Following on from the wood is good debate, my view following experiences sailing against the Whitstable posse last year at their regatta week was that Smoked Salmon (Thin Ice) lacked pace in light 'displacement sailing' breezes when there was a chop.

Now, I am under no illusions as to my helming abilities, but I do wonder if the good wood yotties (Glen, Davo et all) can dispel my mental block and confirm that it is all down to helming ability and has nothing to do with weight in the ends....

(answers to this question are likely to influence whether I ever do another 'wood' nationals)

I discovered at the open there the wekend that boat set up makes a phenomenal differance. If the boat is set up for inland sailing with a nicely bent mast and flattish sail you will not be able to get through the chop, and won't be able to sit out in the marginal conditions.

In the first race on sunday we had one of the best starts we've made and there were 4 boats behind us at the first mark. In the second race we stiffened that mast up, had one of the worst starts i've ever made (We were where the fourth rank would have been had there been one!!) and were 9th or 10th round the first mark.

The sea is a very differant animal!!