We had two races yesterday and another two today. While I greatly dislike getting up at 6 am at least we are getting races done on schedule! Yesterday the first race was sailed in around 8 knots. We struggled on the first upwind with boatspeed, and managed to make some changes and the boat felt much faster on the second upwind, but not fast enough to catch up! The wind blew up right after the first race to about 20-25 knots gusting 30. We pinned down 3 full pins and tried our best, but ultimatly were still unabe to complete the race in this much wind. We made it much farther around the course than we did in Holland in this much wind, but after several capsizes we were very far behind and we lost the power batten in the mainsail. After staying late at the boat park to help our fellow Canadians, Jono and Teddy, repair their kite, we huddled in a warm English pub and ate hot stews for dinner.
Later in the evening I started experiencing a lot of pain in my right foot which took several hours to subside. This morning I saw the onsite medic who managed to get me into the physio who works onsite. She diagnosed it as a sprained ligament in my foot. CYA coach Brian Todd taped me up and we headed on the water. We had a good day of sailing overall. The first race was in 8 knots and although we did not have a great start, our speed upwind was better then yesterday in these conditions. We managed to stay ahead of another boat the whole way around the course which was uplifting. The breeze steadily picked up as we had one general recalled start after another. We finally got the second race started at around 2. We are still struggling with our starts (athough getting lots of practise) but had decent speed upwind on the first leg. On the downwind we were fast on port gybe but couldn't seem to get starboard gybe dialed in. The second upwind we couldn't seem to find the groove, and athough we were on top of the wind shifts we couldn't point so weren't able to capitalize on them. We finished just behind the British team we had beaten in the first race of the day.
There are two more days of racing left with 2 races scheduled per day. My foot was fine racing today so it should be alright to get through the rest of the regatta. We are still struggling with our starts and at the back of the pack but we are steadily improving in all areas as we gain experience in the boat and the fleet.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Aug 9 - Day 1 Sail for Gold
We had a bit of a slow start to the regatta today. We got up at 6 and were down to the sailing site for 8. We launched just after 9 am and sailed downwind to the course. The breeze was pretty light but picked up as we got down towards our course. We tuned up the boat but didn't manage to find Teddy and Jono to check our speed with them. The race committee started on schedule at 11 with the men's fleet. After several general recalls for all the fleets we finally started at around noon. Our first start was a general recall and then the black flag went up. We thought we had set up far enough back on the second start but at 20 seconds we realized we were too far up and tried to slow down and slide back in line with the other boats. We didn't quite make it, so at go not only were we pretty sure we were black flagged, but we were going backwards. We tacked out for clear air and got lucky as a right shift came down. The breeze had died off since before the start and we were underpowered. We had good downwind speed but upwind we just couldn't get going fast enough to make up for our start. We changed the boat settings and then ate our sandwiches while trapezing/hiking and headed to the line for the second race. We checked the board on the Race Comittee and confirmed that we were black flagged in the first race!
The second race was similar to the first. We set up far enough back on the line but did not have a great start. We went too far right on the first upwind and got caught out on the layline when a left shift came down. We made up some ground downwind but the second upwind was painful. The breeze was up and down - gusts every 5-7 seconds with about 3 knots more velocity and a 10 degree shift. It was incredibly tricky and frustrating to keep the boat consistently flat and going fast with the wind changing every 5 seconds! At least we weren't black flagged!
CYA coach Brian Todd had watched the second race and had some good pointers for us for tomorrow. Hopefully we will remember how to get off the starting line!
The second race was similar to the first. We set up far enough back on the line but did not have a great start. We went too far right on the first upwind and got caught out on the layline when a left shift came down. We made up some ground downwind but the second upwind was painful. The breeze was up and down - gusts every 5-7 seconds with about 3 knots more velocity and a 10 degree shift. It was incredibly tricky and frustrating to keep the boat consistently flat and going fast with the wind changing every 5 seconds! At least we weren't black flagged!
