Saturday's Sailors Round Up

Jamie's aim is repeat today's processes
his objectives are 1. use the time before the start to best advantage again
                            2. improve his morning routine by getting everything ready tonight
"Today was Scotland . Raining with wind"

Arran's aim is  to reduce the mistakes
his objectives are 1. Practice pre start routines
                            2. work harder on the reaches
"Today was like Cransley but 30knots "

Max's aim is become a dragon and avoid knights in shining armour
His objectives are 1. get the basics right ie pre start routine
                             2. drink more, eat more, sleep more
"I was disappointed today and I hope to have a better day today."
                       
Martin's aim is consistency of performance over the whole day
His objectives are 1. get a transit
                             2. drink more and remember stuff
"I was happy with today"

Coach's aims to be a better coach
His objectives are 1. film the starts
                             2. eat less chocolate cake
                             3. more positive comments on water
"Difficult but not complicated"

Race three

Sailors beginning to tire, needed a clear plan to make the most of the shifts.. got very cold when the rain came through ..Arran 5, Jamie 5, Martin 10, Max 13 maybe 14 .. Bart well known NED sailor had three bullets Odile van Aanholt from AHO had two bullets and top three ..

Gusty all day, quite big shifts "difficult but not complicated" conditions

Second Race -Saturday

More results

Jamie 2, Martin 3, Arran 12, Max 17 ( yellow flag off start line did not help !)

Pre Start routines are proving critical.. some were able concentrate and get what they need, others missed the obvious like getting the transits

From the water...

Hot off Tim's telephone: Gusty, 15-22 knots.  Arran 2, Jamie 4, Max 12, Martin 15.  A few mistakes and minor dramas - all can improve!  Four races could be a very long tough day! But the sun is shining so we're happy.

Saturday Morning

Saturday Launching at 9am ( 8am UK time)

Up at seven breakfast at 7.30am, boat park at eight, sailor briefing at 8.30am boat park is only a three minute walk from hotel and a good thing too. As expected sailors were not very organsied today, and returns to the hotel to get the following : missing whistle, new kicker rope, sail ribbon, sunglasses ( more than one pair). Max, desperate to go the loo opted to wait until he was on the water rather than pay to go on shore. So lots of points lost.

Everyone missed the sailor briefing (minus 25points) but it was all in German anyway (plus 25 points)

More pictures from today in photo album....

Sailors views... (Friday)

Four out of Five, Max, Martin, Arran and Jamie

Arran (Einstein) - Chilling watching the worst session of washing up in the history of man kind (Max and Jamie).  Finally discovered that heavy wind sailing is all in the head! good day today... looking forwards to the racing tomorrow! Pic below...

Martin (nickname pending) - Today was absolutely amazing! Managed to do my first pitchpole, which was one of the most fun things I have ever done. I somehow managed to slice my thumb open with the metal from the eyelet on the tack, which was pretty deep but was sorted by Carla and I soon went sailing. Learnt a lot today, mainly about mainsheet control which I realised was very important in gusty conditions.

(coaches note: "mountain out of a mole hill" springs to mind) 

Jamie (Wee Haggis) - Today was just like SCOTLAND heavy winds, the first time in months since i have hiked. Have a few chores to do on the boat before tomorrow. Tomorrow is to be the same conditions as today which will be brilliant.Sharing a room with Maxi boy.... time to get some sleep!
(coaches note: not quite like Scotland, it was warm and didn't rain!)

Maximus Decimus Meridius, father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife (Max) - and I will have my vengeance in this life or the next.

Everyone seems to be complaining about waking up early... well I got out of bed at 12:30pm. I suppose there are benefits to arriving early. Well after waking up I was reunited with the team minus Milo (miss u lots). So I helped the guys sort out their boats and then we had some much needed lunch. The sailing today was awesome. Loads of wind and lots of learning. Chilling out now and about to watch a bit of transformers, planning on transforming into a fat monster for the windy weather tomorrow. All for now... over and out!

Tim (coach) - Good day on the water, particularly useful for checking the charter boats and working out what needs to improve before we do this for real in the Dominican! Some useful pointers for the sailors about strong wind mainsheet control and technique. Early start tomorrow with up to 4 races!

Friday - Goldener Opti Kiel (GER)

Arrived in Kiel late morning (as per the time plan) after Carla had successfully negotiated driving on the wrong side of the road!

Found Max (10 points) and checked into the hotel having finally found our booking under the name Taylor (-5pts) . Then picked up all of the charter boats and RIB with minimal fuss (+25pts), and also avoiding paying for Milo's boat or a damage deposit (+ 20 pts).

In general charter were well sorted, minus the sailors not bringing any spare elastic for toe straps or bailers (-10pts).

Sailors then returned to the hotel (right next to the dinghy park) to find a full spread of lunch on the table (+10pts & thanks Sarah SB & Carla) Can she be the resident team chef more often please???

After lunch we went and rigged up (with a  brief pause for Martin to put a plaster on his fingers (-10pts) then launched into the sailing area with a fresh 18-28kts (+10 pts) and sunny spells (pictures to follow).

After some minor mishaps with Jamie's toe-straps (-10pts for not checking properly) we had a good session looking at strong wind technique and settling into the conditions and the new boats. Sailors and RIB all registered hassle free (+10pts) despite being told at 1658 that we couldn't register until 1700 so the Germans could keep to their impeccable timings!

Just had a lovely dinner of pasta with tomato, bacon, basil, cheese onion etc and lots of fluids (again thanks to Sarah) which the sailors have wolfed down without any need for encouragement!

Sailors are about to learn how to wash-up, followed by a quick de-brief and an early night given that most of them were up at 4am!

Briefing at 0830 in the morning... first start 1000, with a forecast for about 17kts! LETS GET REEEAAAADY TO RUMBLE!!!!!

All in all a good day (+50 pts for those of you who were counting - PS, RS?) More to follow from the sailors....