Lisa's Blog: 17th at the 2010 World Championships!
Yesterday afternoon we saw the 'N' over 'A' flags raised at the Largs Sailing Center signaling the end of the Championships. After only one race in the final series, the regatta was over. I placed 17th overall a very respectable finish but a bit bitter sweet as I might have been able to move well into the top 15 if the weather would have cooperated. I am very pleased with the way I am sailing and have definitely solidified that my goals are well within my reach!
On the first day of finals, we towed out to the racecourse in a light breeze after being delayed onshore for more than 5 hours. When the northerly wind finally filled in, it was still quite light and variable. We had 4 starts that were either postponed right before the gun or pulled back with a general recall before we finally got a start off. By that point, dark clouds were moving over the racecourse threatening to change the already unstable conditions. And change they did. By the time we began the run, the wind all but completely died, and then filled in with a 70 degree right shift. This windshift came from some crazy clouds, one with the makings of a waterspout! I was on the left of the course on the run, but was situated to round the correct gate so was poised to make a comeback from mid fleet. Because of the large windshift and breeze filling in from up the course there was a lot of traffic when rounding the marks. While defending my inside position, I built a little too much speed and tapped the stern of the boat ahead. She called protest and I was forced to do a 720, which turned out to be a very costly mistake. The boat I tapped, a British competitor, finished 9th in the race! Unfortunately, I lost positioning and boats during my spins as was only able to catch up to 28th place. That finish moved me back to 17th place overall, but with only 6 races sailed, I was optimistic that we had much racing left to do and could still move up to possibly even a top 10 position.
Day two of the finals started with a light air tow out to the racecourse early in the morning in hopes of getting three races in. The small amount of wind that was on the course quickly died and we floated and waited for hours. There was a low-pressure system forecasted to come into the area in the late afternoon. At 4 pm, the race committee hoisted the 'AP' over 'A' flag sending us to shore and ending the possibility of racing for the day. Unfortunately, just as the flags went up the frontal clouds that were hovering above the hills started sending down the breeze that we were waiting for. Within 10 minutes of the flags going up, there was over 10 knots of wind on the course. It was very disappointing and quite frustrating for the fleet to have to tow back home in great breeze and not be able to race! We now had only one more day to get some races in and the forecast didn't look promising... a storm was coming.
On the last day of the championship were postponed onshore all day waiting for a break in a storm that brought winds up to 40 knots ripping through the sailing area. As the time wore down and got closer and closer to our 4 pm time limit, competitors and organizers were getting noticeably antsy. But the wind did not relent. After the flags went up to call off the day, some of the biggest gusts of the day tore through the boatpark and across the water, picking up a haze of water as it went.
So with a total of 6 races sailed, the championship was over. I sailed some really great races and am definitely happy with my preparation coming into this event. Coach Ken Dool was a great help and support during the entire regatta and I was very happy to have him out on the water with us each day sharing his expertise and knowledge. Thanks Ken!
I will have some time to reflect on the spring season and this championship in the coming couple of weeks. I am looking forward to delving into the details of my performances at events and my training and preparation with our sports sciences team and begin to apply that to the planning for my fall training and preparation for next season.
With a successful World Championships following all the other successes of the year, I am very thankful to all the people who have supported me to get to this point. I am racing in the boat by myself, but I definitely don't feel like I am out there alone. There are so many people who have been involved with my program and I would like to say thank you!
I have attached a shot of the beautiful sunset we saw from the club the evening before the final series started and a picture of the amazing clouds during our crazy race on day 4 of the championship.
More news from the campaign trail soon!
Best winds,
Lisa
I would like to thank High Liner, the Canadian Sailing Team, Canadian Sports Centre Atlantic, the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron and Sandiline for their continued support of my campaign towards the London Olympics in 2012.
