dinghy news
latest dinghy development and race news from Hyde Sails
Click here for more news stories
Silver Tiller win sets up season for new team
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Hyde Sails are continuing to top the Merlin Rocket fleet, this year it's all eyes on the new pairing of Simon Blake and Alex Jackson. We found out more about their first victory, how they got together, and their plans for the year ahead.
Simon Blake and Alex Jackson, both long time Merlin sailors, teamed up at the end of 2009. Alex explains how he made the switch from helming to crewing for Simon: "I had a great crew (Ben Hollis-currently leading the Silver Tiller), but unfortunately he lives in Birmingham so logistically it was a nightmare. On top of that I'd crewed for my brother at a few events and it reminded me just how much fun it was being at the front end of a Merlin, hence I discussed the option of campaigning with Si using my boat for 2010. I've always rated Si, particularly for his Inland sailing, something that was a weakness for myself when helming. He's very calm in a boat and sails extremely flat, two factors that I consider up-most if you want to perform well."
The duo's m
ain focus for the year is Salcombe Week in July. "Si has finished second a number of times and I strongly believe we have a good chance at winning the event," says Alex. Adding the proviso: "If we can keep out of the Fortescue pub! After that we intend to take some time off from work and concentrate on sea sailing in preparation for the Nationals, this year being held at Penzance SC. I always found sea sailing to be my strength when helming, hence, with Si I hope we can combine our own individual strengths and sail our best."
So how is that going at present? "Currently we’re finding communication to be our biggest strength. With two helms in a boat I’m able to multi-task," Alex explains. "Si steers the boat very smoothly and flat, I do all the rig and we both have our eyes out of the boat looking for pressure and shifts."
Their boat is the latest Winder design. Alex says: "It's very similar to my previous boat, a Mk4 Winder called 'Moist'. The new boat has a slightly flatter run as I don’t weigh much (10.5 stone), hence we get away with less rocker. It's less forgiving and you have to sail it flatter upwind, but it feels marginally quicker off wind, particularly in a breeze."
The boat is powered by Hyde Sails. Having sailed with various designs, Alex is thorough in his assessment. "The new Hyde's are a more even shape than the competition, an inherent trait of a radial mainsail and to be expected. This helps reduce the drag in the breezy (+15 knots) where we feel we have a distinct boat speed advantage. In the lighter airs we were concerned that we'd have less grunt than the Speeds, P&B and Dynamics that are all roachier, however, with the sophisticated Merlin rigs we are able to straighten the rigs and put some more depth in to the main." The pair recently won the Banbury Silver Tiller even in light airs, showing promise for the season ahead.
Simon Blake and Alex Jackson, both long time Merlin sailors, teamed up at the end of 2009. Alex explains how he made the switch from helming to crewing for Simon: "I had a great crew (Ben Hollis-currently leading the Silver Tiller), but unfortunately he lives in Birmingham so logistically it was a nightmare. On top of that I'd crewed for my brother at a few events and it reminded me just how much fun it was being at the front end of a Merlin, hence I discussed the option of campaigning with Si using my boat for 2010. I've always rated Si, particularly for his Inland sailing, something that was a weakness for myself when helming. He's very calm in a boat and sails extremely flat, two factors that I consider up-most if you want to perform well."The duo's m
ain focus for the year is Salcombe Week in July. "Si has finished second a number of times and I strongly believe we have a good chance at winning the event," says Alex. Adding the proviso: "If we can keep out of the Fortescue pub! After that we intend to take some time off from work and concentrate on sea sailing in preparation for the Nationals, this year being held at Penzance SC. I always found sea sailing to be my strength when helming, hence, with Si I hope we can combine our own individual strengths and sail our best."So how is that going at present? "Currently we’re finding communication to be our biggest strength. With two helms in a boat I’m able to multi-task," Alex explains. "Si steers the boat very smoothly and flat, I do all the rig and we both have our eyes out of the boat looking for pressure and shifts."
Their boat is the latest Winder design. Alex says: "It's very similar to my previous boat, a Mk4 Winder called 'Moist'. The new boat has a slightly flatter run as I don’t weigh much (10.5 stone), hence we get away with less rocker. It's less forgiving and you have to sail it flatter upwind, but it feels marginally quicker off wind, particularly in a breeze."
The boat is powered by Hyde Sails. Having sailed with various designs, Alex is thorough in his assessment. "The new Hyde's are a more even shape than the competition, an inherent trait of a radial mainsail and to be expected. This helps reduce the drag in the breezy (+15 knots) where we feel we have a distinct boat speed advantage. In the lighter airs we were concerned that we'd have less grunt than the Speeds, P&B and Dynamics that are all roachier, however, with the sophisticated Merlin rigs we are able to straighten the rigs and put some more depth in to the main." The pair recently won the Banbury Silver Tiller even in light airs, showing promise for the season ahead.
posted by Hyde Sails at
04:56
Click here for more news stories
Win for Hyde-powered Albacore
Hyde has been busy over the winter developing sails for the Albacore class, we spoke to Mark Fowler to find out more…
Mark Fowler's Hyde-powered boat (7143) has been the testing ground for the development of Hyde's latest generation of Albacore sails. In 2009, Mark teamed up with Neville Herbert and 2010 has started well for the duo with a second in the Excel Dinghy pursuit race, which was followed by a recent win in Maidenhead, where they faced the added challenge of sailing in a borrowed boat as their boat was still in the workshop at Paintcraft.
