tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7435102404013993312024-03-12T17:12:58.975-07:00Improper Courselaser sailing blogDoug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.comBlogger469125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-35197244939790081082022-07-06T22:03:00.002-07:002022-07-06T22:04:43.132-07:00Great Report from a First-Time ILCA Master World Sailor<p style="text-align: justify;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Al Sargent has written <a href="https://alsargent.medium.com/laser-masters-worlds-2022-recap-bcc4967be9de" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">great report</span></a> about the recent </span></i><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Puerto Vallarta ILCA Master Worlds. He’s sharing
lessons learned, helping others improve in their Laser sailing, and encouraging
others to attend regatta like this one. There’s a goldmine of info, here’s just
part on starting and another on working with a digital compass:</span></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",serif; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Starts:
</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
had good starts in 11 out of 13 races. What worked:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Using a compass</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. It was crucial to use a compass to find
the favored end. Right after we had our 5-minute warning signal, I’d sail up to
the committee boat’s flag, bear away to a beam reach, point at the pin end, and
get the compass bearing. Since my vang was max eased and mainsheet luffing, I
was pretty much motionless. I’d wait several seconds for the compass to settle
down, get the bearing, then add 90 degrees to get the perpendicular heading.
I’d sail down the line, get clear air, and take a wind shot. Again, vang off so
you don’t get knocked in the head. So much more accurate and quicker than
having to sail upwind on either tack and guess!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Practice starts</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. Once you've done a wind shot and have a
hypothesis on where you’ll start, do a practice start at that end. This will
inform your time/distance thinking as well as laylines to the pin or boat.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Agile strategy</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. I’d get one or two more wind shots, the
last one around two minutes to the start, which gave me enough time to sprint
to the favored side. This allowed me to make the right choice even if the wind
direction shifted late in the starting sequence.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Not taking huge risks</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. I didn’t try to win a side if it was
risky. For instance Adil Khalid (UAE) lined up so close to the pin boat that he
could barely clear it without luffing head to wind and sculling. I was happy to
start one up from him since, by the time we cleared the pin, he’d slowed so
much that we were even.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-outline-level: 1;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Seizing opportunities</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. At the same time, if a side of the line
was uncontested, I wouldn't hesitate to start there. In one race, eventual
regatta winner Adonis </span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Bougiouris (GRE)
</span><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">tried to win the
committee boat (right side). Problem was, he was next to the committee boat at
45 seconds to go. Even with doing a downspeed backup maneuver (backing his
boom), he still allowed enough of a gap for me and Adil to safely start to his
right. See below.<span style="font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: "Georgia",serif; font-size: 10.0pt; letter-spacing: -.05pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></p><span style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: 10pt; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs5hbqV3JjSo3EYNuynsc-6xfntPx-fs-KM6CcxGYoUVD3Uqf3sHxgrTsBVQyiG__zgwIPq9GAEjIkKJidaGDEHg6r619naPdSN1hqKmVIrmdIJf-LQe9VCJcqAJDeMx5JUaVSMtwu5LE0zR9QMiAK6_qduhjHmctGVc4o4N8HhqOLE0mpLj75AG8pg/s1400/AS1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="1400" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLs5hbqV3JjSo3EYNuynsc-6xfntPx-fs-KM6CcxGYoUVD3Uqf3sHxgrTsBVQyiG__zgwIPq9GAEjIkKJidaGDEHg6r619naPdSN1hqKmVIrmdIJf-LQe9VCJcqAJDeMx5JUaVSMtwu5LE0zR9QMiAK6_qduhjHmctGVc4o4N8HhqOLE0mpLj75AG8pg/w640-h470/AS1.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Al second from left, winning the boat despite </span></i><i><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 10pt; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Adonis<b> </b></span></i><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">trying to close the door<o:p></o:p></span></i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;"><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="letter-spacing: -0.05pt; margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Quick bailouts</span></b><span style="color: #292929; letter-spacing: -0.05pt; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">. When getting shot out the back at a
start, I’d very quickly bear away and tack onto port and duck boats. Typically
when I started my tack, there’d be several boats to duck. But since other boats
were bailing onto port at the same time as me, I’d only end up ducking maybe
three boats — much less painful.</span></p></span></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Quick parks</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. If I ended up next to someone prone to
backing up (i.e., Adonis), quickly pushing out the boom for a second to stop
allowed me enough of a gap that his backups wouldn’t impact me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Drive-by snakes</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. When sailing on port, oftentimes
starboard tackers will bear away to keep you from taking their hole. In these
cases, it’s best to casually sail by, uninterested, then when you’re off the
leeward corner of their boat, in their blind spot (since they’re looking ahead
and to leeward), tack and take their hole. Credit to my squadmate James Espey
for teaching me this one. Doing this, you need to comply with the rules:
approach so there’s a ~five-foot gap between you and the windward boat (so they
can initially keep clear), and sail straight until your pivot point
(daggerboard) is ahead of theirs. Then slowly luff so that you lock them to
windward of you, again while providing them with ample opportunity to keep
clear. It’s aggressive but rules compliant.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">What didn’t work:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Down-speed weakness</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. In one start that was pin-favored,
Adonis did a downspeed backup, which kept me from moving forward. Not able to
match his move, I got shot out the back and had to do one of those bailouts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt 0.25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Sloppy rigging</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. In another start, the tail of my outhaul
tie-down line was in front of my timer on the mast. At 20 seconds to the start,
I leaned forward to tuck it away. “No harm to fix this, we’re all luffing,” I
thought to myself. Bad idea. The boat to windward sheeted in right as I did
this. I sheeted in a second too late and got rolled.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">What to do differently:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Get better at downspeed maneuvers</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> on the start line: backups,
double-tacks, and half tacks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Symbol; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Ensure that your gear is 100% ready</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> for the start. What can go wrong,
will.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTsuAfX4jWFaXwyXhhnEqRU2Lt4FBIwHXmig5sc_I5dLhCoaHUnDO4zEoljdqPCeJx4Y9oyIkheXEHrYyueJNHuZ-hlJN8cVkCO21qFkRVTvbh6HK5XYAilwV0oA3DsLEEBQPABhcmoFGw6XdeNxctZAUucmQQM5c94mTmkOZffTNpgWYyiqwbhJ9LA/s551/AS2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="383" data-original-width="551" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqTsuAfX4jWFaXwyXhhnEqRU2Lt4FBIwHXmig5sc_I5dLhCoaHUnDO4zEoljdqPCeJx4Y9oyIkheXEHrYyueJNHuZ-hlJN8cVkCO21qFkRVTvbh6HK5XYAilwV0oA3DsLEEBQPABhcmoFGw6XdeNxctZAUucmQQM5c94mTmkOZffTNpgWYyiqwbhJ9LA/w400-h278/AS2.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Not
assimilating wind data</span></b><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">. This one’s a more subtle mistake with a major lesson. In race 12, in
the restart, I did a wind shoot and saw a wind heading of 260 degrees. After
the start, halfway up the leg, I found myself on starboard between Adonis and
Ernesto Rodriquez (USA) — good company, right? Our starboard tack heading was
about 208, and we were well left of rhumbline.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt -3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">What’s wrong with this picture? A 208
degree heading + 35 tacking angle implies a wind direction of 245 degrees. We
were eating a 15-degree header and letting boats get to the right of us. As it
turns out Peter Hurley (USA), who was behind us at the time, got right, and saw
a starboard heading of 230, implying a wind direction of 265 degrees.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .25in; text-indent: -.25in;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 6pt 0in 0.0001pt -3pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #292929; font-family: Georgia, serif; letter-spacing: -0.05pt;">Rather than cruising into oblivion with
Ernesto and Adonis, I should have tacked on that 208 heading.</span></p>Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-71400085654884257252022-06-15T20:26:00.008-07:002022-06-15T21:08:20.845-07:00Next ILCA Master Worlds - Thailand!!<blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: right;"><i>by Doug</i></p></blockquote><p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y8-Vjo-YD0STK8fuIQr4BljWsj13PvPApvYhTV6j4ApU_cQAIvVhewZa9mgqJObxVNqIEKP28hx9jEGbLdjhH3wEbVqiZVUN_SC_zrMham447gtrT2U5FjCtMPYoP9Z_UE_SgVW1kmJwzBhJwT3wo5YA9uDlLOaIexCbB3Sdt2isvgcln6A1d1LgAg/s457/Thailand%5B3657%5D.png" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" data-original-height="382" data-original-width="457" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-Y8-Vjo-YD0STK8fuIQr4BljWsj13PvPApvYhTV6j4ApU_cQAIvVhewZa9mgqJObxVNqIEKP28hx9jEGbLdjhH3wEbVqiZVUN_SC_zrMham447gtrT2U5FjCtMPYoP9Z_UE_SgVW1kmJwzBhJwT3wo5YA9uDlLOaIexCbB3Sdt2isvgcln6A1d1LgAg/w320-h267/Thailand%5B3657%5D.png" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">February in Thailand. Mark
your calendars. The ILCA 6 Master Worlds will be from February 8-16 and the ILCA 7 Master Worlds will be from February 18-26. The NOR can be seen <a href="https://sailing.laserinternational.org/public/site/event-site/153" target="_blank"><span style="color: #2b00fe;">here</span></a>.
I checked the airfares from the US and they were a surprisingly affordable
$1,100. I interviewed Richard Vine about the event and it looks like it will be
great venue.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c1GIAAzxGIg" width="640" youtube-src-id="c1GIAAzxGIg"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-2207120360645243072022-06-08T15:51:00.000-07:002022-06-08T15:51:08.409-07:00Warning to Traveling Laser Sailors<p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>by Doug</i></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ-Uj5EN11yDAlBq6bGC9UFf1kaCtDNK6VSqPCl0TRXsLj7GNDZ_wht4us6X1E2CSC98l5tZJ3IA2ojQD-QXMMybMEttchQv_H70jeq6h49D7MGdks36rsLauZ3xCRXwnAt6X9d4bjACVRbtdmZbN1AYCChXl4SUqjvSmkMl7Tr27Dv5-MHXw7AZACw/s784/travel%20warning.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="784" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJ-Uj5EN11yDAlBq6bGC9UFf1kaCtDNK6VSqPCl0TRXsLj7GNDZ_wht4us6X1E2CSC98l5tZJ3IA2ojQD-QXMMybMEttchQv_H70jeq6h49D7MGdks36rsLauZ3xCRXwnAt6X9d4bjACVRbtdmZbN1AYCChXl4SUqjvSmkMl7Tr27Dv5-MHXw7AZACw/w400-h108/travel%20warning.png" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">On
my return trip from the Master Worlds in Mexico, I had problems with the Puerto Vallarta
airport security. They would not accept my tiller as carry-on luggage. By the
time I got back to check it as luggage, they were no longer accepting luggage.
The supervisor was blunt – my options were throwing it away or missing the
flight.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I
considered taking it to lost-and-found with the hope of having someone else
pick it up for me, but then I saw Ernesto Rodriguez (USA) checking in for his flight to Miami.
He would have had the same problem, so I asked if he would tape our two tillers
together and check them as baggage so that he can ship mine to Dallas … thank
you, Ernesto!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So
be warned. Wonder if the ILCA can get some sort of pre-clearance with a travel document we could use that ensures that others do not have this problem in the future.</span></p><p></p>Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-58927858653257661822022-06-01T19:10:00.012-07:002022-06-08T12:35:27.688-07:002022 ILCA 7 Master World Championships (Nuevo Vallarta, MEX)<p style="text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-family: arial;">by Doug</span></i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’ve ever wondered what
is would be like to take a break from sailing for a few years and then have the
chance to attend a Laser Master Worlds on short notice, this post is for you.
