Alex preparing for the Worlds

Winter 2009: After half a year break Alex and Max decided to Team Up again and start preparing for the summer 2010 events, while Alex also prepares for the Moth Worlds coming up in Dubai.

Alex has his own Moth sailing blog which can be found : http://www.dubaialexmoth.blogspot.com/

UAE 29er Team Max & Alex

06./ 07.March 2009 - ESS Regatta  Abu Dhabi - Max & Alex winning Open Dinghy Fleet

- more than 10 Kestrels on the water

- first day in Lagune / 2. day out on the sea

- Friday 5 races = 5 x FIRST place

- Saturday - before race broken Tiller - raced without Tiller & Tiller extension

- secured First place overall

06. / 07.02.2009 Jumeirah Beach Regatta - without Crew

Alex suffered to race without trained Skiff Crew and had to take family member on board.

After first day 3rd overall, second day bad / no wind and race course not ideal for SKIFF boats. Competing against Vago, Kestrel, Finn, 49er .

Overall 4th. No wind ( 5 - 8 knts)

strong competition on the water

19./ 20.12.2008 National Day Regatta Abu Dhabi

Big event in Abu Dhabi - 2 days regatta in the corniche area. Doubel handed dinghy class were the biggest on the water , more than 16 boats, incl. Kestrels, Vago, 49er & 2 (!) 29er.

Power Horse 29er - 2.place,  Honda 29er - 1st place

UAE National Champion 29er Helm

22.11.2008 - UAE National Championship Award 2007 - 2008 , Dubai, Westin Hotel

- Max & Alex winning the UAE National Champion Trophy in Two Men Dinghy Fleet

- Alex only could take the Trophy,

- Max as Crew was not in Dubai

29er UAE - ALEX - Winner

21.11.2008 - Ripcurl / Al Boom Marine Regatta , DOSC

- 2 races

- light wind  ( 7 - 10 knts)

- flieets: Optimist, Laser, Open Dinghy

- helming the 29er Skiff alone, Crew couldn't take part

- won both races on Open Dinghy Catergory

Alexander B.

25.4. - 26.4.2008 Final Round of the UAE National Championship

6 races of Open Dinghy class

UAE 29er Team  6 x 1. place  overall 1. on the podest

Double Handed Regatta 4.& 5.4.08 in DOSC

29er overall after 6 races  secured 1th place

1th on the top wind mark !!!! Sail no. 1281

29er Eurocup 2008 Cavaliere / France

Period :                 : 22.- 24. March 2008,

Total participants   :  81  boats

Final Result          :   20^th  place overall  (places: 7th, 9th, DNF, 16th )

Countries              :   France, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Germany, Italy, Ireland,                                    Netherlands, Norway,Sweden, Spain, Switzerland, UK,

                                 UAE ( only us) , …..

Weather

Wind              MISTRAL :25 – 40 knt

Temperature    Air          :08 – 12 degree ( during the day)

                      Water     :10 -12 degree

Winner of the Jumeirah Regatta 2008

Jumeirah Beach Regatta - 15. & 16.01.08

UAE 29er Team succeed against

49er, VAGO, RS 400

Winner of Honda Ocean Regatta

25.January 2008 Honda Ocean Regatta - JASC

- 8 Races - 8 Wins

18. January 2008 - Honda Ocean Challenge

This Friday we sailed 4 races out of a total of 8 races, which will continue next Friday, to complete the Honda Ocean Sailing Challenge.

The forecast looked promising with 12 knots forecasted for the day. We had brought the 29er down already on Thursday so all we had to do was to rig it up and replaced some worn out ropes. We set our rig tension quite high, due to the wind already at 14 knots. The other 29er was also present, being sponsored by Honda they wanted to win their sponsored regatta. It was going to be an interesting day. The course for each of our races was going to be 2 triangles. Which made overtaking quite hard, and little tactics to be used. We went out straight after the 12 o’clock briefing and noticed that there was quite a lot of wind, 18knots. Heading to the race area we hoisted spinnaker, and flew towards the start line. Practicing some jibes and stretching a bit to get us ready for the race. Then we continued sailing with the other 29er comparing our boat speed with them before sailing back towards the start.

