Downunder Series

Hey everybody,

I got back from the Downunder Series of regattas last Sunday. The tour involved a regatta in Sydney, Hobart and Melbourne.

Sail Sydney was a 4 day event and it had varied conditions. The first 2 days were rather light but then the second 2 heralded wind from the NE and a strong southerly. My training partner and friend from Sweden, Henrik Boquist, managed to get appendicitus on day 2 of the event and we visited him in hospital. I made gold fleet but it was very competitive and I found it hard to break consistantly into the top 10. On the final day i was 10th overall but then after a rules incident with a chilean i finished the race with a rather large hole in my boat, a temper and a protest. I won the protest and he was disqualified but then the jury DISQUALIFIED ME for not avoiding a collision that I didnt cause … wwwhhhhaaattttt the hell … so i ended the regatta 12th …

As sail sydney came to an end we packed up the boats and I took a short break and prepared for the long drive to Hobart (which also involved a long ferry trip). I drove down with my training partner Brett Beyer who also shared a cabin across the Bass Strait. The ferry trip was horrible. We had a random guy who was a vietnam vet who snored like a trooper and had violent dreams the whole nightttttt. I avoided him as long as possible by going downstairs and hanging at the bar. I took a few lemonades on the way out of port phillip bay and everyone else was hard on the piss. Needless to say we got out into the strait and the swell picked up to 20ft+ and soon i watched a cavalcade of throwing up as the whole ferry rocked and shuddered. It was everywhere and everything stank … next time ill be flying …

Once I reached Hobart it was Christmas day and there was ABSOLUTELY nothing open. It was horrible … Then when i got out of the car it was 9 degrees and windy and cold. Lovely …

After 2 days of training in nice wind we waited for the racing to begin. Measured in no problems and thanks to Henrik for the sail he lent me because my European sail is pretty ratty these days. The practice race was 20 knots from the south and was very nice. I was in accomodation with Brett and Mike Leigh from Canada and our highlight was playing constant pinball and watching the deadliest catch and family guy.

The regatta began and it was very light winds. I had my worst day leaving me 29th overall and i was rather despondant. I knew I had to reply on day 2 with very high results and managed to get a 2 and a 2. I was back in the game and for day 3, i performed well again getting a 2 and a OK result of a 12. My highlight was the windiest race where I managed to break out in front and hold blackburn off to win!!. I finished the regatta 8th overall in international standing and most importantly of all 4th Australian and qualification for the worlds (top 5 aussies).

After the regatta i flew home to Sydney to spend some time at home and get my head out of sailing. My inital thoughts were to not do Sail Melbourne for various reasons but mainly due to a lack of funding. However, some of my training partners promised me some good cheap accomodation and good conditions and so i flew down because my boat was already there with brett. However the accomodation ended up as being some pillows on the ground and a rug as a bed …. crappppppppppp …

Irony strikes again and I was told for 2 weeks before the event there was great conditions (seabreezes and sun). I arrived and it was cold and rainy and very little wind. The racing was good training for me in lighter winds but I was acheing for a windy day. When i got one I got a 4 and a 2 which was great but it made it increasingly clear that my lighter weather sailing needs extensive work.

Flew home after finishing the regatta in 8th overall international and am now resting in Cherrybrook. I got a call a few days ago from Yachting Australia and the good news is that I along with a few others have been invited onto the Australian Development Squad for the Laser Mens.

All good but I need to develop new sources of funding as if I am to represent Australia in Europe this year i will need to find $10,000 by June 2007. Tough ask but will be trying my best.

Best Regards,

Ash