PRACTICE DAY
From David:
Today was a long day, boat fixes in
AM, out for a practice race that never happened (0-4mph
wind and temp on the water well in the 30's and that is
moderated by the sea). The power boat I was on died and
had to be jury-rigged on the water.
Then a 65 km bus ride to see a very
nice sunset and the Temple of Poseidon ruins. Worth the
trip, but a long bus ride there 6pm rush hour then back
in rush hour type traffic again (why at 11pm I don't
know).
Dinner lamb shiskabobs, fries and
Pizza Hut pizza. Letter and then to bed at midnight.
Have to be down at the boats at 8
am for the boat rotation posting. Forecast is for 40 plus
to 45; and a sign as we drove in at 11pm said it was 36,
so it is warm here. Most of us are drinking water by the
1.5 L bottle in a 10-15 minute period.
People are great and friendly to
us. Wonderful place to visit.
From Matt Simpson:
Hello
Today was the practice race. After
waiting about 2 hours to get our sails measured we headed
to the assignment board and checked out which boat we
were to sail for the practice race, AND the 1st race. To
our surprise we had been assigned the very best boat in
the fleet. It's George Andreadis' and is very well set
up.
I would like to take a moment to
point out the incredible determination that Jim Carson,
Mary and Sandy Huntsman, and Dave Sprague have shown to
get the fleet of boats in racing condition. They have
worked endlessly, boat after boat, checking stay tension
and making sure all the boats are well rigged. And they
have done all this in 35 degree weather and scorching
sun. I can honestly say the regatta would not have been
able to begin without their effort.
After we checked over the boat and
made a few minor changes we came back up to the hotel and
ate our lunch in our somewhat air-conditioned room.
About an hour and a half before the
first gun we went back to the club and were on the water
exactly 1 hour before the start. The RC had postponed the
race because there was very little wind, but dropped the
flag just as we were leaving dock. On our way out there
was very little wind and it began to shift over 100
degrees (honest).
The wind eventually began to settle
in at about 220 but quickly died. After about 3 and a
half hours of drifting and swimming the race committee
finally abandoned the race.
Tomorrow are the first and second
races of the regatta and we are very anxious to get
racing.
Tonight is an organized excursion
to Cape Sounion, the location of Poseidon's temple and
apparently one of the most beautiful sunsets on the
Mediterranean.
Our next letter will be after the
first day, wish us luck!!!
Matt Simpson
DAY ONE
From Matt Simpson:
Hello
I would like to be able to write
page after page of brilliant tactical decisions and
blinding speed but.....I can't
THERE WAS NO WIND!!!!!
I put this in caps because I want
to emphasize the fact that for about 5 hours the top wind
speed was 0.2kts.
To make matters worse, the
temperature was by far the hottest it has been with the
peak reaching about 46 degrees in the sun, and 40 degrees
in the shade. I would also like to point out that those
temperatures are in Celsius, not Fahrenheit!!! This is by
far the greatest heat I have ever experienced. It is
simply incredible.
This morning we awoke and
everything went as planned. We were very organized in our
scheduling and we ate breakfast and arrived at the club
exactly on time. After a brief team meeting we were all
psyched up to hit the water but unfortunately the RC had
to postpone.
Finally, after waiting for 5 hours
in unbelievable heat (and drinking around 15 litres of
water and Gatorade EACH), a puff filled in and they sent
us out. Once again the puff was not to last and as soon
as we made it to the course, the wind shut off again.
This time it was for good.
The highlight of the day was
probably practicing flips off the bow into the quenching
sea.
Tonight is a spaghetti party and
hopefully an early night (last night on the tour we hit
traffic on the way home and didn't get back to the hotel
until about 11:30pm. The temple was beautiful so it was
worth the drive).
As I have already said we were
assigned the best boat for the first race. The only
problem with this rotation is that we are assigned the
worst boat for the second race. Now this would be a point
of contention for most teams but we are very confident in
our abilities and stick to the theory that "good
sailors can make a slow boat go fast."
