Qingdao Test Regatta

We went out to to China for some more training in the venue, and what we thought was a low key test regatta, but were amazed at the scale of the event before us. The organisers decided to make it a trial run of the paralympics. Our first experience of what they have in mind was when we walked into the event village and moved into our on site accomodation. We were expecting something along the lines of an Etap hotel, but instead were presented with a brand new 5 star hotel, opened only a few days ago, complete with swimming pool, gym, sauna, and steam room. You could even watch the telly from the bath!

Leaving the Marina each day, also gave a little taste of what to expect at the Games. There were crowds of people waving from the wall to the sound of drums beating out over the water, it sent a shiver up my spine every time, especially as this was just a little test regatta.

I had shipped out an old training boat a year ago which was going to have to be my regatta boat for the event. We spent a couple of days pimping her up the best we could, but she is 16 years old and rather on the heavy side. Most of my major competitors had sent their Games boats out, so it was quite amusing when the old girl won a race against them.

The first coupls of days were a bit of a struggle as I experienced a few problems with her. The major one being the pumps not working, which in 20 knots of breeze is a bit of an issue. I ended up having to try and bail out with my drinks bottle praying I would not sink. It was really frustrating as normally I am quick in a breeze, so to be lying 9th overall after 4 windy races was not a position I was used to being in. But I kept reminding myself the purpose of being here, to learn more about the venue and not to let the issues with the boat get me down.

The Wind dropped, I fixed the pumps and things started to look up. So much so that going into the last race I was lying fourth, one point away from bronze! It was a last race show down and whoever beat who would take the bronze! It was all looking great up the first beat. I was lying 2nd coming up to the windward mark ahead of my rivals, but then underestimated the strength of the tide and hit the mark, which allowed Heiko to get pass and claim the bronze.

Although I was dissapointed not to medal, and to be 4th again, all in all it was not a bad result considering the circumstances and we have come away having learnt a lot about the venue and feeling very positive for September. It was a successful trip for the rest of the team with the Sonar guys winning Gold as well as Nikki and Alex claiming Gold in the Skud. The team bonded really well and I can’t wait to go back to China for the real thing and come back with a medal next time!

It was one of the best attended Hyeres, I have seen with 18 boats on the start line and a few new faces among the usual regulars. All the top sailors were present, as expected being Paralympic year and with few regattas left now until the Games in September everyone is keen to get as much racing practice as possible.

It was the first regatta for my new boat “The Charles Russell” kindly bought by Charles Russell legal advisers. I was keen to test her against my major rivals after a good spell of tuning against my trials boat in the U.K

The start of the regatta was windy and wet with 18-22knots of breeze and some big waves. The boat showed great pace in theses conditions and after the first two days I was lying 3rd, even though I was a little rusty on my tactics having not raced since the trials in Miami in January. Damien Seguin (France) was leading with Thierry Schmitter (Holland) in second.

Tuesday was called off with an average wind speed of 35 knots, so we decided to have a bit of fun and went Go Karting with the Dutch team.

By Wednesday things had calmed down and we have two races in a nice 10-15knot breeze. Again I showed great pace and was leading the first race, but slipped up on the 2nd beat to let Damien and Heiko through. The second race was really close and I ended up 4th. Unfortunately the 1st Discard kicked in and Heiko jumped ahead of me in to third knocking me into fourth place with Damien still leading but equal on points with Thierry.

I needed to put in a good performance the next day to get back in the medals. It was light sea breeze conditions and I won the first race and finished 3rd in the second, having the best scoring day on the water in the light fluky condition, (similar to what we expect in China). I was now equal 3rd with Heilko and only one point off second going into the last day.

There was only one race schedule for the last day, and it was down to who beat who to decide the medals. Damien had won with a race to spare, so it was a battle for silver and bronze between me Heiko and Thierry.
I had a good start and rounded the top mark 3rd just behind Thierry and ahead of Heiko. The places stayed the same until the last run. Heiko gybed off at the top and I shortly went to cover him along with Thierry who was trying to cover us both. We came together in the middle of the run and I gybed again to stay with him, but he immediately gybed off. I hooked in to a bit of pressure and decided to let him go. Unfortunately a big mistake he picked up a nice patch of pressure on the right and the three of us crossed the finish line together, but Heiko had gained the edge and beat us both across the line pushing Thierry into third place overall and me into 4th.

I was furious with myself at the time, I should have stuck to him like glue and not let him escape, also I probably would have beaten Thierry and clinched the silver. However with reflection it’s a good lesson to learn now and not in September, and even though my racing had got a bit rusty after the last few months I was still battling it out with them for the medals.

I only have four days now at home before we are off to China for the test regatta, which I am really looking forward to.