Wednesday started with a thud, as my best result so far (yesterday's 3rd) turned out to be a BFD (Black Flag Disqualification) ARRGH!!! It looks like I pushed a little too hard and learned a lesson… ouch! This dropped me in the rankings to 19th, as the scoring is very tight.
The weather today was heavy rain, a high of 15C, very dark skies, low lying cloud cover and winds of 5-7. OK finally a light air day you say? Not bloody likely, that's Force 5-7 on the Beaufort scale (commonly used here), which translates into 19-30 knots, with gusts to 45 knots. So with a forecast like that, we probably wouldn't go out, right? CRIKEY MATE, you don't sit on shore at a national championships with winds blowing like that. So out we went. Because of the poor visibility, they sent us out 2 fleets at a time (total 5 fleets) so that the rescue boats could see everyone.
After one race, the Lasers headed back to shore, followed by the various Radial fleets, then we waited for our marching orders from the PRO. Would we race again was the big question, as we all stood around freezing in the rain. Finally the answer came from above... NO, IT'S OVER... Hallelujah! But I gotta say it was hard work, but a lot of fun on those reaches. So now the second race of the day was on... to the showers mates! With my boat half de-rigged I was well positioned to hit that starting line early. Upon arriving at the showers, the change room was empty....second Hallelujah!! Within 5 minutes the line up of frozen bodies awaiting the showers was about 10 deep and growing rapidly. I was done, the race was won... YEAH MY FIRST VICTORY... ha!
Back to reality. The race was one of the windiest I have ever sailed, a serious battle against the elements and other sailors. Having just read Chris Cook's essay on becoming one with the wind, it certainly felt like this wind didn't want to become one with me... it wanted to tear me apart! Anyhow, I was 6th at the first windward mark, which I was content with. Then came the reach and oh what a reach it was. I don't recall ever sailing that fast!! The best part was that I was able to pass one of the hot shot kids by bearing off and accelerating in the puffs. Despite salt water sand blasting my eyes and not being able to see for periods of time, reaching has worked for me. The bad news is that this guy passed me again on the run as I buried my bow in a wave... stupid, stupid. Anyhow I finished 5th today and patted myself on the back.
Tomorrow the Gold/Silver/Bronze fleet racing starts, so the competition will be a lot tougher. I wish they had done this earlier, but all qualifying races count towards your final result.
Nigel Heath is an avid Laser and Radial sailor from the Water Rats Sailing Club in Toronto. Nigel is also a member of the Ontario Masters Racing Team.
