Hi everyone,

I am a bit self-conscious about posting this message about our sailing and a couple of photos (once again, thanks Rochey!).  I am hoping in the coming weeks some of you from other clubs will want to add info, comments about your racing, photos, and even the odd question or two.  Speaking about questions, if you check out the comments on the previous post (Greg's report on the Manning River regatta), you will see some comments from Dave, an intrepid inland sailor, who had some questions about fitting an MGB rig to his boat.  Dave, we're not sure from where "inland" you sail, but good on you!!  Anyway, there is some back and forth between Dave and Phil Moore on the dimensions of the bigger rig and the appropriateness for his particular situation, so worth checking out.

Anyway, Saturday's racing at Toronto was fun.  Rochey joined us for the day, in an "official" rather than sailing capacity, and worked with Bruce (Paper Tiger and ex-MG sailor) to set a good course.  He also measured our new jib, and it was too big!  Back to the sailmaker.  Whilst rigging we had a great chat with one of the dads whose kids are learning to sail, an ex-Etchells sailor and looking closely at the MG to sail and race with one of his daughters.  I am always amazed at the on-shore interest in the MG's, and second-hand boats are also quite affordable, we just need to think of ways to encourage more people to make decisions!  If anyone has got any ideas on this, it would be great to share them.

The forecast scorcher didn't eventuate, with a building sou-easter tempering things.  It looked like it would settle in at 12-14 knots, but turned out a little patchy and faded in the latter stages, but still a good afternoon.  Very quiet in terms of boats on the water.  The learner and intermediate fleets were going gang-busters (hopefully a nursery for more MG sailors!) but, for different reasons, most of the MG fleet were on "other duties".  So, only two of us were out there:  Foxee and Wilful Intent.  Three skates joined us, so we were able to have a good yardstick battle!  Wilful Intent is sailed by a pair of keen teenage guys, Will Blakemore and Alastair.  Will told me to try and keep up before we hit the water - nothing like that teenage confidence!!

Phil and I always enjoy a battle with the Skates.  We all get on well together down at the club, and they have often been very helpful with tuning and maintenance tips.  But that doesn't stop us having a good go at each other out on the water!  Most races we all start together.  In lighter conditions the lead MG's typically have the upper hand, but the bigger sail area on the Skates comes to the fore, particularly downwind, as the white caps form.

So far this season the breezes have been generally light to medium, which means we have had close contests on each of those days, but no real contest when it blows.  With some good pressure up the first work, we sailed well, but Kenny Davies on his Skate just got the better of us around the top mark.  There's enough feeling between us out on the water that he yelled some sort of sledge at us that may have something to do with our mothers and that we would not be troubling him for the rest of the afternoon!  Anyway, we were comfortably ahead of the second Skate sailed by the Scotts, but we knew they would likely catch us downwind (one of the photos shows us and Welchy, sailed by Peter and Tegan Scott, pushing downwind).

Anyway, the pattern for the afternoon was set.  Natural Juices (Ken and Lachlan) would sail away downwind, Welchy would make up lost ground, but we would push back towards Ken and away from the Scotts upwind.  For all that, we finished the day in a Skate sandwich, with Ken / Lachlan ahead by a couple of minutes and the Scotts behind, but we certainly had Kenny on yardstick.  Another battle was playing out a little behind us, with Will / Alastair and the third Skate sailed by Kev and Lyle keeping in proximity to each other.  Kev got the line honours points at the end, but the boys did not disgrace themselves.

As we unrigged over a leisurely beer, we did ask Kev how the day's sailing went.  His response was largely unrepeatable, so we respectfully suggested that he would enjoy his time much more on an MG, or perhaps an MGB.  Tegan Scott helpfully offered that Kev would struggle to reach the centreboard to right an MG after capsizing, whereas the narrow beam on  the Skate would make it easier for him to drag the  boat upright and haul himself back on board!  Kev, we all love you, and we think it is disgraceful that one of your Skate colleagues would assume that your sailing pleasure would be defined by how you would be able to right a capsized boat!!!!  (Sorry Tegan....)

So, I am off the water until the Nationals.  Very frustrating!  "Other commitments".  Phil, however, has Bob Taig steering for him next weekend whilst Bob gets his centreboard case and centreboard fixed (apparently hit a rock whilst coming into shore the previous weekend).  I also understand another special guest skipper may have been recruited for the final two weeks' racing before the Christmas recess.  Phil tells me he is now on a gruelling fitness campaign at lunchtimes during the week.  I'm not sure what that means, but it should stand us in good stead for those nor-easters which we hope Huey will send our way at Manning Point!

Cheers