Waves and a 25 knot Puff launch the kite while on a Breeze

The IRC 1 fleet in the annual Narrows Series on Strangford lough kicked of the first race of the regatta with a building breeze, the conditions went from fresh to frightening after rounding the bottom mark when the first rain squall of the day kick things into over drive.

The team on redline racing had made the decision to switch down to the A3 from the A4 just just before the start. While this was absolutely the right decision it was unwise to not stow it below.

As the boats rounded the bottom mark a 25 knot puff rolled in to whip up some waves which pushed the kite overboard. The jib trimmer raced forward to try and flip the kite over the rail but it was too little too late as the kite first started it's way to the stern in the water before the wind then picked up up and flipped it up into the air.

It was all hands to the pump to try and get things back under control, with the J109 pounding into the waves and the wind instruments starting to touch forty knots the crew on GTR just managed to get things back under control.

If you are think that the team on Boat Up Boat only show footage of things going horribly wrong please stick around for our upcoming videos where we show you how things go right we we get the J109 up on the plan when thing got set and when things went to plan.

The lesson for today is never launch the kite while going up wind and definitely don't do it when the waves are crashing over the the bow and the wind is instruments are touching 25 knots.

[TeamTeam]

Wow. I actually thought I was going to see a video of a kite being hoisted !
I was in a regatta a few years back in the same kind of winds - 30/35 knots and we decided to hoist the spinnaker when we were well set and going down wind behind the main.
That was some experience.
It went up beautifully protected by the main and then all of a sudden there was a loud bang as it filled.
The spinnaker set beautifully and at that very moment I looked astern. The boat just picked up and started planing and surfing downwind with great spouts of white water at the bow 🙂
Our problems arose when we wanted it down we flew a horizontal red and white flag the same length as the hull at the top of the mast for a while ! But it was great fun while it lasted.

[boomandalpha]

Looks like you’re having fun with that weather. I got down to the boat on Friday and gave up due to weather and engine problems.

[Anglosaxon]

Well… Looks like you’re totally in control of the situation😂