Excalibur Sailing Team

16 August 2011

Hi all

This weekend Jo, Marcus and I, along with members of my family attended the Sailability Multiclass Regatta at Rutland water. I have always enjoyed this competition and in previous years have done reasonably well.

After the IFDS World Championships held in Weymouth in July we realised that we had a major leak where the keel fits into the boat. We also realise that our keel bulb was severely needing an overhaul and having got several people's opinions we put in a claim with our insurance company for a considerable amount. This was to get the leak stopped as well is a new keel. We would like to thank Noble Marine boat insurance www.noblemarine.co.uk for their prompt approval of our claim.

We only got the boat back from the repairers on Wednesday and without getting the boat back into the water we were unable to test out whether everything worked properly. It was unfortunate that we had an event so close to getting the boat back but we had to trust the repairers that everything was shipshape.

On Saturday morning we all congregated at the pontoon but unfortunately where the repairs have been done now the keel wouldn't drop right down leaving about 18 inches above the deck. There was no way we could sail like this and although Marcus and Peter my brother tried their utmost to get us sailing it was impossible to drop it right down.

Better luck next year!

Our next event is the National Rankers held in Weymouth at the end of September. We will be very keen to show the others SKUD competitors how fast we are without a boat that leaks profusely!

Kind regards

Keith