We thought it would be a good idea
to show the entire team's perspective on the regatta and
the experience thus far so here are Dan and Oliver's
views:
Dan Sprague:
"It's hot, and we have to
drink a lot so we don't get dehydrated; one of the
Americans has already had sun stroke. Other than that
it's very interesting to be around all the people from
different countries. Some of the Chileans are trying to
teach us some Spanish. I can't say much about the racing
because we haven't raced yet, but when we start to race
it should get interesting."
Oliver Bone:
"So far it's been fun except
for the racing. It's so hot that we are sweating while
sitting in the shade. It's hard to stay focused but you
can see that we are the most focused since we are
drinking a lot of water and staying in the shade while we
are not racing (waiting for the wind!). Our hotel room's
air conditioning is not working so our room is HOT! I'm
getting very excited for racing."
Me again. The heat seems to be a
common point of interest for the whole team and it's
understandable why.
The bad news is that the most
recent weather fax for tomorrow's conditions says the
weather will be HOTTER and the wind will be LIGHTER. I
find it hard to believe that this is possible but that's
what forecast says.
At the rate the regatta is going
now it looks like we might just race Friday and the
"make-up day" Saturday. Technically they can
run as many races as they want in one day, but I doubt
they would ever run more than three as 3 races constitute
a series.
Well, it's time for a bit of a nap
(the sun is very exhausting) and a few more bottles of
water, then the spaghetti party!!
Thanks to everyone who has written
us, as we read all the emails and everyone is welcome to
share their thoughts.
Matt Simpson
DAY TWO
From The Regatta Office:
The Brazilian crew with two first places took the lead
followed by Argentinians and one of the Greek crews.
It's a very strong competition with 9 nations and 18
crews fightning for the trophy. It's very promising to
see so many young sailors in this particular class.
Please include the results in your web site where
anyone can find them in our web site which is http://www.enternet.gr/ycg
Thank you very much.
From Matt Simpson:
Hello
I am sorry for the delay in this
message but I was unable to get to the computer as it was
locked up in the office at the club and nobody could find
the key.
I am glad to say that we finally
had enough wind to get two races off.
After postponing the race for 2
hours on shore the breeze began to build and they sent us
out at 12, for a 1:00pm start. The wind was at about 195
and 6 knots.
We got a clean start off the line
and flipped to port right away and worked the right
middle of the course. We sailed a very solid first beat
and round around 7th, very close to the front. On the
downwind we were the first ones to pick up a shift and
gybed into it and by the leeward mark we had caught up to
around 5th. The mark rounding was very interesting as the
wind completely shut off and changed direction. We were
able to carry our speed around the mark better than
everyone else and caught right up to 2nd. Unfortunately
the group of boats that rounded the other gate mark
however, rounded in a puff and pulled out fast to the
left side.
We sailed well with a pack of boats
to the right side as we thought the breeze was going to
shift in that direction. Unfortunately this did not pay,
as we watched the whole pack of boats on the left side
ride a huge puff to the mark. We ended up rounding in 3rd
last.
The next downwind we worked a few
boats and caught up a bit but by the end of the race we
were only able to gain a few more and finished a
disappointing 12th.
We switched boats with one of the
Americans in between races and got down to the start line
early. We were sailing the slowest boat in the fleet but
we felt we were set up well.
The second race started in about 10
knots and we had another clean start. We hung in for a
while, using excellent boat speed to work off a few boats
to windward. We then threw in a bit of a hitch to the
right then came back to the left side. This strategy paid
as we found ourselves leading the pack of boats to the
left side. We continued to sail higher and faster than
many of the boats and before we knew it we were riding a
huge port tack lift right to the mark. We rounded a very
close 3rd.
The downwind we gained a bit of
distance on the 1st and 2nd place boats and held off the
Brazilians in 4th, even after spinnaker problems at the
hoist.
We rounded in third again and
worked our way up wind. We found the wind before a few of
the boats and were able to catch the second place boat
and stretch our lead on the rest of the pack. The
Brazilians sailed fast though and stayed with us for most
of the leg. At the windward we overstood a bit and we
forced to round in 3rd.