Pam insisted that I attend superb Brett Beyer’s (AUS) <a href="http://www.impropercourse.com/2018/04/brett-beyers-downwind-clinic-at-isa.html">downwind
clinic at the ISA</a> in 2018 but I never got the chance to use it… a busy
schedule and then Covid got in the way. We knew it would be rough, but the <a href="http://www.impropercourse.com/2016/06/2016-laser-master-world-championships.html">LMW
Worlds in 2016</a> at the same location was the best and missing this was not
an option. Unfortunately, Pam was caring for a family member and could not
attend.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>[Note from Pam: </i></span></span><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">When Doug said he wanted to attend this event, I said 'you shouldn't go because you are not ready.' Doug said, 'I'm not ready so I can't not go.' </i><i style="color: #222222; font-family: arial;">I went to run an errand early this morning before heading to the airport later to pick up Doug and saw a man step out onto his front lawn to get the paper. He was about Doug's age, if not a little younger, and he had this gadget that extends your reach by about 4 feet. Instead of bending down to pick up the paper, he used this gadget to retrieve it. And then I realized something I don't say very often ... Doug was right.] </i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Practice Day</span></b></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s good to be back after a 4-year break from Worlds competition. The flight from Dallas was uneventful until we landed and they instructed everyone to put on their masks … many people were not happy with the Mexican rules.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I went for a sail on Monday and it was not too windy but the waves were the biggest I’ve sailed for many years. There were lots of sailors much better than me. My GGM fleet is small with only 17 sailors, but we have 3 former world champions and 4 runners up, so there will be some good competition.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The practice race was today and the wind was stronger, perhaps 15-20. This is no problem on a Dallas lake, but the waves here were the biggest I’ve sailed in for perhaps 10 years. I went left, tacked on a header, and rounded a close 4<sup>th</sup> with the two Brits leading. The run was awesome and, for me, a little scary with the waves. They’re not at right angles to the wind so everyone needs to sail by-the-lee on starboard. The speed down a wave takes the pressure off the sail which can lead to an accidental jibe that might not end well.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Most stopped sailing this practice race after the run and I was pleased to still be in 4</span><sup style="font-family: arial;">th</sup><span style="font-family: arial;">. This could be a very good finish for me in the Worlds.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Day 1: </span></b><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Plan for today - 12 races scheduled and we get 1 discard, so rule #1 is do not use my discard on the first day! The waves are, for me, big and it pays to be aggressive to catch them, but rule #2 is tipping is worse than missing 10 waves. So the plan for today is to sail hard upwind and hang on downwind.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0OCuFVK07WLjnZcv534yQC3S1YTy0p_vYPwRb83OxE-p2dhGdsmxf-F-Au45MjtKNxwlOgeFnK-hflyJ29fHTZSm9uCFJwGf0PuUPpzvOH98Do_cmhNw9gR6lLTupg05645CijzibUAWJhZZ1H4ACwRLTDUWxNAS2HXb26fHZ49V16Fl6jIKyxOu_Q/s1536/MX1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="1536" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb0OCuFVK07WLjnZcv534yQC3S1YTy0p_vYPwRb83OxE-p2dhGdsmxf-F-Au45MjtKNxwlOgeFnK-hflyJ29fHTZSm9uCFJwGf0PuUPpzvOH98Do_cmhNw9gR6lLTupg05645CijzibUAWJhZZ1H4ACwRLTDUWxNAS2HXb26fHZ49V16Fl6jIKyxOu_Q/w640-h120/MX1.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span>Race 1: </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">This picture is the start of the first race, I’m 3 from the right and the race winner is 6 from the right. There are several faster upwind than me and a shift at the top of the leg pushed me down to about 10</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">. We’re sailing the inner trapezoid course so the run was with some big waves. Using techniques from Brett Beyer’s downwind clinic from 4 years ago helped me pass 2 boats to round in 8</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">. Tried to hold off several on the next beat and it turns out that I did not pace myself because on the top reach I was knocked out of the boat by a wave with my feet still under the straps and did not have the strength to sit back up into the boat. The same thing happened at my last Worlds in Ireland, but this time I tipped and did not have the strength to get going quickly. Finished second to last.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"><b>Race 2:</b> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">Still pretty gassed, started at the committee boat end and tacked to go right. The plan was to avoid the crowd because I had not recovered from the first race. About 1 minute into the race, I pulled hard on the tiller and it came out of the rudder. The problem is that the rope supplied with the rudders is really thin and was obviously too small for my tiller cleat. So having $1,000 of carbon in my hand and no steering meant (1) don’t let go and (2) don’t tip. After a repair tying off the rudder line, I was under way again about 2 minutes behind. With such a good fleet, the race was effectively over, so I didn’t work hard but was able to catch 2 boats.</span></span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif"> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">This would normally be an appalling first day but I earned it:</span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wolfgang Gerz (GER) sails full-time and goes to all the major regattas and clinics. He won both races.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The leaders have spent much more time practicing than me so they’re faster.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took Brett’s downwind clinic 4 years ago and this was the first time since that I’ve sailed in waves… definitely recommend the clinic if you get the chance.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pam and I are both committed to getting back into sailing and we’ll be spending more time on the water.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In spite of this slow start, this is the best way to spend a vacation! Bonus would be having Pam here [<i>Pam added that sentence</i>].</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Day 2: </span></b><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Talking with people before we hit the water:</span></span></p><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke Elliot is one of the top Aussie sailors who was in the Gold Fleet in the open worlds last week and is on a support boat mentoring about 10 of us. I was telling him how my upwind speed in a breeze is not as good as it used to be and he suggested sailing with no vang. It seemed counter intuitive to be powered up when already overpowered, but it helps punch through the waves without footing.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Luke also said that when sailing upwind in Australia you tack before the pressure hits whereas here he suggests you tack in the pressure, not before.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I asked Brett Beyer if he was powering up on the runs by letting out his outhaul, and he said yes. I had not played my outhaul once yesterday.<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also talked with Wolfgang Gerz who won both races yesterday. His strategy is staying with the leading group and then gaining downwind.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So my new goal is to improve every day, which will not be difficult after my results yesterday.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Race 3: </b>S</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">tarted in 12 knots with no real waves but a lot of chop. I played the shifts and rounded about 10</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">. Catching waves was not really possible so the key was looking behind and staying in the pressure. Gained a few boats downwind and then lost them on the next beat to people who banged the left corner.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Without meaning to, I was with Wolfgang for much of the race and at one point on the second beat we were even so he lee-bowed me. Wolfgang finished just ahead in 5</span><sup>th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> to my 9</span><sup>th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> which summarized our differences – he sails with his head out of the boat to take advantage of every little opportunity, while I’m sailing with my head in the boat focusing on the compass and waves directly in front. This is an obvious area that needs improvement.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Race 4: </b>S</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">tarted with a building breeze with waves now big enough to occasionally surf. Wolfgang started just above me which was certainly not the plan. Having no vang helped me point and he tacked away. The compass and speed worked well enough to round in 5</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">. The run was good by using some of Brett’s downwind techniques, but I lost two on the next beat by missing the last shift before the mark, so now in 7</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;"> place. The top reach was for me a little hairy as this is where I was hit by a wave that knocked me out of the boat yesterday. Lost 2 boats on the reach and then 3 more on run by getting too far right trying to catch waves. Finished 12</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, upwind today was a little better than yesterday but downwind was not because I made some tactical mistakes. My average finish was a little better.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTyHzQWHo9z9Hcug167kS0kWdwVvIT9x6_xbegUpEUoGCvzsVrwDUtaQ-Os2cETKQ486R23pVKzhwZzI6BBAJSIR1da7BESzM0co2R9CFZxmhiJxeMJ44woyMQLiGzoT5KVVl-1a1wA7hehM2XnoAwRJVst8-8edfkyAeBQzDZ4dUjDslFewAB_Qirg/s4032/TT.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTyHzQWHo9z9Hcug167kS0kWdwVvIT9x6_xbegUpEUoGCvzsVrwDUtaQ-Os2cETKQ486R23pVKzhwZzI6BBAJSIR1da7BESzM0co2R9CFZxmhiJxeMJ44woyMQLiGzoT5KVVl-1a1wA7hehM2XnoAwRJVst8-8edfkyAeBQzDZ4dUjDslFewAB_Qirg/w640-h480/TT.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Team Texas - Chris Henkel and his wife Maria from Austin, Texas</span><br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyDPI9V0Ewaxyyu14bkBZq-KqCoJe6mLFPxBWAFP3vfSvGYGW2URxFQGjhzaytEmyLihm0UQ7FhBG6J9VDzHPGofuUbJo12DiM1vrUyIJCI_bU_M-ImxY8E5tHtqhhDhFqqgadxcAc4K5H2L1VREvvkOO5YUg65FpSmVlrmJwQ1LTDNWfqysDo9v6oQ/s4032/Pot.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgyDPI9V0Ewaxyyu14bkBZq-KqCoJe6mLFPxBWAFP3vfSvGYGW2URxFQGjhzaytEmyLihm0UQ7FhBG6J9VDzHPGofuUbJo12DiM1vrUyIJCI_bU_M-ImxY8E5tHtqhhDhFqqgadxcAc4K5H2L1VREvvkOO5YUg65FpSmVlrmJwQ1LTDNWfqysDo9v6oQ/w300-h400/Pot.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Got a kick out of the window display of the Men's Boutique in the background of the first picture - it's long been said 'don't drink the water in Mexico unless you want to spend the vacation on the toilet' - appreciated the store owner's sense of humor)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><b style="font-family: arial;">Day 3: </b><a href="https://www.sailwave.com/results/vyc/ILCA7Masters2022.htm" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Results</span></i></a></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>Race 5: </b>S</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">tarted later in the day with lighter winds like we saw yesterday. I wanted to start at the pin and go left so the plan was to approach on port and then tack into a hole. But the entire fleet kept moving down the line there was no hole, so I ducked everyone and started on port tack at the committee boat … that was a first for me. Some of the locals made the comment that the waves have been really big this year and there was a chop even though the breeze was just 12k. My speed was un-impressive and the compass didn’t really help because for some reason we were tacking in less than 90 degrees, even in the waves. Rounded 10</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">. The rest of the race was uneventful and I finished 11</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><b>Race 6: </b>T</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">he committee boat seemed favored so I started there and my group tacked to go right. Vann Wilson (USA) was beside me and he punched out with good speed, mine was not. Rounded 7</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">, the waves for me were hard to catch on the run where I lost 2 more boats. The next beat was shifty so you could be constantly up or down 3-4 positions. Rounded 10</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">, and Jeff Loosemore (AUS) rolled me on the top reach. On the second run the boats just in front went left in more pressure and really stretched out, so again finished 11</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">For the first half of the race Wolfgang Gerz (GER) was behind me. He sailed beautifully to round the last mark in 5</span><sup>th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> and then passed 2 more boats on the final short beat. It was very impressive.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidFJiSx2mSM8Gn7ItQJQ_IcspH-dQm0F4Y2HECM0bYBwDh2FQ84ShGM9jfqRoyhl4u--9s5394dGk6Y3_BDJJ6OU2qiHjP_LYsCMGDDg6BqshRBh_sS-OAumaXpsvj_NIBt6i1KTPzinGs0hdaOQAI8VxjnUejwgy7rfQ_4zeNnHwCxgh8gsNJtbcig/s4032/DP%20&%20DH.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidFJiSx2mSM8Gn7ItQJQ_IcspH-dQm0F4Y2HECM0bYBwDh2FQ84ShGM9jfqRoyhl4u--9s5394dGk6Y3_BDJJ6OU2qiHjP_LYsCMGDDg6BqshRBh_sS-OAumaXpsvj_NIBt6i1KTPzinGs0hdaOQAI8VxjnUejwgy7rfQ_4zeNnHwCxgh8gsNJtbcig/w640-h480/DP%20&%20DH.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">GGMs Doug and Don Hahl sporting the 2016 US team shirts Pam designed</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Day 4: </span></b><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;">Saturday is a rest day and we continue for 3 more days starting on Sunday.</span></p><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdNdRuGd9BIE_OZFAw8_FuzlB-CdLM4ixJpG6fGqm6eIXUaGni7wlr4nBrpOBxynysQe18yRLy288ZKXBMWYvY7sfce-f2G9mOHUGFvnUtRY8jrIZ3NeArnw7xSCOp46JB4R8hay8veDVSW11F8KtvpgoZqN0L3lWSBF7kkIsd7IZlwjG7FmfP7nMjg/s4032/Safety.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLdNdRuGd9BIE_OZFAw8_FuzlB-CdLM4ixJpG6fGqm6eIXUaGni7wlr4nBrpOBxynysQe18yRLy288ZKXBMWYvY7sfce-f2G9mOHUGFvnUtRY8jrIZ3NeArnw7xSCOp46JB4R8hay8veDVSW11F8KtvpgoZqN0L3lWSBF7kkIsd7IZlwjG7FmfP7nMjg/w300-h400/Safety.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Our hosts take Covid very seriously. This lady's job is offering people hand sanitizing<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Day 5: </span></b><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">On the water before the start, I asked Luke Elliott (AUS), who raced last week and finished a very respectable 29</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span style="text-align: left;">, to take a look at how I’m setting up my sail. He said it was too full at the top and suggested more cunningham and vang and a fuller foot. </span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span><span style="text-align: left;"><b>Races 7 and 8: </b>Both races w</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">ere similar … a good start in a good lane, not much speed upwind, rounded about 10</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">, played some very catchable waves, worked hard to hold my position on the next beat, and ran out of gas. Conditioning has been a problem and on the top reach of the second race, I lost my balance, again fell out of the boat, and was dragged in the water with my feet still under the straps. After a few seconds of trying to reach the grab rail, I got out of the boat and then back in again. I have not seen anyone else have this problem and I’m sure it’s from just being totally exhausted. Pam knew that I was not in shape for this event but missing 4 worlds was out of the question, so we knew it would be tough if it was windy.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">An interesting comment: the Germans take special care of their equipment and both left their boats fully rigged overnight. I’ll have to ask them why.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrOkkvUOprpTVW3VeQORJV9GhvdMTmgCmTKi7T9tMRzaVXPCVHoX12xh84_1TgXL9T-FzYRcTKKckRF1fFbAWWq0WkRJMbqE_hLyaewiUCEiiv5PpGX9iqVno624kTqiyhHFbOiOkqwVefc63m-6zB5p6MTjII2oSSxF3qVRp8Kp1UPbhYYnwuaZa5g/s839/Ambulance.