Regattes Royalles, Cannes (part 2)
We just finished hauling, washing and packing up the boat, that took us about 4 hours all dressed in our racegear.
Nice racing today in about 18 knots wind. After 2 general recalls our start was nothing special, somewhere half fleet, but we had a good downwind run and the second beat we made good way on the other side of the fleet. Things got very nervous on the windward marks and we all had our part in swearing and yelling. After this race with a result in the 40's we felt better than the last couple of days.
Tuesday there was no racing because of no wind and Wednesday very light airs where we completely got lost. Our starts where terrible. Our helmsman, who was a navigator on America's Cup boats in the '80's, just never seemed to find the holes to position the boat on the line. Or we where under everyone, or we got squeezed out. I had the impression that we missed the boathandling to stop or accelerate the boat in these moments. Also tactic-wise, one race we decided it was favorable to start on the left side of the line, but we ended up all to the right. That race we finished in the 90's! Mamma mia.
Anyway, it was a very interesting week, not only with the endless discussions and analyses in the restaurant or at the house, but on the water. I brushed up a whole lot and also realize that it's on small boats that you learn to race. I remember I learned the most in my career on a Mumm 30, and that's not even a dinghy. I started to quickly doing the bow on yachts and Maxi's without even understanding the basics. It is so important to understand what is going on. To see the big picture. Not just the tricks any monkey could do.
I saw a French guy who is a famous helmsman on "Orange" and he was just sitting there in that Dragon, trimming the genoa. I should do this more often. I though it's only on big boats you make money, but I had a good deal for this week.
I am happy about this season. I sailed supermaxi's, "Viriella", a 118ft Maxi Dolphin, "Maximus" a 100ft canting ballast rotating mast blah blah, but also boats like "Kipawa" a classic Marconi and now the dragon "Tramontana". A good sailor is an all-round sailor I think.
Nice racing today in about 18 knots wind. After 2 general recalls our start was nothing special, somewhere half fleet, but we had a good downwind run and the second beat we made good way on the other side of the fleet. Things got very nervous on the windward marks and we all had our part in swearing and yelling. After this race with a result in the 40's we felt better than the last couple of days.
Tuesday there was no racing because of no wind and Wednesday very light airs where we completely got lost. Our starts where terrible. Our helmsman, who was a navigator on America's Cup boats in the '80's, just never seemed to find the holes to position the boat on the line. Or we where under everyone, or we got squeezed out. I had the impression that we missed the boathandling to stop or accelerate the boat in these moments. Also tactic-wise, one race we decided it was favorable to start on the left side of the line, but we ended up all to the right. That race we finished in the 90's! Mamma mia.
Anyway, it was a very interesting week, not only with the endless discussions and analyses in the restaurant or at the house, but on the water. I brushed up a whole lot and also realize that it's on small boats that you learn to race. I remember I learned the most in my career on a Mumm 30, and that's not even a dinghy. I started to quickly doing the bow on yachts and Maxi's without even understanding the basics. It is so important to understand what is going on. To see the big picture. Not just the tricks any monkey could do.
I saw a French guy who is a famous helmsman on "Orange" and he was just sitting there in that Dragon, trimming the genoa. I should do this more often. I though it's only on big boats you make money, but I had a good deal for this week.
I am happy about this season. I sailed supermaxi's, "Viriella", a 118ft Maxi Dolphin, "Maximus" a 100ft canting ballast rotating mast blah blah, but also boats like "Kipawa" a classic Marconi and now the dragon "Tramontana". A good sailor is an all-round sailor I think.
