scott.projectsomewhere

The 2nd day of racing just finished here in Weymouth. In more
bizzare winds, most fleets got 3 races away.

After waiting ashore til mid-afternoon, our fleet was released and
we raced a race in nice breeze, before it faded heavily for the
remaninder.

But that didn’t bother us too much. We led from start to finish in
the race with reasonable breeze, after being crossed by
port-tack-starter Pepe, we clawed back the lead upwind then
extended away to a pretty comfortable win.

The next race was frustrating. We started well and went to the
right side, which had been paying off all day. A Danish boat came
out of the left and led around the first mark, with us behind. We
continued off down the run but by the time we got to the bottom
gate, we were in the lead in absolutely no wind. The fleet drifted
slowly upwind again before getting a light breeze from the left,
and then brought it back downwind again. We stuck to the left so
hard on the way back that we had to drop early to make it back up
to the finish line, but we made it there in first, about 5 minutes
before the time limit expired.

Then the committee reset the course and ran yet another race. In a
light (but not as light as before) breeze we again started well and
were in the lead around the first mark. Another Danish boat wanted
to gybe on us downwind which caused a few headaches, but we made it
around to win again.

So 3 bullets from 3 starts. That’s got to help the scoreline a
little.

At the end of the day we’re tied for 1st, with a 1,5,1,1,1
scoreline. Paul is also there after a drop with a 1,1,6,1,1. The
Finnish guys are doing well too with a 2,2,1,2. But they didn’t
finish their last race, so for the purposes of re-seeding the
fleets for tomorrow the last race is being dropped for all those
who finished it. Kind of mucks up the results.

With only 5 races scheduled for the qualifying series, I’m not sure
what the plan is for tomorrow’s racing. We’ll have to wait and
see… and hope for some breeze.

Full
results here.

Euro Moth Champion Simon Payne leads reigning World Champion Rohan
Veal after the first 2 days of racing at the
Moth Worlds.

Slowly but surely we’re making some inroads into the situation
explained yesterday. After Paul blew up and
abused Silja at the cinema last night, he seems to have vented at
least some of his frustration. He actually talked to us in the
boatpark after racing - you’d have to say that was progress.

As far as the racing goes, we sailed fairly ordinarily to finish 6,
3, BFD. Carrying the BFD we’re still 4th overall, so that’s
ok.

The UK race committees seem to like using the black-flag for every
start every time. The only race that hasn’t been black-flagged this
week was the first one, and that was a general recall. I can’t say
I agree with their logic, I’d think it would be better to just OCS
the boats that are over the line, at least giving them the
opportunity to restart and continue racing. Anyway. Hopefully
they’re not so trigger happy next week.

What did I say a few days ago about having an axe to grind?

Well well… some people take this game just a little too
personally.

We’ve had two days so far in the UK Nationals, with 70+ boats
racing in 4-8 knot winds. There are an awful lot of lightweight
young teams going very very fast. Silja and I have done well
considering we’re nowhere near lightweight. On the first day we
scored a 1,5 to lead the fleet, and today we’ve scored a 6,1,4,4.
We should be in the top few going into the final series starting
tomorrow. Full results
here.

But the interesting thing is how British Yngling coach Paul is
handling it. We didn’t race him yesterday, but did today, and at
every opportunity he would tack directly on us, often sailing way
past the layline before doing so. Now that’s a pain in the arse in
itself, but when it’s sub-10-knots and they’re a lightweight team,
it’s even more of a pain.

There was one situation in the 2nd race, under a black-flag start
where Paul & Mari came in to leeward on the line trying to push
us over. We stayed away and came off the line well, Paul tacked
within a few lengths and tried to cross on port, but didn’t make
it. Anyway, we could’ve been nice and let him get away with it, but
after being such a wanker in the previous race we called him to do
a 360 penalty. He did the penalty, we won the race. Afterwards he
sailed up to us, told us he’d done the penalty then also told us
he’d be putting in 2 protests for the startline. Right.

Anyway, that kind of shit was getting pretty tired by the end of
the day. Hopefully he’s released all his pent-up stress and can go
onto sail in a somewhat sportsman like manner for the rest of the
week.

But I’m not holding my breath.

Rohan’s World
Championship defense has taken a blow after his injured knee played
up again.
Hopefully he can recover and get to Denmark in time to race.

