Prize Giving

 

Max, Jamie, Aran, Martin and Milo 
Last night we went to prizegiving where we all cheered Max getting his trophy for finishing in the top 20. Then we went swopping and I thought I had bought home the french team as all our team went for their bright blue shirts except Jamie who is too big for these rather small shirts, then it was back for some rather noisy if harmless late night chatting and as I write this everyone is dozing in my room before we check out . 

 

 

Yesterday after racing we had to hand back the charter boats, two sailors had mislaid some items and not managed to do as asked and put the spares in their labelled ( thanks Steph ) foil bags when we arrived, getting all the blocks and sprit wires off slows down everything and then we had pack the sails and spars we had brought with us and then pack our bags . I am sure the mums will find some un familiar items in the bags . Only two had to be re packed by Carla and various missing items amazingly re appeared after a weeks absence in someone else's room or bag.

Most teams have left although FRA who arrived almost last are spending two more days looking around . All of us very much like to get home to some English or Scottish food and some cold British rain but we understand you are in the middle of a heat wave ..

Our congratulations to go all the team who have worked very hard since selection and Tim and Carla wish them well at the nationals . Tim is back to Tesco and Carla off to help Stog on the 470 course in Weymouth .

Day 6 Racing

Yesterday was a light southerly with less shifts than on previous days . It was fair racing . The IODA race officer is making the calls.

The start was very important for generating options for the sailor . It was a tough day for the sailors not feeling well like Martin who fell asleep in his boat before his race but the paracetamol kicked in later.

Max showed consistency picking up places steadily in both races. Martin had a brilliant second race chasing SIN . Both Arran and Jamie were struggling for speed . Milo was unable to " nail the starts" yesterday and did not have his best day.

The plan is for at least one good race and possibly two. Start time is 11.30 to 12.00

Dictated by Coach after this morning's coach's meeting

Racing Day 6

Sorry we have not reported in the team were about to when we had to run for the bus ..yesterday was a bit of right off and the repercussions are such that IODA are taking over the race management today .. as one of the Jury said " we might as well of had a lay day " Red and Green got their race in but the committee boat lost its anchor and there was a two and half hour delay while it was sorted out and then the wind died . Some sailors protested the race committee under rule 27.2 and the Protest committee found in their favour and awarded them redress of the results that they had in that race rather than average points which is what they asked for..

As for our guys ,, Max went down the pan and we hope is back up today , Jamie has had  some of his best results with a 27th and a 20th in the race that was abandoned, Martin put in another keeper , Arran also had a satisfactory day and poor Milo was out there for seven ours and no race at all.

Lots of the sailors not just ours have tummy upsets, nobody is sure why but we seem to be over the worst now. We are on our fifth jar of nutella with the breakfast pancakes, the lunches have taken a dive not sure why , they still have not got a good system for the team water and Gatorade ,, and none of us have worked how the restaurant or bar ordering works ..

But the sun is shining, there is some wind and the boys have launched and are all ready to race..  no sign of Tim's bag .. but there was no wallet in it and Carla has his passport so could have been worse..

Day 5 Racing

Today, should be our rest day but most sailors are glad  to be back on the water as are their team leaders and coaches and parents. It has caught the organisers on the hop because nobody was expecting to be here  and lunch was made in a hurry and the rumour was the race committee was having a lie in but as the PRO was on the bus with us we dismissed that one.

So more drama , Tim's  kit bag with his laptop, phone, camera and all the other junk coaches have, appears to have gone walk about . It was spotted going on a bus but has not been seen since.. he is on the water doing his job while Carla files all the police report and deals with the insurance company etc. other stuff has turned up so we are hoping . Its a bit trying but only a matter of money and not health or anything more serious is the approach we are taking .. we have local phones and Carla's  steam driven laptop and her camera at least. Tim is most upset about loosing his Singapore sun hat and zinc cream that stops  his nose going red

The  sailors have more important things to worry about  than Tim's lost bag and there was a lot of toilet humour and discussion going on in the boat park, this morning  . Carla handing out Imodium tablets like smarties, but as usual there is always one sailor who knows better and much to the amusement of the rest he decided to take his anti constipation pills instead . It was a mistake ..  I will spare you the details but there was a lot of laughter .... so everyone was very relaxed as they set off this morning ..

