Slowly upgrading my Bladerider and Spakenburg

After a long dutch winter the season finally started a couple of weeks ago. The winter was, next to working and family life, mostly spend watching the America's cup unfold and the live action of the Dubai worlds while gaining weight. Regarding the Worlds I would still like to congratulate Simon on a great win in what seemed very demanding circumstances.

Last couple of weeks i managed a few days of training with Constantijn. On many occasions the training sessions where shortened by different little bits breaking, like the bolt on the goosenneck, some shackle's I thought were unbreakable and a flap which was coming off as the sika needed replacement.

Last weekend we had the first race of the season in Spakenburg together with the dutch skiff association. The only moths present where the mint tea boys (Gio, Constantijn and yours truly). The first day there was no wind and on the sunday there were only very marginal foiling conditions. Gio managed the best in these circumstances. He was the first to foil and when foiling kept the boat well in the breeze. I had a few brilliant legs reading the puffs and keeping the boat foiling and too much not so brilliant legs, lowriding the whole way. An excuse could be the weed I collected, however I can not imagine I was the only one finding the weed.

 Until recently I always raced, not un-success full, with an unmodified Bladerider. I like foiling very much and have a healthy distaste for working on the boat. 

However matter the fact is that my boat, which is just one year old seems ancient compared to the boats which were being raced in Dubai and developed further. That are the joys of being part of a development class.... When I started out in the class i couldn't foresee that things would develop so quickly. I think this is what makes the moth very interesting but could be a potential turn-off for the class to really grow in the Netherlands. As to have a competitive boat substantial time and/or money has to be put in. 

My aim of the season is to compete at the Europeans this summer. I started to upgrade the 'old' Bladerider step by step. I replaced my stock Bladerider sail with a North V8 and I am slowly to learn how the sail works. It is more versatile then my old sail. 

Secondly with the help of Constantijn I finally made a paddle on my wand and Constantijn designed a ride height adjuster. Actually I got my hands dirty and slowly becoming more and more a 'real' mothie.

With a bit of luck I can test the ride height adjuster and the paddle coming sunday.

After this there is still a lot to do, like upgrading the foils. However i first have to start to see how I can work with the added complexity of the ride height adjuster. And secondly still have to make time to improve on the boathandling.....