Great hearing how its going, sounds like you are on a seriously steep and quick learning curve! Top endurance fitness will come, particularly as you get older (just ask Houston who is ten times your age and did a seriously quick 220km session recently*) but you're doing fantastically well considering the pedigree of the opposition in sailors such as Juozas Bernotas (25 years old and many years of top level RSX competition) and the Russians. It will be interesting to see how they take to the relatively strong Southerly forecast for the Bay tomorrow and the serious chop that will bring! Go Tassie!
*gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2011-12-18&team=27
Got some photo's here of the first 3 days!
All photos by Explorer Media! -----> www.explorer-media.com/index
Day 4 - all racing has been called off due to the conditions. Gusts of 30 knots and 2m chop convinced the race committee to call off racing. The techno's were very happy, and the women also accepted it, but the men weren't very happy at all. We were so keen to get out there, but it wasn't meant to be today.
Day 5 - Tough racing today... It was about 12 knots, and it was hard going. Marginal planing conditions, lots of gusts, lulls and lots and lots of other boats on our course meant that there was LOTS of pumping.
Had a good start in the first race, got to the top mark in 5th and held onto the back of the pack for the duration of the race. Not really a result, but lots of positives to take away, so we were happy with that race.
The second race was a bit harder, the wind got a bit flukey during the race. I started on port and headed out right, but I tacked back too soon and didnt get a gain out of it. I was put back in 6th by Sam Treharne who was on fire today, but I wasnt able to fight back after one of my footstraps came out on the downwind.
The third race started in closer to 15 knots, and I felt much more comfortable and had a blinder of a start. Was right up in contention for a spot in the lead pack on the first lap, but at the bottom gate I chose to go right - huge mistake!! Sam went left and he passed me, meaning I had another 6th.
Not a great day results wise, but we still have a few positives that we can reflect on and be happy with. Tomorrow is the double points medal race, but I have locked in 5th - I cant move up or down no matter what. I'll still have one final crack at getting a top 3 finish though!
Angus also took out the Techno class, their racing finished today and he took 3 wins today - enough for the overall win.
Fantastic effort for Angus! Good luck tomorrow Jock, at least you know you'll end up with a 5th, so nothing to lose!! And a great effort too, by the way!
And thats a wrap! Medal race was seriously tough, so gusty and shifty that the top two guys got so far ahead that everyone else finished outside the time limit! Here is a quick video of the medal races!
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