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="839" height="332" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrOkkvUOprpTVW3VeQORJV9GhvdMTmgCmTKi7T9tMRzaVXPCVHoX12xh84_1TgXL9T-FzYRcTKKckRF1fFbAWWq0WkRJMbqE_hLyaewiUCEiiv5PpGX9iqVno624kTqiyhHFbOiOkqwVefc63m-6zB5p6MTjII2oSSxF3qVRp8Kp1UPbhYYnwuaZa5g/w640-h332/Ambulance.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">At the 1994 Master Worlds a competitor from Taiwan drowned. Ever since then, the race management has had an ambulance on site during the racing. We appreciate that.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">Day 6: </span></b><a href="https://www.sailwave.com/results/vyc/ILCA7Masters2022.htm" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Results</span></i></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span>Races 9 and 10: </span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">Races 9 and 10 were a little different because the breeze did not pick up until the second race. I started the first race at the pin, went to what some called the favored left side, sailed on a knock coming back, and rounded 10</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">. Things remained the same until the final beat and I misjudged the finish line to finish 12</span><sup style="text-align: left;">th</sup><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: left;">. The race was won by James Jacob (USA) who went right on the first beat and led for the entire race. He said that he had maximum vang upwind which surprised both Brett and me.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">In the second race, I started near the committee boat. Tim Law (GBR) crossed me, so I tacked to watch him as he will comfortably win my GGM division. There was nothing unusual about his body movement or steering, just very smooth and fast. Tim apparently trains with the GBR Olympic hopefuls.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurD2F_G6MJWEwCgwm_WCJ6eN7srda4VBjbabnplTfOGX-q55xvumG2C6I6KY0eTPynocs3tEIFA07A64OGxSPbtqNwzqfpQytpur9yvN7p3buelFczh6o-2LmvxLbNItnDHn68e-xtRN9Q_YGFuRhKLDVd1a4ytu7uEX9b5YUx1urIKYheMOtijqKrg/s4032/Crocs.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiurD2F_G6MJWEwCgwm_WCJ6eN7srda4VBjbabnplTfOGX-q55xvumG2C6I6KY0eTPynocs3tEIFA07A64OGxSPbtqNwzqfpQytpur9yvN7p3buelFczh6o-2LmvxLbNItnDHn68e-xtRN9Q_YGFuRhKLDVd1a4ytu7uEX9b5YUx1urIKYheMOtijqKrg/w640-h480/Crocs.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">Sign beside our launching ramp that few have noticed</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Day 7: </b></span><a href="https://www.sailwave.com/results/vyc/ILCA7Masters2022.htm" style="font-family: arial;" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: #2b00fe;">Results</span></i></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Races 11 and 12:</b> The breeze was lighter all day. Started close to
the committee boat and Richard Vine (THA), hit the line perfectly at full speed
and he rolled me. Went right and had just terrible speed, something that has not
been a problem for me in previous Worlds in lighter conditions. Downwind was a
little better. Wolfgang had a bad first beat but managed to finish 4<sup>th</sup>,
Tim won the race and the championship and is the new GGM world champion. There’s
no secret to sailing a Laser, he was the best prepared and has been very fast
all week.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">James had led for most of the first
race so I asked him to sail upwind with me for a few minutes. He’s sailing with
lots of vang which is counterintuitive… but it worked as he won the final race
in very impressive fashion.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The final race was again sailed in
a lighter breeze. Started near the pin in better speed but realized that
playing the shifts in choppy conditions is hard to do accurately with my old
Silva compass, so this will be its last event. Passed a few boats on the final beat
to finish 9<sup>th</sup>. Wolfgang again had a terrible first beat but sailed a
superb race to finish 2<sup>nd</sup>. He too was at the Brett downwind clinic
and his speed on those legs was very impressive.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So Tim easily won, Wolfgang
finished second, and Peter Vessella (USA) was third with seven top-3 results. I
got what I deserved – 13<sup>th</sup> pace – because Laser sailing gets a
little tougher each year.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There’s lot more to cover as we’ll
have updates from the fleet winners, what can be learned from the open guys
last week, the Master Worlds next year in Thailand, and more, so stay tuned.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jbmY9fzYuWoFqppVIY3aMF-jMOur_GZkjL5I_QKyjOCMSAGKkI9T4lWVy2yAzBcjLyIzmowShCbl7W2Q0oEYrPRmD6rAG2vfpskceHR9umH7vRZMoTU5EjPEuGtJlx8eG-J61ay0Iw5wLzVREXrCTmMQ1Ay7iRcbBDDgZt0E4LMOev5CfPt2y_CCkg/s673/Breakfast.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="673" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7jbmY9fzYuWoFqppVIY3aMF-jMOur_GZkjL5I_QKyjOCMSAGKkI9T4lWVy2yAzBcjLyIzmowShCbl7W2Q0oEYrPRmD6rAG2vfpskceHR9umH7vRZMoTU5EjPEuGtJlx8eG-J61ay0Iw5wLzVREXrCTmMQ1Ay7iRcbBDDgZt0E4LMOev5CfPt2y_CCkg/w640-h212/Breakfast.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">On the right, what world champions eat. On the
left, screw it I'm hungry.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89y-EAGs5fUegBvpexecoPq7gtpApAkQtOjTGNvCR7DAnp6fL2G5EuoL78ULoY2icRmJBfcURrcsfGPUynft0lgnRhHEPmbL_fi0miSlVc2Q59znA_oMQgtHR4Y1yZh1DAlssycNd8RT7cfMJpZgxHCvRAKM5yNnfCjHxrsGDXndWR9ZJeldDg6GYTA/s4032/Day7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi89y-EAGs5fUegBvpexecoPq7gtpApAkQtOjTGNvCR7DAnp6fL2G5EuoL78ULoY2icRmJBfcURrcsfGPUynft0lgnRhHEPmbL_fi0miSlVc2Q59znA_oMQgtHR4Y1yZh1DAlssycNd8RT7cfMJpZgxHCvRAKM5yNnfCjHxrsGDXndWR9ZJeldDg6GYTA/w640-h480/Day7.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;">The breakfast crew with 2 world champions: Grand
Master Brett Beyer (AUS) and Apprentice Andres Heredia (ARG). Thanks to Rod
Barnes for insisting that Pam and I continue blogging.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></p><b></b><p></p>Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-78646034291195470422022-06-01T18:59:00.000-07:002022-06-01T19:08:43.227-07:002022 ILCA 7 Master Worlds - Practice Day<p style="text-align: right;"><i> by Pam</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sjZtWDkNkmPNIyz2qxzIiW5txbKWTKZt56womx6ZaaDp1kGWzrt3YGGmImIkH2rRVG2nR3vq-67cy9_FX9jqzljiRStPVgDqt0kRhKLJfA9waZ-fkTetW6eNd9yDLhTa8AGKlpZ1yk7big0hUfVtsFKnwNSFMCjvrJReeJo9LLBWAhV6hgZ7dZwcvw/s4032/2022%20OC.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7sjZtWDkNkmPNIyz2qxzIiW5txbKWTKZt56womx6ZaaDp1kGWzrt3YGGmImIkH2rRVG2nR3vq-67cy9_FX9jqzljiRStPVgDqt0kRhKLJfA9waZ-fkTetW6eNd9yDLhTa8AGKlpZ1yk7big0hUfVtsFKnwNSFMCjvrJReeJo9LLBWAhV6hgZ7dZwcvw/w400-h300/2022%20OC.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Practice Day and Opening Ceremony. Doug's room is on the bottom floor and walking out his front door puts him about 6 feet from the boats. The yacht club and launch ramp are just a few steps away.</div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">They were under a postponement waiting for the breeze to come in. Doug decided to retreat to his room and take a nap and wait for the horn and the postponement flag going down. He thinks he is a light sleeper (he's not) and would hear the horn. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Needless to say, he woke up and realized it was kind of quiet, stepped outside and all the boats were gone. So, he rushed to launch and said there was a strong breeze and he actually tipped in the harbor trying to get out. Next, he encountered 4 to 5 foot waves, not rollers but full on waves. He said more than once he had the thought 'I shouldn't be out here.' I'm a little worried for him.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I was talking with him as he headed out to the Opening Ceremony and he had to immediately double back and get his mask. He said it's really impressive, everyone is wearing a mask. When checking in and waiting in line, they actually have people going through and telling people to back up for social distancing. Quite a change from the United States, especially Texas. I'm thankful for it.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Really wish I was there. Here is a video of one of the tigers at the hotel carrying around its newly acquired purse. I guess someone got too close?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='562' height='467' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwL2-3BkfSw9nrS85-bGj08SLDENStgySTlGn6bmLnS2P_xHIhGQ11iWM82VQGD0CzswnYrSqz858GiyKFMmg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-24773893353797865432022-05-29T21:28:00.005-07:002022-05-30T01:07:15.420-07:00We're Back??<p style="text-align: right;"> <span> </span><i>by Pam</i></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz1lsX2LVrV27BZHrOn0HRERoQ9oPrtSdTw8w2CpYrxvicwVgj4jp4R5DKyHr9v1Hffg9dmbcurb6-USO8h64pHgHePd4r5RN4NEGZwXrWna4bAj1BlR49EqMLa43ZEDfI3ns7Z8mJAKAtipDdSpmh2b7sIT-x_DsXqDDr6iR-A7LvfvTyIYDCZExUw/s1080/Show%20up.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnz1lsX2LVrV27BZHrOn0HRERoQ9oPrtSdTw8w2CpYrxvicwVgj4jp4R5DKyHr9v1Hffg9dmbcurb6-USO8h64pHgHePd4r5RN4NEGZwXrWna4bAj1BlR49EqMLa43ZEDfI3ns7Z8mJAKAtipDdSpmh2b7sIT-x_DsXqDDr6iR-A7LvfvTyIYDCZExUw/w320-h320/Show%20up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Geesh, it's been so long since we blogged that it was a struggle just to log back into the account. Doug is in Mexico getting ready to sail in the <strike>Laser</strike> ILCA 7 Master Worlds. I'm sitting this one out (supporting from home) and already regretting the decision. However, Doug's body will likely be in shock in a few days and he may be regretting the decision to go. We did not just stop blogging, we stopped sailing, and we got old, fat, and slow and we're finding that it's a long road back. The reason for the break is the usual: work/family obligations and a work/life imbalance. We've both been back on the water since the beginning of the year with Doug having to take a break for a couple of months to go care for a relative of mine in need. Each time we sail, we are shocked at how little it takes to completely wipe us out. Never stop sailing!! It's the beginning of the end and getting back to sailing shape when you are older is feeling like a monumental task. </div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;">So, to catch up ... we skipped the Master Worlds in the Netherlands for a work/holiday trip to Switzerland. No regrets as we had some much needed down time. We planned to attend the Master Worlds in Australia and Doug went a week early and landed the day before the event was cancelled due to the pandemic. He spent more time in the air than on the ground for that one and flew back with a man coughing next to him the whole way. Not fun but he did get to see some old friends. After flying all the way to Australia only to have the Worlds cancelled, when the Spain Worlds were scheduled, then delayed, we betted on it ultimately being cancelled and Doug did not even register. So after three missed Worlds, even though Doug got diverted to Colorado and is not ready for Mexico, there was no way he was sitting this one out and was able to register late. Game on! </p><p style="text-align: justify;">As to Covid, we are less concerned about it these days. We both got Covid sitting at home in our pajamas before vaccinations were available. A sewage leak necessitated workers in the house and despite being super careful, they brought us Covid. We both got vaccinated, then boosted and then Doug went to Colorado to take care of my relative and I went into the office for just one day for the first time since the pandemic began and got Covid again. Doug got boosted again before heading to Mexico. We feel like we're as protected as we can be and are not among those that get serious illness. It wasn't fun and is still scary to think what is now lurking in our bodies that might turn on us some day but it's the card we drew. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Stay tuned for Doug's Worlds journaling. He ran into a fellow in the lobby as he was checking in who had just sailed in the ILCA 7 Men's World Championship, who finished in the top 10, and asked how it went. I believe the word he used was that it was tough. Doug asked where the guys in front were making their gains, upwind or downwind, and he said both. Looks like doing well at this event will require fitness upwind and technique downwind. Not sure Doug is ranking very high in either of those categories so his report may be observations from the rear rather than tips from the middle or front. But I'm sure he'll chat with those at the front and see what they might be willing to share.</p>Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-88396316799947291742019-03-13T02:55:00.000-07:002019-03-13T04:20:41.486-07:00How the Laser Rigs Work (and and can be improved)<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: grey; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">By Julian Bethwaite</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fI1l07LGIh4/XIjm-cdCJxI/AAAAAAAAH54/3NWGdYUSVHw4TUPjgil7By0U8FkChE4wACLcBGAs/s1600/image%2B%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="602" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fI1l07LGIh4/XIjm-cdCJxI/AAAAAAAAH54/3NWGdYUSVHw4TUPjgil7By0U8FkChE4wACLcBGAs/s640/image%2B%25281%2529.png" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For calculating the Righting Movement and counter Righting Movement</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 11pt;">99% of new design is from top down. I’m big (95kgs) and when
being asked to design for 45-60kgs your first reaction is to scale down.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">But I am also lucky in that we tried to do that, with Takao
Otani San (PSJ owner) for the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29er_(dinghy)">29er</a> and we learned that
it did not work. The 29er is not a scaled down <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/49er_(dinghy)">49er</a>, rather it is its
own unique design and that’s possibly why 29ers are so much faster than the
49er at the extreme.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">To appreciate the design, here are some of the terms we use
when designing a rig:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">CoE</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> is
the Centre of Effort, the point on the sail where all the forces are
resolved.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">CLR</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> is
the Centre of Lateral Resistance, the point (in the case of a skiff) in
the centreboard where the forces are resolved.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lead</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">
is when the CoE is in front of the CLR (causes lee helm).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Trail</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">
is when the CoE is behind the CLR (causes weather helm).<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Laser Rigs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">So, when we started to get bogged down with the new C5 rig,
Takao suggested that we forget about “Flame rigs” and go right back to first
principals. We did an analysis on the Standard Laser Rig, the Radial Rig and
the 4.7 Rig. We knew the 4.7 was great in a breeze which is why it has been so
successful in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>, but it’s poor in light
air and with that in mind, we looked at hundreds of photos of Laser rigs and
also of people sailing them. We also had lots of data from Olympic Gold
Medalist <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Burton_(sailor)"><span style="color: blue;">Tom Burton</span></a>
from a program called SailEQ which is an analytical program under development.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We used the Standard Rig as a base line, and we determined
that a well-sailed Laser was sailed at 6</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">°</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> heel, mostly to keep the skipper’s butt out of the
water. We also determined that the Lead was about 130mm. In a boat sailed flat,
this would lead to lee-helm but because a Laser is sailed at 6</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">° this results
in the well known weather-helm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">What we found with the 4.7 Rig
was this Lead was upwards of 300mm so in lower winds with the skipper sitting
upright and the boat is less than </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">6</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">° heel, and without mainsheet tension pulling the
CoE aft, you do get lee-helm and that has always felt awkward.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Laser’s have Leads because when
the boat is heeled at </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">6</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">° it
