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Nigeria - Day 4
Skip Dieball |
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After a terrific party at Ian
and Lindy Edwards' place Friday Night, Saturday morning started
EXTREMELY early. Steve and I had the plan to be at the boat park
between 7:30-8:00 AM and we succeeded, barely by 8:AM!!! ;-)
More tuning, more talk, more
tips/techniques and we were through most of the boats in the fleet.
Everyone was appreciative and we all looked forward to sailing!
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The Nigerian Nationals was due
to start at 11:AM. But as with most venues, we were postponed on
land for a while. Many launched and sailed around, only to be swept
downtown in a 5-knot flood tide! The tide here RIPS, make no
mistake. It makes Savannah look like the Junior Varsity of
current. You'd think that, like Savannah, you'd establish your
strategy 100% around the current, but as we found today, you can't.
You must honor the volatile wind shifts in the Lagos Harbor in order
to succeed.
The RC fit in four nice races (three were shortened and one was full
length). With Lightnings and Tarpons all over Lagos Harbor, it was
quite a site. I couldn't help but think that this concentration of
Lightnings only occurs in a few areas of the world....Pontiac,
Buffalo, Pymatuning, etc. Make no mistake, Lagos Yacht Club
understands which fleets have the most boats, and they are keen to be
the biggest fleet in the World. With many more new boats being
imported, the second-hand boats are leaving and are being gobbled up
quickly. One of the guys that is getting a new boat at the Worlds
in Greece this summer explained that he had four buyers for his
existing 15xxx series boat! Talk about fleet building!!! |
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At the end of the day, the
scores were tight but only discussed socially, as there were a few
protests still being heard. My team, I'm crewing in the middle in
a Carson 143xx series boat, should be close to the top with 7,2,3,1
(one throwout already). I believe after our 6 points there are
three or four boats with 8-10 points. I can't help but think of my
good friend Dave Starck at this point in the regatta....."you have
to be winning at the cocktail party!". What's worth noting is that
the Nigerian National competitors have embraced many of the ILCA
standards, particularly in the number of crew for their
championship. Our team is sailing well over 600 pounds! I believe
that the enforcement of the ILCA rules is in our favor as most teams
are coping with the switch from sailing 2-up to 3-up. My
take.....more people, more fun!
Tonight's party was themed as "Greeced
Lightning" as a way to promo the World Championship. Many of the
folks, including yours truly and Steve, broke out the togas! Talk
about a blast from college!!!! We all looked great and had a ball at
the dinner party!
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An additional treat for Steve
and I was being interviewed for a television production sponsored by
Heineken. They have a few outlets where they sell their football
(soccer) team's coverage and in return they produce and broadcast a
"reality" series for sporting events. They are going to feature the
Nigerian Lightning Nationals and we might make productions (or on
the cutting room floor!). It was fun, and we made friends with Henry Okafor,
Brand Manager for Heineken in Nigeria.
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Tomorrow we will sail out of
Lagos Harbor and attempt three races in the Atlantic. Steve and I
are looking forward to the type of racing we know in the Lightning;
however, we've had some fun in the harbor with the current, shipping
traffic, volatile wind, etc. |
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