I find it difficult to write about an event I don’t have personal experience of. Suffice to say that, as Frou Frou is still injured and out of action we were unable to participate in Saturdays race, I am using this as my excuse for not reporting on how the race went for the TY’s who turned up for today’s event. At the time of Saturday’s briefing though conditions were looking perfect for a pleasant afternoon on the water. Not too windy and not too hot. I hope these conditions were reflected in a rewarding experience for the crews who competed.
However, you readers are not getting out of it that lightly. I will write about something this week I am familiar with and that may or may not be of interest to you, the treatment of Frou Frou’s injured stern and how she is recovering.
Before Saturdays briefing I was talking casually to my sailing buddies about my progress with repairs and the need to dry out Frou Frou’s injured stern before the next phase of work could be carried out (see following photos). Not surprisingly I received advice and offers of assistance with carrying out the said repairs. Rob Lawler offered me a device used for warming patients in hospital beds he thought may speed up the drying out process. He was even considerate enough to drop it off at my house. From Rob’s description I was a little sceptical of how a bed warming device could be used in boat repair applications (reading between the lines I had a suspicious that Rob had this item cluttering up his garage and this presented an opportunity to relocate it on a semi-permanent bases). How wrong I was, and now regret my suspicions and offer my sincere apologies to Rob. The patient bed warming device has been the perfect thing to use (see attached photo) drying out the back of the boat at a comforting 42 degrees Celsius in a silent, safe and professional manner. As a consequence Frou Frous damaged stern should be ready for fibre glassing sometime in the next few days. Who could have imagined that skills in nursing and boatbuilding would be required for these repairs?
Perhaps the most importantly lesson from this was of how important it is, when brainstorming solutions to problems, to be open minded, not make assumptions and never discount ideas until they are tested.
Results for Saturdays Pointscore 9.
Long Course
First place Out of Exile with Bob Rob Josh and Johny aboard. In second place was Rostered Off with Richard and Shaun aboard and in third place was Offshore Account with Dave Arthur and Keith aboard.
Short Course
In first second and third place was Blonde with John and Ray aboard.
Just a quick note and call to bring out your boats. It only takes 2 to make a race. It would be nice if more suitable boats took up the short course option.
The end Trev