wants to round up. A 49er has Trail because it’s sailed flat there is no round
up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The Rudder and Centerboard<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The centerboard is
designed to resist sideways movement while the rudder is designed to steer the
boat. These are very different functions, so it's not smart to load the rudder
up completely, but you are dragging it through the water and less than 5% of
the time its steering, so you may as well make it do something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Therefore we load
it about half of the side pressure that you would on the centerboard. In a perfect
world, you set up the boat to carry about 23-24kgs on the centerboard and about
2.5kgs on the rudder. So a gust hits, it automatically wants to “feather” to
head up without putting an excessive load on the rudder (too much steering is
like throwing a bucket over the transom, hence a “bucket curve”).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DmDvrBYzOhs/XIjM4BTbfPI/AAAAAAAAH5c/abiHlRYt9kwmCQAJUrZ2AUSU9QAGmqSWwCLcBGAs/s1600/bc3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="379" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DmDvrBYzOhs/XIjM4BTbfPI/AAAAAAAAH5c/abiHlRYt9kwmCQAJUrZ2AUSU9QAGmqSWwCLcBGAs/s640/bc3.jpg" width="510" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is close to a Laser’s rudder. Above 2.2° the drag jumps, so the trick is to keep the rudder “in the bucket.”</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">In a breeze, the kids in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> are good, they strap their sails down to the deck
pulling the CoE aft, and they sail often at heels far greater than </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">6</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">° that reduces the weather helm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The next thing we found when we
actually measured the area, a 4.7 is not 4.7m² it’s actually a little under
5.1m². In fact, we found all 3 Laser rigs are understated. It all depends on
how you measure the area, and to be honest the area is just a number, what’s
important is that you use the same system across the whole design spectrum.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Lessons from Other Rigs<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Next bit gets interesting because
we already knew that if you reduced weight aloft, as in going to a mast like a
carbon rig, you have to increase sail area or you will skew the rig to lighter
weights. With the 49er we tacked on 170mm of mast height and about 1.5m² onto
the total mainsail area of 19m². But with the 49er we also wanted to increase
crew weight from </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">fabout 148-152kgs to 165kgs</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> and to date, that’s exactly what’s
happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We also had the Flame rig data
and to a lesser extent information from the 29erC<span style="color: red;"> </span>rig.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgawOf46Erc/XIiALDT9Q1I/AAAAAAAAH48/G4ycr0V-lSU1iQApFaT2CRrBQFXqUilYgCLcBGAs/s1600/Flame.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="631" data-original-width="389" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vgawOf46Erc/XIiALDT9Q1I/AAAAAAAAH48/G4ycr0V-lSU1iQApFaT2CRrBQFXqUilYgCLcBGAs/s1600/Flame.png" /></a></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We knew we had to up the sail area,
approx. 10%, so say 0.5m² was about the target, but we decided to hold that
down to 0.4m² because the target market was smaller Asians and it also allowed
us to reduce the mast height. So even though there was more area, the Arm
(distance between CoE & CLR vertically) actually reduced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">To be honest, I don’t know
where we ended up, because empirical testing always trumps theoretical but my
guess is we are at 5.4 – 5.5m².<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Fine Tuning<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">By this stage, we were
committed to a square head at the top of the sail, but the big issue with a
square head is how big should the length of the top batten be. If it’s too
big/long then you have to use excessive downhaul tension to make it reactive.
Too short, and it may as well be a pin-head rig and you lose all the
advantages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">The big advantage of a
square-head over a pin-head is the mast bend is only half! Long term, this leads
to a near indefinite mast life. It also reduces problems with hoisting the main
and having overly hooked leaches in light airs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ian MacDiarmid and I worked on
this along with mast stiffness and position of the bend so that we could end up
with reasonable downhaul tensions which allows us a wide range of crew weights
and without excessive vang loads. We reduced foot lengths, but the big breakthrough
was being able to “splice” (grind) the mast at deck level. This allowed us to
drop the whole mast further aft, it allowed us to use a stiffer topmast, and it
got the Lead down into the 120-130mm in all wind ranges. All this made the helm
feel good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Later, Takao made some
unilateral decisions to reduce the “splice” to reduce the helm when sailed at </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">6</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">° and Clive Watts (<a href="https://www.cstcomposites.com/">CST</a> owner) was able to deliver us a
“kinked” mast at deck level and that reduced weight and cost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Late last year, Takao and I
played with vang lengths which allows us control over lower mast camber. Sure,
we threw away some booms that had become Swiss cheese and the lower mast of the
now C8, it’s quite hard to believe it’s still standing but we had something
really special.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uS_5Ga9NuZg/XIjNZNNfE_I/AAAAAAAAH5o/asMU24MA6b8JMUyyLPQWNYoIaiORRsYFgCEwYBhgL/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="711" height="640" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uS_5Ga9NuZg/XIjNZNNfE_I/AAAAAAAAH5o/asMU24MA6b8JMUyyLPQWNYoIaiORRsYFgCEwYBhgL/s640/unnamed.png" width="284" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The original C8 mast now has about 40 holes in it from
various fitting configurations, what you are<br />seeing here is three versions ago.
Quite amazing the mast is still standing.</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">
In February, I happened to be in Longchi, China, working on the 29erC rigs and I watched two smallish Chinese girls struggling with a 4.7 rig. Everything Takao had talked about was there in front of my eyes.
The precise
Standard Laser Rig Lead is 136.83mm but would obviously be less than that with
the main sheeted hard down. The precise 4.7 Rig Lead is 295.84, more than
double. B</span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11pt;">y splicing the mast
and going to a square head, we got that back to about the same spot so the boat
feels so much better.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: 11.0pt;">We have the splice at 7.5° in this, we ended up less after
Takao opted for less weather helm, we also ended up a bit bigger than this
shows, with longer cord lengths. I need to re-do those measurements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-78367470018268405272019-03-06T21:40:00.000-08:002019-03-07T16:22:37.939-08:00The New Laser Rigs Explained<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Laser
class is now more than 50 years old and some are trying to cash in on the
inevitable improvements that the class will take. The best candidates by far
IMHO are the rigs being developed in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:city>
under the leadership of Julian Bethwaite. I’ve know Julian for more than 45
years and we’re pleased to share the development process that will help keep
the Lasers class relevant. The C-Rigs are the new family of rigs, and the process
started with the C5 for people currently using the Laser Radial…<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<i><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="803" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnGFfwx9Wh4/XICteTSAUPI/AAAAAAAAH3w/BDBEiX-6FJo-L-cvORPzVz7FbTUbjjV-QCLcBGAs/s640/image.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2016 drawing and turning point for understanding the 4.7 problem</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KnGFfwx9Wh4/XICteTSAUPI/AAAAAAAAH3w/BDBEiX-6FJo-L-cvORPzVz7FbTUbjjV-QCLcBGAs/s1600/image.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span></a></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: grey; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">By Julian Bethwaite<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s been about 4 months since Eric Faust (ILCA Executive
Secretary) showed the C5 <a href="https://vimeo.com/282617100" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">video</span></a> at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sarasota</st1:place></st1:city>,
which was then shown on Sailing Anarchy, Scuttlebutt and other social media
platforms. Some suggested that I should not add facts to spoil a good
conspiracy theory.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s time to just set the record straight so the
conversation can be re-centred. C-Rigs, as they have become known, spun out of
a far more comprehensive rig development project that Up Marine started in
2012. In chronological order:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Up
Marine is a disruptive <st1:place w:st="on">Hong Kong</st1:place> company that
decided to use the Laser because of its vast success and its simplicity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In
2014, Chris Caldecott (GM, PSA) learned about the project and asked if we
could ‘screw’ the development to generate a new carbon rig for the Laser.
MoU’s were generated and we altered focus a little. At the November ILCA
conference, Chris showed photos and reported on the development.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">In 2015,
an <a href="https://patentimages.storage.googleapis.com/7d/c6/f6/bce8b257a144ca/WO2017201580A1.pdf">International Patent</a> was filed by Up Marine and has been subsequently granted as a
unique and novel invention. T</span>he ILCA conference in October reviewed the larger C8 rig, liked it, and
the focus changed from the C8 to the smaller C5 and the issues of the
lighter Asians. At the time, 4.7 rig was hugely successful in <st1:place style="font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on">Europe</st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> but not elsewhere. Hugh Leicester (VP ILCA),
Chris Caldecott and I met in </span><st1:place style="font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sydney</st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
and the C5 progress was called exciting. The development process to date
included 28 masts, and 4 sails, with testing by sailors that included Tom
Burton, Gerard West, Brett Perry and many others. At this point, the
project was nicknamed Flame Rig.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZSwsW0yOAY/XICrAlD9RiI/AAAAAAAAH3o/RZf6ll6oFZwmbYyH-y00t_B4_6unLc_YwCEwYBhgL/s1600/e319f584ccc6adb7365d6c2185eed838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: 11pt; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="666" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SZSwsW0yOAY/XICrAlD9RiI/AAAAAAAAH3o/RZf6ll6oFZwmbYyH-y00t_B4_6unLc_YwCEwYBhgL/s640/e319f584ccc6adb7365d6c2185eed838.jpg" width="532" /></a></span><br />
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In
2016, Tracy Usher (ILCA President) flew to </span><st1:place style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sydney</st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> for one day to sail the C8.
Subsequent meeting Tracy, Hugh, Chris and myself started to map out a
process but at this stage, the Asian issue and the lack of traction of the
4.7 started to come to the fore. Mid-year, lead builder started to move
from PSA to PSJ, mostly due to the physical stature of the principals.
Chris is 95kgs, whereas Takao Otani San (PSJ owner) is significantly
lighter.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><div style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">Takao and I had met in </span><st1:city style="font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Montreal</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
in 1978 under the watchful eye of the late and great Ian Bruce and we had
become lifelong friends. Takao was pivotal in the 49er and 29er programs
being a founding partner. The 29er just would not have happened without
Takao, so there was considerable history between the two of us.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">By late 2016 a complete re-thinking of the smaller rig had started and we tested
various breakthroughs, the biggest one was the spliced mast which allowed
us to get the Centre of Effort in the right place WRT the CLR (centre of
lateral resistance) which in turn leads to weather helm (or in this case
lack of it) without ridiculous mast bend, which leads to longevity and
ease of pulling the mainsail up.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In 2017,
the C5 was being sailed at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Sydney</st1:city></st1:place>’s
RSYS by their junior program and a continuous development program led to fitting
development evolved at a rapid pace. There’s nothing quite like arms
length testing. There were various meetings between Tracy, Eric, the late
Jeff Martin, Takao and myself, mostly at World Sailing conferences.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">In
2018, Takao tested the new C5 rig in </span><st1:city style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
in windy conditions. Takao had not seen the larger C8 so I sailed it.
Videos were sent back to Tracy and the ILCA. In March, Up Marine and PSJ
entered into a contractual arrangement for the C-Rigs. Midyear, Tracy and
Eric traveled to </span><st1:city style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:city><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
to see the C5 and the “talking head clips” that you see in the video were
done then.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><div style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">A C5 rig was flown to </span><st1:place style="font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Japan</st1:country-region></st1:place><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
for Takao to test in the local market. That lead to some subtle but
significant modifications. There was also a meeting at the Sarasota World
Sailing Conference between Takao, Tracy, Chris, Jeff, Eric and myself about
introducing the C5. Late in the year, the ILCA/ALCA decided to test the C5
nationally in </span><st1:country-region style="font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Australia</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-size: 11pt;">.
Ken Hurling (ALCA President, ILCA VP) fully supported the project.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14.6667px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">The C5 rig then went to </span><st1:state style="font-size: 11pt;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Tasmania</st1:place></st1:state><span style="font-size: 11pt;">
so Sarah Kenny (Chair of WS Events) to be sailed by as many kids as possible,
and then more testing and refinements with the C6 by Takao, Ian
MacDiarmid.</span></div>
</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The last four months has been chaotic. We knew that if you
are going to have a family of rigs, then you need to have plans for all of them. For
example:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
decided that a rigs should be small enough to fly on commercial flights. The
C5 and C6 are relatively easy but the larger C8 was more complicated because
it involves three pieces.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CST
owner Clive Watts has developed a new technique to “kink” the mandrel in
the winding process, so it comes off the machine finished.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHooy0vcEjg/XIG0FRKyHkI/AAAAAAAAH38/U5TYguff3cUgmgEKVUk9-IApVxic3_xJgCLcBGAs/s1600/Kink.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="520" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHooy0vcEjg/XIG0FRKyHkI/AAAAAAAAH38/U5TYguff3cUgmgEKVUk9-IApVxic3_xJgCLcBGAs/s400/Kink.png" width="310" /></a></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ILCA
wanted the C5 rig with a full specification “suitable for the LCM" (Laser Construction Manual) so they
engaged Clive Humphries (ILCS tech officer) to generate the whole spec.
