First Day at Ripon SC

Well today we joined Ripon SC. We trailed Goosey to the Club, paid our fees and joined in the last race of the day. To our suprise we won the race by a country mile! We started well and led for the first few legs but allowed the local hot shot space to get through at a gybe mark. For most of the race we chased him as he gradually pulled away and the boats behind us gradually gained. It was extremly tricky sailing with very - and I mean VERY strong gusts ( 25mph +) with big shifts in direction which made for some very hairy and exhilertaing sailing. Righht at the end of the penultimate lap we pulled up on and and passed the leader on the beat and went on to pull away a big lead by the end of the race. It was good fun and very energetic. One second you're hiking for all your worth the next your diving back into the boat to stop it from capsizing to windward! Then there were those screeming reaches with a bank looming up so very fast and the realisation that at the mark you have no option but to gybe because there just isn't the room to do anything else! Scary! Then there were the rapid jump accelerations when a huge gust hits and - no joke - I though the Rig was about to part company such was the impact of the gust as the boat leapt up onto the plan and shot off like a demented beast! Then there were those crazy moments when the wind just vanished and the sails hang lifeless waiting for even a faint whisp of wind to capture. What a laugh - crazy racing. It was fun but I have to say that on balance I would rather be racing on the open water of the sea at Snettisham but hey I don't have that option and I am sure I will learn a great deal about racing and sailing at Ripon SC. Here are some shots from todays action.