2018 Trials & Successes
December 2018
Arranged trial of seat mould at SOS (Specialised Orthotic Services) on 6th January to see how it fits me. Then see how it will fit in the boat and hopefully low enough to miss the boom.
November 2018
15th Nov. Dropped the boat off at SOS (Specialised Orthotic Services) for a few days so they can fit the bespoke seat for me and see how it looks. www.specialisedorthoticservices.co.uk
With me having this seat made and very kindly donated, plus deciding to go full servo controls, I am really feeling confident and looking forward to the 2019 season.It may take a few months to get used to the new controls but I feel it'll be a good move and I can see me enjoying the competitive sailing again and attend some TT's. around the midlands.
If all goes well, I hope to go a bit further afield as well.
With me having this seat made and very kindly donated, plus deciding to go full servo controls, I am really feeling confident and looking forward to the 2019 season.It may take a few months to get used to the new controls but I feel it'll be a good move and I can see me enjoying the competitive sailing again and attend some TT's. around the midlands.
If all goes well, I hope to go a bit further afield as well.
August 2018
As many of you know and have seen, I have to wear a back brace, with built-in neck support, to stop my head from going too far back. If and when my neck goes back,(flip-top head as we call it) I can not bring my head forward and it causes a lot of pain down my back.
In June this year, I approach a specialist seating company in Tutbury, Staffordshire who make moulded seat pods for disabled people.
I had a meeting with their International Business Manager and explained about sailability and my sailing boat, and the issues that I was having, keeping myself upright in my boat. www.specialisedorthoticservices.co.uk
They agreed that I would benefit from having a seat made by Specialised Orthotic Services, although I was concerned of the price tag of around £1,300.00. which having said, is a reasonable price for a bespoke seat, so we lightly went over the possibilities of sponsorship.
A few weeks past and I received an email from SOS asking if I still wanted to go ahead with the seat.
Today (Tues. 28th August) I was invited back to have a mould taken for my seat. You sit on a bean bag type bag with they get around you, to the shape and support that you need, then suck the air out, let it harden for a while and then scan it into a computer, which is then sent to their robots that cut and form the seat.
I asked how much this final seating would be and Russ just asked if I didn't received an email after my last visit? "No."
Specialised Orthotic Services are giving me the seat at no cost, in return for advertisement on my boat, cover and my crew will have T-shirts and caps with their logo on.
Both Angie (my fiancé) and I had tears in our eyes when we heard this.
This seat will make my sailing life so much easier, comfortable and safer. It will not rub on my back, I will be sat "in" the seat and not "on" a seat with little padding. And it will kept me sat in the position that I start off in and need to be, which will allow me to concentrate on my sailing without slipping down in my seat and having to struggle keeping myself upright before thinking about everything else to be a competitive sailor.
I just hope that I can prove myself once the seat is in place and all the other little issues have been resolved over the next 7 months, in time for the 2019 season.
Thank-you Specialised Orthotics Seating, Fauld Industrial Park, Fauld Lane, Tutbury, Staffordshire. DE13 9HS.
General Telephone: UK: 01283 520400 International: 0044 1283 520400
Sales Enquiries: UK: 01283 812860 International: 0044 1283 812860
Photo's of the mould and process so far. Hopefully more to come.
In June this year, I approach a specialist seating company in Tutbury, Staffordshire who make moulded seat pods for disabled people.
I had a meeting with their International Business Manager and explained about sailability and my sailing boat, and the issues that I was having, keeping myself upright in my boat. www.specialisedorthoticservices.co.uk
They agreed that I would benefit from having a seat made by Specialised Orthotic Services, although I was concerned of the price tag of around £1,300.00. which having said, is a reasonable price for a bespoke seat, so we lightly went over the possibilities of sponsorship.
A few weeks past and I received an email from SOS asking if I still wanted to go ahead with the seat.
Today (Tues. 28th August) I was invited back to have a mould taken for my seat. You sit on a bean bag type bag with they get around you, to the shape and support that you need, then suck the air out, let it harden for a while and then scan it into a computer, which is then sent to their robots that cut and form the seat.
I asked how much this final seating would be and Russ just asked if I didn't received an email after my last visit? "No."
Specialised Orthotic Services are giving me the seat at no cost, in return for advertisement on my boat, cover and my crew will have T-shirts and caps with their logo on.
Both Angie (my fiancé) and I had tears in our eyes when we heard this.
This seat will make my sailing life so much easier, comfortable and safer. It will not rub on my back, I will be sat "in" the seat and not "on" a seat with little padding. And it will kept me sat in the position that I start off in and need to be, which will allow me to concentrate on my sailing without slipping down in my seat and having to struggle keeping myself upright before thinking about everything else to be a competitive sailor.
I just hope that I can prove myself once the seat is in place and all the other little issues have been resolved over the next 7 months, in time for the 2019 season.
Thank-you Specialised Orthotics Seating, Fauld Industrial Park, Fauld Lane, Tutbury, Staffordshire. DE13 9HS.
General Telephone: UK: 01283 520400 International: 0044 1283 520400
Sales Enquiries: UK: 01283 812860 International: 0044 1283 812860
Photo's of the mould and process so far. Hopefully more to come.
After the 2017 season not taking off for me because of the problems caused at the Hansa Worlds in Holland, 2018 is looking better.
The mainsheet is now around a winch which should put pay to any slippage of the sheet.
I tested it this week, last week in May, in very lite winds. Seems to work well but stronger winds are required to fully test the motor.
Some how we have the sheets working opposite to how they were but I don't think this will be an issue, once I am used to it.
I might turn the control box around 180deg. because of the angle of the stick when on jib & main together.
The mainsheet is now around a winch which should put pay to any slippage of the sheet.
I tested it this week, last week in May, in very lite winds. Seems to work well but stronger winds are required to fully test the motor.
Some how we have the sheets working opposite to how they were but I don't think this will be an issue, once I am used to it.
I might turn the control box around 180deg. because of the angle of the stick when on jib & main together.
Main winch. Tested in light winds. Went well.
Hopefully more wind this coming Wednesday.
Twist "On" & push down for "Off" that has been fitted and works. (June 2018)
Hopefully more wind this coming Wednesday.
Twist "On" & push down for "Off" that has been fitted and works. (June 2018)
Last Wednesday of June, full system test.
4th July, race training in next to no wind
Little wind is tricky when using electric winches, especially when letting the sails out, but I am pleased to say, with a keen eye on both sheets, I managed to race without any issues with the sheets.
And my partner had her first solo sail and did well.
And my partner had her first solo sail and did well.