CYA coach Brian Todd had watched the second race and had some good pointers for us for tomorrow. Hopefully we will remember how to get off the starting line!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Aug 8 - Training in Weymouth
Jen here,
We've just wrapped up a week of training here in Weymouth and it's been a productive and positive week. To start off, we had our new rudder head installed, received a new shipment of masts, booms, and spinnaker poles, and got to focus on sailing rather than boat work (well, once the rudder head was on at any rate). We've been training with the boys' team from Halifax, Teddy and Jono. Each day we launch together and work to tune up on long upwind legs. Then we sail together for the duration of our practices doing long runs, beats, and working on our tacks and gybes. The practice races here seem to be closed, so our focus has shifted back to the basics: boat handling and speed. Teddy and Jono have turned out to be great training partners, and so were the Canadian girls, Karen and Dana. Unfortunately the girls went back to Canada so there are only the two teams here in Weymouth.
The rest of the Canadian Sailing Team is here as well. We've caught up with a number of our Canadian pals and swapped stories of our respective venues such as Poland, Medemblik, and others. The consistent comment we keep hearing is "I hear it was nuking windy in Holland!" Actually, the funniest thing about arriving in Weymouth was the day we had our rudder head installed. We parked our boat at Sam's shop and when we arrived back, a good chunk of the 470 fleet was also parked outside his shop. There were eight other 470's flipped over, still with their bow stickers on from Worlds, waiting to be repaired by Sam and his team. He shook his head at us, "You lot could pay my annual salary with all your repair work!" We wouldn't mind at all if Sam just followed the 470 fleet around and fixed our boats on a regular basis.
Yesterday we also had the opportunity to meet Erik Stibbe. Erik is a newly appointed Canadian coach who will be working out of Vancouver. Although he's here coaching the Lasers and Radials, he made some time to come and work with us on the water. He was thorough. After only about twenty minutes of working with us on the water, Erik took us through a debrief which lasted for about two hours! Both he and his wife, Jenny, have lots of experience with 470's, and so we look forward to working with them as much as possible back in Canada.
Racing starts tomorrow, so we'll be sure to keep you updated on how things are going.
Cheers,
Jen
We've just wrapped up a week of training here in Weymouth and it's been a productive and positive week. To start off, we had our new rudder head installed, received a new shipment of masts, booms, and spinnaker poles, and got to focus on sailing rather than boat work (well, once the rudder head was on at any rate). We've been training with the boys' team from Halifax, Teddy and Jono. Each day we launch together and work to tune up on long upwind legs. Then we sail together for the duration of our practices doing long runs, beats, and working on our tacks and gybes. The practice races here seem to be closed, so our focus has shifted back to the basics: boat handling and speed. Teddy and Jono have turned out to be great training partners, and so were the Canadian girls, Karen and Dana. Unfortunately the girls went back to Canada so there are only the two teams here in Weymouth.
The rest of the Canadian Sailing Team is here as well. We've caught up with a number of our Canadian pals and swapped stories of our respective venues such as Poland, Medemblik, and others. The consistent comment we keep hearing is "I hear it was nuking windy in Holland!" Actually, the funniest thing about arriving in Weymouth was the day we had our rudder head installed. We parked our boat at Sam's shop and when we arrived back, a good chunk of the 470 fleet was also parked outside his shop. There were eight other 470's flipped over, still with their bow stickers on from Worlds, waiting to be repaired by Sam and his team. He shook his head at us, "You lot could pay my annual salary with all your repair work!" We wouldn't mind at all if Sam just followed the 470 fleet around and fixed our boats on a regular basis.
Yesterday we also had the opportunity to meet Erik Stibbe. Erik is a newly appointed Canadian coach who will be working out of Vancouver. Although he's here coaching the Lasers and Radials, he made some time to come and work with us on the water. He was thorough. After only about twenty minutes of working with us on the water, Erik took us through a debrief which lasted for about two hours! Both he and his wife, Jenny, have lots of experience with 470's, and so we look forward to working with them as much as possible back in Canada.
Racing starts tomorrow, so we'll be sure to keep you updated on how things are going.
