Its been an incredible but also frustrating week in the Ray. With a 60 knot gust recorded in the area, we could not have asked for more, better direction maybe but you can’t have everything. We leave the week with new National and personal records (subject to WSSRC ratification) fantastic results at any time, but in these conditions really exceptional. Its easy to underestimate the difficulty of competing in open see conditions, running down the course on the edge of control is something we’re looking for, but sailing back up the course was almost more of an ordeal, no easy van rides in the Ray.

It was Dirk Doppenebrg who excelled in Monday’s Southeast winds to take the Dutch records to up to 44.57 knots. A fantastic time under such challenging conditions, but he wasn’t alone in extending his limits.

John Kenny and Timo Mullen have been pushing hard for the Record, John took the record earlier in the month with a run of 40.44 knots, this week Timo matched it with a 40.44 knot run of his own. This is one battle that will undoubtedly push the record still further in the coming weeks.

The wind soon swung and dropped closing the course, but that theme continued when we ran a second time this week. The call for Wednesday was always risky with the course angle predicted to be extreme before the wind swings further round to the north to make it un-sailable, but then not all predictions come true.

Unfortunately they do sometimes. While we waited for the sea to retreat the angle wind teased us with the perfect angle. As the Ray started to settle a window of opportunity opened and as short as it was it proved sweet enough to for John Benamati to post a new personal best and joined the 40knot club, but it was Philip Adamidis who took the day with a new Greek record of 42.81 knots.

Some great results, but somehow we’re still left frustrated as the Ray hasn’t delivered the conditions it know for, but then if it was easy, would we want to try.