Update from down under

Margie from Australia writes us with some updates from down under, including some nice pictures and a movie showing their kite set under a regatta.

Hit the title for the full update!




Hi Thomas

Congratulations on some good results in the recent regattas. We have been following you guys on the blog site with interest, looking at how well you sail and your techniques. We are still the only 310 in Australia but they have shipped 6 of the 
350's here including one with a carbon rig.
The average boat size is between 35 and 40 foot so the 350 should be a 
popular boat here.




Despite this the 310 is been well received and we have a list of people wanting sail the boat with us. Our results are not a good as yours, very up and down. We were talked out of getting a IRU rating as it seems that it is a 
thing of the past, because some designers have worked out the formula. The boat has an interim AMS rating (local version of what you have in northern europe)
and a performance handicap that changes from week to week depending how well you went. In the first race we went in we won and was instantly protested against by the second boat because we were faster than the average
30 footer and should have given the organisers more info. ( the protest was thrown out) For a number of regattas we had a performance rating two point below a Beneteau 40 first. (no hope of winning)
Attached are some photos and a youtube video of a recent regatta I sailed in with a crew of just women -
please do not be too critical of our kite set as we had only become a crew that weekend.
Please listen to the comment as it is typical of the reaction we are getting.
"You have a very quick little boat" is a comment were are getting used to and "when can we come out on your boat" is another


regards
Margie


I think I can safely say that the kite set is not at all bad, a couple of seconds was probably improved already on the next set!


The 350's are hitting a sweet spot in many markets, where boats 34-36 foot long are the desired size. Of course, a lot of 350 owners might want to know that they get as much fun (if not more) and almost the same cruising pleasures for a lot less, with the 310! Hehe.


Our (Silverminken) rating now is probably right for the moment, we have more potential to get out of the boat, while conditions in our area often make it hard to sail the boat to its full potential. Heavy winds and a lot of downwind means we have an advantage (planing), heavy winds and very little downwind means we have a disadvantage (hull length). Lighter winds are a bit tricky, but here we do pretty good unless the course favours symmetricals and more crew.


Another picture from Australia and a movie follows. Thanks for the update, Margie! Anyone else care to share some news?