Recently on facebook I have been posting some odd statuses alluding to the fact that I speak with my moth…

Last thursday: My main foil told me… “when I grow up, I want to be built by a professional who knows what he is doing and won’t take short cuts and cause me to break…” Still it does mean that we spend a lot of time together in the workshop.

Today: Today my main foil said to me…”Thank you for doing a good job of fixing me up. The new hinge and improved joint meant I had a blast.” I did too.. Mr. Starboard Tramp on the other hand had enough of my weighty frame and ripped to shreds…All in all a sizzling session.

I’m not sure if I am going mad but I am convinced that the boat speaks to you and if you are prepared to listen you will enhance your sailing experience no end. What I have found recently is that there are many occasions where I just “feel” that something is going to happen or if I am going to have a good session or not. Today was a good one with a nice gentle breeze to blow away the cobwebs and make sure the recent mods have worked out.

I am pleased to announce that the new Hyde 2c is quick especially in the marginal stuff (for a 79 kilo sailor that’s important)

The rig is  much quicker all round thanks to the C-Tech spars which are performing well. (Kevin Ellway scores top marks for his homework assignment of designing a new mast)

I guess it’s common knowledge that I’m riding around on skinny foils all in the name of development. They are working well but we are still sorting out a lot of issues surrounding hinges (hence the facebook statuses) and general engineering but early indications are they are quick and hopefully I will able to show that next year on the circuit.

The transitions are going well with a much higher hit rate although today’s first three gybes had me questioning if could still sail (amazing how three weeks of flu and time off the water can make you forget).

It’s probably NOT common knowledge but I have stepped down from the UK moth committee due to work commitments and a possible change of career looming. After raising the game for the UK moth class with a brand new website and then conceiving the UK training sessions back in 2009 and then organising the boat show in 2010, I realised that it was time to step back let others contribute to the future of mothing in the UK. I need to get a lot of things in order including my level of sailing and also Atomik UK and something had to give.

I enjoyed coaching the newbies on the sunday at Hayling and may well pursue something along that line in the future here in the UK as I still think that there is a massive knowledge gap which requires attention.

Next up is Yoga starting in two weeks to sort out the long term back problems and general un suppleness that has come about from my unhealthy occupation of sitting at a desk all day programming.

Wand production is going really well with orders coming in from across the globe (Tasmania, Canada and Finland to name but a few!)

So, talking to my moth and realising that all of the above is a disjointed rambling it is possible I am losing my mind

The pic above is for the benefit of John Edwards post Hayling training and our conversation about living room floors!