Andrew Brown reports on the 2008 Moth Worlds

by Andrew Brown, Force Racing on 13 Jul 2008
The Moth Worlds 20008 ended up being two days of racing after five days of no racing.

On Thursday four races were held with two in the morning then two after a lunch break.

With 99 boats on the startline the start was a huge part of the race and in the first race I had a shocker, getting into irons out of a tack and then having to catch up the rest of the race. The breeze on this day was 15 increasing to 24 knots in the afternoon.

The first race ended in the late teens. The second race was much better with a 9th and a solid race all round.

During lunch I checked the boat and it seemed fine, but I didn’t check it thoroughly enough as during the third race my vang block exploded up the first beat. I tried to fix it and continue racing but it was a mess and I had to seek outside assistance to do a make temporary repair. This meant no adjusting the vang and unfortunately not enough tension either for the last race of the day. I struggled in this race to a 14th placing. Results wise the day was disappointing but I learned a heap about the boat and the racing this craft.

The next day dawned windy again with the breeze at 18 to 24 knots with gusts higher than that again. Today was a much better day with a 4th, 8th and a 9th in the three races held. I didn’t quite have the speed off the start needed to keep in the first group of boats, but on this day I sailed tactically well and pushed the boat hard. Again I learned heaps and have enjoyed my 8 months in the class. Also 10th overall isn’t a bad result at a World Championships!

Many people, sponsors and family to thank:

To my wife Dana and my boy Cameron for letting go and do the event and supporting through this time, what an awesome family I have!

To my Grandfather who passed away 4 days before the event this regatta was for you!

To Andrew Macdougall from KA Sails awesome advice and the things I learn from you about the boat and equipment are awesome.

The Bladerider team and Rohan Veal – Thanks for a quick boat, and also giving the technique to sail the boat well

Nick Olsen at Evolution Composites for battens and work on the boat – awesome!

Kiwi Yachting Consultants and Richard McAllister thank you sponsoring me and getting me into the Moth, without your encouragement this would of never happened

www.southernspars.com!Southern_Spars – Thank you for helping me get to the regatta, and for working with me on the stays, there is heaps of interest out there for this product

Cathay Pacific Airways for getting me to England and home again!

Oceanbridge Shipping for transporting all my equipment to the event – Thanks!

Telstra Clear for sponsoring this newsletter and my communication

And to Yachting New Zealand for allowing me the time away to do this event and the training!

More details with photos, video etc can be found at www.moth-sailing.org