fantastic sail.....

I think everyone except John Alani washed the sails at some point.

JohnP was going well, as were others, I think everyone had their "good race" except for Paul and Anne who cracked thier rear beam (we assume a long term problem that just presented this week). Chris and Rosanna broke a spreader on their Viper so we have lost two of the tweo up crews.

I had two good results (3rds) and then washed the sails on the 3rd race and got seperated from the boat (hopefully some video later), but after a quick pick up by rescue it might be time for a rest and so came in.

Link to results
http://www.mumblesyachtclub.co.uk/results/2008/f16worlds.htm

Sounds WILD!

Gert and Joanna certainly are impressive. Looking forward to hear some more war stories.
Will the breakages be fixed for tomorrow?

Sorry, my wipeout was not on Video.

I have to commend the rescue at Humbles YC getting to me so quickly as my boat sailed away.....



After some work, it apperars that John P has found a spare 90mm beam section in one of his barns and so it looks like Anne and Paul will be sailing tomorrow; Hans left a few moments ago with Paul in search of Monel rivets to re-attach the traveller track to the beam.

Unfortuatley we could not find a new spreader for the Viper, I believe Tim from "South Wales Marine" seached high and low for a replacement but nothing was found.

I would try to through bolt it to the beam. Yes, sounds painful but can be done with some patience.
I did that recently.

I normally bolt my traveler to just the top of my rear beam.
Takes a batten,tape, spanner ,cordless screw driver, a helper, (or some real long arms) and of course a bit of patience.

Monel rivets are much quicker and time is probably going to be an issue.
Hope they get it sorted in time.

Regards,
Phill

Last day today, and the pics on the webcam looks reasonable. No surfers there today, perhaps a good sign.
http://www.gowerlive.co.uk/langlandwebcam.php

Hope all the breakages are under control and that people are not too beaten up after yesterday. A shame that Georgina and Chris did not get to do even one race with their Viper.

Yes, that is a real pitty.

Wouter

Surely a replacement spreader arm could be found.....after all the viper uses the Holt fitting for spreaders?

Could not find a suitable spreader arm.

I'm not sailing as I've got some sort of bug and I have to be carefull.

Hans is off the water and packing up as he needs to catch the ferry tonight. Most are still out racing.

Congratulations John, and all the participants who raced at the GC2008 at Mumbles!


Report

Photos and a report from Mark now on the event site.

http://mumblesyachtclub.co.uk/f16worlds2008/

1057 photographs and not one in a bar. No wonder I was falling over so often <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

What a fantastic event! What a fantastic team at Mumbles!

I said it at the time, and John P said it at the prizegiving, the level of effort and the slickness of organisation by the MYC volunteers was truly amazing! A sincere thank you from all the competitors for a really memorable 2008 GC. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />