Final Day at Kiel Week 09′ ‘Best overall result in Europe’

Hi all,

Day 3 was much the same as day 2 … no wind and postponed in the boatpark all day leading to me going training for an hour and a half (in the middle of a world cup event ha!). Ended day 3 with no racing but good news was that I finally met the Spaniard who was going to buy my boat so felt a little more comfortable.

Day 4 of Kiel started with me waking up and first thing popping the heavy set curtains to a lovely sunny day and low and behold a light but steady breeze pushing through the trees. Booyah!!! Looks like we would get our racing in today. We Launched at 930am and started the 1.5 hour sail (or in my case today 40 minute tow) to the start line.

I was in red fleet which meant we were raced last out of the 3 fleets of qualifiers. I watched over the course of 3 races as some 40 black flags were given out (Across 3 fleets) ouch !!!

Anyway as we got out we had about a 4 – 8 knot breeze and it was quite comfortable as I was hiking up wind and could catch waves downwind. I started boat and tacked right and lead with the right group out. I rounded the top in 9th (after a few carefully selected tacks back at the guys on the left)  and held ground for the next half of the race. I got a UKR light wind guy on the upwind and then managed to take back a German on the downwind. Finished in 7th and held off Milan from CRO. Solid result and noticably the wind was getting lighter.

Basically played by the same game plan and almost a repeat race in the 2nd race but the wind was only 2 – 5 knots. Rounded the final downwind on the outer course in 9th but was gunned down by some 5 boats who kinda went around me downwind. Finished 14th which was OK but not as good as I had hoped.

Final race I broke the mould and started on the pin. I had a good lane and held it out to the pressure on the left. The british guy in front tacked and crossed and the polish buy off my shoulder tacked off early. I tacked what looked to be a little short of the lay in good pressure. I squeezed for pressure as the gusts came down and changed regulary between high mode and low mode (switched gears up and down). This managed to lift me off the fleet to round in 1st!!!

Held on to first for the run but the next upwind a light looking polish guy managed to find a righty to barely cross me at the top mark. On the final run again the fleet caught up and Eduardo from Holland managed to just get inside me at the bottom mark. Milan was trying to run me over on the reach but I refused to let him highed and managed to just use a few little waves for some speed to get away and hold on to a 3rd. This race was the lightest race of the series no doubt and my best result.

Anyways, came in and sold my boat. Happy days! this has been my best result in Europe ever and the best part is that it was light wind which isn’t my forte. Clearly China and general experience has paid off in the light wind skills but I still have a long way to go particulary with feel downwind in the lighter stuff. I held my own today but got gunned down a few times on the downwinds.

End result at Kiel 17th overall (from 156 boats) and only 6 points off medal race!!!. Admittedly it was a short regatta, but tough competition and conditions. All squares out, so happy to head home and take a short rest before training on for the world titles in August (Nova Scotia, Canada)

Results from class: Laser

Pos.	Sailingnumber	Skipper	1	2	3	4	5	Points
1	GBR 193501	goodison, paul (1977) U.S.C	1.00	1.00	1.00	1.00	(1.00)	4.00
2	NZL 192703	Mike, Bullot (1984) MBSC	1.00	4.00	2.00	1.00	(52.00)BFD	8.00
3	AUT 194464	Geritzer, Andreas (1977) UYCNs	2.00	3.00	4.00	2.00	(52.00)BFD	11.00
4	POL 190829	Izdebski, Marek (1989) AZW UW	(52.00)BFD	8.00	1.00	2.00	1.00	12.00
5	GBR 195130	Thompson, Nick (1986) RLYC	8.00	3.00	1.00	1.00	(52.00)DSQ(1)	13.00
6	CRO 194935	Daniel, Mihelic (1986) J.K.GALEB	(52.00)BFD	6.00	2.00	2.00	3.00	13.00
7	POL 186389	Stelmaszyk, Jonasz (1985) SPOLNIA	(10.00)	3.00	3.00	3.00	7.00	16.00
8	CRO 194830	MILAN, VUJASINOVIC (1980) Y.C. LABUD	4.00	1.00	8.00	(12.00)	5.00	18.00
9	ITA 190821	Regolo, Michele (1978) SVGdF	6.00	(9.00)	4.00	4.00	7.00	21.00
10	NED 192608	de haas, marc (1979) KWVL	2.00	2.00	7.00	11.00	(52.00)BFD	22.00
11	NED 179398	van Vianen, Eduardo (1983) Braassem	14.00	(17.00)	4.00	4.00	2.00	24.00
12	EST 192659	Vooremaa, Argo (1985) ROPK	2.00	10.00	6.00	6.00	(15.00)	24.00
13	SWE 192670	Victor, Vasternas (1986) GKSS	(18.00)	13.00	6.00	4.00	2.00	25.00
14	POL 193510	Porozynski, Karol (1984) SEJK	7.00	6.00	9.00	5.00	(52.00)BFD	27.00
15	GER 194749	Kamrath, Malte (1986) VSaW	14.00	(18.00)	2.00	8.00	4.00	28.00
16	ARG 192113	julio, Alsogaray (1980) YCA	9.00	(11.00)	3.00	6.00	10.00	28.00
17	AUS 195551	Brunning, Ashley (1985) WSC	(32.00)	5.00	7.00	14.00	3.00	29.00
18	GER 192341	Schwerdt, Frithjof (1987) PYC	(45.00)	6.00	19.00	3.00	2.00	30.00
19	DEN 192679	Kjaergaard, Kristan (1980) KDY	10.00	13.00	6.00	5.00	(52.00)BFD	34.00
20	GER 188447	Buhl, Philipp (1989) SCAI	4.00	2.00	14.00	15.00	(52.00)BFD	35.00