The RC had changed to leeward mark
though and we were the first ones to pick up on it. This
allowed us to sail a better angle and we quickly passed
the Brazilians and gained distance on the leader. By the
leeward we were right on the tail of the leader and about
5 boatlengths ahead of Brazil. The wind had sifted again
during the race and built to about 12 knots.
We hiked incredibly hard and were
able to sail very fast. We then tacked over and to port
and again picked up on the new mark placement before
everyone else and were able to sail a very fast port tack
right to the Finnish line, lead the Greeks and Brazilians
on our hip.
This is when things got
interesting. With about 500 yards to go the boat suddenly
lightened up and we heard a splash. The next thing we
knew, Oliver was dragging in the water beside me, holding
on to the jib sheet for dear life. We reacted fairly
quickly and after a few tries we were able to drag him
back into the boat. His hiking strap had broken.
The next few minutes were as
frustrating as they were humorous as Oliver was forced to
straddle the side of the boat, one leg on the rail and
one leg hanging over the side, flat on his belly, trying
to retie his strap any way he could. He finally got it
re-tied and was able to hike normally again.
Throughout our "ordeal"
we were able to keep the boat moving fairly fast (except
for the 15 seconds Olie was in the water of course), but
we had lost a fair bit of distance on the other two
boats.
We worked back up on them and just
when we thought we had the race won, about 100 yards from
the Finnish, the wind completely shut off on us and we
watched the other two boats skirt the lull and sail over
us. Frustrated, we tacked over and were able to tack back
to port in the puff, on Brazil's windward quarter.
The Greeks didn't see another lull
that was moving down and sailed right into it. In the end
we finished a very close 2nd right behind Brazil.
The results are very mixed up for
the regatta as some of the top boats in the first race
didn't even make the time limit for the second one.
A 12th and a 2nd puts us in 5th
overall and only 4 points out of 2nd. The Brazilians are
in 1st with two 1sts, and the Argentineans are in 2nd
with a 4th and a 6th. The Greeks are in 3rd and 4th.
Seeing as I am writing this on
Friday morning I can tell you that we are again
postponed. THIS TIME THERE IS TOO MUCH WIND!!!!!
They are clocking a steady 20 knots
+, out of the North East. This is a system breeze that
has been expected. The best part is the wind has cooled
off the heat and are finding it a bit more comfortable.
The RC expects to delay the race
for a few hours to see if the wind dies down. We would
personally like to sail in this breeze but we are forced
to stay on shore.
We have learned a lot from
yesterdays racing and have proven that we do have the
speed and the smarts to win this regatta. Now we just
have to sail consistently well and make sure that the
12th is our drop race.
I'll let you know how the racing
goes today!!
Matt Simpson
DAY THREE
From Dave:
Too windy today to sail so we are
waiting for a few hours to let it die a bit. 30 plus mph
and steady 22 mph average. We won't mention the heat
except to say it was 94 at 8am and has climbed since then
(noon now)
Yesterday 2 somewhat screwy races
but Brazil had 1 firsts.
Kids got 12 and 2. for 5th.
I have a protest in on the Greeks
re changing their boat so that will be messy.
We had 3 redress requests for boats
only one allowed yesterday. (broken gooseneck)
From Matt:
Hello,
Again I am forced to delay my
response as I spent the better part of last night waiting
for the Jury.
I am afraid this message is not of
the good luck and great results as I had hoped, but of
frustration and disappointment.
The day began like all the other
days, no wind first thing in the morning, small
breakfast, and a hot walk down to the club. The day was
different though as the wind was out of the North, a good
sign for a system breeze.
And a system breeze there was.
About 22 knots of it. Now as many of you know the Class
rules for the Lightning limit the racing to conditions
under 25 knots, usually, but sometimes RCs will go as low
as 20 knots.
So for the first time we were
postponed not because there was no wind, but because it
was too strong.