Our first race, started with a bad start being immediately covered by the Honda 29er, we quickly decided to tack away and go for clear air before tacking back on the next lift. At the top wind mark we were in first position, with the Honda 29er rounding shortly after us. We both decided to go hoist the spinnaker but quickly realized we could not make the mark, and so took the spinnaker down again and reaching towards the mark, for the rest of the race we continued staying in front. Finishing first after 12 minutes and knowing we would win on corrected time against all the other double handed sailors which were just completing their first triangle. 1^st place POWER HORSE 29er TEAM. Overall the course was too short and the waiting time in between each start was too long, 40 minutes.

Our second race started again, with a bad start being cover again by the Honda 29er, and rounding the top mark in second place. Both of us (29er’s) decided not to hoist yet and to first reach a bit. Alex and I knew our only chance to catch up was to hoist the spinnaker. We did this very quickly since the Honda 29er kept an eye on us. They followed but were a bit slower than us, and we sailed through right under them. After that we continued to stretch our lead and sailed through the finish line, 1^st place POWER HORSE 29er TEAM.

After the second race, the Honda 29er capsized and had to go in because of technical problems, which was quite disappointing for us, since they were a good challenge, and it was fun sailing with them. Our third race was good from beginning to end, with no mistakes, giving us another first place.

The last race of the day, fourth race, started with us miscalculating the start a little and starting 10 seconds late, and a close capsize after the start. WE knew we had to really sail fast again to win on handicap against the other doublehander’s. Due to this we decided to keep the spinnaker up on the last reach to the finish. As we went through the finish line we capsized, what a way to finish the day!! Four 1^st places for the Power Horse 29er TEAM.  

This week we will keep our 29er at Jebel Ali Sailing Club. With the wind forecast’s showing good wind next Friday and with a total of 4 points, we are happy to continue to defend our lead next Friday.

11. Januar 2008 - Commodores Cup

The day started with the breeze coming from the desert, and dark clouds coming from the sea. The forecast was looking promising for the day with 18 knots expected in the late afternoon. Alex and I were quite pleased as we pulled the main sail up, after having replaced the top mast the day before. We set our rig tension up expecting 18 knots, and had another look on our forestay which showed signs of damage.

As we went to the briefing we saw a huge shift of the wind turning from desert wind to sea breeze in a couple of minutes! Even though Dubai is a desert city, the day was forecasted to be cold, so we put of wetsuits and spray jackets, before heading out to the race course.

The wind looked promising but died as the first race started. We decided to sail up the middle of the race course, waiting for the wind to turn north as forecasted! But to our surprise the Vago’s which went to the left of the course had more wind and rounded close behind us. Downwind was a case of deciding if we should go high and into apparent mode or to really go low, since the wind was in-between. We ended up going doing something in between with the Vago closing in from behind. The next upwind we decided to again stay in the middle and play the shifts which made us gain some ground towards the Vago which we kept on till the finish. The Vago finished 5 minutes behind us which meant a close battle on handicap.

The second race started off not well with a bad start and no clear air for the first minute, it continued to worsen when the wind shifted 45 degrees towards the north which made the upwind leg one without needing to do a single tack. As we finished the breeze picked up causing the boats behind us to finish quicker. The last race started with promising breeze of about 15 knots, which we used to our advantage and quickly saw the speed difference in the breeze rounding long before the Vago’s and flying downwind, the only problem that we occurred was a near capzise at the bottom mark while doing a gybe drop. We completed the course in 24 minutes, and went through the finish line before the vago’s reached their last upwind mark.

At the end of the day our results were, 1^st race we came third by 2 seconds behind the second boat on handicap. 2^nd race we got another third, and finished the day with a first in the last race. Mistakes of the day were bad starting and no luck with the wind. Next week we are heading down to Dubai International Marine Club (DIMC) for the Honda Ocean Challenge, where we will hopefully be racing against the other 29er again.

07.12.2007

Our New Sponsored Sail Set

23.11.- 24.11.07 National Day Regatta Abu Dhabi International Marine Club - Winner against 13 Kestrel's

16. November 2007 Connector Regatta - JASC

winner in Double Handed Categorie  ( 29er's & Feva's )

09.-10. November 2007 - UAE National Sailing Championships Round 1

Thursday Training Race: 

Headed out in the afternoon in a dying breeze. Practiced some mark rounding and light wind sailing before heading back in for some slight changes on the rig.

