tressillian

Photography and chit-chat.

1. #  Anonymous 22/8/06 05:46
   I was saddened to read this.
   David is/was a good sailor and this boat was so much better than the boat in which (a) he learned to sail or (b) the laser which I bought him later.
   The first boat was a lug sail , flat bottomed plastic 6 foot bath tub which, if the wind was right and you were asleep, could sail backwards as well as forwards. It was the only boat I ever sailed which once decided in a crowded passage-way to do, without any help from David or I, a 1080 degree spin or maybe more. But you learned how to read the wind in her.
   The next boat was a laser called Kahotec, or something, after a comet which was around then. Unfortunately, this boat had a small crack somewhere and would take in water. This meant that when going about, the water inside the hulk sploshed over quickly and the boat usually capcised. In one race at Stanley, David went over 10-12 times on just one leg. I had to appeal to the race chaps to pull him out. We never really solved this problem. Needless to say, he hardly ever won any races in that boat but trying was what it was about. Saturdays and Sundays were often boat moving days with Kahotec strapped on the roof of an old Honda Civic.
   This last boat, I had no affinity with because it seemed too modern. Kahotec was numbered in the first few hundreds of its class, this one was thousands later.
   But sailing is a grand sport. I wish I could have done some long ago.
   Mo
2. #  Anonymous 22/8/06 05:50
   Tai Mong Tsai Bay was called Emerald Bay in English because of the beauiful colour it had due to its coral floor.
3. #  tressillian 22/8/06 09:50
   Kohoutek (spelling?) was a Eastern European astronomer that spotted a new comet in the mid 70's. It was supposed to be the next Halley's - but was a bit of a damp squib. Bit like my early racing days!
   
   To set the record straight, the capsizing was more to do with my lack of weight (6 foot streak of nothing) and my ability. How things have changed (or not) - I only capsize through my inability these days! Nuff said.
   
   The first Laser was red and numbered 9256 (or similar) and had a fairly typical Laser problem around the mast-step - the gelcoat cracked. It leaked like a sieve. Laser eventually reinforced this area in later versions.
4. #  Anonymous 29/8/06 03:07
   I also have fond memories of sailing the bathtub at Tai Moing Tsai particularly the day Mo and I practically sailed up Sai Kung main street before we could come about - we were on a roaring beam reach in what turned out to be Typhoon signal winds.
   I never owned a Laser - David and I did try fairly unsuccessfully to sail his together at Rutland once - but I did share a wooden Enterprise named Tin Hau- which we kept a Littleton Sailing Club - I did race her but never really got anywhere, she was as heavy as lead!
   I don't do any dinghy sailing here in Los Angeles but have cultivated a few friendst with larger boats so occasionally get some cruising in. Maybe I'll try and find somewhere to volunteer - I always enjoyed teaching sailing.

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