To sum up the nature of the regatta
so far I would like to point out one fact. The publicly
acknowledged reason for the postponement was not in fact
that the wind was too strong for the sailors, but that
the wind was too strong for the boats. This continued to
be the reason, even when the wind dropped well below 20
knots. When the sailors are not allowed to sail in 17
knots of breeze because the RC is afraid the majority of
the "provided fleet" of boats will not survive,
there is a problem.
And so we sat on shore until around
3, till the wind dropped to about 15, and they finally
sent us out.
As seems consistent with our poor
luck this far we were assigned the 2nd and 3rd worst
boats in the fleet for the rotation.
The first race was started with the
wind out of the NE, around 040 and very puffy. We had a
clean start but we driven out to the left side by the
Brazilian team. Every time we tried to slow down to duck
them, they seemed to slow as well and we were forced to
ride it out. This was of course the unfavored side of the
course and we rounded the windward in about 10th place.
I am glad to say we never counted
ourselves out though. We kept our heads in the boat and
worked off a few boats with good boathandling and speed
(even in a poor boat). We made not dramatic deviances
from the fleet, just sailed with them and gradually
worked off boat after boat until the last beat we had a
chance to finish in the top 5. Unfortunately one of the
Greek boats took a flyer off the left side and it paid
huge and we were forced to settle for 6th. This result
was very acceptable though, as a few of the boats ahead
of us were deep in the standings.
The wind continued to build and die
and began to shift to the North.
We switched boats in between races
again and were greeted with the biggest disgrace to
Lightning sailing I have seen. This boat was by far the
worst rigged, the slowest hull, and the worst mast in the
fleet. We did our best to fine tune those areas that we
could (it took us about 30 minutes to get the boat
relatively raceable.
We again had a very good start and
had a huge hole to windward and leeward. Unfortunately
the holes were not to last as no matter what we did we
began to get rolled by two of the slower teams in the
fleet.
This was to be the trend for the
entire race as boat after boat just climbed higher and
faster than us, not matter how we trimmed or changed our
setups.
And so we found ourselves sailing
the worst race of our regatta. We did our best to make
smart tactical decisions and keep our head out of the
boat, but it was all for naught because ever time we
needed the speed there was none to be found. The boat
simply plowed through the water.
We finished 15th.
I have never been one to use
equipment as a reason for a poor performance but for the
first time I can honestly say we never had a chance. I
have reviewed the results for that boat in the regatta
thus far and realize that the boats BEST finish is a 4th
last. Even John Boxberger, the top American was forced to
retire from the second race because they were so far
behind they were not going to make the time limit.
I have subsequently filed for
redress under a section of the Sailing Instructions that
states the "Competitive boats will be
provided". This boat is simply not competitive and
should never have been used for a World Championships
(although the latter can be said for the majority of the
fleet).
In my request I asked the jury to
make their finding at the end of the regatta when the
boats performance can accurately be determined.
And so we must continue for today,
the final two races of the regatta. We are still in the
hunt, a long shot, but possible, should we be granted
redress.
We will do our best, as I can
honestly say we have done thus far, and I will continue
to be proud of the team I sail with and the effort we
have put in. The guys have put their hearts into this
campaign and this regatta, and it is for them that I feel
sorry, as the results of this regatta so far do not
reflect our ability or commitment, or heart.
Today is our "Youth Sailing
Career's" Armageddon. We're going to go out with a
bang!!!!
DAY FOUR: One
Last Race:
The Worlds is finished and Greeks
were 1, 2 - Canada 7th.
It was a great experience for all
of the kids and as well for those of us who were hangers
on.
The heat was unbelievable, the wind
inconsistent and shifty and the Greek people wonderful
hosts.
The Race Committee did a wonderful
job in extreme conditions. There were some problems with
the boats and that has put a cloud over the racing but
after watching the kids from South America, Europe and
North America party last night I am convinced they have
made friends for life and been enriched by the
experience.
Dan and I left Athens noon on
Sunday and went to Thira (Santorini) a volcanic island in
the Aegean about 100kms from Athens and plan to veg out
till Tuesday afternoon (excluding some work that has to
be dealt with) and then back to Athens for the night and
then 13 plus hours flying home.
Matt's note is attached as normal.