Clive traveled to <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>
with Ian to oversee the whole sailmaking process, he also liaised with
Clive Watts about the mast making process, and has a full set of drawings/3D files.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Two
days ago, Chris, Ian, Clive Watts and I put every rig in a Laser and
checked the whole process and then sent the C5, C6 and C8 rigs to <st1:country-region w:st="on">Valencia</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Italy</st1:place></st1:country-region> as an insurance policy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The
plan is to produce 100 C5 rigs for Australia over the next 4 months and scatter
them across the country with a few leaking into Asia and no doubt to other
parts to test the whole process that we have gone through to ensure that
these rigs are ready for the market. Specifics about how PSA will do this
can be read at the <a href="http://www.lasersdownunder.com/wp-content/uploads/2018_19_ALCA_AGM_2019_Minutes_V3_With_Reports.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">ALCA Annual General Meeting</span></a>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li>
</ul>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arms-length testing is critical, we have learnt that time
and time again, nothing beats it. From my point of view, the C5 is near perfect
as a final product.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Takao and I have sail the C6 but I have not seen a young
60kg girl or boy sail it. The C6 has been sailed extensively with glowing
reports, but we need more testing to be sure. The plan is to make five C6 rigs
for testing this year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve sailed the larger C8 in everything from 5 – 30 knots,
have tried to break it, and have tested it capsizing. We’re not done with the
“checked luggage” solution yet, but the rig looks good. Chris believes it’s
“fit for purpose!” The plan is again to make five C8 rigs for testing this
year.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The feedback from Ken, the analysis of the feedback coming
from social media, particularly the interest coming from Asia in particular for
the smaller C5 tell me that Tracy and the ILCA/ALCA have hit the nail right on
the head. This has all been a clever, think outside the box, structured plan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There will always be change, and change is always painful.
But if done well, it will always leads to significant up-side. For example, the
Radial rig and the Carbon rig on the 49er/FX both have led to significant
growth in their respective classes. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">It will be a busy year.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 6.0pt;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Julian Bethwaite</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sydney, Australia<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-61039540229312621892019-02-09T18:34:00.000-08:002019-02-09T18:34:46.103-08:00New Laser Carbon Rigs - and Update<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: #666666;">By Doug</span></i></div>
This year, the Laser is 50 years old. It's truly amazing how well Bruce Kirby's design and Ian Bruce's production techniques have stood the test of time. But change is inevitable and the Mark II sail was an attempt to extend the life of Bruce's original design.<br />
<br />
This year we'll see the introduction of brand new carbon rigs that will extend the life of the class. There are several firms working on different designs, the following are by far the best we have seen. Watch this space for pricing and availability.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V6324jIEeqk/XF-MT2Zd8WI/AAAAAAAAH1A/vDv1RhQ60OYNyS23yvCwyMIZZuWFvI4bgCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190207_125119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-V6324jIEeqk/XF-MT2Zd8WI/AAAAAAAAH1A/vDv1RhQ60OYNyS23yvCwyMIZZuWFvI4bgCEwYBhgL/s640/20190207_125119.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHGRokQOM8A/XF-MUiGJ6HI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/n3yIXJr-AQMekd90_WwbA8W3ikPTj4V9wCEwYBhgL/s1600/20190207_133214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zHGRokQOM8A/XF-MUiGJ6HI/AAAAAAAAH1Q/n3yIXJr-AQMekd90_WwbA8W3ikPTj4V9wCEwYBhgL/s640/20190207_133214.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ns0RPDNNM6M/XF-MUpQLwfI/AAAAAAAAH1E/StIiDOqE3Zk3qFizXOv3EKIKDNNU09WKACLcBGAs/s1600/20190207_135106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ns0RPDNNM6M/XF-MUpQLwfI/AAAAAAAAH1E/StIiDOqE3Zk3qFizXOv3EKIKDNNU09WKACLcBGAs/s640/20190207_135106.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br />Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-17107576547446661132018-11-10T09:20:00.000-08:002018-11-10T09:39:38.648-08:00New kid in town?<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ldu_IZFW_CE" width="560"></iframe>
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Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-86877018782849519732018-10-29T18:01:00.000-07:002022-05-31T21:24:54.844-07:002018 Laser Master World Championships (Dublin, Ireland)<br />
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "arial";">By Doug<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: grey; font-family: "arial";"><br /></span></i></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWAYg7Ij4us/W8PRn5w-CsI/AAAAAAAAHw8/-Ft_TCvEKOQXh0FmRdyli1b9_h0Cfre9QCLcBGAs/s1600/DSC01947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WWAYg7Ij4us/W8PRn5w-CsI/AAAAAAAAHw8/-Ft_TCvEKOQXh0FmRdyli1b9_h0Cfre9QCLcBGAs/s640/DSC01947.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On a rare day that was not windy.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">At the 2018 Laser Master
Worlds, we met again to do battle. My GGM fleet is one of the smallest with just
16 competitors <i>but</i> between them they have won 22 world championships in
4 different classes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">I trained hard for this Worlds,
spending a total of 157 hours on the water and more than 7 hours on my hiking
bench. The best part of my training was attending Brett Beyer’s downwind clinic at
the <a href="https://internationalsailingacademy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">ISA</span></a>, and that part paid big dividends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">But most of the other
training was on my own on a small <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dallas</st1:place></st1:city>
lake, and this is no longer a winning combination. The best in my fleet were
race-hardened, had better upwind speed, and either lived in the conditions that
we sailed in or were basically full-time sailors. In my opinion, that’s what it will take to win a Master Worlds from now on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">The decision to attend
Brett’s pre-worlds clinic was a good one as it helped get a feeling for
practicing with other good sailors, but the conditions for the actual Worlds
were very different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Day 1: The forecast was
15-25, but it maxed out over 30. Like all of the days that followed, the
temperatures rarely got to 60F (15C).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 1: Pam was on the
finishing boat and when she was leaving the harbor it was gusting up to 25. Once
on the course, the race committee apparently considered sending us in. The GGMs
were the last to start and I missed the shift and was at the wrong boat end and
not the pin. Ouch. Tried to play shifts to catch up but left paid. Wolfgang
Gerz (GER) was leading at the first mark but could not quite round it
(current?) and stalled out, losing several places. Mark Bethwaite (AUS) took
the lead while I rounded 8<sup>th</sup>. We’re sailing the inner trapezoid and are
close to shore, so it was playing survival vs. playing the small waves. I chose
the former. The positions did not change until the second run when the gusts
started to hit 30. At the bottom of the second run I jibed, lost control and
flipped. Finished 8<sup>th</sup>. Mark has been training for several months in <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place> and won in his usual impressive style.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 2: Pin favored and a
good start there and surprisingly I rolled Mark as we went
left. It was close at the first mark with Wolfgang again leading. Rounded 3<sup>rd</sup>. On the run, we were hit by a monster puff and I dared not bear off but just tried to stay
upright. Ended 200 meters off the rhumb line which cost several places as
others were better at managing the hard, cold breeze. At the bottom mark,
Wolfgang had a good lead going left and I again tried to play the shifts to
move up. On one tack my boat stalled because of really tight vang and I went
into irons. I jumped into the water to swim the boat around onto port but it slowly tipped
on top of me. Lost more places (note to self – in irons, let the vang off). On the
top reach and run things for me were survival conditions, and several of the leaders
tipped on the run (Mark once and Wolfgang four times). Pam was watching from
the finish boat taking videos and lots of people were tipping just trying cross
the line. I finished a poor 9<sup>th</sup> just behind Mark. On the way in getting
to the ramp was challenging with the offshore breeze and I tipped two more
times in the harbor. It was cold and Mark said that he was close to being
hypothermic. Many seasoned sailors commented that this was the toughest
conditions they had sailed in. And there was lots more wind in the forecast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Day 2: The temperature
remained in the 50’s and the wind built from the forecasted 15 to one gust that
was recorded at 35. My GGM fleet was on the water for 5 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 3: Being close to
shore, there were some pretty big shifts and the wind went right just before
the start, so I squeezed between Mark and the committee boat to get away
cleanly. Played a few shifts but had problems tacking with the really tight
vang (note to<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>self, let the vang off
before tacking in a gust). The GMs were on the same course and we had to thread
through the 62 boats coming down the run and many were out of control, so it
was crazy. My speed was about the same as Mark with him footing and me pointing
a little higher in the waves. Rounded in 5<sup>th</sup> with Wolfgang again
leading. The positions were unchanged until the bottom of the second run. Where
we rounded in a hard gust and I did not have time to get set up with tighter
controls for the bottom reach. It was a screamer and being way over powered
allowed John Dawson-Edwards (CAN) and Alan Keen (RSA) to pass below me, so I finished
7<sup>th</sup> just behind Mark, John and Alan. Being better prepared could
have saved me 3 points.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 4: It was now very pin
favored so I started 3 up with Wolfgang and Mark below. There was no line sight
because the open <st1:place w:st="on">North Sea</st1:place> and clouds were all
gray, so it was one of those hope-I-was-not-over starts. We went left until
Wolfgang below said “let’s tack” so the three of us led the fleet on a long
port tack to the mark where Mark, Wolfgang, and I rounded in a tight group. On
the run, Wolfgang caught a few more waves and rounded in the lead. The wind was
still left so it was a long port tack to the second windward mark. Our
positions were unchanged. The top reach was another screamer and I buried to
bow to fill up the cockpit which allowed Michael Hicks (GBR) to catch up. On
the run, he was still gaining and went left so, trying something different, I
jibed to sail by the lee. Our speed was very similar and he got me on mark room
at the bottom of the run. I tried to pass but he defended well, so it was Wolfgang,
Mark, Michael, and then me at the finish.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Day 3: Groundhog day with
the same conditions – temperatures trying to reach 60F (15C), gusts in the
30’s, and Wolfgang wining 2 more races<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 5: The leaders chose to
start at the boat but I was sure that the pin was favored so I headed there. It
was strange to start so far away from the best sailors in our fleet. Started at
the pin and waited for the 2 on my hip to tack before tacking onto a big lift. Saw
the rest of the fleet in the window of my sail… life is good so far. We weaved through
the other fleet coming down on a run and I rounded a close second behind
Charles Campion (GBR). Using the technique I learned at Brett’s downwind
clinic, I passed him to take the lead, but the series leader Wolfgang pulled even
with me (he too was at the downwind clinic). He took the right gate and I took
the left. Playing the shifts, I crossed Wolfgang and he tracked to cover me on
starboard. His speed was better and at the mark, Wolfgang, Charles, and Michael
Hicks (GBR) were ahead at the top of the second beat. We stayed even on the top
reach and I used Brett’s downwind techniques on the final run to pass Michael
to finish 3<sup>rd</sup>, my best race of the event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 6: Pin favored this
time with the entire fleet, started 5 up with Mark and Wolfgang at the pin. I
seemed to be out of phase compared with others and rounded 7<sup>th</sup>. On
the run, had really good speed and passed both Alan and Mark. At the bottom of
the run with big waves, people were taking the right gate to avoid jibing. Mark
was close behind and inside, so I called “you have room” and prepared to round quite wide. But there was no Mark, just a loud sailing term that
starts with the letter “f” (later learned that he buried the bow, filled with
water, and had an unplanned jibe). On the long starboard tack to the left, I
tried something that Brett suggested – hard vang and footing through the waves
but for me it did not work and I could not point. At the top mark, was even
with Alan and he led at the end of the top reach. Still in 6<sup>th</sup>. On
the second run, things got hairy – in one gust, a wave hit me and I was knocked
out of the boat. With my toes still in the hiking strap, I was dragged in the
water trying to get back into the boat. Neither bearing off to get speed nor
pulling in the mainsheet to head up gave me enough pressure on the centerboard
to get in. After several gulps of sea water and what seemed like about a
minute, I was able to get going again. Exhausted and in second to last, I took
it easy to the finish. Still in 8<sup>th</sup> place overall, dragging my butt
cost me 3 points and 2 places in the standings.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Day 4: A little sunnier and
the top gust was just 30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial;">Race 7: With two minutes to
go, I pulled really hard on the downhaul and… it broke. It took 5 minutes to fix
so I got to watch this race.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 8: Was pin favored with
Mark, Wolfgang, and me starting there. After a few minutes, Jorge Abreu (DOM)
started to roll me, so I tacked. The long port tack took us close to the mark
and the boats that went left rounded ahead, so I as in 7<sup>th</sup>. On the
run, I pulled even with Mark who took the left gate while I took the right.