Kiel Week Day 2 ‘A whole lot of sitting and chatting’

Hi all,

Day 2 of Kiel Week turned out to be a glass out. Between rain storms and sunny conditions the wind never solidified and was extremely shifty leading to the race committee canning some thousands of sailors racing.

A bit disappointing but this is part of the sport and we do rely on wind to get moving

Pretty much sat around all day making new friends, saying hi and catching up with old ones and remembering the last 2 years I had been at Kiel.

I also purchased a Henri Lloyd Jacket to keep me warm so I no longer fear the cold here in Europe!!! victory!!! its tight fitting, breathable and wind\water proof so I feel pretty invincible when I put it on (compared to shivering in my cockpit).

Anyway all is well and just chilling out and waiting for tomorrows racing at 11am.

Cheers, Ash

Kieler Woche – World Cup Event – Day 1 ‘Rain, Cold and shifty light breezes’

Hi all,

On to the next world cup event! Kiel Week. Held annually in Germany for like 100 years (except world war 1 and 2 and some of the cold war) this is the biggest sailing regatta in the world. Over 3 million people visit Kiel for the festival (a whole lot of drinking beer and eating bakery goods and hotdogs) and to see the sailing. Its a big deal !!!

I arrived a few days before but was plagued by gear breakage and stealing losses (boom, crack in bottom section, trolley wheel and battens) leading to some 420 euros to replace them to all to sail in the regatta. Insane!!!

Anyway I launched today and sailed for about 10 minutes before I was assaulted by the biggest darkest rain cloud … The rain POURED down and soaked me to the bone for about 25 minutes and then the sky cleared and a light wind started up from the shore. I was frozen … so so so cold … but not as cold as Denmark

Anywho after quite a wait before they could set up the course we had our first start. I wanted pin because left was favoured when I made pre start calculations. So i locked in about 1\3 up from the pin but found the other guys advancing out around me. I backed out and looked for a hole to jump into down toward the pin a bit more but got barred. I gybed back and started ON PORT … but to my suprise everyone tacked onto port so I just slotted into a hole between boats and held ground before tacking back out to the left. I was in good shape!!!

I got onto a few good lines and then ended up tacking back onto starboard on a good lift angle. I held onto it and watched as the fleet tacked and took what looked to be (and was) a knock back out to the right!!! even better …

Then disaster struck. As they tacked and went back right the wind shifted markably to the right and they knocked like 20 degrees and tacked back. I was still OK and on a simular angle to them but then I looked back and they lifted even higher and higher again … I got destroyed

I waited patiently on the lift for a knock to come back on but found nothing but a big knock and rounded in 8th last. Over the course of the race I managed to catch a few more but would have been early to mid 30s … crap

Obviously disappointed I needed a good race to get my spirit back in order.

Next race I started on boat in a right handed breeze and tacked off the boat. I lead the fleet out to the right in a small group of boats and tacked with Matias to cross. He made it past everyone and I ducked a few transoms. Its all good though and I rounded the top mark in 10th. The reach went smoothly and i held ground. Downwind I picked up a few places and upwind I held ground. The final downwind I noticed the pressure coming more from the right hand side of the course and I got into it and jumped past 4 boats to make it into 5th. I held 5th to the finish!!! solid race and a good way to make up for prior disaster race 1.

We then waited about 2 hours after the second race but the wind shifted about and changed too much to set a course so they sent us home. Abandoned for the day and me in the hot shower to defrost!!!

Today was OK, wind conditions between 4 – 8 knots and big oscillations effected by cloud fronts moving in … I can only hope to improve in these conditions and the key is OBSERVATION !!!

Anyway apparently no wind tomorrow so lets hope we get in a few more races. Looks like on official results i’m 46th … deeeeeeeep but comebackable start

Cheers, Ash

3rd in the Europa Cup Aabenraa … Looks like I left the choke on

On the podium ...

Laser Europe Cup 2009

Aabenraa Sejl Club

Laser Standard Class

Sailed:7, Discards:1, To count:6, Entries:39, Scoring system:Appendix A

Class	SailNo	HelmName	Club	Age	Date	ISAF No.	Rank	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	Total	Nett
Laser Standard	DEN192679	Kristian Kj?rgaard	KDY	28	18.09.80	DENKK1	1st	7.0	2.0	9.0	(10.0)	2.0	1.0	4.0	35.0	25.0
Laser Standard	KOR195536	Jee Min Ha					2nd	6.0	5.0	5.0	2.0	1.0	(18.0)	14.0	51.0	33.0
Laser Standard	AUS195551	Ashley Brunning	Woollahra SC	23	26.07.85	AUSAB10	3rd	3.0	4.0	3.0	4.0	3.0	(23.0)	17.0	57.0	34.0
Laser Standard	DEN192672	Mads Bendix	Fredericia	21	07.03.88	DENMB4	4th	10.0	3.0	(17.0)	6.0	6.0	9.0	1.0	52.0	35.0
Laser Standard	UK195258	Robert Godwin	HISC	u. 21	12.08.88	GBRRG21	5th	1.0	1.0	(14.0)	9.0	4.0	11.0	10.0	50.0	36.0
Laser Standard	DEN187788	Thorbj?rn Schierup	Kal?vig	u. 21	08.06.90	DENTS5	6th	5.0	7.0	7.0	5.0	(14.0)	6.0	9.0	53.0	39.0
Laser Standard	SWI187926	Christian Steiger	SCSG	31	15.05.78	suics3	7th	4.0	10.0	11.0	7.0	(12.0)	10.0	2.0	56.0	44.0
Laser Standard	GER186163	Marco Grasse	VSaW	21	02.03.88	GERMG11	8th	2.0	8.0	6.0	16.0	8.0	(22.0)	6.0	68.0	46.0
Laser Standard	SWE193201	Victor Sv?rd	GKSS	u. 21	26.06.89	SWEVS2	9th	17.0	20.0	1.0	12.0	7.0	(32.0)	5.0	94.0	62.0
Laser Standard	GER192350	Michael Zittlau	SMCUE	21	11.04.88	GERMZ5	10th	13.0	13.0	13.0	11.0	11.0	2.0	(40.0 DNC)	103.0	63.0

Hey all,

Woke up this morning feeling really lonely. Seems funny to talk about on here but i’ve been staying alone for 6 days now and have zero conversation between about 4pm to 9am in the morning haha. Living off bread and cereal as no cooking facilities. Kind of reminds me of those dark times in China I had occasionally. Luckily some mates at home have been able to talk but it was weird waking up without having family\girlfriend (no more)\mates about. Can’t wait to head to Kiel tomorrow and stay with some mates again with a kitchen!!!

Today was a debarcle for me. I’m not proud of my results at all and managed late teens and 20s results compared to my excellent consistency in the medium to high winds. Obviously today was very light and highly shifty leading to huge gains off right and left shores. First race I was to the left of the fleet but didn’t realize I was in a persistent shift back to the right. Was looking great off the start for about 2 mins and then wouldn’t stop lifting … I had to take a terrible knock back as the guys on the far right were making huge gains. Pinned too far left this was a debarcle … Rounded the top mark in 2nd last as the wind went so far right and 2 mins on an OK angle was too long. Managed to get back to early 20s … def my drop

2nd race things were looking much better, I launched off and was boat on the boat end. Tacked out to the right and started tacking along the shore. Worked magic and finally committed myself right out to the corner and it paid! Rounded the top mark in 6th and in front of all three guys I needed to beat to win. I had 2 points on Jeemin, 4 points on Kristian (DEN) and 8 points on Rob Godwin (GBR). They were all between 5 – 15 boats behind.

