The first time since the summer of '89 and it was good.
A 48-4 at 300 followed by this 49-6 made me a very happy man after I'd figured out what the scores meant.
It did help that it was a sunny afternoon, although in my defense it was a new rifle and I hadn't done it for a bit.
The other club members were helpful to a fault as I've come to expect - what a nice bunch.
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
00156 Slipways and slip ways
We had guests this last week, which was very good, but meant no blooging. So in summary, kitesurfing twice, second time gave me just enough to cruise on the 15. Shooting - smallbore season is over and I've yet to go out fullbore.
Finally, just went out for a proper low wind session on the Dopero which worked very well, although I still think there may be room for a minor bridal adjustment. Interesting things will come soon, I hope.
Oh yeah and I got to shoot the Lihou Slipway, although the light just faded as I lofted the camera - Still, not too too bad.
Finally, just went out for a proper low wind session on the Dopero which worked very well, although I still think there may be room for a minor bridal adjustment. Interesting things will come soon, I hope.
Oh yeah and I got to shoot the Lihou Slipway, although the light just faded as I lofted the camera - Still, not too too bad.
Monday, April 10, 2006
00155 Medal
Got this for best score in the 'B' team for the inter-insular between Jersey and Guernsey. Which we lost. Bummer.
Anyway it was over 15 yards and I managed a 98, 96, 99, 96 - obviously could've been more.
The final scores are here
Good day.
Anyway it was over 15 yards and I managed a 98, 96, 99, 96 - obviously could've been more.
The final scores are here
Good day.
Friday, April 07, 2006
00153 Tractor factor
So, three things here:
Shootin', 97, 97, 98, 98 - just before the Jersey trip - can I keep it up? Probablynot (I think that works really well as one word).
Maxi Dopero, finished. Needs a tweak. Don't we all. Pictures to follow seeing as I can't be arsed to post up two images here (imagine my surprise when I saw the two images I posted up here).
KAP - it's a tractor init. D50 doing well. Damn gusty, mind.
Shootin', 97, 97, 98, 98 - just before the Jersey trip - can I keep it up? Probablynot (I think that works really well as one word).
Maxi Dopero, finished. Needs a tweak. Don't we all. Pictures to follow seeing as I can't be arsed to post up two images here (imagine my surprise when I saw the two images I posted up here).
KAP - it's a tractor init. D50 doing well. Damn gusty, mind.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
00152 Air n' high scores
Another kitesurf/shooting double yesterday.
Kitesurfing at Pembroke - superb. After so many gusty sessions in a SWerly, finally a nice constant NEerly. Got some good jumps in and a rotation - albeit unintentional. Also better speed control in overpowered situations and som nice little jumps off the waves. Just great.
Shooting - four cards at 15 yards gave me a 96, 96, 97, 99. What an improvement, especially with the Jersey inter-insular coming up. My only problem is consistency and I don't know if this upward trend is going to plateau or go down. Thursday's the last shoot before the competition, so we'll get an idea then. I have been told to expect a drop of about 8-10 points because of the different lighting conditions and the added stress. We'll see.
Kitesurfing at Pembroke - superb. After so many gusty sessions in a SWerly, finally a nice constant NEerly. Got some good jumps in and a rotation - albeit unintentional. Also better speed control in overpowered situations and som nice little jumps off the waves. Just great.
Shooting - four cards at 15 yards gave me a 96, 96, 97, 99. What an improvement, especially with the Jersey inter-insular coming up. My only problem is consistency and I don't know if this upward trend is going to plateau or go down. Thursday's the last shoot before the competition, so we'll get an idea then. I have been told to expect a drop of about 8-10 points because of the different lighting conditions and the added stress. We'll see.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
00151 Open vertical keel finished
At last. It was a real hoo-ha, just because of the amount of detail and the accuracy needed to make all the edges meet. Glad that's over.
Just the reinforcements and elastic, spar cutting and bridal making to go followed by the ubiquitous bag, of course.
Just the reinforcements and elastic, spar cutting and bridal making to go followed by the ubiquitous bag, of course.
00150 Pooh sticks at Richmond
Went to Richmond to fly the D50 from the Genki (in the absence of the soon-to-be-finished Maxi-Dopero). Not enough wind to get more than two meters off the ground as this tantalisingly sharp image shows.
So instead I whipped up a Pooh Stick with fifteen minutes to go until I had to leave. It's another rule I'll add to the growing list - time limited Pooh Stick making.