Half way up the second beat, he would have crossed me but instead tacked onto
port in front. We were slamming into the waves and Mark, according to Brett, is
one of the best at steering through them. So I watched as he pulled about 8 boat
lengths ahead. At the starboard tack layline, he tacked and I followed. And
then something happened that neither of us could later figure out – I out
pointed him so that he had to put in two additional tacks to round just behind
me. We stayed even on the top reach and then he tried to pass on the run by
going to windward of me and then carving back to the right. Using some of the
techniques learned from Brett, I was able to hold him off on the run and then
bottom reach. Finished 5<sup>th</sup> but back on shore learned that I was over
the line at the start and was scored UFD. Normally I’d be disappointed with a
DNC and UFD for the day, but I’m not in the running and am pleased with my new
downwind speed that Brett taught me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Day 5: Rain and then
clearing, top gust 28<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 9: Started close to the
pin, went left, and hit the first shift. As with most races, the fleet stayed
together. I played some shifts and took the lead on the port tack layline with
a tight group rounding just behind. On the run, Wolfgang pulled even and was
heading straight for the downwind gate. Looking upwind, there was pressure on
the left and the tight group was going to miss it, so I moved downwind of the
pressure and Mark followed. But as we learned several times, some of the
pressure never comes and we both lost 7 places!! Note to self – stay with the
leaders! We tried to catch them but they had too much speed in these
conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 10: Started again close
to the pin and started to get rolled, so tacked. Worked the middle of the
course and got even with the front row. But being tired with the really tight vang, my life
jacket caught on the boom and I tipped again. Once up again, was 50 meters
behind the front row that had good speed and stayed in phase, so was unable to
catch them. Finished 10.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Day 6: Very light conditions
from the south and not offshore. Lots of current.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Race 11: The fleet started
at the committee boat, tacked, and went right. I footed under Mark to take the
lead and then he tacked onto starboard. The fleet followed and Mark had a huge
lead as we fought the current in a dying breeze before the race was abandoned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">There was a long delay and
the current was taking us from the race area back to the harbor where we would
have to de-rig, return our charger boats, have them inspected, and then prepare
for the closing ceremonies. As the 3:00 deadline approached, there was one more
fleet before us and it got away a few minutes before the deadline, so most of
us decided to keep heading back to the harbor. We later learned that our fleet
had in fact started after 3:00 with just 5 boats on the line. Mark, Wolfgang,
and I were not one of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">With a breakdown, UFD, and
DNS, this was not one of my best W</span><span style="font-family: "arial";">orlds, but there was lots to
learn from. </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">What worked:</span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Attending Brett’s downwind and pre-worlds
clinics really helped with downwind speed and race planning.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Pam had been well-prepared for the cold weather.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">The equipment, help launching, and event management were all excellent.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">My conditioning was good, that was not the
problem.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial";">Areas for improvement:</span></div>
<ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Practicing a few hours each week on Dallas lakes
will no longer work. This may sound obvious, but the best practice is in
the conditions of the event. Those that did had the best finishes in our fleet.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">My upwind speed use to be good, but needs a lot
more work.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Relying on the compass rather than sticking with
the fleet was a mistake. I also think that it’s time to switch to one of
the new digital compasses.</span></li>
</ul>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-6692382504956333172018-10-05T20:56:00.000-07:002022-05-31T21:23:44.363-07:00Laser Master Worlds de-brief<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">Brett Beyer just won his 13th Laser Master Worlds and would like
to share how he did it and what he learned. For those who saw how dominant Brett was, the following from Brett will be of interest...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNpCMSZxYPw/W7gxsdZLeuI/AAAAAAAAHwk/-VqbgCzN2-IeyfzrvDDANoMcB-01JRRfQCLcBGAs/s1600/a8c84dbc-9646-46a5-a7b1-d0c640a6faf6-840x408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="840" height="310" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oNpCMSZxYPw/W7gxsdZLeuI/AAAAAAAAHwk/-VqbgCzN2-IeyfzrvDDANoMcB-01JRRfQCLcBGAs/s640/a8c84dbc-9646-46a5-a7b1-d0c640a6faf6-840x408.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial";">I am looking at doing the Skype de-brief next Tuesday 9th October,
6am </span><st1:city style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Sydney</st1:place></st1:city><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial";">
time. Cost will be A$120pp and last approx 2 hours.</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">If you cannot make this time, please indicate a future preference
time and if there’s enough interest in Europe and <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">USA</st1:place></st1:country-region> then we can align with these
times and do a separate session.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">The skype format will largely be Q&A based with some
supporting material that I will distribute to the group.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">Just send email to confirm attendance. <a href="mailto:beyersailing@gmail.com" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc;">beyersailing@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-81693181605945276452018-10-04T21:00:00.001-07:002018-10-05T16:26:00.086-07:00Bill Symes: Radial Great Grand Masters World Champion 2018<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: normal;">Bill Symes had
a great regatta at the recent Laser Master Worlds in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Ireland</st1:place></st1:country-region>. The <a href="https://internationalsailingacademy.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">International Sailing Academy’s</span></a> Colin Gowland interviewed
with Bill on how we won, as you’ll see below.</span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></strong></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-weight: normal;">Colin and the
ISA’s Vaughn Harrison are working on a podcast with topics that include going
faster in waves upwind, what's it like at the Olympics on the first day, how to
break through sticking points/progression barriers, mental game aspects, etc.
These guys can help everyone improve so watch for them on Facebook and
Instagram.</span></strong></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0vqkuiDtZc/W7bcCNMLdvI/AAAAAAAAHwU/dbAQuOHJwdsAent_Y9bK9-ykbZyDgFDJgCLcBGAs/s1600/billsmall.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="708" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i0vqkuiDtZc/W7bcCNMLdvI/AAAAAAAAHwU/dbAQuOHJwdsAent_Y9bK9-ykbZyDgFDJgCLcBGAs/s640/billsmall.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Hi, Bill.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, Colin. How are you doing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">I’m doing great. How are you? You had a good trip/regatta?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, yeah. Yeah, it was great. The Worlds
Regatta was great and then we spent a week touring around. We went to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Northern Ireland</st1:country-region></st1:place>
and stayed at this cool little pub called The Brown Trout. Just did a little
bit of rest and recovery for three or four days. And then we came back down to <st1:city w:st="on">Dublin</st1:city> and spent the last three days in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dublin</st1:city></st1:place>, just rocking out with the crowds.
That place is party central.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Really?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbelievable. Yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">That’s phenomenal. I went there on a rugby tour in my youth. Was
a great experience on and off the field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, yeah. It’s a fun town.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill, what are you, a great grand master now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah. I’m half way through my great grand
masterhood. 71-years-old, loving every minute of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
Was it a challenge to keep the body holding together during all that sailing?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Amazingly enough I felt really good throughout
the whole thing. It was a really windy regatta. The first three days especially
it averaged around 20 with puffs around 30 and very shifty, puffy, challenging
conditions. I don’t know why but I felt really good. My energy level was high,
my strength held up, and I just put it down to the fact that I trained more
than 20 days in the gorge this summer, a lot of it was with Andrew Holdsworth.
He moved to <st1:city w:st="on">Seattle</st1:city> in August so he was coming
down here every weekend and we were sailing two or three days out in the Gorge
in almost the exact same condition that we had in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dublin</st1:city></st1:place>. He’s younger, very fit and very fast
in a breeze. (Andrew finished 4th in the Radial Masters Division at Worlds) It
was windy, shifty, puffy. The sea state was very similar, big, short, chop. I
think that by the end of August I had a pretty good comfort level in those
conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">What was your game plan? Did you have a speed advantage out
there? It looked like you had some pretty dominant results. To me, just looking
at that score card that’s what I would think right away. Did you feel like you
had an advantage in boat speed? Or did you have the strategy wired? Or did you
just sail consistently? What was your secret to success or was it a mix of
everything?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
did have a bit of a boat speed advantage. You know what they say about how boat
speed makes you look smart. It made it easy for me to execute everything I
needed to do. I was always able to get off the line clear. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I was usually able to get on to the lifted
tack right away and that was my game plan.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">It was basically to try and
get clear starts, get onto the right tack, and then just cover the fleet. In
most races that’s what happened. I was able to kind of jump out if not into the
lead at least into the first group and stay there to the weather mark. I had a
pretty big speed advantage down wind so if I wasn’t first at the weather mark I
was usually first at the leeward mark. I think that, especially in the Great Grandmasters
fleet, the top guys are pretty fast but a lot of guys are just in survival
mode. I mean, it was blowing pretty hard and the downwinds were pretty crazy,
but I was used to that from my training in the Gorge. I mean, that’s the
conditions we sail in so I felt very comfortable. I was still racing, doing my
turns and going for more and more speed downwind. I think that made a lot of
difference.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">You live in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Portland</st1:city></st1:place>
so your home venue really is the Gorge. That’s got to be a massive advantage
given all the training you did this summer… and over past years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It certainly was for this venue because the
conditions in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dublin</st1:city></st1:place>
turned out to be very, very similar to what I sail in here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Usually when you look at successful sailors in big breeze, they
are typically either the biggest or the fittest or both. You don’t do much
traditional fitness outside of sailing, right? You just go sail in big breeze
and that’s sort of your formula?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty much. I’m not real big on going to the
gym or doing any kind of fitness specific exercise. I’ll ride the bike as much
as I can, try to work on some aerobic fitness, but mostly I just sail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Right. Do you put together sort of an annual plan about how your
sailings going to go for the whole year with the World’s as a goal, or is it
just something you start thinking about a few months before?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">I have a goal and a rough game plan which, as you
know, it’s to spend two or three weeks in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Mexico</st1:place></st1:country-region> in the spring to jump start
my training program. Then, I have a goal of doing 80 days on the water which I
reached – just. (sailed my 80th day the day before Worlds!)<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">80 days, how did you come up with that number?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s just a rule of thumb that I’ve
developed over the years that if I can sail that much especially in challenging
conditions I will definitely… well maybe not definitely… but I will generally
have reached the level of hiking fitness and sailing confidence that I need
going into Worlds. I mean, it’s worked for me over the last few years and so
that’s kind of the recipe I follow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Yeah. And then, you said you did some training in the spring.
What about November, December, January, and February?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t do much. Between now and the new year
I probably won’t sail too much. Maybe here in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Portland</st1:city></st1:place>. We have a Sunday race with our
local fleet, Sunday series. I’ll do that stuff just for fun but I won’t do any
serious training until spring. That usually starts with March or April in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">It’s interesting. I mean, I think since probably you were young
you’ve probably been getting good results in sailing but my observation over
the last four years, is that you’re still getting better. I don’t know if you
feel like you are or not. You mentioned in a past interview that the learning
is something that keeps you coming back and having fun with it. Can you just
speak to that and if you feel like you’re still making progress at 71 years
old, knowing all that you know already?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely. I think I’m sailing better now
than I probably have in my life. Of course, the problem you have as you get
older, is it’s like walking up the down escalator. You have to run faster and
faster just to stay even. Yeah, I just wish I had known what I know now back
when I had the body of a 20-year-old. Aside from just being competitive, I find
it enjoyable again because I am making gains in my sailing speed, especially
downwind. I think in the last couple of years the coaching that I’ve gotten
from Vaughn and from Brett and yourself has just made a huge difference in the
way I sail downwind, and I’ve practiced those techniques a lot – I’ve spent a
lot of time in the Gorge just working on that. It has definitely made a
difference. Plus it’s fun. it’s made Laser sailing more fun because I’m more
comfortable in the boat in more conditions and I just really enjoy sailing it
that way.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">You’ve been around the Master’s fleets at your home club and
internationally and seen a lot of guys train down here. If you were their coach
and they were the average master sailor, let’s just say, what kind of advice
would you give them in terms of should they do to be successful? Replicate more
or less your plan like training 80 days at minimum? How should they do go about
it? Do they identify weaknesses, they get coaching, do they just go race? What
do you think is the best strategy for them?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t really know any other way to do it
than the way I do it, and so I would recommend that. The base of my program is
lots of sailing; not just sailing, but training in good breeze and just logging
the hours. I don’t race that much. I used to try and hit all the big regattas,
I don’t do that anymore. This year I just hit a couple. I did a couple of
winter regattas down in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>,
I did the Master’s North Americans in San Francisco and I did the Laser PCC’s
in the gorge and just a couple of other local regattas in the Northwest. I
don’t travel that much, not as much as I used to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is not to say that it isn’t important to
sail in big competitions, because it is. But I don’t think that has helped me
as much as just the training I do with a couple of fast training partners. I’ve
been lucky to have Andrew living in Seattle now, and also Rob Hodson and Dave
Jursik, a couple of other local guys who were also training for Worlds in the
Gorge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">We just go out and beat each
other up out there and that has, I think, helped me more than traveling around
to all the big regattas. You know, you’ll find a lot of guys that take sort of
the opposite track and try to hit all the big regattas. I’m sure there’s a lot
of value to that, especially for improving starting skills, because that’s the
only way to really practice starting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you know, I think I’m a pretty strong
starter anyway. I don’t feel like that’s a huge weakness, but certainly going
to the big regattas helps that part of your game.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Yeah.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mostly focus, my focus the last few years
has just been on boat speed. I figure if I’m confident in my boat speed, that
pretty much takes care of all the other issues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Right, yeah. Yeah, it is a <em style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">race </span></em>after all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, [laughs].<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">I guess when you say, maybe you don’t do so many regattas, but
you do training, and you said focusing on boat speed with good training
partners, but, what do you do? What do you guys … When you go out to train let’s
say, what do you do out there?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do focus drills, kind of like you do at
ISA. We will do lineups, upwind lineups. This summer, Andrew and I did a lot of
reaching because we both felt that was an area we needed to strengthen. We did
a lot of heavy air reaching, and I definitely improved in that area as a
result. We worked on trim and sail controls. We practiced different vang
tensions, different downhaul and outhaul tensions, different trims, different
ways of steering through the waves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Yea that deliberate practice is something we really promote
here. What else?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just banged away at it. We’d reach across
the river, we’d stop, and regroup, and reach across the river again. We’d do
this nine or ten times in a practice. Like I say, we do the upwind lineups, we
do short racing, we do lots of long downwinds. We do like five mile downwinds
going through the different wave conditions in the Gorge. You’ve got short
mostly flat water at the top of the run, and then as you get down – actually
upriver, but downwind – you get into much bigger, almost oceanic waves. We had
a range of conditions, a range of wind speeds. The training went up and down,
and up and down. We did a little bit of starting practice, focusing on acceleration
and holding a lane, we pretty much try to practice all the fundamentals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Yeah, it sounds like pretty productive session. I think what a
lot of guys tend to do is go out once every couple weeks in the
spring/summer/fall, probably that’s being generous, and then they go out and
just race on Sunday, and do six, seven races, whatever it is, and come back in.
