The race is on!

We had a great time at Goffs Park on Sunday afternoon and we have learned enough to be able to race our yachts rather than just watch them go in random directions! Peter's replacement radio had arrived and he finally got to sail his own boat (432) which seemed to be about the fastest of the lot winning several races. I'm going to have a wee look at how it's trimmed! Shhh ;) In lieu of any buoys to mark out a proper course we would simply push off from the side, sail out to and round a distant floating twig and back again- first one the touch the bank wins! No rules! I have since made a pair of bright red buoys from squash bottles ballasted to float end up with old nuts and bolt and we are all looking forward to our next race meeting! Maybe visit a local club, sorry in advance if we're a bit rowdy.

Videos of our trip to Hove.

The Big Launch!

We had a great evening at the Hove Lagoon last night, the weather was perfect with sunshine and a nice constant breeze. Seven boats took to the water and the crews quickly realised that there is a lot more than merely steering you boat around with the rudder they are keen to lean about tacking, gybling and reaching. The boats all sailed really well and are easy to manouver though Jame's sprung a small leak which resulted in a dead sail servo also Sam spent too much time heeled over in the choppy end of the pool as salt water got into his reciver and one servo! Somehow the plastic bag I had carefully encased the reviver in had got holed. :( Jake was pretty shocked when I put it under a running tap to wash out the salt when we got home. This morning I brushed some IPA onto both PCBs to help dispel any remaining moisture and both reciver and servo have come back to life! Phew!
Thank you to Les for driving us down there and sorry that your sail design didn't work as hoped.
We are all looking forward to our next trip and start doing some serious racing! Hopefully Peter will have a radio so he can sail his own boat as it had to be returnd under warentee hence he borrowed my fishy boat.

The first boat launch!

We sailed my so Jake's boat today and it seemed to sail very well and was nicely balanced when tacking though because the pond is in a dip the wind direction was very turbulent so hard to teach him how to sail..which isn't helped by the fact that I'm still learning myself! We are launching the others on Wednesday, I'm hoping the wind won't be too strong!

Last boats.

Jakes boat is now compete and I have sorted out the foresail which looks wrong in this picture.
Also Dick Dastardly has been disqualified before he even crosses the start line bcz our club race rules say we are only allowed to race one boat. Drat and double drat!

Meet the Fleet!

Things have finally come together and our next meeting will be at the pond! It's been a big project but well worth it! We hope to organize a regatta so we can invite our church, friends and family along to watch them race very soon! I'll make a video and post it here too!
My son just wants to finish tracing his numbers onto his main sail of his green and red boat and we can rig that up too! Unfortunately the radio for the blue boat has gone back under warranty so I hope a replacement arrives soon!

A video update and some new photos!