The reach went smoothly and then I turned around to go downwind. What happened over the next leg is an embarrasment to my ability as a laser sailor. I went around and broad reached out a bit and got into some pressure and settled in. Was all looking great for about the first minute. Then pressure came straight through the middle and the group of guys including Kristian (DEN) jumped forward and parrallel with me. I hung out on the right seeing some pressure coming down. It took 3 + minutes to reach me and the guys over on the left got a 5 knot gust about 1 min into my wait. The middle group went by the lee and got their before me and all the boats on the left cruised past (as you do when your in 5 knots and im in 2 knots). I lost 15 boats on the run and all 3 of the guys I need to beat to win. I caught up to Rob Godwins margin no problems but just missed out on catching jeemin with a close finish for 2nd place overall. Kristian Kjgaard simply out sailed us on the flat water and shifty breezes.

That run lost me the whole regatta and such is sailing when things can change so drastically, especially in such light and variable conditions. This has again gave me a severe wake up that I need to observe more closely for pressure downwind and make losses for a later gain. Being patient made me no gains today, it was chase the pressure or get destroyed by a fleet of european sailors who specialise in this stuff.

Anyway end result is 3rd overall which is OK but disappointing seeing the margin I entered today on. It was a good regatta and actually quite warm today (thus no wind).

Lessons have been learned and keeping this blog reminds me of these crucial errors so I can rectify them next time. I choked at the crucial moment and need to be more focused and diligent with observation and sticking with pressure. That will be the only way to remove that sick feeling in your stomach of throwing your regatta away in a single downwind run.

Tied for 1st but with a better drop!!! Top 10 leading into tomorrow – check below for my day 2 report

Aabenraa Sejl Club – Europe Cup

Laser Standard Class

Sailed:5, Discards:1, To count:4, Entries:38, Scoring system:Appendix A

Class	SailNo	HelmName	Club	Rank	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	Total	Nett
Laser Standard	195536	Jee Min Ha		1st	(6.0)	5.0	5.0	2.0	1.0						19.0	13.0
Laser Standard	AUS195551	Ashley Brunning	Woollahra SC	2nd	3.0	(4.0)	3.0	4.0	3.0						17.0	13.0
Laser Standard	UK195258	Robert Godwin	HISC	3rd	1.0	1.0	(14.0)	9.0	4.0						29.0	15.0
Laser Standard	DEN192679	Kristian Kj?rgaard	KDY	4th	7.0	2.0	9.0	(10.0)	2.0						30.0	20.0
Laser Standard	AUS193403	Tom Burton	B16ftSC	5th	9.0	6.0	4.0	3.0	(20.0)						42.0	22.0
Laser Standard	GER186163	Marco Grasse	VSaW	6th	2.0	8.0	6.0	(16.0)	8.0						40.0	24.0
Laser Standard	DEN187788	Thorbj?rn Schierup	Kal?vig	7th	5.0	7.0	7.0	5.0	(14.0)						38.0	24.0
Laser Standard	DEN192672	Mads Bendix	Fredericia	8th	10.0	3.0	(17.0)	6.0	6.0						42.0	25.0
Laser Standard	SWI187926	Christian Steiger	SCSG	9th	4.0	10.0	11.0	7.0	(12.0)						44.0	32.0
Laser Standard	SWE193201	Victor Sv?rd	GKSS	10th	17.0	(20.0)	1.0	12.0	7.0						57.0	37.0

Day 2 Europe Cup Aabenraa Result, ‘big shifts and still damn cold’

Rain, freezing cold and high wind ... welcome to Denmark !!!

Hi all,

Just got home from Day 2 of the Europa cup in Aabenraa. Today was a sunny day with cloud banks moving through the course at regular intervals. It was said to be 14 degrees which was much better but still damn cold on the water. Wind was again from the shore between 10 – 25 knots and extremely gusty and quick to shift rapidly. Tricky conditions!!!

My aim for today was to just keep setting solid scores and stay consistent. Big ask in the shiftier conditions but I did solidly.