Off to deal with the police ..

Worlds and Euros

Last night at a nerve wracking AGM the Class voted for the 2014  Worlds in Argentina  in the last two weeks of October . The 2014  Europeans will be in Dublin.

Lazy Sunday Morning

No sailing today for the sailors so after a slightly later and more leisurely breakfast there were a few catch up phone calls and domestics before the team went over to  the supporters hotel for lunch . Carla stayed here to catch up on the accounts and paperwork and have a tidy up. Later she has to go the club for the IODA AGM where the venues for 2014 will be decided will it be Poland or Argentina or maybe Thailand ??? Argentina could be interesting for us because it is two weeks in October rather than Christmas. Poland is late August and Thailand is early December finishing before Christmas. Lots of proxy s being held for the countries whose reps have gone out for the day . We have the proxy votes for Hungary who want to vote the same way as us . It will be very close. 

The team are going to the boat park late afternoon to check over their boats and then back here to look at video and tracking and get themselves back into race mode for tomorrow. Green and Red Flights are one race behind at the moment so our spare day is being used to catch up . Max and Jamie are in Green and Arran is in Red. Milo and Martin in Yellow have done their two races and we have nobody in Blue. We only have done four of a possible 12 races and we have not  reached the only discard yet . We might make 10 races.

Jamie has been a bit " crook" but is now well on the way to recovery . Everyone else is fine so far.

Max leading

Video of Day 4 Racing

Team Racing

Unlike a lot of other teams, we had deliberately chosen not to do any training for the team-racing. Instead spending our time on maximising our preparations for the fleet racing, because we have significantly less time to train together as a team prior to the event, and the fleet racing competition is our priority.

The format of the competition was essentially a knockout based on seedings from the fleet racing results. With each team eliminated once they had lost two races.

We launched in slightly overcast weather, and as a result very little wind. However, shortly before the scheduled start time of 11, the sky cleared and a 7-8kt sea-breeze filled in.

Because of our lack of training, the coach had given the team some very simple priorities to focus. Get yourself of the line. Sail fast, and then focus on the only 2 simple winning combinations (three boats in the top 4 places, or the opposition in 7th and 8th).

Our first race was against Korea. The race was very close, but unfortunately our lack of preparation meant that the team struggled to follow their priorities at the key moment and lost the race by 2 points in a very tight finish.

This meant that the next race was against Russia. After some faster sailing, good teamwork and clear communication, the team were able to secure a safe victory with 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th places.

This meant that we were then racing Mexico (who, in their previous race had narrowly lost to the favourites Singapore.) The loser of this race would be out, with the winner staying in the competition.

At the last mark the team were narrowly in the lead (3,4,5,6, combo), but after some good work by Jamie, and Max and Martin recognising the need to simply sail fast, they all sailed a very good second beat to win 1,2,3,4!

This meant that we went through to a race with Sweden (one of the teams who have been practicing). The winner would go through to the last 16, with the loser going into the "pool" where 1 of 8 teams would progress through to the last 16 based on the lowest points from the previous race.

After a poor start Sweden were comfortably in the lead at mark 1. However some good slowing by Max and Milo meant that at mark 3, we were in a tight leading position with Sweden in 7th and 8th. However, after some good work by the well drilled swedes, and a couple of penalties, we ended up losing the race.

Unfortunately, Germany were the team that had the best points, so the team did not progress from the "pool", and into the last 16 racing tomorrow.

However, more importantly, this is quite possibly a blessing in disguise as the team will now get a "rest day" before Monday when the spare day will be used to catch up with fleet races missed earlier in the week.

.

