300 Race Log - 1st/2nd December

Date: 1st December

Venue : ESSC
Race : Handicap race, 45 minutes
Conditions: W F2-4
Tide : 45 minutes after start
Result :  1st of 39 boats.  1st 300 of 3.

Positives
- Great start in space half way down the line, and managed to pop out into space.  Good first leg for the 300, maximum power and good speed.
- Good boat speed upwind and down.
- Tactically OK, but to be honest there wasn't that much to think about other than the start.

Points for reflection
- Really need to keep the boat flatter in lighter winds.  Watched the video from Sunday and concluded the same thing, every time the boat heels to leeward the speed decreases by 5-10%.
- Same and previous comments, the boat needs to be tuned, amazed by the difference that outhaul settings made to boat speed.
- Large variance in speed downwind, not sure if it was me or the patchy wind.

Date: 2nd December

Venue : ESSC
Race : Handicap race, 60 minutes
Conditions: W F0-2
Tide : 45 minutes after start
Result :  1st of 34 boats.  1st 300 of 2.

Positives
- Great start in space half way down the line.   I dread the day when more people try and start midline.
- Reasonable (but not great) boat speed upwind and down.
- Quite pleased tactically.  Decided the follow the mantra of 'find the pressure in light winds' and it seemed to work, even when tacking shortly after Wickor (which is completely contrary to the usual tidal wisdom).
- Felt quite good about a lighter wind race, don't usually like them and get frustrated (which only happened at the end this time in the F0).
- There was a point in the really light stuff where the boat was moving very well, the trouble is that I have no idea as to what was making the difference.

Points for reflection - as per Saturday, but at least its consistent.
- Really need to keep the boat flatter in lighter winds. 
- The boat needs to be tuned.
- Need to get out a practice in some really light winds.  We sail in them more than we would like!