race results

We’re at the end of another regatta now, and the results are here.

But one thing that has to be said about sailing is that results on the scoreboard just don’t show the complexity of the racing out on the water. And our last day was a big example of how within the space of 20 minutes, in a race, things can go from back to front and back again.

A bit of background first: we went into this regatta, our second selection regatta for the Asian Games, 5 points behind, as we’d come 5 positions behind our sole competitor at the first trial (Kieler Woche). So we would be looking to put enough boats between us if we were to win on points.

Going into the last day, we were ahead, though I wasn’t sure how much. The goal – just sail our best and race well.

We finished the first race of the day several boats behind – tough, but we had worked our arses off and caught up a great deal from the back of the fleet. Still, it could be down to the last race. And the nature of the game is, you don’t just get on them and cover them all the way because it’s so important to put boats in between.

So we were ahead from the start, we held it off upwind, down the first downwind leg, upwind again we made more distance, and by the reach, we were quite a way ahead with at least 5 boats in between.

And then the breeze disappeared. Shut down completely, and this is the quirky part of racing. These things happen and it seems so unjust, but it’s the name of the game. The breeze filled in from behind, in such an awkward way that us and the pack of boats just in front of us were in dead air while the boats behind started moving!

Ouch, indeed. We did our best to get going, but the last couple of boats snuck in below us and got to the next mark first. So not just us, but the 10 or so boats just ahead were suddenly not looking so flash. We came round onto the downwind, and it was a struggle, just sailing on as much wind as possible. We took the left side, thinking the breeze would fill in from there. And for a while, it was looking good. We were moving, higher but faster than most of the other boats. So down we went … and then three quarters of the way down, the wind did start filling in … from the other side.

Uh-oh. I didn’t exactly have a bird’s eye view of the fleet, but Craig said at one point, the other girls were looking in 10th (massive leap from how they’d rounded the windward mark, 4th last). It wasn’t looking too good … until the wind got to us and we came in from the left corner with good speed, Siobhan on trapeze.

And then here’s the crucial bit: the last leeward mark rounding. For those of you who aren’t familiar with sailing rules, we have a rule going round marks where the boat with inside overlap at a mark can call for room to go round that mark. We were the innermost boat of the 20 or so trying to go round at the same time. We got our inside overlap. Two more boats tried to squeeze in illegally and collided with us, we pushed our way out, and came up onto the final reach ahead, in the clear air lane, and looking really, really good. From a last ten to a top 10-15 spot.

Lesson learned: ALWAYS be in inner position at the mark.

So there was our heart-racing, so-hard-to-be-patient-but-just-had-to-be final leg of the last race, and it ended well for us. Quite a big contrast to the last race of Kiel, where the opposite happened.

Anyway, I guess our adventures will continue now. The final selection decision is up to the SingaporeSailing selection panel and SNOC, but with luck, we’ll get the green light.

Thanks, everyone for reading and for supporting us!

Cold, wet, and windy

It was only going to be cold and wet, but this wouldn’t be Weymouth without the windy, would it?

We launched in something like 2 knots, and came home in 20. Good thing we’ve got good sunnies for the job (yay Oakleys!)

I don’t know how to describe the awesomeness of sailing in 20 knots, with the boat just blasting along, skipping over waves, even launching off a few – that’s an experience good for some screams – and you’re working your arse off but totally enjoying it. There were bullet gusts coming down all day and that made reaching and downwinds a very heart-pounding experience.

So at the end of the day, windy I certainly don’t mind, but Weymouth, if you could do something about the cold and wet, I’d be much obliged!

Happy national day!

Somehow being overseas during National Day makes you feel more patriotic about the day. Here’s my little gift to Singapore:

It’s also the first day of racing. Race management has been pretty prompt, 3 fleets all done and ashore by 4pm.

We haven’t had the bitter cold weather of last year yet – not that I’m complaining! Just hoping it stays this way, just right in a wetsuit.

Registered and ready to go!

It’s three days before the first day of racing and we’ve just completed registration and measurement – all within an hour. This has to be a record! It helps that we only have to bring our sails in to be stamped and that we got it done first thing.

We’ve been out sailing the last three days and the weather has alternated between bright and sunny and wet and miserable. Is this normal for British summer?

adventures on the first day

Hello everyone,

It’s been a while, but we are here in Weymouth for the Sail for Gold Regatta and it has been a very eventful first day already.

We arrived in two groups: the coaches catching an SQ flight and a train down to Weymouth, while we had Roy pick us up from the airport and drive us and the trailer down).

As we drove out, we were hearing squeaking all the way as we drove round bends. None of the lashings on the trailer were loose, though, so we went on.

An hour from Weymouth, we came round a roundabout (boy, are there a lot of those here), and got a warning horn from a car, accompanied by the driver pointing at our trailer. The squeaking was going like mad then so we pulled over and had a look at the wheel.

The ball bearings were shot, the hubcap had popped out, and we were so not going to make it any further.

We had a pleasant surprise then, though, as the car who had pointed it out to us came back round and stopped to help us. (Well, the driver of the car, I mean.)

And so we got a real taste of English kindness as the man called up friends, helped us to drop off the trailer at a safer place, and so we managed to get on our way and arrive at the hotel in Weymouth at a decent hour for bed.

Still, we have two boats to trail down (back and forth) to the club today, so it looks like a long day on the road – for those who have to drive, at least. (It pays to be short, in this case!)

Also, it’s SIOBHAN’S BIRTHDAY!