Carla went out on the water with the USA team parents and  the team sailed across  while Milo and Tim swam over for cold drink

                             

 Team racing day pictures 

Team USA IODA Worlds2012

Racing day 4

wind was kind of crazy today .. lots of different breezes fighting each other , often hard to figure out which one would win out.. during racing 8-12 knots reports Max

Yellow and Blue have done two races , red and green have done one and will be racing on the rest day on Monday to catch  up . There is protest in about a mark being moved in the first blue race which might lead to it being canned.

After this morning's drama Milo had a dream day with a 4th and a 13th in yellow. " I am packing my bag again tonight "  Max who was in green had a great  day"the best sailing day ever !!!" scoring a bullet .  Arran had a better day with a 15th but he is currently being protested, " I concentrated on the processes not the results and it worked" He admitted it has  only taken two regattas and eight weeks for him to carry out what the coach has been repeatedly telling him.
Martin was his usual steady self with a 10th and low 20"s . Jamie explained he was rolled on the line and then could not go the way he wanted.. poor chap got a bout of sea sickness which certainly did not help his pre start routines.

So good day for GBR barring the seasickness

Non Racing Day 4

Milo saves Max
Those of you glued to the tracking will know no racing so far .. however the team  has not been without its dramas this morning .

Last night Milo and Carla decided to reorganise Milo's  bag for the boat park. We agreed that the chargers, two packs of playing cards, vitamin C tablets etc were probably not required in the boat park . We laid  out everything on the floor of his room ready to be packed this morning. We even filled all the drinks platypuses ready for the isotonic tablets first thing. but he later decided  to hang his buoyancy aid on the lamp to dry . This meant he did not see it when packing his bag .. As time was short today he decided to combine getting changed with  seeing Kate and Maya , which was when he realised no buoyancy aid. Support team to the rescue , grabbed the broken wrist band, critical for getting into our hotel  and the room key and made a dash for our hotel . In the meantime Max realised in horror that he had forgotten to put in his contacts. Max is sharing with Milo so a quick call to Kate and Maya was able tor retrieve both buoyancy aid and contacts . We had other options for Milo such as Tim's spare etc but even we would not be able to solve lack of contacts so Milo's forgetfulness saved Max today ..

Also pleased to report that the dental braces and their  box were retrieved from the top of the lectern in the main meeting hall this morning . We doubted they were of any use to anyone else and were likely to be found but there was a small moment of stress from the sailor concerned on how to explain to his parents that he had lost them again. . .

Early Start

After sailing yesterday the sailors went home to  the supporters hotel for tea and games and returned to our hotel promptly by 7.30pm to find out from Tim and Carla that the race committee have brought everything forward by an hour and half and first signal will be 10.30am .. this means we loose an hour and half of our routine . The sailors have been asked to woken up at 6.30am for breakfast at 7.00 when it opens and catch the 7.45 bus to be in the boat park for 8.00.

This has put paid to Carla's early morning 30 minute swim to the reef , as even if she is writing this at 6.00 am and for those  who know that is v early for her, swimming as well would mean swimming in the dark.. good thing the cockerel is still waking her up ..

We only found out about the early start because Tim and Carla decided to stay and have supper there where the Internet is better and it is quieter and we checked our pigeon hole before we left. Lots of teams had not . Plan is to start early next week too.

After today we have a change of mindset and move to team racing and maybe even a rest day but we are in danger of loosing it .

When the sailors have left IODA are holding their AGM. Carla has had excellent  instructions from David Baddley ( thanks) on how to vote on the various issues . His email is easier to understand than the IODA agenda ! She has also been asked to be the proxy for Hungary for the vote for both the Europeans and Worlds venues. Worlds venues for 2014, Poland where the Europeans were in 2010, Thailand at Christmas and Argentina in October, the general view is that it will be tight . Europeans are between Ireland and Poland . There is also a decsion to be made on advertising by the class. Let you know later where the teams maybe going in 2014.

Have to go and get sailors up for breakfast

Racing - Day 3

As was the case yesterday, the fleet launched on time 1030 to head out to the race course. However, once again the forecast was for intermittent storms and a light easterly.

