MIRROR WORLDS 2003
HOBART, TASMANIA

South Africa once again supported the International Mirror Class World Championship in full force during January 2003. A lot of preparation went into this event and the Mirror sailors have put a lot of effort into qualifying for the event. Organising a team for an event like this is a huge challenge and one operates under pressure from months before the event until after the return home. Ensuring the selection process runs smoothly, shipping of boats, finding accommodation, booking flights, visas, entries on time, uniforms and insurance, among other things had to be dealt with.

Eight boats left Port Elizabeth on 9 November and arrived in Hobart at the Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania on 30 December. The team assembled at Johannesburg Airport on 1 January 2003 where Daphne Kasselman from SAS surprised us to wave us goodbye. After a long flight via Singapore we arrived in Melbourne late the next day where we spent the night in a Formula 1 hotel. After a very early start and a flight of just more than an hour, we arrived in Hobart where we unpacked and took our boats through scrutiny. Some Aussie rules applied that we were not aware of and a bit of work had to be done on most of our boats to get them registered for the event. We had a ninth entry from Kevin Shallcross from Cape Town who sailed with Samantha Brown (an Aussie) who owns a Mirror based in Hobart.

We stayed at a private school where were looked after very well. The deputy headmaster and the matron of the hostel are both ex-South Africans, which added a lot to the relationship and support we got. The chef, Tim, looked after the stomachs with breakfast and dinner on the days that we did not have a sponsored meal at the yacht club. The team was never able to finish all the food provided except for the ice cream the first night. Their games room with table soccer, full size snooker table, table tennis and cable TV was used to its full potential whenever there was a spare moment at the hostel. The team have agreed which made management of the lot at the hostel very easy. The early curfew was very difficult for some to adhere to at all times but towards the end of the event all realised the value of that. Some of the youngsters went to bed much earlier than required as the days were very active.

The sailing conditions were excellent. In the mornings there was a light northerly breeze that swung around to south by 13:00 to pick up to 10+ knots. All races for the worlds started after 13:00.

The pre-worlds championship, consisting of 4 races, was sailed on 7 & 8 January. This was a good tester for the team to get used to the conditions and on these 2 days they had all conditions, from light to strong winds, from choppy to very choppy waters. Waldo and Ashton performed very well in this event with a final result of 12^th and 13^th respectively. One thing we made very clear after the pre-worlds was that these results were by no means a representation of what to expect in the worlds. Sailing in the pre-worlds is an opportunity to set-up the boats in racing conditions in the sailing conditions which is what most of the top guys were doing without actually getting a result.

Between the pre-worlds and the worlds we had 2 lay days. The first day we hired a bus and took a trip down to Port Arthur (the penal centre that made Tasmania famous in the early days) and stopped at various places to experience the hospitality and the beauty of the island. The highlight of the trip was the visit to the Tasmanian Devil Park where we not only saw the Tasmanian Devils, but also had the opportunity to feed the Kangaroos and Wallabies by hand. Most of the team agreed that that was the highlight of the visit to Tasmania.

On the second lay day we took it easy by doing some shopping in town and having a rest before the opening ceremony that evening. We had a march, speeches by various people and a meal to die for. The governor of Tasmania’s speech was very good. What struck me most was the passion with which he spoke about the Mirror and the fact that it is their best training boat as it gives the youngsters the best background in sailing skill and technique. Most of the Australian top sailors came through the Mirror ranks. It not only give the full sailing experience with main sail, jib and spinnaker handling, but also the skill to sail as a team with someone else and that in a boat that is very safe and stable under all conditions. So sad that we have not yet realised this in our country where we can build Mirrors at a fraction of the cost of any other international sailing dinghy and get all the benefits which includes international competition.

On Saturday 11 January the first race of the worlds was sailed. Those of you who were watching the ODI cricket match between England and Australia would have seen the Mirrors on the water as they have shown quite a bit on TV during dull periods in the game. The sailor’s adrenalin and stress levels were high as they all came with a mission, to do well, and they did. With just about every one of the 92 entries trying their best, as it was a world championship with the best of each country sailing, our team performed very well. Expectations, as became evident from the messages received from home, has put some of the guys under added pressure to perform better and that might have added to less than expected performance of some members. No one wanted to disappoint the supporters and sponsors at home.

The one race I would like to talk about is race 7, a race that very few competitors will ever forget. The race started in about 8 knots of wind from the south. The water was flat at the time and the conditions very hot. I was on my rubber duck with 2 Aussie coaches. As the fleet completed the first triangle, we noticed a change in cloud and weather patterns from the south and realised it was going to blow. The wind was at 12 knots. As the fleet started rounding the bottom mark, the squall hit us at about 32 knots, gusting 37 with a switch to SSE. The boats were now on a reach to the finish mark as the bridge shortened course at the top mark. Sailors who were still under spinnaker was flattened, those who tried to sail with their mains under power, were over powered. Most dumped their mains and sailed under jib only, sailing at such a speed that we saw them jumping waves. What was absolutely remarkable was that 79 of the 91 starters still finished the race with a result notwithstanding the conditions. Only a few boats had to be towed to shore with breakages. Sailors were sent ashore for an hour and a half for the wind to settle. Only 8 boats did not start the second race. Each and every competitor had something to say about race 7.

All the preparation by the teams showed in the results. Just looking at the to 3 South African entries, Waldo and Wayne (24^th in the worlds) prepared the boat and sailed every opportunity to perfect the boat handling as well as boat speed, pacing with Diether and Andrew. After the boats left the sailed lasers and Optimists to stay in shape. Ricky and Brennan Robinson (36^th) sailed in every event possible and after the Mirrors left, they took part in the Dabchick national championship as well as the Sprog championship up to a few days before the team left for Australia. Ashton and Nicolas (38^th) got formal training and sailed on a daily bases. They were fortunate to have a spare Mirror to practice up to the last minute. All the other guys have also put a lot of effort and preparation in to their preparations for the event.

Every member of our team was proud to be South African. They represented our country with great distinction and their behaviour was always at the highest level. It was absolutely fantastic to see how they wore their South African uniform and carried the flag with pride. So sad that we are still battling to get an answer to our request for SA colours based on the rules currently in place instead of answers based on the personal opinions of some individuals.

A great thank you to all who send us their best wishes, it was always fantastic to see how every one assembled at our notice board to read. Also a great thank you to our sponsors, MSC for shipping our boats, Stopak for assisting with the transport and also contributing to the shipping of our boats. SPAR paid for our team jackets which were sought after pieces at the event.

Now it is once again time to qualify for the next Mirror Worlds, which is in Sweden in August 2005, and every one has an equal chance to qualify. Planning for the Mirror Worlds in South Africa has already started in all earnest. The young people from all over the world dominate the Mirror Worlds. Of the 92 entries 42 were junior entries (skipper and crew under 19). There were many fathers and mothers sailing with their children, which was fantastic to see. Many of them came in the top 10 results. Just imagine sailing with your son/daughter in a world championship, over seas or in your own country!!!

As a country we need to invest in coaches that knows how to coach sailors during major events. I saw the value of that when I had the Aussie coaches with me for 2 days. Their ability to analyse the weather patterns and water conditions and giving that feedback to their sailors before races is invaluable. It is one thing to teach someone to sail, but a total different thing providing sailors with expertise at the championship to assist them to win races. That is a huge void in our country, please help us find and train these coaches, not only for the Mirror Class but for all sailors who want to excel.