On the podium ...
Laser Europe Cup 2009
Aabenraa Sejl Club
Laser Standard Class
| 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.
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