Test Sail
Wind 18-22 Knots South Seas 4 foot waves white tops
it was raining ... it was windy ... it was vile and England were loosing to Germany - the last game at Wembley...
I arrived at the sailing club and talked to the owner of the Challenger about the strange history of his boat. I was cold, the seas looked rough as hell, and the rain got worse.
Most people would be indoors - anyone forced to go out would be miserably dragging through the rain and wishing they were warm at home.
It was at this point that I realised I was insane - I was actually looking forward to getting into/onto that dark grey white capped water. I changed into my cold and slightly damp sailing gear but warmed up quickly .... My theory about how much to wear is to put on jumpers to the point that you feel on fire. If on the beach your are so hot you can only just stand it - you should be OK after an hours soaking with freezing sea water.
The boat is very, very heavy. The two of us got it on to the beach and then into the water. Like all boats it suddenly turns into a swan as it rides high in the surf, it shrugs off the waves, it looks right.
Its time to be off:
The owner holds the boat for me, I get aboard, pull the rope that puts the rudder blade down, release the centreboard rope, pull in the main sheet, pull the centre board down and quickly practice steering with my feet.
With an onshore wind and concrete groyn to the starboard side I head across the waves going at 45 degrees port from the beach. The boat rolls and fights the waves in a way that would be frightening in a monohull such as an Albacore but in this boat just feels safe and is fun.
The speed is quite high, up wind in these rough seas, and I am taking a real soaking. I really open her up on a reach and she just rides the waves with the lea ama going deep into the waves before rising out. No problems at all even in a blow like today with rough seas the boat is very easy to steer. a slight weather helm but that is more comforting than any sort of problem.
I decide to go up wind as far as the sailing club's pier buoy so that I can have the fun stuff coming back. Save the best to last - know that you can get home.
I use a red buoy as a turning marker to see how it would be to race this boat. I cleat the main sheet and see how tight I can go on the wind .. not very considering it is a one sail design. I tack - I was warned that it was a slow process and I end up stationary and backing the rudder. Once across the wind we pick up speed quickly this time heading straight into the waves. I come straight onto the buoy, give it two boat lengths before tacking and go about I clear the buoy with ease and head for a buoy off the pier head.
The owner comes out on a Contender but he goes over again and again. Eventually he heads in and I feel free to carry on sailing. I had begun to feel that he may need my help.
The boat is fantastic in this level of weather going much faster than it feels. It covers a large distance but you do not feel that you are going that fast. It handles the seas and wind in complete safety no sign of tripping over. The owner has attempted to tip it over but has not succeeded.
It is clear to see why it was adopted for disabled sailors with its very high boom, single sail to control and ease of steering. The amas do not seem to catch the wind - I had assumed before trying the Challenger that it would be strange to steer because of the wind and seas catching the windward hull but I was wrong - it is fine.
After two more tacks which are slow but no backing up I reach the pier buoy and at last I can head down wind. Surfing down the faces of the waves, I gybe and crash across the sides of the waves. Amazing so much control none of that deadly death roll of a monohull on a run. I reach across the waves, reach down the waves. This boat would be the boat to go out in a gale.
Facing forward steering with your feet is just natural - it only seems funny when you talk about it after. Only when you analyse it do you feel that it is funny - when you are doing it - it is quite natural.
I run in to the shore, centre blade up, rudder blade up, jump out and get her head to wind.
A truly excellent sail.
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