However, at the race course we had a reasonable southerly sea breeze of around 10 knots so racing was able to start on time.

The wind remained relatively stable for the next hour. Then thunderstorms moved onto the course from the East, this dragged the wind about 90 degrees to the left. The first and second starts (Martin and Milo) had already finished, but it made the racing for the third (Arran) and fourth starts (Jamie and Max) challenging.

Martin sailed a very solid race to score a comfortable 6^th place. Milo missed one shift on the first beat to finish mid-fleet having been close to Martin half-way up. In the third race Arran lost around 15 places over-standing the finish layline as a result of the shift. Max consistently gained places around the course to finish in second! Jamie was unable to recover from a poor start after the second beat became very one-sided because of the shift.

After finishing there was a MASSIVE thunderstorm with torrential rain and cyclonic winds and the fleet were sent to shore for the day.

Overall Max has shot up to 5^th overall! Martin has also improved to 25^th. The other sailors have remained in similar positions.

Racing day 2

No racing but more drama

Tropical thunderstorms followed by a light and fickle sea breeze fighting a weak land breeze which brought thunderstorms with it.
Coach now repairing Milo's sail. In the storm the battens of his sail were at  both ends of the pockets and he lost both battens and ripped the sail at both end of both  pockets . Nuno and Curly the Championship measurers have deemed it repairable with time, which they think we have, rather than letting him use his second sail. Tim is now repairing the inboard end of the batten pockets and waiting for some battens, we know that NED have some but we are hoping that the Dominican coach will find some. Curly has given Tim some 150mm diameter black tape to mend the sail with which is interesting.

Organisers have now said three races a day for next two days . Max is now looking at the event photographer's pictures from today which will be worth looking at as he was on the water. Sailors have had tea and been for a swim

Storm

Massive storm came through club and you  cannot see across the marina .. it was torrential and even felt cold and the sailors are out at sea !

Race Day 2 Launched

Sailors have gone, lunch and loads of water on the RIB and not quite so hot this morning, forcast 8-10knots and slightly more easterly than yesterday so likely to be more shifty. Two races. Sailors have been reflighted today and nobody is in yellow first start.

Support team have arrived with "tea" and more bananas and some replacement flipflops. Honoury mum Kate GT gave out a few welcome hugs in the boat park this morning to departing sailors. Support team will be back later.

After sailing

After two races the sailors returned with a mixed set of results and feelings. As we had a top five it was ice creams all round but we settled for chips instead followed by a swim at the club until the end of protest time. We then had to wait for Jamie’s DNC to be sorted. Tim had a small panic when he saw B flag up when he got back because it means the sailors have to be signed on and off the water by coach or team leader and he could not be sure that it had  not be there in the morning. He was relieved to be told by Carla it had just been put up as the sailors came in. She was the only team leader who had been told by their coach that this might happen.

It was then back to our hotel for de brief, sort kit and supper before early night.

So far Tim and Carla have lent out their spare sunglasses, hats, and flip flops. Jamie’s mislaid sailing boots were retrieved from the race office lost property box last night after their day off.  Milo now has three pairs of gloves in the boat park locker. Max remembered as the bus was leaving yesterday he had not got his buoyancy aid so he had to run back to his room and then catch the next bus. Martin had to tie his whistle on his buoyancy aid before he went sailing and so it goes on.

We have been here nearly a week and the wet boxers and socks are beginning to pile up and as ever the sailors are resourceful in solving the problem. One has prevailed on his mum, fair enough, another decided the hotel laundry would be good and one of the others just got out the travel wash asked Carla for some help and used her bath and balcony to do the job and went back to his room last night with a lovely pile on clean clothes. Very pleased he was too. We have asked the others but at the moment washing clothes does not seem to be a priority over playing Frisbee, but there might secret “washing fairies “ that are doing it for them, we don’t know .

Race Day 1 - From the coach

The wind was a little lighter than we have experienced so far in the training. However, the patterns of the shifts were very similar. Generally the wind was shifting between 140 and 160 degrees, with the pressure moving down the course driving these shifts.