You look at those fleets, and who’s at the top, and who’s at the bottom, and
who’s in the middle, and it’s very rare to see much of a mix up over a period
of years with that kind of approach. I think this is because mostly everyone is
sailing the exact same way they have in the past focusing on “strategy/tactics”
when there is still so much boatspeed and boathandling available for them to
learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, I think you nailed it with that
analysis. It’s common to see that mentality in Laser fleets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">I understand you have a new winter residence now?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">That’s great. Why did you decide to set that up?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, as you know, we’ve been coming down
there for the last three or four years and training at ISA. I just find the
clinics enormously helpful and enormously fun. My wife, Laura-Lee, has fallen
in love with the town of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">La Cruz</st1:city></st1:place>.
It’s just a nice environment. It’s a beautiful site, right on the north <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">shore</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename w:st="on">Banderas</st1:placename></st1:place> Bay. I don’t know, we’ve always
sort of had it in the back of our mind, that it would be nice to have a winter
getaway spot, because in <st1:city w:st="on">Portland</st1:city>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Oregon</st1:state></st1:place> in January and
February can be pretty bleak.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">That just seemed like the
perfect spot. It’s warm, it’s beautiful, it’s close to great Laser sailing. The
quality of the sailing is fantastic. It’s affordable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">It’s certainly easier to buy
a beach front residence in La Cruz than it is in <st1:state w:st="on">Oregon</st1:state>
or <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">California</st1:state></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">No kidding. We’re really happy that you made that decision and
that we’ll get to see more of you down here, and do a bunch more training
together and whatnot. It’s really awesome, congratulations. I’d expect to see
more dedicated sailors making similar investments as the years go on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, we’re looking forward to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">How many clinics did you sail last year at ISA to prep for
Worlds?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I did two in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And one in the Gorge, or most of one in the
Gorge. I also had that little half session in the summer with you and Jonathan
Sherretz.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
Yeah, that’s right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which, you know, it was a really good
year for me in terms of sailing in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>. We just had a lot of
opportunity to get down there and conditions were great. Even the last one in
June we had good conditions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
That was nice, people don’t know necessarily that our wind can stay really nice
here all the way through July.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was great. I really look forward to
more of that in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">What do you think beyond what you do just training on your own,
what do you think what is the value in the clinics that you attend here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it has pushed me to think about Laser
sailing in new ways, think about Laser sailing in new ways. You know, it’s hard
to teach an old dog new tricks, and I’ve been doing this off and on since the
’70s. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">It’s (attending clinics) forced
me to take a much deeper dive into how to sail a Laser, and what are the
factors that you need to be considering to make it go faster.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">I learned a lot from Vaughn,
who really sort of brought home how important apparent wind is. I always, I
think most competitive sailors understand apparent wind, and think about it
when they’re sailing, but he has really helped me understand how important it
is, and how you can use it in the way you think about sail trim, and angle, and
all that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Mm-hmm (affirmative).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think that was a big breakthrough for me.
And clearly the downwind stuff, Vaughn’s technique varies a little bit from
Brett Beyers, but I think both of them have helped me to develop a better
understanding of how to sail the boat downwind. Vaughn’s emphasis on creating
the energy through turning, and Brett’s just a little more nuanced I think,
just pressuring up the rig, and then using that pressure to take it down to the
wave angle. Those are techniques that have really changed my whole sailing
style, and in many ways forced me to break the old mold and learn a new one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
Yeah it’s nice to have different coaches giving perspectives on technique. You
mentioned the conditions here which are obviously a nice thing. What about the
other people training and sort of a camaraderie of it? Do you enjoy that part,
or are you more just down to put your nose to the grindstone and get your
training in? What’s your perspective on that aspect?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely I value the friendships and the
relationships that I get through Laser sailing. Really, that’s what keeps me
coming back to Laser Master Worlds, more than anything, is just that I’ve
gotten to be so close to that group of guys that I would hate to miss it. It’s
like our annual party. Most of these guys I only see once a year, and this is
our opportunity to get together, socialize, eat and drink together, and just
have a great time. It’s wonderful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">It seems like those friendships, really, they go pretty deep. It
seems like a really important aspect particularly in Master sailing, but you
see it in all types of sailing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh yeah, yeah, you see it in all different
classes, and different kinds of competition, in Masters and open competition.
The Laser Masters, is in particular, is really just an extraordinary group of
people. These are guys, most of whom have been sailing all their lives in one
boat or another. <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Many of them have
achieved very high success in the Olympics or World Championships. The level of
competition is still very high, but competition isn’t the only reason they’re
there. We hang out together after the races. We’re able to have a beer and
enjoy ourselves…<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">which is a little different
than it was when we were sailing in the open fleet – there wasn’t so much of
that aprés sailing fun going on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Aprés sailing fun you say. Any funny anecdotes from the worlds?
Anything notable that happened that you wish to tell?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Funny, tragic maybe. In the third race and the
10th race, I don’t see very well and when I’m sailing in those conditions I
can’t wear glasses, because it they get too messed up with the spray. So I have
trouble seeing the marks. In the 4th race, I had a pretty good lead coming
around the leeward mark, and going up to the second weather mark, I couldn’t
find it. I sailed a little far off to the left, and the next thing you know I
rounding a mark, but it turned out I was on the outer loop of the trapezoid
course when I was supposed to be on the inner loop.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
Good strategy. [laughs]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weather mark when I should have been going to
the inner. I turned a first into a 29th in that race. I thought, “Oh, okay,
I’ve burned my throw out, I’ve made my big mistake, I won’t make that mistake
again.” Then in the 10th race, I had another situation where I was leading
after the second beat, I took off on a screaming, fire-hose-in-the-face reach,
but again I couldn’t see the marks, didn’t know where I was going, and
wound up heading for the leeward mark instead of the reach mark. By the time I
got back in the boat race, I was 20<sup style="box-sizing: border-box;">th</sup>(which
I had to keep in my score). With two more races to go, I was pretty sure I’d
snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. That was not a happy night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">This is what happens when
you get old and feeble. Your faculties start deserting you. Boat speed was
great, but the brain power was a little bit impaired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0in 0in 5.9pt; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2;">
<strong style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">I’m not sure what kind of training we can do for that one Bill.
Maybe some compass work! I wonder if it was too much Guinness the night before?
Any wild antics from the streets of </span><st1:place style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #47525d; font-family: Arial; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; word-spacing: 0px;" w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Dublin</st1:city></st1:place><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">,
or are those all sworn to secrecy?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill:</span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, some of that’s classified, but all
I can say is a very good time was had by all. We usually gather together in
informal mobs and go out on the town and eat and drink until the wee hours. We
did not skimp on the social side of things. It was a lot of fun.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Colin: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Sounds like these masters sailors know how to do it right! It’s
a great community, and we’re always happy to have our masters sailors training
hard and having fun here at ISA too. All right Bill, thanks for taking the
time. I think we covered some good ground here. I look forward to seeing you
soon down in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Mexico</st1:country-region></st1:place>
for some training and relaxing in the near future!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<strong style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;">Bill: </span></strong><span style="color: #47525d; font-family: Arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, thanks Colin, we’ll see you soon.</span></div>
</div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-64994679993702366282018-09-14T15:19:00.003-07:002022-05-31T21:23:31.722-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Day 5<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>by Pam</i></div>
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Our day started our looking like this ...</div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnecbeuHNCs/W5wx2PeyRfI/AAAAAAAAHvI/03Gmk3tNhgouYXHuYqnCVL2Ar4LiH38aACLcBGAs/s1600/Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="1600" height="252" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dnecbeuHNCs/W5wx2PeyRfI/AAAAAAAAHvI/03Gmk3tNhgouYXHuYqnCVL2Ar4LiH38aACLcBGAs/s640/Start.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We've been wearing full foul weather gear everyday as we pull away from the docks just because of the wind and cold but today, it was for the rain. It wasn't as cold and the wind settled into the mid teens with a few gusts in the low 20s but we started out wet. </div>
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We ended the day looking like this ...</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc0X6RgrRZ0/W5wykOMYc5I/AAAAAAAAHvY/CEhWJuoRHfYWFB2yCsUIE33PZWz38K7PgCLcBGAs/s1600/End.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1600" height="332" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Fc0X6RgrRZ0/W5wykOMYc5I/AAAAAAAAHvY/CEhWJuoRHfYWFB2yCsUIE33PZWz38K7PgCLcBGAs/s640/End.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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We even had some moments of honest to goodness sunshine. One more day of what has been a tough regatta and it's rock, paper, scissors on what tomorrow's weather will bring.</div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-81113904097551381492018-09-13T16:35:00.002-07:002022-05-31T21:23:23.695-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Day 4<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>by Pam</i></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2e5toVfB-NE/W5ry9AoOLFI/AAAAAAAAHu0/gjiQuu3VQms29LMaYa3NNI2R5St7CXwdACLcBGAs/s1600/GM14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1096" data-original-width="1600" height="438" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2e5toVfB-NE/W5ry9AoOLFI/AAAAAAAAHu0/gjiQuu3VQms29LMaYa3NNI2R5St7CXwdACLcBGAs/s640/GM14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my favorite competitor ... always smiling and always says hello and thank you.</td></tr>
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Sitting in the harbor getting ready to head out, our wind meter was steadily climbing into the 20s. As we motored out of the harbor, it continued to build until we were consistently hitting the 30s. Sailors were making their way to the race course with minimal tippage but the guys on the boat were wondering aloud if they would start a race in those conditions. </div>
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One of the guys sitting next to me said, 'they say if you can sail in the Irish sea, you can sail anywhere.' I think he may be right.</div>
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After most of the fleet battled their way to the course, the wind died down to the mid teens, the sun came out here and there and the PRO started the sequence almost exactly at noon. There were a few general recalls but the delays were not too bad and the fleets were off.</div>
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My job on the finish boat has ranged from just take some pictures to taking scores with my left hand and snapping random pictures and video with my right. I only really get to watch the Apprentice and Master fleets go around the course because once they begin finishing, all the fleets seem to come in together. We've decided the inner loop is shorter than the outer loop.</div>
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After the Masters fleet rounded the bottom mark in the first race, I looked back at the start for the Great Grand Masters and they were all gone except for Doug, sitting there all by himself. Turns out just before the race began, he pulled on the Cunningham and it broke and he couldn't fix it in time and became a spectator. </div>
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Next race, I watched him through binoculars and heard them say on the radio that they got one boat over early and from what I could see it looked like it would be Doug. Sure enough, at the end of the day, when they posted the scores, he learned that he had just acquired another two throw outs in addition to the two he already had. And since it appears there is only one throw out for this regatta, this is now a relaxed learning experience and a chance to try various things he's learned recently. </div>
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I'm just thankful I was not watching yesterday when he almost drowned himself, torso dragging through the water, feet still under the hiking strap, not willing to capsize (too cold) but not able to get the boat to come back up. It gave him a good fright and put all things into perspective. He is doing his Worlds journal but not sending it out and will eventually publish it. I don't know if it will be entertaining, enlightening, or kind of sad. We shall see but like my favorite competitor above, Doug is a happy guy with a wicked sense or humor. </div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-6952140150451806192018-09-12T13:41:00.001-07:002022-05-31T21:23:16.478-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Day 3<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>by Pam</i></div>
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There were several Laser Master World's regulars who opted out of the Worlds this year believing that Ireland would be a tough venue. They were right. But I am glad we are here.</div>
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Results, news, and pictures are readily available so there is no need for me to try to provide any of that. </div>
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We are learning that Ireland is not for the weak. From colds going around to capsizes, rescues, abandoned boats, injuries, and ambulances, there is a whole gamut of emotions but I think humility tops the list for most. Some are thriving but most are surviving.</div>
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A photo was posted by the event photographer, David Branigan (<a href="https://oceansport.photoshelter.com/gallery/DLR-Laser-Masters-Worlds-2018/G0000Q08k8S5FoD4" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Oceansport</span></a>), which I thought was a fantastic photo of Brett Beyer leading the pack. As the last boats were finishing on Tuesday and I had not seen Doug cross the line, I began to panic, bouncing around the boat, frantically searching for him. Then, he appeared from behind the mast, second to last boat on the course, missing his hat. I waited patiently for him to finish, he turned and gave me the thumbs up, and I my heart started beating again. Then a picture appeared before me that gave me the giggles. It was the exact opposite of the Brett photo ... see for yourself.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beyer - still in top form Photo by David Branigan</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Peckover - maybe too old for this stuff Photo by a relieved wife</td></tr>
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I woke up on Tuesday with my first cold in over two years and then got to sit on the deck of the finish line boat, in the rain, taking scores. Doug and I used our lay day to actually rest. We did sneak out to see the sun for a bit today and I tried my first Hot Irish Whiskey which I highly recommend for my fellow cold sufferers. We have a tour booked after the sailing ends so we'll see the sights then. </div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-17162089690313997962018-09-10T14:09:00.000-07:002022-05-31T21:23:06.713-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Day 2<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>by Pam</i></div>
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Today was windy and cold ... but mostly cold. I feel a bit guilty on the finish boat. It's a nice sized sailboat but the wind is such that we still swing around on the anchor. We go out on deck up by the masts to take finishes and I admit my hands are shaking by the time we get down below to check the scores with each other. But the deck time is just a few minutes and the rest of the time, we are treated to hot tea and coffee, hot soup, pastries, lunch, desserts and candy. I believe we had scones warming in the oven close to the time of the last finish today. It is by far the most comfortable finish line boat I have ever been on. </div>
