Mike Cooke

I'd be surprised if this is the case for an international class. A measurer is a measurer at the end of the day - surely if they're approved by the class in a country it doesn't matter where the sails end up.

Suppose it depends on how tall you consider the risks to be? I don't know of anyone personally who has completely lost a boat - even sunk ones have been recovered. I'm sure it does happen, but would you spend good money on the off chance? I wouldn't have thought any home policy would cover racing risks, but it might be worth a chat with a broker.

I heard that their rudder was bent in the pitchpole and while they were able to bend it back it wasn't as good as new...

It's worth having a look at some of the survival training the teams have to do. It's pretty terrifying in itself and shows quite how seriously they're taking it. Quite fun watching the marginal-foiling races. Realising you're sailing out of the front of the puffs is quite a watershed moment.

North Face thermal gloves. Get the E-tip ones if you've got a touchscreen on your transmitter

Tony Edwards in Sherborne is probably your closest bet. he's done a few boats for me.

Wow - In the time it took me to write that post - nice work John

I made an adjustable one - you can slowly wind on tension until you get the result you need.

Start with a bit less kicker, if that doesn't do it, the bringing the rig forward slightly using the forestay might help. Start with some steadier conditions and see if it's doing the same further down the range.

Fair enough - well, to start with is it doing the same things all the time? is it heading up or down in gusts? Are you sailing on a particularly shifty lake - it's quite a small and light boat will be easily knocked about.

Have you got the right rudder on? The kit came with 2 rudders - one for static display and another for RC use - will make a big difference to balance/tracking in a straight line.

Depends on enough stuff that you could probably write a nice book on the subject. If the boat balances vaguely nicely now and you alter the rake, to get the boat to continue to balance vaguely nicely you'll end up having to move the mast position to counter. I personally like a degree or two and then vary the mast position to find balance but I have a cassette for my mast to plug into and a lot of scope for moving. Yes to bearings, but I think only the top is really needed.

I think a lot of this stuff does need thinking about before sailing can resume. Stuff like having a one-way system for the control area for starters to try and stop people bumping into each other. In one door and out another using facilities. By and large theres no reason why we can't sail and keep distance...

Multis don't get a lot of love around here! Think Ian is coming over to the Mini40 Open at Gosport in early April.

We had an excellent Slalom cup for foiling Mini40's at Gosport - at times we had half a dozen boats foiling apparent wind and trading gybes at some great speeds.