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MIRROR WORLDS 2003 RACE REPORTS
Waldo & Wayne - Iolar Na Mara Hi everyone! First of all thanks to all of you for your support and interest. It really fires us up for racing as we know that we are not only doing it for our self but for our country and our friends out there cheering us on. We had a very good day today. With fair weather and good racing. We have learnt a lot so far and are applying everything we have learnt as we go along. The first race started in about 10 knots of wind. The start line was pretty square and in a big fleet like this clear air is very important. We tried to start in the first row but as luck would have it we unfortunately started in the second row. With bad air and chop we quickly search for better conditions. We spent the whole race catching up and I recon we still did very well. We ended up 23rd just stealing it from an Irish boat at the line. We were geared up as we knew we were fast upwind as well as down wind. The second race the result speaks for itself. With a 13th you can never complain. We started in the first row this time and stuck to the left side of the beat, as it seems there was more pressure on this side. I must say we were a bit lucky at the weather mark lay line as someone reserved a spot for us. I will not try to round the buoy this late again! We were about 15th and caught up the rest of the places mainly on the beats. It was very close racing and I enjoyed it so much. Thanks again for everyone's support. Will report again shortly with more news!!
Day 1 of the Nortas MIRROR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP boasted nearly perfect sailing conditions with very little current and 10 to 15 knots breeze. Every one seamed to be taking the racing more seriously than the pre-worlds with only 2 boats left ashore with an hour to go to the start. The start line was unbiased and we just found a nice spot on the left hand side of the line. Left was supposedly favoured because of the alleged current on the right hand side of the course. We were going very well and approached the weather mark on starboard amongst a row of boats that was four boats wide. Then the whole fleet got pushed way below the mark and this meant trouble for the previously non-over standing boats. We had to tack about four times but I don’t think we lost more than 10 places. We caught up a lot and finished in the 40's In the second race we sailed very flat and went very fast and pointed very well. Along with a good start we managed to get quite a good position. We went all the way t the left on the last beat with two Aussie boats and it seamed the current was helping us a little. It was a great days sailing with lots of entertainment at the end of the days sailing. Ashton & Nicolas - Alfu The first days’ racing as a whole was really NOT a good start of the regatta for us. The first race we had quite a bad start...managed to get into ions at about 20 seconds to the start gun. Luckily a recall was called. The next start we also weren't in that front row with clear air, but we managed to squeeze our way through to a disappointing 39th position at the end of race 1. The second race we managed a good start with clear air and tried to keep it that way up the first beat, rounding the top mark in approx 29th position. We pretty much kept that position through to the end of race 2...we finished 29th. A slow first day, but there are still a few days to come. Thomas & Chris - Greyhound We kicked off worlds with a disaster of a 1st race, die to a very bad start and deciding to go up the wrong side. We finished 51st and are hoping to do better and not get anymore shocking results like that one. In the 2nd race we had a much better start and as the wind dropped we found that we had a lot more boat speed and pointing than the rest of the fleet. We finished up 26th and were very pleased. Hopefully we can continue to achieve better results as the regatta progresses. Kuba & Taariq – CTRL-ALT-DEL Race one: Started on line two thirds towards pin. 1st beat left side played, rounded in high 30's. Reach and run maintained position. 2nd beat: Right side, lost out, rounding at bottom mark lost 10 places by being on the outside. Lost more places on Gibe. Final beat made up a few places, finished 55. Race Two: Started on line, but slow, one-third from committee boat. Went middle, had port starboard collision with Aussie boat, they did a 720. Not good 1st beat. Reach and run good. 2nd beat, left first then right, lost out again. Had foul up of shooting pole on hoist, lost some places. Good gibe then had incident with Diether and Spies. Good last beat. End up 68. Good days sailing, nice conditions. Not too much slop, and for a change warm. Gareth & Saskia – Wild Thing The racing didn't
start off on a great note today. As we were launching, our gaff
halyard snapped. Luckily, we got some amazing help from the locals,
one of which gave us a new halyard. Thanks to him we didn't lose
out. Upon reaching shore, we discovered we had
received a rather large crack to the side o our boat just above the
buoyancy tank. The involved boat owner said to us they would not
protest but would only look for redress. But at the jury meeting the
jury disqualified us for not retiring due to the damage we had
caused. What can I say? Discards? WE had a shocking day. Actually the past few days have been really stressful. I know I can perform better but it just won't happen. The first race today wasn't that good. I managed to find every header and do all the wrong things. Second race started out pretty much the same. The second half was better though and I managed to loose a protest after a 53. Well as I said DISCARDS! Trevor & Megan – Magic Race 1:Start. Next to committee boat. Went up about 200 meters tacked onto port. Went down to lay line. Up to No1 mark. In the front half of fleet. 2nd boat out to the left. Lost a lot of ground. 3rd beat up the centre. Made up some places. Ended up 70th. Race 2: Start at committee boat. Tack onto port. Stayed in the middle of course. In about front 3rd of the fleet. Sailed middle of course. Seemed to pay off. Ended up 52. |