Because of this, having a clear pre-start plan of what phase the shift was in, and which way you wanted to be headed was the critical factor. This clear plan, and conscious decision about which way to go was what gave some of our sailors their better races.

Compared to previous years, starting is a little easier. With 4 starts, and only 60 boats per flight, there is slightly more space on the line, and, as long as you keep a clear head it is possible to recover from a bad start. It can also be very useful to look at the fleet ahead of you to see what wind is coming down the course.

Sailors have all been relaxed this evening and we have discussed the importance of maintain routines and processes throughout the regatta. We have also helped each sailor to come up with things that they want to continue doing, and others that they want to improve on tomorrow. Highlights of the day include a 5th for Martin and two top 10's for max

Tracking

Before you all get too excited the tracking may not accurately reflect all the finish positions . Hopefully when Tim and the sailors return we will know more about how the day has gone. In the meantime Carla is going for a quick swim before they get back .

Race Day 1

   

As you will know the trackers are on and the sailing can be followed , this morning in the boat park one of the sailors said that today was like the beginning of exam week : all the work had been done and you could only hope that the questions would be the ones you wanted and that if it was a poor paper maybe you could make it up on the next one one..

Opening ceremony

We were all asked at the team leader’s meeting to be ready at 5.30pm for a 6pm start by 7pm we finally started our parade with all the other teams. Some how we were not allocated any seats with the other teams so we took advantage and sat at the back ready to make a rapid exit.

We did our stuff standing for the national anthem and the raising of the IODA flag and then fled care of Kate GT back to our hotel where we were able to have dinner in peace and make our plans for this morning. Boys are a bit jumpy waiting for it to all start but calmed down by the end of dinner.  RUS and SWE obviously had the same idea because they followed quickly behind us.



Our Supporters

So far fingers crossed nobody has been ill but several other sailors have been. One Team leader was frantically looking for a missing sailor who was eventually found in a remote loo that she did not know about where he had been for an hour and half!

 

Happy Boy

Arran finally had his boat sorted for racing, one happy boy ..it took until tea time yesterday for Far East to repair it.  

Practice race day

This morning was taken up by final preparations and important tasks such as reading and learning the Sailing Instructions and checking over the boats. After all this had been done, we launched at 1200 and headed out to the race area for some final training and tuning with the Kiwi's before the practice race at 1400. 

Once again conditions were as close to perfect as is possible. 15 kts, sun and 1.5-2m waves! However, as is always the case with practice races, a lot of sailors started early so it was difficult to gauge our performance. All of the sailors seem in good spirits, if somewhat impatient to start racing tomorrow at 1200!

We are currently on shore, with the sailors having a swim, before the opening ceremony in a couple of hours. We will try and post some photos later!

More drama

After our training session yesterday Arran noticed a ding in his gunnel from some rough and tumble with Martin , nothing too serious but he checked over his boat and realised the gunnel was flexing , further in investigation revealed a large crack. Far East was closed for lunch so boys, as planned took off to the "supporter" hotel for swimming , frisbee, followed by home cooked pasta supper. A well earned break from the Saxton/Stanley school of sailing .

About 4pm Tim returned to the boat park leaving Carla to fighting with photographs and the internet .  It has been decided here is a significant  problem with the boat and Far East will have to do a major repair. Nuno head measurer would not agree a replacement hull, so Tim stripped Arrans boat and he will have to borrow another one to day while they repair his and then we will have to re sort his tomorrow .. Not ideal but Arran is one of our most organised and independent sailors so less of a challenge for him than some . Good thing he had the spat with Martin and then conscientiously checked his boat. I
Its only $5 to repair the original bash.

The decision not to replace the hull is because each team has a mixture of new and old boats and the measurer is concerned that a sailor might try and damage and old hull  in the hope of getting a new one, so major repair it is.

