Issue date
I arrived in Palma with the other three Kiwi Laser sailors on the 24th of March, exactly a week out from the start of the first European ISAF World Cup event of 2014 – the Trofeo Princesa Sofia Regatta. After recovering from the short (not!) 40 hour journey from Auckland to Palma, I was into training and preparing for racing the following week. Everything went smoothly in the build up to racing, with the usual hectic Laser training sessions pre-event. 70+ Lasers all trying to line up against each other and see how their latest training stacks them up against the best in the world really makes for some interesting practice on the water, but it’s all good fun.
Pre-regatta training; no wonder it was so chilly, the wind is blowing off the snow topped mountains! Photo Credit: Jesus Renedo
There was a very strong line up entered in the Laser Class for this first major event of the European season. With 144 Lasers entered, we were split into three qualifying fleets for the first two days of racing, and then we would qualify for either Gold, Silver, or Bronze fleet for the remaining three days of the final series, followed by the final day, top ten boats double-points medal race.
Pre-regatta; looking pretty happy to be back in Europe training against all the foreign guys.. Photo Credit: Jesus Renedo
The event began with light to medium sea breezes on the opening day of racing. We had three qualifying races, and I have to say my big fleet tactics were a little slow to kick in and I was right in the mid-pack ruthless battles all day. It was not the best day to start the regatta, but it really refreshed my tactics and kicked me back into the big fleet mindset. I put it all back together though on day two and came away with two really good races (1,2) in a puffy, shifty offshore day to qualify around 25th for Gold fleet.
Tight racing in the light sea breeze on Day 1 of the regatta. Photo Credit: Sail Coach
The first day of finals was a real let down. With good breeze forecasted, we sat around in huge waves but no wind for the majority of the day, watching other fleets on the other side of the bay racing around in 15-25 knots and loving life! It was the strangest weather, and we eventually were sent ashore after a few failed attempts to get a race in. This made the remaining two days of finals racing very important, with the schedule bumped up from two to three races each of those final two days. We successfully completed three races the next day, in very demanding, windy onshore conditions that left the fleet pretty exhausted by the end of the day. (photos of BREEZY stuff!) The final race of the day was pretty exciting with big gusts of 25-30knots and massive waves, making for a lot of wipe outs on the sketchy downwind legs. I was pretty satisfied to walk away from that day with three decent results and jump up to 10thoverall. The final day of gold fleet was going to decide who would contest the medal race the following day. It was really tight on points and with three Gold fleet races left there was plenty of opportunity to move up…or down the leaderboard significantly! It turned out to be a very tricky day, with a big range in the wind strength all day, and big shifts. I had two solid results and finished with a shocker. Everyone had some tough races on that day and my results were good enough to move up to 6th overall, secure a spot in the medal race and be in the fight on the final day.
Sending it downwind in the massive swell and big breeze on day one of Gold Fleet racing. Photo Credit: Sail Coach
After a mostly grey week of weather, the sun finally decided to make an appearance for the final day of the event. We headed out for the medal race in a light offshore wind, and after a quick warm up we were into our race on time. We got halfway through the race, before the fickle offshore wind fully shut off as the sea breeze started to fill in resulting in attempt one at the medal race being abandoned. We waited for about an hour for the new breeze to settle in, and then got into it but this time in a nice 6-10 knot building onshore sea breeze. Everyone is such a similar speed in those conditions that it was a bit of a drag race on the first upwind, with half a boat length making the difference for crucial crosses at the top of the beat. After a decent start midline, I got around the top mark in 4th but couldn’t get that jump on the downwind leg and was once again right in the midst of a battle come the second upwind leg. I had another solid upwind but lost a couple the final run to finish the race in 6th, but beat someone who was close on points in front of me overall so managed to finish up 5th overall for the event.
Leading in race two of Gold Fleet. Photo Credit: Sail Coach
I’m satisfied with 5th as a decent result to start this five-regatta stint in Europe. After a bunch of time spent training back in NZ after the Christmas period, it seems that my speed and everything is tracking well and it is just some of the finer details that will make a big difference for the regattas coming up over the next couple months. We are staying in Palma for the next week, doing a bunch of training and a bit of sightseeing before driving to the South of France for the next ISAF World Cup event in Hyeres.
The day after racing was a rest day with some sightseeing; cliff jumping was a highlight!
Thanks for all of the continued support!
Cheers,
Andy