Cheers,
Jen
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
New Rudder Head
Jen here,
Well, after all of the hullabaloo with shearing our rudder head at Worlds, repeated attempts at fixing, and then ordering a new one all the way from New Zealand, we finally have a functioning rudder head! Today was a great day in that regard. We arrived down to the sailing site where Sam had the boat ready to go. We stepped the mast, tuned the rig and went for a glorious sail. Well, it's not that easy-as I'm sure you've all figured out, the 470 never is. In truth, as we tuned the boat and tapped new holes in our jib cars it poured rain. We were an intrepid team, however, and managed to get our day's boat work accomplished in time to see the sun return and go for a quick sail. It really is a good thing that the sun finally came back. I spent the whole deluge whining about being cold and threatening to go back to Spain so that I could sun myself on a rock like a Spanish lizard. Erin just laughed at me and told me to rig the spinnaker system.
We went for a quick sail around four o'clock because we were dying to get out on the water and try out our new rudder head. So far things seem excellent. The system works very well and there is zero play in the rudder head (for non sailors, picture driving a race care with a loose steering wheel and you would get an idea of what a problem that is). It was quite breezy while we were out, roughly 20 knots, but flat water and the boat felt good.
Tomorrow we head out to train with Teddy and Jono, the Canadian boys from Halifax, and hopefully some of our other pals from the fleet. As we speak, Erin is baking fresh chocolate chip cookies for Sam, as our thanks for the help with installing our new rudder head. Yum!
Jen
Well, after all of the hullabaloo with shearing our rudder head at Worlds, repeated attempts at fixing, and then ordering a new one all the way from New Zealand, we finally have a functioning rudder head! Today was a great day in that regard. We arrived down to the sailing site where Sam had the boat ready to go. We stepped the mast, tuned the rig and went for a glorious sail. Well, it's not that easy-as I'm sure you've all figured out, the 470 never is. In truth, as we tuned the boat and tapped new holes in our jib cars it poured rain. We were an intrepid team, however, and managed to get our day's boat work accomplished in time to see the sun return and go for a quick sail. It really is a good thing that the sun finally came back. I spent the whole deluge whining about being cold and threatening to go back to Spain so that I could sun myself on a rock like a Spanish lizard. Erin just laughed at me and told me to rig the spinnaker system.
We went for a quick sail around four o'clock because we were dying to get out on the water and try out our new rudder head. So far things seem excellent. The system works very well and there is zero play in the rudder head (for non sailors, picture driving a race care with a loose steering wheel and you would get an idea of what a problem that is). It was quite breezy while we were out, roughly 20 knots, but flat water and the boat felt good.
Tomorrow we head out to train with Teddy and Jono, the Canadian boys from Halifax, and hopefully some of our other pals from the fleet. As we speak, Erin is baking fresh chocolate chip cookies for Sam, as our thanks for the help with installing our new rudder head. Yum!
Jen
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Aug 3rd - Boatwork in Weymouth
We arrived in Portland/Weymouth late the evening of the 1st. We are staying at the Pascoe's house. Sam is a boat builder and works out of a shop at the Weymouth Portland Sailing Academy. Meg is a 2.4 M sailor campaigning for 2012. Brenda Hopkin our fellow Canadian and Skud 18 sailor is also staying at the house. The house is in Portland and is about a 20 minute walk down the hill to the sailing centre. The sailing centre is just off the causeway which divides Weymouth (mainland) and Portland (the island).
Yesterday we found our boat which Barry had dropped at the sailing site for us last week. We took possession of our brand new Mackay rudder head which had been delivered to the sailing site and walked around the site and said hello to friends. We started putting the boat back together and got the mast up as well as the old gudgeons for the broken rudder head off the boat. Then we headed into town with Meg and Brenda to shop for groceries and pick up some replacement tools for the ones which were stolen in Holland (all of our cutting implements, strangely).
