The fifth MicroMagic ranking race was sailed today in Vuosaari. Due to the location of the sailing water the wind came with variable strength from a variable direction in all races. I was sailing a loaned boat, and will do so in two weeks time at the national event also (20+ entries I hear!). Might think about a microMagic of my own during the spring (no promises…). Results to appear here.
Pictures by Jorma Ojama.
The 2008 Helsinki Boatshow started yesterday with a day for press and other VIPs. Four Micro-Magic boats were sponsored by the Finnish Sailing Federation and its parters, and on Friday a few of the Finnish Olympic sailors got together for some racing in the pool. The show is now open until Sunday 17th, and the Finnish Micro-Magic sailors are sailing in the pool 2-3 times per day for 30 minutes at a time. This pool is a bit smaller, 4.5×9.5 m, than the one at Model Expo last year, but we found some better fans for generating wind. They seem to create less turbulence and a smoother wind across the pool.
A fast but unstable way of radio-sailing.
There’s a new area around Vuosaari in Helsinki being developed and they’ve built a number of channels/ponds close to a park and the golf course. Google map view here.
8 boats, possibly the largest gathering of MicroMagic’s so far in Finland, showed up for some friendly racing today. I tried it too for two races. The boat is very light and responsive, and you really have to react to the gusts of wind. At low speed on a beat I found the boat drifting to leeward quite heavily.
The sailing site with buildings, bridges, etc. around meant that the wind was of variable strength and coming from variable directions.
Two boats heeling over while the others wait for wind.
No rescue boat was used, the marks were just pushed out from the bank/bridge with a long pole.
It looks like we will have a number of these boats for next season, and the action probably starts at Model Expo 2008 (like this year), with hopefully a number of regattas through the summer.
Results will probably appear on the Finnish MicroMagic site.
Some pictures from the 2006 Helsinki regatta. I was in the boat responsible for the top marks, but we got a few pictures of the start also by the end of the day.
click the pictures for full-screen versions.
I was on the race committee when NJK organized the annual Sinebrychoff Challenge for 6 mR yachts just outside central Helsinki.