Friday: 

Arrived in DOSC about 9.00 to prepare the boat for the first United Arab Emirates National Championship Round 1. The wind forecast for the day was suppose to be around 6-10 knots. Races were due to start around 10.25 but were postponed due to no wind, around 12.30 we finally left the beach and sailed towards the racing area. Due to the light winds, we couldn’t trapeze and had to concentrate more on sailing towards the side of the course with more wind. About 70 boats took part in the Championship, which resulted in a long race course and many starts. The 29er was registered in the Open Dinghy fleet, which meant that any boat can enter, and results are calculated on handicap. In our first start we choose the pin end buoy of the start line, and sailed towards the left of the course. Before tacking to sail towards the first upwind mark. Our main aim was to keep boat speed high. We rounded in first position, and continue to lead all the way around the course increasing our lead by 2 minutes each lap.

In the second race we followed the same strategy, but an increase in wind after our finish caused the boats behind us to sail faster and beat us on handicap. In between the second and the third race, I had a go at sailing the moth. Lifting off after a few seconds and flying away from the boats around me. Quickly got back onto the 29er in time for the third race. The third race saw us misjudge the current on our first upwind beat, and ending up rounding second. This fueled our ambition to make up for the mistake, and we immediately hoisted spinnaker, knowing the risk that we might not be able to hold it. But due to some good coordination between Alex and me, we managed to keep the spinnaker up and overtake the first boat. Finishing the race narrowly ahead of them.

The fourth race scheduled for the race was postponed to Saturday. When we got back in our results were: 1, 2, 1. Leading overall with 2 points lead on the second place.

Saturday’s Newspaper forecasted around 12-14 knots of wind. But again the races started 2 hours later than scheduled due to little wind. The wind didn’t increase during the first race and we had to settle for first place over the finishing line, but second place on handicap. This meant that we had the same points overall as the second boat. Our overall first place was at risk. We continued to follow a clean start and boat speed strategy around the race course. One of our strengths downwind was that we could shift gears of the boat quickly, as soon as there was an increase in pressure/wind we sailed in apparent mode, increasing our lead over the other boats. We finished the race in about 31 minutes, 20 faster than the races on the day before due to the increase in wind. Some 7 minutes after us the second boat crossed the finishing line.

With a further increase in wind, we wanted another race and so stayed close to the Race committee waiting for they’re decision. As we hoped they started another race. This was our chance to either loose the overall first position due to a mistake or to build our overall lead. Thanks to some excellent helming, communication and good boat speed downwind we ended up finishing the race and sailing back into the harbor before the second boat finished. The Results at the end of the regatta were as follows: 1^st, 2^nd, 1^st, 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st. Overall 1^st, winning the first round of the U.A.E. National Championship. Prize giving was held just as the sun went down, with a large crown congratulating the winners in the different classes.

09.-10.11.2007 UAE National Championships - Round1

WINNING the Open Dinghie Class against VAGO, RS FEVA & FEVA 400

09. November 2007 - Sailing the Moth

Max trying the Moth, foiling at his first try!

02. November 2007 - Sailing the Moth

Alex trying the Moth, foiling at his first try!

01. November 2007 - Training

Today, there was a good breeze, of about 16-17 knots due to the rainy weather over the Emirates. We headed out as quick as possible, and sailed towards the south end of world to meet our coach Chris. He was following the Moth, which made an attempt to set up a new record time around the World Island, it took 89 minutes, 20 minutes faster that a Volvo Extreme 40. We practiced mainly upwind speed today, and improved our maneuvers in breeze. At the end of the day both of us had fun, learned a lot, and were absolutely tired.

This weekend I will be sailing on a Benetau while Alex will be trying out the Moth. During the next week we will prepare the boat for the first major regatta in the Gulf, the U.A.E. National Championships held in our club, Dubai Offshore Sailing Club.

19. October 2007 - Insured Direct Race JASC - Open Mono Hull -

We decided to participate in the Insured Direct Race in Jebel Ali Sailing Club, also knowing that the race startet last week already with 4 races last Friday, which we were racing the Commodores Cup in DOSC.

