After a delayed launch (yesterday the winds peaked at over 3o knots!) We packed up the new boat and moved from Ninjaville to the yacht club courtesy of Jonnie’s transporter and spent the morning assembling and getting it ready for it’s first flight.

Once rigged and prepped it was time to hit the water. I have only sailed once this year and that once was the first time I’d sailed since november!

I was aprehensive as this was the time to put the boat to the test but a lot of that worry wnet after we cranked on the rig tension, downhaul and kicker and it all held together nicely.

Jonnie very kindly provided the mini champagne to launch the boat with and then we set about heading out to sea.

Weather conditions were perfect for a gentle re-introduction to sailing which was well received considering how out of shape I was.

It’s weird sailing a boat you built because you feel as though you know every inch of it but despite that, it still sails completely differently to how you expected. Rising up on the foils for the first time was a moment of great relief knowing that all the effort put in to getting right paid off.

It’s definately a different beast to supermistress which was far more forgiving. Ninjario feels like a thoroughbred.  I’m getting used to the low freeboard and different volume distribution. It’s also a little weird not having a little kick plate to push off against but it must be said, the eva deck grip was superb. It not only provided plenty of spare grip, but when I was floundering around in the boat it saved my knees from destruction…Armchair mothing at it’s best!

The sail needs to be set up properly as it was rigged like a bag just to get on the water but Jonnie is helping out with that and we are looking at replacing a couple of the battens with carbon ones.

After this first session, Im feeling knackered but elated that the boat went well without any bad behaviour.

I’m starting my running in earnest tomorrow as it’s only five weeks until the nationals and the way I moved around the boat today would ensure a DNF in every race!