What is the best way to learn everything about your boat quickly?
For Alba Sailing alias Jacob and Christina, club racing turned into a learning curve, which was both steep and fun.
Just a few years ago, the couple had never owned a boat before. By the start of 2023, they made the leap and bought their first and current boat, a 1998 Luffe 40. The purchase was a little spontaneous, albeit both of them had knowledge of Luffe boats and the Luffe 40 through family.
Fast learning
Since the purchase, everything has centered around club racing as well as more regional and national events for the couple.
- We began racing in our local sailing club in Hou, Denmark – and both of us caught the racing bug immediately. We love the way the marina feels before and after the race and then comes the practical and theoretical part of planning it. That phase of every race is just great - where you need to figure out all the things from route to strategy and weather conditions, Jacob says.
And with an ever-spiring passion for club racing followed the need for fresh and better sails:
- I was never really doubting where to go. I’ve known the story of Paul Elvstrøm and his brand ever since I sailed optimists as a kid, and when I had a chat with Michael from Elvstrøm Sails Nord in Aalborg, I knew where we wanted to go. I had a new EPEX mainsail before the AFI 2-Star last year and fitted them on the day with support from him. The new mainsail made a huge difference to our boat and gave it extra power and easy trimming, Jacob recalls.
The mainsail covered its first miles in racing conditions – and happy with it, Jacob and Christina has since added more Elvstrøm Sails products to their sail wardrobe.
- It set the tone for us, and we then added a new EPEX jib as our previous one had been on the boat since 2014. Sailing and trimming these sails is just a bliss – we’re happy every time we set the sails, Jacob says.
Helpful atmosphere made racing fun
The ever-welcoming atmosphere at the races around Denmark has been key for Jacob Løwenstein to pick up sailing as a sport. Previously, he has been in Optimists and been a keen windsurfer, but neither he, nor his wife Christina has ever been competing before. Now they are – thanks to they way new sailors are welcomed.
- Club racing was as much as an impulsive decision for us as it was to buy a boat in the first place. We realized it would be a great way to learn more about optimizing the boat and sails, and it has been true all the way. I love the way we have been welcomed and had our questions answered in such a great way.
This also counts for the online community, he says:
- After Fyn Cup (pictured here), where we had rather rough conditions, I had to sail with two reefs in my main, and my boat still felt overpowered. I was wondering how other crews were able to carry only one reef or maybe none at all.
Jacob got online:
- It became a great thread with more than 80 replies, and some have even sent me a private message with tips and tricks. One has even offered to sail with us to show how it can be done. That’s amazing.
More on the horizon
More Elvstrøm Sails are also on the wishlist for Alba Sailing. More racing is also planned this year as Jacob will do the 2025 edition of Silverrudder in september.
- I have more racing planned and I will do this year’s Silverrudder. We are working on the last bits before ordering a code sail, so hopefully it might be a part of my setup at that time. We have to upgrade some braces and a few other bits before it makes sense to buy a code, but I would love to have one.
Racing the Silverrudder was an ambition for Jacob right from the start.
He did the 2024 edition and made it to the finish. This year’s edition is his second participation:
- I wanted to do that race when we bought the boat. I was not experienced enough to tackle it in 2023, but I did it last year and made it through. I can’t wait to do it again this year. The days ahead of Silverrudder are amazing, and I love how this race is for everyone. It’s more about the challenge of sailing singlehanded and perhaps a little less about what you sail in. It’s a race for everyone, and I like it that way, Jacob ends.
