Idefix gets fixed!!!

So here we go, paint job completed to the new colours, gold for desert but still a lot needs done, new foils, new gantry, new trampolines.

Damage assessment

The attachement of the gantry has been ripped off and needs to be carefully repaired, the loads while foiling are very high at these points. A bar from the crown also needs repair, loads there are also very high. The boom needs to be fixed with the fixation of the spreaders on the mast. A new gantry must also be built, no idea how to do that. Quite a program ahead, no idea when will be foiling next.

100 ton barge is stronger then a Prowler MK II

After yesterday's race decided to have another sail out in the Gulf waters with Idefix III (Prowler MK II). Got sailing out passed the bridge under construction and the channel out in the gulf. Sailed out on port then tacked to return on starboard. Accelerated foiling at good speed trying to make it downwind back threw the channel (Mina Port). Sundely, once again the main foiled which I had fixed snapped in two parts, so no more foiling. Sailed downwind down the channel back to the Club. However when passing the bridgre under construction sailed into a wind hole behind the bridge. The 2-3 knots current then pushed me towards a massive construction barge. I jumped into the water to swim and pull Idefix III away from the barge but could do nothing. Idefix capsized and got completely pushed against the barge by the current. I jumped on a hanging strap, climbed on a tire and got on the barge two meters above water while Idefix III was getting skuashed under the barge, AED 60,000 worth of carbon being crunched against a 100 Ton steel barge, the worth nightmare. Anyway finded myself standing on the barge waiving to boats, finaly a taxi boat with a Pakistani driver stopped by and I jumped on the rescue boat. We drove arround the barge and miraculously Idefix III was still there being pushed against the barge in the strong current. I passed a rope, was very difficult, and we pulled Idefix III out away from the barge. The damage is quite extensive, the back of the boat were the rudder is fixed got snapped away with the rudder, the center board broke, the boom broke, the mast seems still OK, a bar is broken, tranpoline torn, looks like a month work. It is a miracle that Idefix III got saved from this monstruous barge. In this whole story I am also lucky to not have passed myself under the barge.

ADSC, Friday 28th August Race

Perfect sailing conditions, north-north- west at more then 15 knots, Monthly Mug race, missed the start by one minute, but then got foiling and completed the race in 32 minutes way ahead of everybody.

ADSC Friday race

Last Friday got foiling again in ADSC's Friday races. Whon bost races, the first one easely but on the second I broke my tiller extension which made sailing very unplaisant, had to lean forward to helm the Moth. The reperation of the main control rod went really well, I used 1.5mm spring wire bent a few times. This did the trick. I also teared again port trampoline. So considering I was sailing a "fixed" up Prowler, did very well. The wind was perfect, 330deg/15kts/40C great sailing once again here in the gulf. Perfect conditions.

Getting back to business

I finaly got time to fix my main foil. Hopefully glassfiber and epoxy will do the trick. I should be getting foiling in a few days.

Final parking position

I purchased the Al Gaith 31, Baracuda from the father of Sam Jridi and togher we moved the boat to it's final parking position. Both engines run fine, there is a bit of fixing up to be done to get her in tip-top condition.

Launcher launched

ADMOC has finaly it's launch boat at home at harbor, next is to get plenty of Moths to go on it.

Bad day

No need to say anymore.....

From a course to foiling

Got up at 06:00, showed up a the training center just to find out the planned course had been canceled. So went foiling, perfect conditions, wind NW at 15 knots, 30 C, blue skies. The wand functionned not badly but needs improvement, it somehow does not react fast enough, to much friction. Could not tighten the wang enough also. The picture is of Mina port where ADMOC will be based.

ADMOC launch boat

ADMOC stands for Abu Dhabi Moth Club, and has only one member at this time, I. The problem is finding a location to launch the Moths from, no public slip is available so the best solution is to load the Moths on a boat and launch them from there. And thats the boat for the job.....

ADMOC gets a base in Abu Dhabi

Found a 31 footer motor boat and place in the Mina fishing port in Abu Dhabi. The motor boat will be used as a platform to launch Moths, like an aircraft carrier. Need now to set up a launching mechanism, this should not be too difficult.

Starting Blogging

2008 March 29

Sitting in Dublin on my last flight as Senior First Officer after flying in that position for more then 16 years, I decided to try and give it a go at blogging. My goal is to use this blog as a platform to make available to everybody connected to internet all information I have to share.