Have been sailing at Datchet in round 2 of the UK grand prix. The skiffs love windy conditions and flat water. We were clocking 18 knots upwind and came downwind on the 2nd race (only boat standing at the time) hitting the top speed of 36.8 knotts on the GPS. We did a massive pitchpole in that race which robbed us of a 1st place (completely forgetting all the rules about sailing conservativly when leading) but that was the only capsise of the day. 

Currently lying 3rd out of 8 after 2 days racing and seem to be finding the pace that has evaded us for a while and only a couple of points off 1st place. Will be all on tommorow with 30 knots being forecast which is the conditions we love. Bring it on!!! 

Steve Mclean, NSSC member

The last days racing was cancelled as we were half way through rigging up with winds gusting 45-50 knots and we enlisted the assistance of about 10 people to hold the boat down while we were trying to put the sails on. 

I like sailing in breeze and was mentally prepared to go but if I said I wasn't a little aprehensive I would have been lying. So it was a bit of a relief to me when it was canned but our new Australian sheet hand was totally disgusted when the racing was canncelled and went off muttering about how soft the 'poms' are. 

Anyway the boat is still in one piece and we keep our 3rd place in that event and are currently lying 2nd overall in the UK grand prix which we are very pleased with and will be fighting tooth and nail to hang on to (or maybe even better....). 

The boats off to Italy next week for a month for an event in Lake Como and the 2nd event of the world series and European Championship in Lake Garda at the begining of June. Depending how we get on we are hoping to go to San Francisco after that and then on to Sydney in January. The boat is totally bankrupting me. 
Steve Mclean, NSSC member

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