Race 1 I started at pin and managed to tack across the fleet. The breeze started dialling left so I went low and fast and with fresh legs it was all smiles. I managed to get over to the right where I saw Jeemin Ha and Mark Powell way up on starboard tack. I was a little behind them but pretty much locked in 3rd for the duration of the race. Was pretty easy and just focused on keeping the fleet behind me and trying to keep an eye on the corners. Jeemin and Mark sailed solidly and although I closed to only 3 boat lengths by the finish I took home a 3rd.

Race 2 I was keen to start up on the boat end but got caught up in a gaggle of boats and everyone was too close together. I backed out and ran the line toward the pin and shot out in perfect time. After going flat stick for about 2 minutes I tacked out to the right and ducked about 5 transoms which was OK as I could see some huge right handers rolling down on the shore. I led the group out to the right as everyone tacked to follow but Jeemin who was 100m below but a little bow out got there first and got a magnificent right hander. I tried to follow but couldn’t come back on port as the angle was so damn terrible. Hang in there i thought it’ll come back but it just went further right !!! arghhh anyway the far left hand boats managed to scoot around in front of me and I rounded in 4th. Not bad and recoverable for a good result. The reach went smoothly taking me up to 3rd but then on the downwind about half way down I heard that dread sound of a shrill whistle. Apparently I had attracted the attentions of the jury and so got a yellow flag downwind in 20 knots … what the hell

Anyway I had managed to pop out with the other front guys so after two tight turns I managed to round the gate in a respectable 8th. The second beat my game plan was lift angles only and it worked swell. I managed to take some 4 boats by the top mark and then hold ground to finish in 4th. Very happy with the come back but again something held me back from reaching 1 and 2 … arghhhh

Race 3 the wind had picked up and was oscilating left and right but I would say more predominantly right. I started on pin and immediatly jumped out to a good lead with rob godwin to leeward. We waited for the left and it came and we crossed about half the fleet but then this huge right hander came down so I tacked back prefering the lift angle. Rob kept going and took a big knock but tacked inside the front group. From here I got more and more stuck out to the mid left as I waited patiently for something to come back on and it just never came. The further right the better your starboard angle and I just waited all the way to the lay and got something to come back on but it was pretty shitty and I rounded in 14th

The first reach I dived down to jump inside two young germans who happened to be playing lets see who can push the other higher which was all beneficial to me. On the first run I managed to round the gate in a respectable 8th. Up the 2nd beat it looked like everyone was clagging and so I went harder and took a nice lift out on port to meet and even nicer right hander to lift me up and pass 4 more boats. Rounded just infront of Kristian Kjgaard (DEN) and managed to bear away where he got a huge gust and couldnt.

Rob Godwin (GBR) was about 100m in front but I looked behind and hooked into the very smooth 25 + knot gust that almost toppled me but carried me right up to parrallel with him before he realised and repositioned. We played the pressure all the way down almost no speed difference but I was outside and pulled a power by the lee move to take buoyroom and power gybe to take 3rd !!! the final reach he was right on my hammer but once we reached the final upwind I got my controls on faster and managed to hike to a higher position and just loose covered him to the finish to take 3rd. Epic comeback !!!

Pretty solid 3rd, 4th, 3rd and in such shifty\gusty conditions I am relatively happy. There will be a drop now after  races and I think I simply drop a 4th where everyone else drops a high score. Might finish the day and hold onto 2nd overall again but in a better drop position then anyone going into the final 2 races tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!

Europa Cup Day 1 ‘F*cking Cold, 30 – 40 knots, survival!!!’

Hi all,

Today I woke up at 9am and had a quick breakfast before heading down to the Aabenraa Sejl Club at 930am. The wind was strong and gusty and rocketing down the bay. I was getting buffeted about on my scooter and I knew it was going to be damn cold and damn windy.

Got to club and rigged up and left my sail down till 1025am (only 35 mins from the start). Funnily enough I was the 4th guy to launch saying something about how much no one wanted to get out there. As I left we found that it was 10.5 degrees and averaging about 20 – 30 knots with it forecasted to build to 40 knots by midday. Oh yes it did …

The first race I decided to start on pin and punched out to the left as the wind began to shift more and more left. Once I reached the layline I tacked back and footed hard across the fleet. Chrsitian Steiger (SUI) tacked underneath and we both easily rounded 1st and 2nd with the next boat being about 50m behind. Good start!!!