Mark recalls: "Racing was held in force 3 gusting force 4. Our main rivals were Judy and Paul Armstrong from Scaling Dam, who were fifth at the Internationals last season, and John Woffinden sailing at his home club."
It wasn't an easy win for Mark and Neville, as Mark explains: "Race one went pear-shaped as no sooner had the start gun gone then we were heading for the slipway to bolt on the tiller extension, which had parted company with the tiller, and so we scored a DNF. With the Armstrong's winning and being the main threat we then knew we had to win both race 2 and 3. We had reasonable start in the second race, but with a very short first beat had to watch our back, we were unchallenged in this race and extended to win by a large margin. Race three was closer with Judy and Paul first to the windward mark, we trailed for the first half lap before getting the inside track at the gybe mark, we later hit a mark on the first allowing Armstrong's to close and challenge, but by the finish we had built a comfortable solid lead."
Mark and Neville's next challenge is the Inland Champs at South Cerney on May 1-2, where they plan to be sailing Mark's own boat, which is currently being re rigged with an Alto section mast from Selden by Ian Turnbull Marine. This mast section will give more offwind power, and sail development to suit the mast is already underway.
Mark Fowler's Hyde-powered boat (7143) has been the testing ground for the development of Hyde's latest generation of Albacore sails. In 2009, Mark teamed up with Neville Herbert and 2010 has started well for the duo with a second in the Excel Dinghy pursuit race, which was followed by a recent win in Maidenhead, where they faced the added challenge of sailing in a borrowed boat as their boat was still in the workshop at Paintcraft.
Mark recalls: "Racing was held in force 3 gusting force 4. Our main rivals were Judy and Paul Armstrong from Scaling Dam, who were fifth at the Internationals last season, and John Woffinden sailing at his home club."
It wasn't an easy win for Mark and Neville, as Mark explains: "Race one went pear-shaped as no sooner had the start gun gone then we were heading for the slipway to bolt on the tiller extension, which had parted company with the tiller, and so we scored a DNF. With the Armstrong's winning and being the main threat we then knew we had to win both race 2 and 3. We had reasonable start in the second race, but with a very short first beat had to watch our back, we were unchallenged in this race and extended to win by a large margin. Race three was closer with Judy and Paul first to the windward mark, we trailed for the first half lap before getting the inside track at the gybe mark, we later hit a mark on the first allowing Armstrong's to close and challenge, but by the finish we had built a comfortable solid lead."
Mark and Neville's next challenge is the Inland Champs at South Cerney on May 1-2, where they plan to be sailing Mark's own boat, which is currently being re rigged with an Alto section mast from Selden by Ian Turnbull Marine. This mast section will give more offwind power, and sail development to suit the mast is already underway.
posted by Hyde Sails at
04:50
Click here for more news stories
Albacore Focus
Thursday, 1 April 2010
Hyde has been busy over the winter developing sails for the Albacore class, we spoke to Mark Fowler to find out more…
The Albacore class might be nearly 50, but sail technology doesn't stand still and the Hyde Sails team continues to eek out every extra bit of efficiency and performance it can. Charles Devenport has been working closely with the class to develop the sails over the past year.
Mark Fowler's Hyde-powered boat (7143) has been the testing ground for the development of the sails. Mark’s boat was built by Richard Woof in 1981 and professionally rebuilt by Nigel Potter in 1993. In its first season the boat was fourth at the nationals, and in 2009, Mark teamed up with Neville Herbert and won the inlands. 2010 has started well for the duo with a second in the Excel Dinghy pursuit race, but their eyes are firmly set on the worlds in Canada in 2011, where they hope to give the American Barney Harris a run for his money - Harris has won the title three times in succession.
Before then, the class has its nationals at Lyme Regis in July, by which time Mark and Neville will be using another set of the new sails, the third set of development sails. The new sails have been specifically designed to work with a new Fireball Alto section Selden mast.
The Albacore class might be nearly 50, but sail technology doesn't stand still and the Hyde Sails team continues to eek out every extra bit of efficiency and performance it can. Charles Devenport has been working closely with the class to develop the sails over the past year.
Mark Fowler's Hyde-powered boat (7143) has been the testing ground for the development of the sails. Mark’s boat was built by Richard Woof in 1981 and professionally rebuilt by Nigel Potter in 1993. In its first season the boat was fourth at the nationals, and in 2009, Mark teamed up with Neville Herbert and won the inlands. 2010 has started well for the duo with a second in the Excel Dinghy pursuit race, but their eyes are firmly set on the worlds in Canada in 2011, where they hope to give the American Barney Harris a run for his money - Harris has won the title three times in succession.
Before then, the class has its nationals at Lyme Regis in July, by which time Mark and Neville will be using another set of the new sails, the third set of development sails. The new sails have been specifically designed to work with a new Fireball Alto section Selden mast.
posted by Hyde Sails at
06:15
Designed & Built by ProAction Creative Ltd.