So that is today's task . at 2pm we have the practice race and at 5.30pm just as the mosquitoes are comingout we have the opening ceremony down at the club not sure how supper is fitting into ths but and I am sure it is in hand but we have not been told yet .. coaches briefing at 9.30 and team leaders meeting 11.30..it never stops here just goes at Caribbean pace which can be slow or very slow or on time as the mood takes

More Photographs

 Tim's Photographs

Training Day 3

Early bed and lots of sleep for sailors who were up at 07.30am sorting drinks, kits snacks before breakfast. We got to the pancakes that  Milo had with Nutella today. Dining room is so busy we hardly notice any other teams. Our team is not near the disco which is a benefit, although the coach is!

This morning the sailors finished off their boats and applied their Pensato stickers for their photo call. The sailors are beginning to work out that Carla is less on your case if you are more organised. Somebody has realised, after three days, that it is better to confess that you forgot to pack your sunglasses and borrow Tim’s spare sunglasses than put up with the glare. The sailor who forgot their praddle has only just admitted to this and it could be a challenge to find one. A trip to the club boats maybe the answer.  

We are really struggling to get the pictures up and we have loads and maybe it will be soon. Technology is not the DR’s strong point. Carla’s phone is still stalking Tim’s and has now sent him 44 copies of the same text, Despite taking out both the SIM and battery  as advised by Orange UK, we think Kate GT has the same stalker …

ITA have not yet arrived but almost everyone else is here. Some countries are struggling with the heat, one of the girls who went out with out her rash leggings was quite sunburnt last night even though she had loads of sun cream . It looked very sore. One sailor in another team is struggling with being home sick. Thankfully none of ours are.

Sailing today was a little different. Thunderstorms inland were making the wind a touch less stable, and slightly further to the left. We kept working on sussing out the race-course and also some more technique, before moving on to some more race orientated exercises to sharpen up the sailors thinking.

Teams are pairing up and we are with NZL as usual. We have the RIB this morning while they do team racing practice with SWE and then we are going to escape to the Supporter hotel and get out of here.

Luggage is still not appearing for a number of other teams, and one of the parents from FIN has still not got her suitcase and had to go shopping, but Rosa from the Race Office who sorted our missing sail is on to Iberia again. I think she needs a direct line to their office!

We are all paid up and registered and tomorrow is the practice race and opening ceremony.

Photographs

At last after three days and an hour in the lobby we have photographs !!
Boat park and hotel pictures

Training day 2

We woke again to lovely sunshine and a good breeze . Breakfast was fresh mango, papaya, pancakes and boiled eggs for some and then down to the boat park which was deserted when we arrived . lots of the early arrivals including NZL decided to have the day off today .

The famous missing sail was waiting for us at the Race office when we arrived so that was one drama solved. Boys then prepared their boats for measurement , sails off booms, blocks, bailers, praddles , compasses  out and mountains of paperwork for Carla.

We were booked for 11.30am after TUR and GER and at about 10.30hrs two sailors thought they had not enough breakfast and decided to order chips.  There is always quite a delay before ordering and arrival of food so just as the chips arrived they had to be left with Carla and Tim while the sailors were summoned to get their boats and listen to Curly Morris telling them what to expect from measurement this week. Tomorrow they are planning to bring more of the supplies in their rooms to the boat park.

So we had five sailors and only one, Martin got through with no issues. One boat had to have 200gm block super glued into it and was advised by Nuno to get his mast step changed by Far East as it was not looking too good. So it is staying with them overnight to be repaired.

Three sails, failed measurement, one did not have the red mark on it but that was solved by a red biro,  one needed attacking with a pair of hot scissors and a few stitches and one had no signature on it, so at a cost of $50 US had to be fully measured . The measurers were not happy with the loft certification of some of our sails.

After another good lunch provided by the organizers, something which can only be described as a pork pie Cornish pasty, the sailors re rigged all the boats and have set sail for the afternoon due back at 4pm.  The FRA only arrived this afternoon with Benjamin from Le Havre coaching them. Some boats are still in their wrapping waiting for teams to arrive.

