A short break before training start again!
Written by Helena Lucas | 28 June 2010
We had a great entry list this year for Kiel week, with the organisers
opening up the event to include the able bodied sailors too.
So with 34 boats on the start line and a 14 race series it was ideal practice prior to The Worlds. I didn’t have a great start to the regatta, but soon found my stride on the second day with a race win in the first race. It was a really competitive fleet with everyone posting high scores. I soon realised that a 6th was not a bad results.
I kept my head up and stayed positive and after posting two firsts on the third day suddenly found myself in 3rd overall. I was really in my stride with a great handle on the conditions and after another 1st and a 4th was in first place overall, looking for another good result in the third race of the day. I came off the line after a great start, to suddenly have my steering fail. The bolt that connected the rudder stock to my steering quadrant had sheared right through.
The steering had felt bad at the end of the second race that day, but I thought the bolt had just worked loose and needed tightening. I hadn’t had time to sort it out before the warning signal went for the third race, so was just going to do the best I could and sort it out when I got on the dock. I had to pull out of the race straight after the start and get towed in. I managed to temporarily fix it over night, but with only one discard allowed I now had to count a 17th.
However I was in second overall and only 3 points off first, with two races planned on the last day. Heiko was in first place and I had 7 points on 3rd so was in good shape.The forecast was for a light sea breeze, and we were postponed on shore whilst the race officer waited for the gradient to die and the sea breeze to develop. I opted for my light jib based on the forecast, but when I got out to the race course the gradient wind was still in and up to 10-15knots.
Unfortunately I did not have a coach at this regatta so could not change jibs on the water.I had a great start and was ahead of Heiko, unfortunately he had a bit more speed than me and just managed to pull front. Once in front he controlled the race and through tacks on top of me when he could, preventing me from escaping and passing. The second race panned out the same and I could not get past.
So Heiko took the gold and I took silver with Thierry having a great last day to finish in Bronze. I was pleased with my result, although I have wondered what could have been if my steering had not failed. Anyway it’s a great confidence boost going in to the worlds which start in a couple of week’s time, back in Medemblik Holland.
So I am now out in Turkey for five days, celebrating Steve’s Birthday with friends and family and relaxing and catching up on some sleep before heading back to start training on the 29th