Today our game plan was to fill the holes from the old gudgeons and hang the new gudgeons. We started sourcing fibreglass material for this project but soon decided it was best left to the professionals! Sam offered to do all the work for a very reasonable rate and to have the boat ready to go for tomorrow morning. As he has the shop and tools to do the job properly, we felt this was an excellent idea. We caught the bus into town with Brenda to visit the Chandlery and pick up a few other items we hadn't had time to get yesterday. So we should be on the water tomorrow with a brand new rudder head/tiller.
Yesterday we found our boat which Barry had dropped at the sailing site for us last week. We took possession of our brand new Mackay rudder head which had been delivered to the sailing site and walked around the site and said hello to friends. We started putting the boat back together and got the mast up as well as the old gudgeons for the broken rudder head off the boat. Then we headed into town with Meg and Brenda to shop for groceries and pick up some replacement tools for the ones which were stolen in Holland (all of our cutting implements, strangely).
Today our game plan was to fill the holes from the old gudgeons and hang the new gudgeons. We started sourcing fibreglass material for this project but soon decided it was best left to the professionals! Sam offered to do all the work for a very reasonable rate and to have the boat ready to go for tomorrow morning. As he has the shop and tools to do the job properly, we felt this was an excellent idea. We caught the bus into town with Brenda to visit the Chandlery and pick up a few other items we hadn't had time to get yesterday. So we should be on the water tomorrow with a brand new rudder head/tiller.
Aug 2nd - Erin's Vacation
So I thought I would share a bit about the past two weeks. From Holland Jen and I flew to Ibiza to stay with my friend Gisella. Gisella and I went to UVic together but she grew up in Ibiza, so was home for a few weeks. We spent 4 lovely days lying on the beach and swimming in the ocean and getting into vacation mode Spanish style. After the first day in Spain I took off my watch and tried to just go with things. In Spain breakfast is whenever you get up (not early when on vacation!) Lunch is at around 3, then siesta for 3 or 4 hours. Dinner could start anywhere between 8 and midnight depending on how hot it was that day. It was great to just relax and not worry about the boat or being anywhere on time.
From here Jen and I split up. I headed to Dublin, where I have several friends and a relative. I stayed with my dear friend Kate who I met when she was working in Canada teaching sailing for the summer. Kate just completed medical school in April and has just started working as an intern; as have her four female housemates! In Dublin I also saw my cousin and his wife and family; another Irish friend who worked in Canada for the summer; and my friend Dana who I grew up sailing with in Calgary and who has been studying marine biology in Dublin for the past 5 years. It was awesome to catch up with some old friends and hang out in Dublin a city which I love. I went for a run in Phoenix park which is one of the largest walled city parks in Europe (thank you wikipedia) and contains a huge variety of things including the President of Ireland's house, the zoo, a 30 m cross, an abandoned fort and a herd of wild Fallow deer. Kate and I also saw the Museum of Modern Art which is in an old Veteran's Hospital and the National Botanical Gardens.
From here Jen and I split up. I headed to Dublin, where I have several friends and a relative. I stayed with my dear friend Kate who I met when she was working in Canada teaching sailing for the summer. Kate just completed medical school in April and has just started working as an intern; as have her four female housemates! In Dublin I also saw my cousin and his wife and family; another Irish friend who worked in Canada for the summer; and my friend Dana who I grew up sailing with in Calgary and who has been studying marine biology in Dublin for the past 5 years. It was awesome to catch up with some old friends and hang out in Dublin a city which I love. I went for a run in Phoenix park which is one of the largest walled city parks in Europe (thank you wikipedia) and contains a huge variety of things including the President of Ireland's house, the zoo, a 30 m cross, an abandoned fort and a herd of wild Fallow deer. Kate and I also saw the Museum of Modern Art which is in an old Veteran's Hospital and the National Botanical Gardens.
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| Ireland |
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| Spain |
Monday, August 2, 2010
Arrived in Weymouth
After a long day of travelling both Jen and I arrived in Weymouth last night. We are headed out to find the boat (it was delivered here last week) and start to set it up. We will try and get some more information about our travels up later today.
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