 After measurement we then had a brilliant session on the water. Champagne sailing at its absolute best! 12-14kts… wall to wall sunshine… stable breeze, and 1.5m waves! Within no time at all we had been out training for 3.5 hours and it was 1730 by the time we returned to shore.

We spent about half of the session working on yesterdays learning’s. Especially mainsheet control and steering. Both with the aid of a “go-pro” camera on the sailors boats.

We also spent significantly more than an hour sussing out the wind on the race course, which will be very useful come race time.

Plan for tomorrow is to do a decent early session on the water, before having some “down time” at the support team’s hotel in the afternoon!!

Training Day 1

As was the plan, the morning was spent sorting out the boats, all of which are supplied by Far East. All the hulls are either brand new, or very lightly used, and all the spars, foils, fittings and ropes are brand new.

Because of this there were no major issues sorting out, and rigging the boats. Although it did take some time to get them just right, and as similar as possible to the sailors boats at home.

This was all finished by lunchtime and the plan was then to go sailing. However, there were some issues with the RIB. Yesterday, two of the RIBs had been run aground on the reef by other coaches, much to the frustration of the organizers given the clearly marked channel!

This meant that an old RIB was drafted in for the day, for us to share with the Greek team. So the plan was to go out check the boats, and the venue and generally settle in, until late afternoon when we would have to hand the RIB to the Greeks.

So we all launched around lunchtime, and sailed out to the race area for our training session. We started out with a reasonable amount of speed work in order to get the boats sorted and get used to the conditions.

One of the key things we were working on was mode changes. This involved lots of work on steering and mainsheet control to deal with the gusts and very changeable waves.

Another thing we were looking at is how not to let other people influence our strategy too much. This involved lots of work on the decisions and boat-handling for tack-duck-cross situations.

Unfortunately just as I (the coach) was about to turn around and head in to hand over the RIB, it broke down. After drifting towards the aforementioned reef (breaking waves and all) for around 20 minutes. I was eventually picked up and towed back to the harbor, with the sailors following shortly behind

Sailors have all eaten dinner, sorted kit, tidied rooms and are now heading to bed (@2045 out of their own choice!!!)

Tomorrow is another day for ticking things off the list. We have measurement at 1130, so the morning will be spent doing boat-work and prep for this. We then plan to sail in the afternoon, possibly for a slightly longer session into the evening. We have also already sorted out a fully working RIB, as the Kiwi’s are having a rest day.

The support team found their hire car and have done a supermarket run for water and snacks and local SIM cards. They all made use of the club facilities for a swim and lunch.

Iberia has assured us that the missing sail is on tonight’s plane from Madrid but not here yet.

The race office could not have been more helpful with everything today and there is a continuous supply of coffee and water in there all day . teams were supplied with a lunch today which was demolished by the sailors which is a first , it came in a neat 2 litre cool box ready to go. No sunburn or headaches so the nagging on hats, sun cream and drinking seems to be working . One quick dip in the sea after sailing before finishing off the boat work and returning to the hotel. Good supper had by all.

Photos will be added when we have access to the faster internet at the club in the morning!

Dominican Day 1 part 2

The blog updates have been a little sparse because the insomniac team leader does not have internet access in her room. The local cockerel has woken her at 4am  hence the early blog .

The team found themselves in a different hotel to the one they were told they would be in and are now in the Belle Vue Dominican Bay as originally planned. It is so big that you would hardly think there was an oppy event on except when you are in the lobby where the internet is. At breakfast this morning there were a number of tables with well thumbed bibles on them and we realised there was an Evangelical Convention going on, confirmed by a group of youngsters all dressed in white which was a bit of a contrast to  the uniform of t-shirt , board shorts and flip flops of our guys.

Food is wide and varied, breakfast yesterday was pancakes with maple syrup and pineapple fritters for some but the more conventional stuck to tradtional cereal, NZ even bringing their own packets from home. Tim discovered the excellent banana bread but it was all gone by the time the sailors went for more.

