Andrew's dairy of his first experiences on foils.

Jan 1 2005
World Moth Champs - want to be there (to watch, it is two years since I sold my last boat), but family holidays time imperfectly and only get to see the last race.
So many of our sails out there, I am very proud.

Jan 8
Try to buy John Ilett's boat, but commit too late and it is sold, so take Garth's, the original Prowler, but with the latest foils, A boat I have sailed before (no foils) and loved. So here I am, with a foil configuration that two years ago I though was impossible. I have to eat humble pie. Reminiscent of being given a Windsurfer One Design (1979), and leaving in the garage for a year because I thought I would never be able to sail it.
But now I have seen it working well, I have to have one.
Take it out after the last race of the Worlds. I am determined to sail it to the windward mark and back. I get to the top mark, up on foils for most of it. I am stoked. But my world is about to come crashing down. I turn off the wind... This is not so bad.... let's get it up on those foils... And out she pops... foils and all... And down she comes, me nearly braking my wrist against the stays. As Rohan says, the real skill is knowing when not to foil. Downwind, in waves, with more than 15 knots of wind, and no experience: that is pretty much all the time. So rudder at full lift, sit forward and it is easier to sail than the 'Sea Huggers', even when sea hugging yourself. So I got back intact, rebuild the ego and lived to sail another day.

Feb 26 The first three races of the Vic Moth state championships

Perfect conditions the the foils at Blairgowrie.

Rohan is on his new A class, leaving us motley lot to have a real race without being put to shame. Had about 10 hours of practice on the foils. I have broken (or lost) every part that connects the 'wand' to the centre foil flap. So am not at all confident of even being able to complete a race. But these races are down the south of Port Phillip Bay, flat water, so different to Black Rock, where the worlds were and where the chop makes foiling a minefield for the unpractised (me). So I get 3 bullets (All I had to do was stay upright - I was the only one with (good) foils) I even did a lap against Rohan on his 'A'. He has told me I should be faster that an 'A' but it is difficult to comprehend when most of your practice time has been spent picking yourself out of the water.. But he is right - hold him on the beat, deeper and faster on the broad, and then just roll him on the reach. The rescue boat clocks the speed - 18 knots, 10 knots of wind. Now I am hooked. It has been a long time since I just wanted to go sailing. Not to test, not to race, not to 'get wet', just the buzz. Windsurfing does it for me sometimes, but this takes it another level. Silently gliding high over the water as if you are not even touching it.

March 13
Last 3 races. I sail w/o foils in the morning race, to experience again how it feels: in light winds the foiless Moth is still the best, and I win the race, bonus! Race 2 - back on foils, but some rough steering breaks the outrigger (the thing that holds the rudder). Race 3: No foils again, wind is getting up there (18 knots), sailing without foils in the stronger wind is *horrid*: It is like you are gouging a huge trench in the water. Amazing how quickly you get used to something better. Break the 'sea hugger' centreboard but still manage to finish - winning the championship for the forth time - the first time 27 years ago. That has to be some sort of record.