To be clear, I am not very good and I only race to try and improve my sailing skills. I took part in two of the autumn regatta races last weekend and came last in both. Beaten on handicap by a Westerly, a Trapper and a Cormanche cat. It wasn't even close but as the skipper of the Trapper said as he overtook me shortly after the start of the first race.
"This is a race for who has the cleanest hull"
and Louisa was fairly weeded up. Another factor that only became apparent on the upwind leg, when I tacked from starboard to port, the genoa caught on the cross trees. To get round this I needed to partially furl the genoa before tacking. I reckon that with a clean hull and the obstruction on the cross trees sorted out I might be in contention. I do know a bit better how to sail Louisa and she can sail downwind by the lee. Rigging a preventer and poling out the genoa is very straight forward so down wind legs are going to be better. Upwind still needs work but I have some ideas.
