The last couple of weeks have seen more changes on Dinah. In order to improve her performance dead downwind I wanted to fit her with a longer spinnaker pole. Since we would take a hit on our rating to achieve that we decided we should fit a bowsprit of the same length, to allow more efficient handling of assymetric kites on close reaches and get the tack point much lower than it had been with the old pole. In the photo below you can see the new carbon fibre spinnaker pole and bowsprit finally fitted and ready to be tested.

Yesterday myself and Andy took part in a local coastal race double handed, with the intention of pushing the boat hard as a final opportunity to find any weaknesses prior to the Round Ireland Race next week. Quite fortunately we had every weather condition imaginable during the one race. The pole and sprit were used in everything from 3knt ghosting conditions under the Baily Lighthouse, to a screaming 25knt reach approaching the Kish Lighthouse and a complete white out squall on the way back into Dublin Bay. Everything worked absolutely perfectly, and the bowsprit makes a huge difference to the set of the assymetric. I’m sorry now that I didn’t have this setup last year!

This week is all about Round Ireland prep. Dinah will be lifted out of the water tomorrow to make sure her bottom is fair. We’ll also fit a new propeller, and a few other little things, before loading her up with provisions and safety equipment and heading to Wicklow at the end of the week. Lots to do, but everything is on schedule. More during the week…

This entry was posted on Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 11:02 am and is filed under General.