Congratulations are in order <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> Shouldn't you be buying us all a round of beers??<img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" />

The fear elimination is a good thing. You'll be faster now. Pitchpoles are definitely more easily survived from the wire. Sorry to hear of your encounter with the shroud. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

I had never had that happen to us (upwind pitch) until our first race this year. I'm still unsure exactly what happened...all of the sudden the lee bow was buried to the crossbar and Paul was hanging by the wire in front of the crossbar, and somehow I was able to save us from going over. Indeed a rare occurance you and your friend can lavish for a long while.

Nice work Dave!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />