Well, today finally it all became worthwhile.

With the rig raked and re-adjusted we tried again, this time Ash accompanied me, Jamie is busy building B14's and suggested we both went out, so if adjustments had to be made on the water, one could hold it and the other do what was necessary, as there's always something at this early stage in a boats development.

So rigged and ready we took off and almost immediately it became apparent the rig adjustments were bang on, we were trialling a different jib that fitted better and the main had been raked a good ten degrees aft and the necessary adjustments made to the spreaders.

Initially we got some wash up the front of the centreboard but as she moved forward and lifted onto the 2nd rocker stage that disappeared and she began to march on, we started off heading upwind, that having been the problems last time out, she reacted well.

Then we bore off then a gust hit, I nearly got chucked out the back as she sprinted onto the next rocker stage. It was a marked transition, everything came light, (I'd been adjusting the rudder angle to make sure it was vertical just before we took off, she planed with just the two sails, so we couldn't wait to see what would happen with the kite up.

Naturally no sooner than the kite went up the wind dropped, but it did give us a little surge and was only spoiled by the troublesome cleat coming undone suddenly and we lost it, at first not knowing what had happened we stored it away and came back upwind, experimenting with sailing flat and lifting a hull, it planed easily when sailed flat and free, yet also pointed well and was loose with one hull out of the water, but to do this more reliably we'll need to raise the racks a bit.

We bunged the kite up again and this time got some wind, which catapulted her off downwind like a scalded cat. It skips over the surface once it releases, it's going to be fun pushing it hard in the future, but today was about checking everything so upwind again, see if we can get it into irons, it tacks sweet as a nut fumble as we might into the tack. When we did get her head to wind whilst we were fiddling with the plate that had been creeping up and trying to sort the jib cleat that had broken, it was a simple matter to back it out into the direction we needed to go.

Eventually time was marching on, (it always does when you're enjoying yourself) and Ash needed to do a final check single handed so i went ashore, only to fin my phone battery dead so couldn't record much, but i did watch him get one big puff and she flew. You can tell when somethings really moving, by the spray, normally the spray is sugary quite large, when it gets super fine, like it's been ionised, then you know somethings really moving and I mean moving, speedboat fast, I doubt a rib would have held it.

He came back with an ear to ear grin, 'It's mental off wind'.

So there's still a lot to do, but I'm a very happy chappy and getting even more excited at future prospects of sailing adventures, I've never been in anything so stable before, nor with the speed sensation, it'll be interesting finding out what she can do..