The reach went smoothly with me extending my lead but getting some huge gusts and waves kicking up. The downwind mark came in to view and I felt the dread climbing as I went to round it in 30 + knots. I stayed up on a broad reach and tried to nurse the boat down. About 100m after the mark my windward side began slipping down a wave and i sheeted on and went to push the tiller away only to have it hit and lock on the cleat for the traveller !!! MASSIVE CAPSIZE … ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

After getting the mainsheet tangled around my leg and being underwater for about 10 seconds I managed to get it sorted and get it back up. People were coming around and capsizing all over the place but a group of about 5 boats managed to keep it up in a lull and I had a tough chase on my hands.

I managed to come back to 5th by the 2nd upwind and then finally pulled a solid downwind in 30 knots + to round in 3rd for the reach. I held third and was only 2 boat lengths behind the leaders at the finish. Solid …

In between races I was actually shaking and chattering my teeth. This is a big call but I have never been so cold in my life. 10 degrees in air before wind chill and 11 degree water and very strong wind … frozen and muscles tight … stretched it out and started doing punching sets and arm swings + other stretches just to keep warm … insane

Next race went for much the same gameplan but the fleet split and the guys on the right got a massive lift for about a minute that really helped them. I tacked back and rounded the top mark in 8th and again started the chase. I rounded the reach mark in 8th but then saw 3 guys in front of me capsize. I passed them by but got smashed by this high 30s gust that just picked up my boat and almost almost capsized me. I tried to nurse the boat down but ended up doing a broad reach and then grannying to another broad reach to round the bottom in 4th. Happy days.

The next upwind I made ground and rounded in 3rd but the danish guy from here was quick and seemed to have his boat way more under control then me. He rounded just ahead of me and we reach battled to the final upwind. I made some gains on his but then got swamped by a freak wave that broke over my broadside filling my cockpit. He just clear tacked over me on the lay to the finish. I tacked and chased. My cuningham came loose and i went to sort it for just a moment and suddenly my mast was touching the water big gust … Anyway the 5th boat Jeemin Ha had caught up and so I had a short drag to the finish. My bow crossed first but I couldn’t lay the line and had to tack so I’m not sure what happens there but i think I got 4th.

Was pretty consistent results but really need to start to work on my survival stuff again. Particulary downwind … the race winner from GBR Robert Godwin just managed to keep it up run after run and he got two bullets.

Anyway more racing tomorrow and should be about 15 knots lighter (still 15 – 20 knots haha). Stay tuned …

Aabenraa – Test Sail – Weather – new sail

Hi all, (Sejl Club above!)

Arrived down at the sailing club. Pouring rain as fronts rolled through and 12 degrees. Water temp was 9 – 10 degrees. Wind was coming from the west over the land and the water was pretty flat. Minimal waves and gusting to 10 – 25 knots.

Rigged up and got into kit. Pulled on my beany and stared out over the water and thought yeah thats damn cold.

Got out on the water and was joined by Ryan Hannan (AUS) and Chrsitian Steiger (SUI) and did some downwind races. I found that due to the gusty nature of the course it was all about looking behind and observing pressure and riding with it and if possible using it to connect into more pressure coming from behind. Lead to having superior speed as litterally just more pressure.

Upwind was a little different. My new sail is still very tight on the leech and takes some compensation on the sail controls. Definitely have to go easier on the vang and allow a little outhaul for drive. The sail is very very flat. In the end after some playing I felt like I managed to get it right. We did some rabbit starts and used Eric as the top mark.

I felt quicker on boat speed but the winner would always be the one who took the best angles. The land was greatly effecting the breeze and constantly oscillated and sometimes wildly shifted. Staying in pressure and good angles would win the races. Water was flat so pretty tight outhaul. Went home after that and had a long long long hot shower to defrost.

Will sail tomorrow and train for about 2 – 2.5 hours around 11am.

Good training, new friends and tough news from Australia

Aabenraa from above

Hi all,

Just arrived in the lovely Aabenraa and will be competing here in the Laser Euro Cup from the 12 – 14th June. There is about 50 entries and this is my warm up regatta for Kiel Week which starts on the 20th.

The last week after Delta Lloyd regatta I was training in Medemblik with Tom Burton, Ian Hall (JPN) and Jeemin Ha (KOR). We spent a solid 5 days on the water and thats always tough to stick around straight after a regatta. The weather was mainly good but actually got colder and windier for the most part. We saw plenty of 10 – 20 knot days and a few 5 knotters.

