J/80 Sailing Qingdao

Conditions weren't looking promising in the marina yesterday, but we all walked home with a better experience that we'd expected to get. Just one of those days where you get reminded that there's actually long between the days where you regret to have gone sailing :-)

Had GPS tracking 'on' for the most part of our sail. Recorded a max. speed of 10.2 kts, and we sailed a bit over 14 nm. If on a reach, that distance could almost have brought us to Dagong Island and back. That's a trip we'll do on a day with good wind from a desirable direction, and better visibility than yesterday.

Important to stay dry on your feet while sailing during the cold months. Have just ordered a pair of boots via Taobao for coming winter sails. Will let you know how that goes. Some of you may also be interested in getting into something drier for your feet.

..had a great day out sailing with the J/80 owners from beijing. trained the "heaving to" maneuver. while out there, Guo Chuan came out for an interesting media event involving two individuals getting hoisted up a rig for a better view. good fun.

Typhoons and boats are not the best of friends. Here's what typhoon Vicente did to some of the J80s in Hong Kong. Not pretty. Hopefully they'll all be sailing again soon. Fortunately this can't happen in Qingdao.

Boat handling and regatta training for next Sunday's 2nd edition of Qingdao's latest regatta initiative, the City Sailing Club League. Plan to have three J80s on the starting line come July 22nd.

In the background you see one of AC China Team's two M2 training catamarans passing by.

A lot of wind in the forecast for our sail on Sunday :-)
http://www.windguru.cz/int/mview.php?s=37855&m=3

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Sailing with friends on a windy autumn day. Wind in gusts approaching 30 knots.