He is obviously disappointed in the 7th but they sailed a
good regatta with a lot of good moves that were negated
by a few decisions that did not work out as well as
expected plus some bad luck with the boat draw.
I have to note a very strong
positive comment on the Brazilian crew who but for one
race when they had the infamous green machine (boat 11)
could possibly have won the regatta.
I also have to comment positively
on the Finnish crew with a 14 year old skipper. He sailed
well and I look forward to seeing him in the ISAF
rankings in the future.
All of the other crews were
wonderful to work with and I thank the organizers for
letting me get involved when I offered my help to the
organizers a day or so before the regatta. I would not
have had the chance to meet so many young and
enthusiastic sailors were it not for my role as the on
the boat committee.
I also have to thank Matt for his
kind comments on my involvement as well as to echo his
comments on Jim Carson and Sandy for their untiring
efforts on behalf of the kids. As I type this Jim is
probably already back in the States having left 12 hours
after the regatta finished so he does not get to be a
tourist. Dan and I met Sandy and Mary at the airport as
they were on their way to Italy to check out the site for
the 2001 Worlds.
Here is Matt's note:
Hello,
I am writing this the morning after
the last day of the regatta so you can imagine the
headache I am trying to combat.
The regatta ended yesterday, in the
same fashion in which it started. Not much wind, huge
shifts, lucky locals.
It was the first day that we were
actually able to get out to the race course on time, as
there was a bit of wind, enough to get us out there at
least. But in its usual fashion as soon as we rounded the
break wall the wind shut off and began to do its dance,
gusting erratically and shifting through 200 degrees
(honest).
And so we were postponed. Destined
to sit in the sun, auto-tacking as the wind did its
thing, but hey, I also managed to get rid of my
sunglasses tan!!!
We finally started at 1:45pm, after
the RC was forced to send us out farther into the bay.
The wind came in at around 220 degrees and was quite up
and down.
We continued our success on the
start line and moved well up the first beat. as the race
progressed we began to notice more and more water seeping
in through the automatic bailers, and by the end we had
both Oliver and Dan devoting most of their attention to
bailing and sponging up the water.
We rounded the first windward in
about 10th after our consistently poor luck placed us in
the centre of a rapidly developing hole, that popped out
of nowhere. We passed a few boats on the downwind and
gained a few more on the following legs, working our way
up to 5th at one point. But once again this was not to
last and we lost three boats that came out of a corner on
the last beat.
And so we ended the regatta with an
8th. A result not representative of our abilities or
commitment, but our inability to satisfy the "God of
Chance". I guess we missed that temple in our tours.
Our hopes for a top 5 overall
finish were dashed when the Jury voted against our
request for redress even though the Brazilians (who had a
1,1,2,11) sailed that boat in the last race and finished
second last.
But this regatta was not all bad.
There was a small standing ovation for the Brazilian team
who sailed the best regatta, but were forced to settle
for 4th as the Jury also chose to deny their redress for
the infamous boat number 11.
There were also the true heroes of
the regatta: the knights in shining armor who rode in on
747s and spent days in the trenches of the boat yard,
fixing boats, and organizing the regatta. As I have said
earlier, without the work of men like Jim Carson, Dave
Sprague, and Sandy Huntsman, we would have sailed even
less than we did. My hat goes off to them, for doing
their absolute best, with a horrible situation.
And so I must pack my bags and
catch a plane tomorrow. Today my Dad and I will head to
downtown Athens and pick up a few souvenirs. I have then
decided to head to Munich Germany for a few days, to
clear my mind, and relax for the first time in a few
months.
I thank all of you who have read my
reports and followed the team with great dedication.
Without your love and support we would not be the great
team that we are.
And above all I would like to thank
my Crew, Dan Sprague and Oliver Bone. It was their heart
and dedication that have brought us this far, and will
take them even farther in their respective careers. I
would not have gone to battle with anyone else. My
deepest thanks guys.
And so I sign off. I will write a
few follow up letters to ensure everyone that we have
made it home safely, and to notify you of any
post-regatta stories.
Thank You.
Matt Simpson