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The Apprentice and Masters fleet ran a couple of races and were back on shore, showered, warm, dry and enjoying some hot pasta while the Grand Masters and Great Grand Masters were still screwing around trying to get the second race off. The GM's are a misbehaved bunch with multiple black flags and general recalls (5, I believe) that left the poor GGM's sailing around for at least an hour waiting for the second race. It doesn't make sense that guys over 65 and sailing a full rig are made to wait around and be the last to race and the last off the water. Waiting for a race to start in cold, wet, and windy conditions is just plain brutal. </div>
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As soon as the GM's started the final race, the GGM's started their sequence about a minute later and caught up to the GM fleet by the finish. Would it be so terrible if the GM fleet had to go to the back of the queue after a general recall and let the older guys get on with it. When I got to Doug shortly after he came off the water, he was about as cold as I've ever seen him. His priorities were warm carbs, hot shower, and a nap. But, it was the night for the North American get together so he only got two out of three.</div>
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And now we sleep and do it all over again tomorrow.</div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-56941812071483548002018-09-09T16:39:00.000-07:002022-05-31T21:22:58.985-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Day 1<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>by Pam</i></div>
The practice day bought light winds that left some sailors bobbing about on the water and scrambling for a tow in.<br />
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Day 1 of racing made the practice day look like the calm before the storm. As we left the harbor on the finish line boat for the standard course, the wind kicked up and for a moment the wind indicator read 28, then settled into the low 20's as the sailors made their way to the course. I saw several leave the harbor, sail a little distance toward the start line and then turn around and head back in. Many on board were already wearing their heavy foul weather gear and there was talk about the upper limits that a Laser could sail and several on board believed that 25 in Ireland would be fairly difficult for a Laser to manage. </div>
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Meanwhile, Brett Beyer went by tuning with a couple of Aussies and all three seemed to be handling the conditions without issue. As a few gusts came through, some of the Lasers began tipping, including Brett. At that point, I began to worry about Doug. But, after what appeared to be a brutal sail to the course start, the wind laid down a bit to a steady 15-20 and the races began.</div>
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Apprentice and Masters sailed together in the first start on the outer loop, followed by the Grand Masters sailing the inner loop and finally the Great Grand Masters following on the inner loop. Just like on the practice day, the timing was such that they all finished about the same time with some of the faster boats in the later starts passing some of the slower boats in the earlier starts. It was hard to see who was ahead in each fleet except for one. The first boat around the course, came down the first run with a nice lead. On the second downwind, he had stretched the lead even further and by the time he hit the bottom reach mark, he was picking up speed and increasing his lead even more as he headed toward the hook to the finish. It was quite impressive to watch. I had recently watched the true story of Secretariat and I swear I could hear the music playing at the end of this clip as this guy came flying toward us.</div>
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So who was the racehorse? One guess ...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brett Beyer finishing the 1st race with an incredible lead ... second race was almost a carbon copy</td></tr>
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He makes it look effortless and he never quits hiking or accelerating until he crosses the line. The one thing he consistently does is after the last race of the day, he goes right (around the committee boat) and avoids the racing area while virtually everyone else turns left and sails straight into the course of the finishing fleets. I don't think it is intentional on the part of others, they are just exhausted and want to take the shortest route home to dry land and a hot shower. However, I always get the feeling that Brett was just getting warmed up and ready to go round again.</div>
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As the bulk of the fleet was finishing the last race of the day, even though I could not see the wind indicator, the wind easily kicked up with gusts over 30. There was flippage and tippage all over the place. I thought I had my video going on my camera when the 30+ gust came through but it appears when I snapped a photo while recording, I actually turned off the recording. Oh well ... I think I might get a second chance tomorrow or later this week.</div>
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<a href="http://2018masters.laser-worlds.com/race-results/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Results</span></a></div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-41582918975963390972018-09-08T23:15:00.000-07:002022-05-31T21:22:50.735-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Tips and Tricks<div style="text-align: right;">
<i>by Pam</i></div>
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I ran into a sailor at the opening ceremonies who said he came to our blog to read about any tips and tricks for sailing in the conditions here in Ireland and was disappointed not to find any. I assured him I would have Doug post what he had learned after arriving early and doing Brett Beyer's pre-regatta clinic. </div>
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The first day of training in here in Ireland, Doug said the conditions were unlike anything he had ever experienced and said it was like being in a washing machine. After doing the clinic with Brett, he said he had learned a tremendous amount and was doing significantly better. </div>
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However, to my disappointment, Doug has refused to share what he has learned. He said that Brett makes his living by coaching and that he did not feel right about sharing what people have to pay to learn. I get his point but the whole purpose of our blog was to freely share anything and everything that Doug has learned or figured out on his own. Not everyone can afford the time or money to arrive early or have coaching and this blog was about sharing information and not hoarding it. Over the years, I have never once heard someone say that Brett has ever refused to answer a question about how to sail in the local conditions, sail settings, etc. Personally, I don't think the answering questions or sharing any tips and tricks for a venue takes away from the value of coaching. What I know that I should do and my ability to actually execute it on the water are two very different things. It took Doug several days of coaching to make improvements. I am quite certain that if he were simply told what he needed to change, it would not have produced the same result as coaching. Only an experienced coach is going to be able to watch you sail and tell you all the little things that you need to work on to see the improvement you want. So, I strongly disagree with Doug's decision to hold back information. </div>
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After all, the beauty of Brett Beyer is that he can arrive at a venue having had little to no practice, go out for a couple of days at the venue, figure out the conditions, optimal sail settings, as well as various tips and tricks for the venue, then compete, do exceptionally well and at the same time, be able to tell you exactly how he is doing it. Sharing any of that information will certainly ease some frustrations that sailors are having at the venue but it will not ever replace what real coaching can do for them. I think Brett knows this which is why he is always so forthcoming with information when asked. What do you think?</div>
Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-19027239940601991592018-09-08T15:19:00.002-07:002022-05-31T21:22:39.951-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Practice Day<div style="text-align: right;">
<i><span style="color: #666666;">By Pam</span></i></div>
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I would estimate that only about half the competitors sailed today. It was light air, starting out a little warm and then getting colder and wetter. I am somewhat thrilled at getting on the finish line boat on the standard course (Race Area A). It's a big sailboat, two heads, a cabin to get warm, a Bimini if it rains too hard, and hot tea served before we take finishes. What more could an old gal ask for. </div>
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I don't know if today is going to be the norm for the rest of the week, but all four fleets finished at the same time today. Dublin Bay (an organization made up of the 4 sailing clubs located on the harbor) was running their weekly races which ended up wedging the West Course (Racing Area A today) between the Dublin Bay racing and the shipping lanes so a shortened course was set. Perhaps tomorrow, the course will be longer and there might be separation between the fleets, but I got the impression the RC was expecting all fleets to finish at the same time. Should be interesting.</div>
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Here are a couple of tips for those sailing. As you have probably already seen, Chmarine is the sailing supplier on-sight but if happen to need something they do not have, there is a huge marine supply store about a five minute walk up the street. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As always, spare parts and clothing for sale onsite.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For a wider selection, Viking Marine is just up the street. They have an outstanding selection.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And if you need help, Erin from Perth, Australia will be happy to help but she only works weekends.</td></tr>
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Are you confused about Racing Area A/B vs. East/West course? A/B is independent of East/West with A/B being constant and East/West being variable. Radials will always be on Racing Area A with yellow cylinders and Standards will always be on Racing Area B with black cylinders. Whether A or B is the East or West racing area changes daily so consult the notice board each day before you hit the water.</div>
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Probably goes without saying but stick to your assigned launch ramp location or you will not be able to sign out or in. Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-68421711403213365982018-09-07T15:13:00.000-07:002022-05-31T21:22:29.857-07:00Laser Master Worlds - Caption Contest #1Instructions: exit the club and drive around the to boat storage area.<br />
Laser Legend: I see a faster way.<br />
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<br />Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-29236980451917553992018-09-02T21:15:00.000-07:002022-05-31T21:20:52.493-07:00Welcome to Ireland<div align="right" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><i><span style="color: grey; font-family: "arial";">By Doug<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">After my brother’s <a href="http://www.impropercourse.com/2018/08/brian-peckover-wins-national-sailing.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">fantasticwin</span></a> last week, the pressure is on me to do well at this year’s <a href="http://2018masters.laser-worlds.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">Laser Master Worlds</span></a>. I arrived
in <st1:city style="color: black;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Dublin</st1:place></st1:city> and
had breakfast with my old buddy, Chris </span><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">Henkel,
who is competing in his first Worlds. There are few things as much fun as meeting
friends from different parts of the world to share stories and, of course,
compete.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: small;">I’m staying with Victor and
his family for a few days until Pam arrives and then after the racing we’ll do
a little touring. One famous stop is of course </span><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blarneycastle.ie/pages/kiss-the-blarney-stone" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">kissing the BlarneyStone</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial";"> which is said to bestow the gift of eloquence. You’ll see that Victor
has clearly kissed the stone when he answered my simple question about what Pam and I should look forward to.</span></span></div>
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<br />Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-13213642619467743312018-08-31T20:48:00.000-07:002018-09-02T21:15:47.850-07:00Brian Peckover Wins National Sailing Championship<br />
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<i><span style="color: grey; font-family: "arial";">By Doug<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">That's not a typo... Brian
is my younger brother who today won the 2018 </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Mobility Cup,</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><st1:country-region style="font-family: Arial;" w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Canada</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="font-family: "arial";">’s national regatta for sailors with disabilities. Brian served in the Canadian Armed Forces and suffered a stroke ten years ago. He won</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><a href="https://mobilitycup.com/racing/results-gold" style="font-family: Arial;" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">comfortably</span></a><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">and I could not be more proud of him.</span></div>
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<br />Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-16619254204093016212018-08-10T20:32:00.000-07:002018-09-02T13:16:28.169-07:002018 Laser and Radial Worlds<div style="text-align: right;">
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<i><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "arial";">By Doug</span></i><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial";">The 2018 Worlds wrapped up
earlier today in Aarhus <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Denmark</st1:place></st1:country-region>,
and both medal <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>races had really close
finishes. For the Lasers, defending world champion Pavlos Kontides (CYP) had a
small lead over Matthew Wearn (AUS), but if Matthew could put one boat between himself
and Pavlos, he would win the championship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">Approaching the final turn mark before the short
reach to the finish, Matthew (in blue) was in front of Pavlos (in yellow), with
Matthew trying to pass Michael Beckett (GBR).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">As they approached the bottom mark, Matthew tried to outrun
Michael instead of going for an inside overlap to get room at the mark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><o:p> </o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Michael hung on to round ahead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">So Pavlos was able to defend his championship.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">With the women in radials, Emma Plasschaert (BEL) won
her first worlds ahead of </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial";">Marit </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Bouwmeester
(NED) and hometown favorite Anne-Marie Rindom (DEN). In this picture, Paige Railey
(USA) is finishing on the right, but look at the times. Sarah Douglas (CAN)
finished one second behind Monika Mikkola (FIN). So Monika ended up finishing fourth overall
and Sarah finished sixth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">But in medal races, the points are doubled so if
Sarah had finished <i>two seconds</i> earlier she would have beaten Monika and </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">Paige</span><span style="font-family: "arial";"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial";">to finish fourth.
It was another great race and close finish!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial";">You can watch both races <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFVP584FHi0" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a> and the results can be seen <a href="https://aarhus2018.sailing.org/results" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">here</span></a>.</span></div>
<br />Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-743510240401399331.post-14444989755078829062018-07-04T20:52:00.000-07:002018-09-02T13:17:07.314-07:00Malcolm Lamphere on Winning the 2018 U.S. Nationals<div style="text-align: right;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>By Doug</i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #444444;">The combined Laser </span><a href="https://www.sail-world.com/news/207285/?source=email" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">U.S. Nationals and U.S. Singlehanded Sailing Championship</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> were held last weekend at Houston Yacht Club. It's been years since I sailed in an open national championship so I decided to compete knowing that it would be a learning and humbling experience.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The forecast was for light winds but that was totally wrong - most of the 9 races had gusts between 15 and 20 knots. My starts were good but my lack of sailing in open water and my lack of being in top shape took their toll. The leaders consistently finished 2 minutes ahead of me on the 60 minute course.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were sailors from half a dozen countries and the winner was Malcolm Lamphere from Lake Geneva Yacht Club and Chicago Yacht Club. Malcolm put on a clinic and won 7 of the 9 races. I was able to watch him on the third day and he was simply the fastest upwind. Usually speed like that comes from being in shape and having additional body movements, but I did not see any difference with how he was sailing. It was very impressive and as expected, very humbling.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Malcolm recently graduated from Yale and will be training full time for the next 2 years for the Olympics. Here's how he trained for this event and how he plans to continue his training.</span></div>
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Doug / Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05161131921177367663noreply@blogger.com0