Strange weather continues to hamper efforts...
The high tides are getting very late in the day now but yesterday we hung around just in case. I went windsurfing in the lagoon as I don't need much water and can get a good feel of the depths and general conditions. The wind swung into the SW and the tide came in enough... I decided we should take Sailrocket across to Speedspot and see what happens. It would be good practice for Ian to see how we do things anyway.
There was a fair bit of swell wrapping around Pelican point and rolling up the bay so we had to keep a constant eye over our shoulder whilst launching. It's been a little over four months since that fantastic last run on November the 27th. We set up the weather station at the speed-hut and rigged up the video camera. The wind was looking perfect for our first outing with gusts up around 18 knots. The sea was flat. The sand along the speed-strip always moves around a bit depending on what the recent weather has been. On this 'lowish' neap tide it was a little heaped up at the water line which meant that it dropped away steeply into the water. This is a good thing.
We took Sailrocket to the top of the course and prepared her for sailing. Whilst dropping the anchor which the launch tether is attached to we heard thunder in the distance to the North. A large thunder cloud was rolling South against the present wind. This was odd. We watched it for a little while and sure enough... as it rolled up the sandy Namibian coast towards Walvis Bay, the wind gradually faded to nothing. It was obviously raining quite hard with occasional lightning flashes.
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Ho-hum, this seasons weather is really beginning to mess us around. Last years consistency is just not with us although we do still get some great days. We raised the rig anyway just so we could go through a full sailing sequence and make sure everything is as it should be. When we were sure that the wind was not coming back we packed up. For the first time in the seven plus months I have been here I saw it rain out to sea. This made me a little more eager to put the boat away in case we got a bit of nastiness with these clouds. A westerly wind filled in as we headed back for the Walvis Bay Yacht Club.
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Well it was still nice to get wet and one more step towards sailing. The conditions would have been fine and there was enough water on that tide and at that time. This means we should still be able to get out if possible tomorrow night.
Believe me... we are on full time readiness. The team and the boat. I call in Hiskia (local team member) for even the slightest chance of sailing. Our time will come.
Later in the night Walvis Bay got dumped on and it rained like I haven't seen here before. The streets flooded as they have no provisions for drainage.
Yup... it's a strange ol' season alright.
Our time will come and spirits are high.
Cheers, Paul.
posted by Paul at 10:16 am
2 Comments:
Hello, Paul. I am Bernard Smith's stepson, Evan, and I have been keeping Barney informed of your activities by reading from your blog (Barney does not have Internet access). Barney asked me to let you know he is following your efforts and asked me to send you his encouragment and best wishes. Many years ago, I helped Barney build variations of his designs and we spent many, many days waiting for the right conditions, so we know how you feel as you await each day's weather. Best of luck to you!
Hi Evan, well this is fantastic. Getting in touch with Bernard has really added a special twist to our whole endeavour and to know that he will be following our day to day activities via this website is better still.
When Malcolm started with this version of Sailrocket he built a 1:5th scale RC model. When I saw a video of this sailing I knew I had to get in touch and see it for myself. Getting good conditions for the model alone gave us a good indication of what was in store... namely alot of waiting. Ultimately it is this aspect of speed sailing that has brought us down here to Namibia. As we have seen this year, even the most reliable places can have 'off' seasons. My current thinking with the next version of the boat would be to focus on making it work in rougher water. Waiting for absolutely perfect wind and water all the time is a real project killer and to some degree the advantages of these conditions over slightly rougher water could be offset by a greatly increased amount of time on the water.
But before we talk of a MkII we must prove the Mk1 beyond all doubt as being the way forward for an outright world record speed sailing craft... so we wait!
So send my regards to Bernard and let him know that the signed prints have been very well recieved by all. Also thank him for the signed copy of 'The Ultimate Sailboat'. I've read it and it's already sent my mind wandering at odd times throughout the day.
Feel free to e-mail me anytime as my address is paularsen1@aol.com
Cheers, Paul.
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