The sailors are scattered amongst the guests so there is not too much running of the corridors and each block has its own security guard at night. There are several swimming pools and all the normal activities going on like dancing, shows. There is also a free bar but I don’t think (or not until they read this) the sailors have worked out yet.  Beer and wine are on tap in the dining room at dinner but the sailor alcohol ban was clearly re- iterated  for the team. Fortunately they do not really like the taste of beer yet, but Tim assures me that this will change ….

There is little shade in the boat park but as we have had breeze most of the time it did not get too hot and there is free endless supply of water and berry Gatorade . The club is very friendly even if the shark in the tank under the glass entrance to the club is a little off putting. The race office is calm and could not be more accommodating

Our Pensato sponsored kit is great and we are hoping to put some stickers on boats while training as some of the other teams have done. But we could not mention them as that would show their advertising is working. There are to be some discussion on advertising at the IODA AGM so things might change in future.

Sail still not arrived but we have faith it will. Carla had to forsake her swim for a trip to the airport to try and sort it out, but the office was not open until tea time just before the Madrid flight comes in.  Everyone else’s sail and lot kit has arrived eventually. I think the airport has worked out that all these long tubes of outsize luggage have to go the Santa Domingo YC . There is a very laid back attitude here. Sailors have been issued with passes not because they need them but because the organisers thought that the sailors would like them so they felt part of something …things get done without much fuss and if someone can't help they let it go..  

Today's tasks : 

Get lost sail, up date photos, get through measurement , catch up on missed swim when sailors go sailing

Dominican Day 1

As was the plan, the morning was spent sorting out the boats, all of which are supplied by Far East. All the hulls are either brand new, or very lightly used, and all the spars, foils, fittings and ropes are brand new.

Because of this there were no major issues sorting out, and rigging the boats. Although it did take some time to get them just right, and as similar as possible to the sailors boats at home.

This was all finished by lunchtime and the plan was then to go sailing. However, there were some issues with the RIB. Yesterday, two of the RIBs had been run aground on the reef by other coaches, much to the frustration of the organizers given the clearly marked channel!

This meant that an old RIB was drafted in for the day, for us to share with the Greek team. So the plan was to go out check the boats, and the venue and generally settle in, until late afternoon when we would have to hand the RIB to the Greeks.

So we all launched around lunchtime, and sailed out to the race area for our training session. We started out with a reasonable amount of speed work in order to get the boats sorted and get used to the conditions.

One of the key things we were working on was mode changes. This involved lots of work on steering and mainsheet control to deal with the gusts and very changeable waves.

Another thing we were looking at is how not to let other people influence our strategy too much. This involved lots of work on the decisions and boat-handling for tack-duck-cross situations.

Unfortunately just as I (the coach) was about to turn around and head in to hand over the RIB, it broke down. After drifting towards the aforementioned reef (breaking waves and all) for around 20 minutes. I was eventually picked up and towed back to the harbor, with the sailors following shortly behind

Sailors have all eaten dinner, sorted kit, tidied rooms and are now heading to bed (@2045 out of their own choice!!!)

Tomorrow is another day for ticking things off the list. We have measurement at 1130, so the morning will be spent doing boat-work and prep for this. We then plan to sail in the afternoon, possibly for a slightly longer session into the evening. We have also already sorted out a fully working RIB, as the Kiwi’s are having a rest day.

The support team found their hire car and have done a supermarket run for water and snacks and local SIM cards. They all made use of the club facilities for a swim and lunch.

Iberia has assured us that the missing sail is on tonight’s plane from Madrid but not here yet.

The race office could not have been more helpful with everything today and there is a continuous supply of coffee and water in there all day . teams were supplied with a lunch today which was demolished by the sailors which is a first , it came in a neat 2 litre cool box ready to go. No sunburn or headaches so the nagging on hats, sun cream and drinking seems to be working . One quick dip in the sea after sailing before finishing off the boat work and returning to the hotel. Good supper had by all.

Photos will be added when we have access to the faster internet at the club in the morning!