Lots of straight lining, a bit of downwind free sailing and a whole lot of small races. I started to knock in a new sail and found after a while it started stretching into a nicer shape. Good stuff!

Compared to the other guys I was quicker in general in all but under 5 knots which I really need to work on. I just miss a few waves downwind or get blanketed and it screws things up big time when I get out of phase. Something to work on here in the next few days.

Anyway I really enjoyed my training in Medemblik (and thought it would suck initially but ended happy). Met some top blokes in Ian and Jeemin and had a good talk to both guys (and stayed with Ian). Went to Amsterdam for a look around and made some new mates. Always good to meet guys walking the same path and adds some interest and different competencies in training.

Anyway back to the tagline I got some pretty damn tough news this morning from home. Yep you guessed it, girl problems. I’m away too much, I don’t have a stable job and I guess i’m not conventional enough. Parents get involved and suddenly I become a 23 yr old too young and no good for their daughter … I get it, traveling sailor, no job, away 5 months from home … looks like its all over and pretty sadly so, really tried my best for this girl … This is the plight of the self funded laser sailor and the sacrifices that happen just get harder and harder. No regular working means a tough spartan lifestyle of training and budgeting. Not much time for the luxuries, more needs then wants. I understand how a girl doesn’t really parallel with this lifestyle.  Thing is if you don’t spend and get over here to do the regattas you’ll never get up amongst it. Been feeling pretty down today and its taken alot of self control to keep my chin up. Probably a good thing to be single and focused and many people say that but still hard you know.

Don’t mean to write all this stuff out but I guess its all part of what this is about and being mentally tough will carry the day. Will keep the site updated with pre Euro Cup training.

Final 2 days – Delta Lloyd … Ups and Downs with a solid finish

Hi all,

First day of gold fleet finals was a light and shifty day. One of those days where you have to pick the side and commit. Failure lead to being slaughtered. More of less this occured for the first 2 races. I committed to a side and managed to pick it wrong on both first beats leading to rounding the top mark with barely 10 boats behind me. I made some comebacks and in the final race managed an early 20’s result.

The wind was light and there was a residual chop around massively favouring the light sailors who seemed to glide over the top of the waves effortlessly while I was permanently engaging with body weight movement to try and bash through or just get onto a wave.

A tough day … one I would happily not relive. I ended the day on 31st overall and was pretty despondant. I know that light wind and chop is something I almost never train in. I need to improve my conditions range and that is why I am here in Europe.

Today we got out for a 1030am start. The breeze was 5 – 8 knots but more 5 … it was much more steady and from the sea. I picked the right side after seeing some yachts high up on starboard tack and made an exec decision to start on boat end. I was one up from boat on the start and reached down to a great start albeit second row to tack off and split right. I kept coming back at the fleet on right handers and managed to round the top mark in 7th. By the end of the reach because i went low and it was tight (never go low on a tight reach!!! i forgot the maxim), i was 11th. By the end of the run I went from 11th to 18th … down down down … the other boats sailed wider angles out on the sides and came back in to get me at the bottom.

Good news is I kept an eye on the right and again noticed higher pressure and good angles from another fleet racing nearby. I split out from the fleet to the right and started to knock … EUREKA! !! tack and cross !!! I rounded the mark in 7th and lost 2 boats on the run to finish 9th. The reason this occured was because Luke Ramsey tried to cut me off at the mark without buoy room and hit me and then marc de hass jumped in the gap and crudely hit my boat and ran me over after I explicitly told him moments before not to go in there. Classic De Hass … The guy never learns and doesn’t believe in the racing rules, he’s playing by his rules dodgem boats.

Anyway 9th was a solid result but only picked me up 1 place overall which was disappointing. Everyone said 30th was pretty good for my warm up regatta in Europe and my first time in Holland. The conditions varied and while i feel much more competitive in medium winds then last time I was here the lighter winds I still need work particularly downwind. I want to get right up amongst it and in Holland it looked that way a few times but mistakes like my BFD on a 4th and capsizing on the first day in high positions lead to the end result which is OK but not great.

All on the path to greater things though. So chin up have some recovery time and do this Euro Cup in Denmark before heading on to Kiel for my next world cup event.

Keep in touch.