Last year’s form guide for the 29er Worlds
was pretty close, but this year is going to be a whole different
ball game.

There’s only 1 Australian team entered, so there’s not going to be
the dominating aussies like previous years.

The British team is newer and younger than previous teams - or
maybe I’m just older - but they’re putting together a show of force
after taking all of the top 10 places at the recent
Europeans.

So who’s going to be there at the end…

Dylan & Rob. GBR5. Winners of the qualifying series in San
Francisco, but with a new crew for 2006. Dylan has been at the top
of the British scene for a while now, yet recently finished 2nd to
another strong Brit team. Who knows how he’ll take that
psychologically. I reckon he’ll be top 5 again, probably top
3.

Huw & Max. The other strong Brit team. Actually there’s a lot
of strong Brits, but a win at the Europeans means these guys are
better than most (or the rest actually). They finished 20th in San
Fran so are definately on the way up. On current form I’d say top
3.

Cameron & Matt. Probably the strongest US team. Cameron was
12th in San Fran, Matt crewing for John Heineken was 3rd. They’ve
got a full-new boat and are putting in the effort. I’d say they’re
top 5 material too.

Paul & Marie. Paul finished 4th in the 2003 49er Worlds, so
it’s no question he’s got talent. They’re going to be a light
weight team, so in Weymouth’s typical sub-15-knot winds, they’re
going to be quick. Paul might have an axe to grind after Silja
protested his Yngling team off the podium at the recent World
Champs. We’ll see how that situation plays out, let’s hope there’s
no RMW-i14-esque sitautions during the regatta. They’ll be top 10.
If it’s light they’ll be top 5.

Jen & Mike. Jen was 7th in San Fran with a 49er crew on the
wire. She’s been putting the practice in on both the normal 29er
and the X-rig. Her 470 background will help out in the tight
racing. She’ll be top 10. Don’t think they’ll be a top 5.

Helle & Simon. No idea if they’re turning up, since they
haven’t appeared on any results sheets this season or on the entry
list. They were super quick in the moderate breeze during training
last year, but were blown away a little in the regatta. Conditions
here would suit them better. They’re on the entry list for the
Switzerland EuroCup event, so they might be a late surprise. If
they turn up, they’ll make top 10.

Pepe & Jessica. Pepe has been in the top 10 or so since the
Sydney Worlds in early 2002. He’s representing Spain at this event
with a girl crew. He should have the smarts to be in Gold. I
haven’t seen him sail so I don’t really know. Not a top 5.

Benjamin & Johanna. Germany’s strongest team, and probably the
strongest mainland European team. They were good in the moderate
breezes back in 2004, and have been up there in the EuroCup
regattas so far. If its light to moderate, they’ll be up there. Not
a top 5.

Silja and I. Who knows. We’ve sailed 2 regattas together, but that
was 2 years ago. I haven’t raced since San Fran, and I didn’t do
much between San Fran and Silvaplana. Silja hasn’t raced a 29er
since last years Europeans. What other excuses can I think of?
We’re on the heavier side, which will favour moderate-upwards.
Silja’s light wind sailing in Finland can’t hurt in the super light
stuff. Our boat handling seems pretty good in the stronger breeze.
I’d say top 3. But then a 3rd in 2004 and a 2nd in 2005 means
there’s only 1 result left to make the set.

But then it’s just a bit of fun really.

So that doesn’t leave much room for the rest of the fleet in the
top 10 does it.

Other people to watch maybe…

Mikko Hentinen & Miikka Pennanen. FIN846. Miikka crewed for
Lauri in Silvaplana and finished 2nd. I don’t know anything of
Mikko, but having a great crew can’t hurt.

Karl Malmqvist & Johan Wersall. SWE1064. Not sure since I
haven’t seen them race since 2004. Karl was pretty smart back then
but hadn’t been in the boat for long. I believe he goes to a
sailing high school in Sweden, so should have put the hours in on
the water.

The Argentineans. Surely there’s got to be some fast ones.

The rest of the Brits. Plenty of fast boats there.

So there you go. Let’s wait a few weeks and work out if I’ve got it
right or not. The 70-boat UK Nationals starting on Monday should
give a pretty good indication of form.

And I really don’t need to win another pre-Worlds National Open
Championship.