So instead I whipped up a Pooh Stick with fifteen minutes to go until I had to leave. It's another rule I'll add to the growing list - time limited Pooh Stick making.
00149 D50 flies at Roquaine
And so it was, that the D50 went up smoothly and came down the same way. Beautiful day, reasonable subject, great results. Pin sharp and all the better for being heavier than the Optio, as it corrected itself faster after swinging off to the side.
Can't wait to try more.
Can't wait to try more.
Monday, April 03, 2006
00148 Maxi Dopero spar holder
Finished this small detail of the lower sail and tonight I've finally done the OVKs - man that was painful work - my back was killing me. Pictures to follow tomorrow.
Friday, March 31, 2006
00147 Lower sail with spar
Finished most of the big sewing jobs, now to knuckle down to the details like the keel and the reinforcements for the spar pockets. The lower sail is all hemmed up (as shown here) with a spar pocket immaculately sewn in (I am the bomb). The upper sail is all hemmed up and waiting for Dacron reinforcements. Miscalculated the lengths of bridal line needed, but I'm going to Dan(Harradine)'s house tomorrow and he's offering up dyneema lines, which I should be able to sheathe and use instead. Result.
00146 The New D50 has landed
... shortly before I send it off again under the kite. Wind's looking good for tomorrow aftee and so are the light conditions - now I just have to hope I don't screw it up. It's like starting all over again.
In shooting news, shot the first two cards ever at 15, a respectable 95 followed by a reasonable 93. That was Tuesday. This Thursday I got drafted into the "Elliot Bowl" - teams of four, each member picks a "start" which is added to their card score when finished. It's wierd, because you have to start by getting as high a score as you can on the first seven or so targets, then hopefully try to lose marks as you near the end. I picked a start of 8, so I needed a 92 - which I got in the first round (it was a knock-out competition). In the final, I got 103, which counts as a 97. I adjusted sights right off to the 7 ring, but scored a bull - pants luck.
Kitesurfing today - gusty as hell again, but boosted a massive air off a wave at Vazon in cross shore winds. Airborne for at least 3-4 seconds, got around 20 foot at least (translates as twenty foot max) - just sublime. Apart from that it was a bit of a struggle and I can't wait for a clean onshore. Camaaaan you onshores.
In shooting news, shot the first two cards ever at 15, a respectable 95 followed by a reasonable 93. That was Tuesday. This Thursday I got drafted into the "Elliot Bowl" - teams of four, each member picks a "start" which is added to their card score when finished. It's wierd, because you have to start by getting as high a score as you can on the first seven or so targets, then hopefully try to lose marks as you near the end. I picked a start of 8, so I needed a 92 - which I got in the first round (it was a knock-out competition). In the final, I got 103, which counts as a 97. I adjusted sights right off to the 7 ring, but scored a bull - pants luck.
Kitesurfing today - gusty as hell again, but boosted a massive air off a wave at Vazon in cross shore winds. Airborne for at least 3-4 seconds, got around 20 foot at least (translates as twenty foot max) - just sublime. Apart from that it was a bit of a struggle and I can't wait for a clean onshore. Camaaaan you onshores.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
00145 Cut the topsail
Topsail's cut, next I'll be marking out where everything goes and sewing on the hem band. Or maybe I'll start on the bottom sail, just to get all the major cutting out of the way.
Kitesurfing today - really gusty and overpowered again, this time at Vazon. Mike had a 9 meter up to my 11 and consequently was much happier. Dan had a 12 and was overpowered too. Got a glimps of what it's like to do a good size jump off a wave. Must try that again.
Shooting - two 15 yard targets back-to-back gave me a 95 and 93. Quite respectable as the scores were supposed to come down from a 25 yard score. I'll be shooting four targets back to back on Thursday in practice for the Jersey match.
Kitesurfing today - really gusty and overpowered again, this time at Vazon. Mike had a 9 meter up to my 11 and consequently was much happier. Dan had a 12 and was overpowered too. Got a glimps of what it's like to do a good size jump off a wave. Must try that again.
Shooting - two 15 yard targets back-to-back gave me a 95 and 93. Quite respectable as the scores were supposed to come down from a 25 yard score. I'll be shooting four targets back to back on Thursday in practice for the Jersey match.
Monday, March 27, 2006
00144 The Maxi Dopero making has begun
I've sewn all the material together ready to make the topsail. Now all I've got to do is measure out and cut the top sail pattern, then hem it and add some dacron reinforcement where the spars and elastic meet the ripstop. Then we're on to the lower sail, then on to fixing the elastic and cutting the spars. Oh, and making and sewing the open vertical keels (OVKs) and attaching the bridle.
