Posted on Monday 31 July 2006
My sometimes mid-foredeck from my baby bought himself a new toy…
Define stupidity…. 3 foredecks on a 7.8m over powered sports boat out for an afternoon wander with a carton, 15k of wind and a light air kite yet to be tested.
Now, I should have cottoned on when I spoke to the old man…. “I remember that bloody thing the first time it raced; over took it 4 times between Dolphin and Brickies (2nm) on Airborne (S&S 36)!” *blinks* “We talking about the same boat or your althimers kicking in again?” “Piss off. It would go flying past with these idiots, grins all over their faces. Two minutes later we’d sail past with them all swimming. Next second it would stand up again and go flying past again.”
So we get out there, mate wants to put up this kite, hasn’t seen it before and apparently it’s fun. It’s rated for 0-12, we’re in 8-12k with 15k gusts and it’s supposed to be sailed with 5… but we’re foredecks… we can do anything (once). Up it goes, get back to the pit (read fall back in the pit as the boat accelerates out from under me), grab the sheet; shit, I can’t see the luff and I need the winch. Ohh wait, theres about 10ft of the shoulder showing out the back of the main; this thing was massive.
So all three of us are standing there with semi’s contemplating how much fun this thing would be in a decent blow. 15k gust hits us, weeeeeeeee, round we go, splat, the boom his the water, cans are held between teeth so we had a hand for self presevation. First lesson; the pole trim eased, my can was full, and the shoulder of the kite wrapped around the back of the main and impaled it self on a batten. Quick head up to flick it off the batten, stick it back down and take off followed by soundof tearing as the hole opened up across the panel. Hrmmpf better take it down, start to get ready, weeee another gust of 15, start to round up as I fired the tack.
Collected it all up, very small tear. Opened another can (we’d all lost, dropped or spilt our beers by now), flicked the bird to the people having lunch at Meads and laughing at us and considered how scary this thing was going to be.
Ok, so Hammo is on is just over 2 weeks.
Have you got your act together yet?
I’m a 26 yr old foredeck! When has someone like me ever get thier act together
Gonna chase up this week and see how desperate they’re gettin.
I’m 26 and I can get my act together!!!
But your not a foredeck!
Plus, you’re female, they’re always more organised 
What kind of excuse is that!!!???
What do you think I do? Sit on the boat and just look pretty??????
It’s a completely valid REASON. Boys are disorganised! Foredecks inherently operate better in choas! And yes, that’s the only reason girls are allowed on sailing boats; looking pretty, operating runners, packing spinnakers. (how long is the timer on hand grenades again?) *evil grin*
EDIT: Shit. My mother found this blog today, if she reads this I’m dead.
Is that why you have not updated anything since the 7th of August????
LOL, no. Mum was quite pleased some of her writing genes got transfered (keep an eye on this month Multihull World for her 2.2c on Borneo).
Ain’t been sailing
Winter offshore finished up and didn’t get out for the past couple inshores cause the boss and eye candy were AWOL.
Getting the shakes so going out for shits and giggles this weekend for lunch over at the one of the islands.
Bit of a break until summer offshore series kicks off. Camera is back up so bring on 20k+ surfing on the tank