RACE TIME
The forecast in the run up to the event seemed pretty solid. Not the usual direction but quite consistent for at least the middle few days of the event. All the sailors were now ready and waiting to fight for the title. I hoped I had done my homework correctly; it was time to find out! As it transpired the wind strength predicted on Windguru was about five knots lighter, making it a waiting game each day on standby, getting sent to the water many times without being able to complete a heat. Another big problem was the direction. Though the wind was steady, its onshore flow was bringing a lot of rubbish and seaweed through the course area. Now it’s one thing to be racing in marginal winds, it’s another thing competing to stay clear of all the hidden obstacles submerged in the water. There were certainly more than a couple of the top guys who had unwanted encounters with objects in their heats. Any mistake at this level of intense competition can be a ‘game changer’ come the end of the season, so it can be pretty harsh to be knocked out by hitting a chunk of wood or having a plastic bag wrapped around your fin.
WAITING GAME
The windless days were long and there isn’t much else to do in that situation. I always have other business with my agency or brand and industry related work that helps pass the time but for the others the major activity of the week is downloading or streaming a TV series to their laptops. The Internet is very fast, so it’s not uncommon for guys to completely binge-watch a whole series or more; spending up to 8 hours at a time in front of their laptops.
By the middle of the week we just about finished the first elimination in very tricky conditions. My semi-final was run at least four times before it was decided who would advance through to the final. I was lucky enough to make it, so now I had a shot to take the first bullet of the season. In the final I was able to finish in 3rd, which was great, and I was feeling confident with my equipment. The forecast for the rest of the week looked bad apart from a small chance of wind on the last day; back from a more normal direction but with a lot of rain.
In past years, wind with rain meant no wind, fingers crossed! Nothing is 100% sure till it’s over so I always keep focused until the final horn is blown.
