First Sail On New Blade - with photos

Took the Blade out for it's first sail today. Weather in Victor today was about 26 degrees C and about 12-15 knots blowing offshore, which means gusty and very flat water.

Despite a few teething problems like remembering how to leave beach on an offshore day with me on the boat and not dragging behind it, I finally got it going. Heading out to sea boat wanted to really wild thing, which had me thinking, "do I really want to put the kite up today?" Gee I'm glad I did. What a ride with the kite up. There was one point where I wondered if I really should be on the wire with the kite up without footstraps. A couple of seconds later my fear was confirmed. Footstraps behind the main beam will be added very soon.

The main I used is an experimental one Marcus has developed and unfortunately it kept jamming against the cut out in the track so I was limited in the amount of luff tension i could get. This made going upwind exciting when some of those gusts really hit to be sure.

Obviously i have lots of work to do to remember how to steer again after spending 12 months at the front of an yvonne, and tacking and gybing are going to need lots of practice, but overall i am one very happy customer.

Ok here are some photos. Fire away. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Rolf. Yes I am very happy. The weather was great. Don't think I will need that drysuit afterall <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> I really want to go out again tomorrow, unfortunately 25-30 knots is being forecast. My wife designed the graphics and we are really pleased how it came out.

Regarding the mainsail, yeah I think it looks pretty cool, and it was certainly working hard in those gusts today. You'll have to ask Marcus about the specifics about the construction though, I don't really understand that stuff.

As long as you can remain there near the mainbeam (and not luff up to violantly) you'll survive.

Good thing there is no min crew weight in the F16 class.

... and it pops right out !!!

Limited downhaul ? Ohh, you'll want to fix that !

Setting the spi ? ALWYAYS !

Actually, the spi makes the boat better behaved in challenging conditions. In my experience the F16's are more dive happy without a spi. It sounds contradictionary but it is true.

Adn when all hell breaks loose, set the spi and pin yourself against the rearbeam with you butt on the luff hull steering the boat by the tillers (not the tiller extension) and follow that big piece of cloth in front of the boat. As long as you can remain there near the mainbeam (and not luff up to violantly) you'll survive.

It sounds contradictionary but it is true.

Now wait! After the discussions about hull abuse, the first thing spotted is a Blade on the sand!? Oh, where are my beach wheels!? Where is my weighted buoy! Where is the outrage!?

So I had to swim the boat in.

I think some people also place their knee on the old spi sheet when grabbing the new spi sheet to prevent the spi from flapping.

What was the model gps you got?

Thanks for the advice Gary,

next question, where do you hide the third arm on the upwind legs or what technique do you use during while gybing with the kite up? how do you not let out too much sheet, steer and pull the new sheet on at the right time? Any secrets anyone wants to share?

Simon