Today we wanted to use the day for race practise only. But the complete day was not the best. Some problems with sail rigging (solved), race startet to early and 3 sailors came to late to start line. First race should be abounded - less than 4 knt wind. After break only 2 more races instaed of total of 4. Race course to simple for using race tactics.Also expected the other 29er team on the water, unfortunately they decided to sail a Catamaran. 

But we were winning both races in which we participated !!! :-) 

Tomorrow , Saturday, we will enjoy sailing - rounding The Jumeirah Palm and bring our 29er "home"to Dubai Offshore Sailing Club ==>

(20.10.07  we needed 1h 25 min)

12. October 2007 - Commodores Cup Race 3 & 4

Fridays wind forecast was not looking too good, with around 7-9 knots but as we discovered arriving at the sailing club the wind was already at a nice 10 knots around 12 o'clock and picking up during the afternoon. Before the briefing we adjusted a few things on the boat and changed some ropes. The course for the 2 races was going to be the same as the weeks before, 2 sausages and a square. We headed out of the habour straight after briefing and starting to practice the maneuvers again before having a rest. The wind in the first race was very gusty and so sometimes we had to trapeze and sometimes we were sitting inside the boat. We started in the middle of the line, making sure we were not over and sailed out to the left hand side of the course, tacked sailed over the rest of the boats and tacked again to head more to the left side, which was favoured. 

Downwind the wind was enough to trapeze and we had no major mistakes in the first race, resulting in us finishing 7 1/2  (!) minutes before the second boat.

Our second race started the same as our first race, with a middle line start and tacking once we cleared the fleet. During the last square of our first race we noticed the wind shifting to the right, so we headed out towards the right hand side of the course before rounding the mark. As we hoisted the Spinnaker we saw a massive wrap in it, but we quickly managed to get it out. During the second race we saw a continues increasing breeze which caused us to lead the fleet by a long distance. But when we were hoisting for our second downwind leg, another spinnaker wrap occurred, we never had wraps before in any other regatta's so we were quit surprised, as i tried dropping it again, it only dropped half way, and could not be pulled up again, which resulted in the spinnaker being dragged in the water. We immediately capsized and I swam to the top of the spinnaker to sort out the problem. We got the boat up and hoisted again. Flying away towards the bottom mark again, but with the competition close behind us. 

We only had 1 more upwind legs, so we made some good decisions and a good last downwind leg to leave the others behind. At the end of the day the results were 2 first's, making us first overall in the commodores cup series.

This week we will further continue changing a few things on the boat, and hopefully have it ready for next weekend to head down to the other club, Jebel Ali Sailing Club. For some close action with the boats down at the Club.  

21. September 2007 - Dinghy Commodores Cup Race 1 & 2.

The Racing season started a few weeks back, and its starting to get cooler now (35degrees) which makes work for the crew easier. We tuned our 29er the day before racing this friday, and changed a few things for the conditions we were expecting.

Around miday on friday we arrive at the club and went straight to rigging up the boat, after changing the shroud tension. Wind was about 8 knots as we were heading out towards the race course. The course was 2 sausages and a square. The 29er is in the Open fleet, which is for all double handers as well as catamarans and Moths.

The start line was relativly straight and pretty long for the number of boats in our group. We went for a safe start, making sure not being over to early and tacked once we were clear to sail over the other boats. The Moth was soon foiling away, with the Vago's on our trail. We noticed that the Vago's point alot higher than a 29er upwind. Downwind we tried to sail high and built apparent wind, but it didn't work as the breeze was still to little. We finished the race second after the moth, and about 4 minutes in front of the vago.

During the second race the afternoon breeze kicked in and helped us sail away on the downwind legs from the vago's using apparent wind. To our disadvantage the increase in breeze also helped the moth which foiled around the whole course over lapping a few boats. We finished again 2nd after the Moth but well infront of the Vago's.

The results later showed that in the first race we achieved 3rd position missing second by 10 seconds on handicap. And 2nd position in the second race, 2 minutes infront of the Vago and 11 MINUTES BEHIND the Moth. The handicap of the Moth is starting to be in question...because there is no way that we could have sailed 11 minutes faster!!