Spotty (8858km):
5992 days ago On water at 0815, off at 1743 in the dark, 9'2" Styro' 6.6 Koncept 28fin, first sailed upto Blairgowrie yacht club, wind had a bit of NE. Dropped in at the folks nearby to say hi and then back to Rye. Had a get off on the lumpy swell off the Rye Pier. Continued with long runs between pier and Tootgarook.
Shelby and Martin showed, Shelby witnessing a 30 wipeout going for a NM, got a good bruise for it, decided not to goto too hard after that to keep the distance thing going. Still got 4 NM over 30 though, aaah the temptation,
The chop was relentless, if you wern't picking your way thru it, you were dodging sandbars and kelp. Had a 100+ kms up at lunch,asd the wind backed off. Thought 150 was achievable as wind came back in, but the distance reading on the Garmin kept pushing me on. by 1400 the wind was starting to push 30knots, did several runs with the 6.6 sheeted out going along at around 25kn.
the wind did not let up so went in and rigged the 5.0 Koncept on the Acid wave board and did about 35Km before swithching back to the Styro' and 6.6. By 1600 everyone had left and it was getting darker, dodging the kelp was getting harder, and my body getting tired. The 250 mark was looming and I new I'd be quitting when it was too dark to continue.
Night fell and the job was done, don't think I've sailed this far since I was 18-20. That 6.6 is one hell of a sail it just pulls like nothing, its either flatout or nothing else.
Body feels like jelly now, pleased with the distance will have to try again when I'm a bit fitter and maybe get up earlier, 300 plus the next challenge.
cheers Spotty
ps checking with MalW (RSpd) the diff b/n Tot Dist' 250km and Doppler Dist' 259km, all speeds Doppler
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