The fun just never stops.
Oh, hang on. It's stopped.
Probably best.
The fun just never stops.
Oh, hang on. It's stopped.
Probably best.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
000143 Tools
So I'm musing about a want list for tools and, short of a table mounted circular saw, I'm thinking of:
The Dremel Lithium-Ion kit
A pyrography kit
A sailcloth/rip-stop cutter
Will this endless longing never end?
No, that's why it's endless.
The Dremel Lithium-Ion kit
A pyrography kit
A sailcloth/rip-stop cutter
Will this endless longing never end?
No, that's why it's endless.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
00142 Ooooh, it's so craaaaaazy
From the MAKE: Blog: Optical Illusions blog
Kitesurfing today - wind too strong, skill very low, spanking recieved. Stop.
00141 New camera
As with most things these days, I seem to have spontaneously purchased a D50
How did that happen? Well, I've lost the Pentax Optio S4 that I do my KAPing with, plus I've been bitching about the quality for KAP for ages.
It's a bit heavy 620 gram body, plus 210 gram (18-55mm) kit lens gives me 830 grams to lift, but that's why I'm going to construct the Maxi-Dopero. Spars are on the way - it's going to be big.
Other news, I'm off to Jersey to shoot in the inter insular small-bore competition, so I'll be getting in some practice next week (the last two shoots of th small-bore season). The jacket is excellent and although I'm still experimenting with technique, I shot a 96 on Thursday last which could so easily have been a 98 (couldn't it always). Next time maybe.
How did that happen? Well, I've lost the Pentax Optio S4 that I do my KAPing with, plus I've been bitching about the quality for KAP for ages.
It's a bit heavy 620 gram body, plus 210 gram (18-55mm) kit lens gives me 830 grams to lift, but that's why I'm going to construct the Maxi-Dopero. Spars are on the way - it's going to be big.
Other news, I'm off to Jersey to shoot in the inter insular small-bore competition, so I'll be getting in some practice next week (the last two shoots of th small-bore season). The jacket is excellent and although I'm still experimenting with technique, I shot a 96 on Thursday last which could so easily have been a 98 (couldn't it always). Next time maybe.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
00140 Someone else's sand work
Just came across some "Cropless Crop Circles" on a site called Phidelity. The video is really nice, although it doesn't run to the end of the production.
I like the idea of fine geometric shapes, but the natural flow and the threpeutic value of doing a one off, freehand thing is more alluring right now.
I like the idea of fine geometric shapes, but the natural flow and the threpeutic value of doing a one off, freehand thing is more alluring right now.
Monday, March 20, 2006
00139 Getting better
So the colouring in thing is getting better, although this one did take quite a long time to make. The questions are, would it be feasible to do a really large one? If so would it be any better thatn a smaller, more simple one? Either way, I really need to get some peope in there for scale. On the other hand this poses it's own problems - it'll probably be in summer when there are more people on the beach when I get the chance to include people in the shot, bu the down side is that there'll be loads more people on the beach, probably walking over the work or their dogs digging it up. Them's the breaks.
Shooting tomorrow - first time in two weeks after the neck thing. Might try staying down on the range for two or more cards and see how it goes.
Shooting tomorrow - first time in two weeks after the neck thing. Might try staying down on the range for two or more cards and see how it goes.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
00138 Dot and squiggle experiment in KAP
An experiment in shading in large areas of a raked pattern - I'll be doing more of this. The wind was blowing force 8 at times and I was using a Flowform .7msq as the light faded away badly. Better conditions'll give me better results next time. Also interesting to note that this shape looked much better from the ground.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
00137 Update
So, just as a kind of diary type thing for the record I was out at Ladies Bay on Saturday and a tad underpowered with the 11 meter - I tell you, I'll definately be down to Vazon in those winds next time with a bigger kite. Griff went there instead and I knew it would be better.
The shooting last night was a mixed bag, a good 96 - with a 7 no less! and than a rather all-over-the-place 90. Don't know what went wrong there. Anyway new jacket arrives soon so hopefully that'll mark the beginning of a new upward trend (it's the one at the top)
The shooting last night was a mixed bag, a good 96 - with a 7 no less! and than a rather all-over-the-place 90. Don't know what went wrong there. Anyway new jacket arrives soon so hopefully that'll mark the beginning of a new upward trend (it's the one at the top)
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