2003 Rolex International Women's Regatta 30 Sept - 3 Oct
3/10/03
Well after getting blown off the water yesterday - over 30 knots - and only
getting one race in, we finally finished the regatta today. Unfortunately
for us - there was no time for race 10. I say this as we were improving all
the time - after our DISASTEROUS first day. The team is working really well
together and really is improving all the time. We ended up 15th overall for
the nine races. We know we were capable of top 10 if only we had got
ourselves going faster one day quicker - AND not had the mishaps we
encountered (hole, wrongful jury penalty, protest, hole etc etc etc!!)
Still - 15th is very respectable and we are still satisfied with the result.
Aim to be back in 2 years time to better ourselves! The team has come
together very well, and it has been a pleasure sailing as part of this team.
The regatta was a good one - 70 entries - and fantastic class racing.
The regatta is HUGE here. Lots and lots of spectator craft and journalists..
It has coverage in all the major papers every day. It is as big as the
americas cup here!
1/10/03
Well - today was a better day. No hole in the boat for starters! We got teh
boat back at 7am this morn and rushed to get the rig all set in time to go.
Winds were alot lighter than yesterday. We worked really well and got a
couple of OK races under our belts. It was sunny but cool - much like
sailing at home at teh moment.
Two races today - and it was shifty as anything. There were loads of places
gained and lost with every shift.
Went to the seafood night last night - and the girls had a bit of a go at
hammering crabs - what a mess!!! We had to get lessons as we looked so
spastic! Was good to unwind a bit after the protest and hole incident....
Well - better go, off to get a taste of mount gay rum, then some italian on
the way home for dinner.
Looking for some good races tomorrow - and some good results,
Thanks to those emailing us - its great to have support especially after a
day like yesterday!
30/9/03
To bring you up to speed - we weighed in and registered OK - long but OK
process.....
Practice race was good - were 8th, but didnt finish.
Today - well - hard day. Managed to get all the bad things happen to us in
one day...
Raynor fell overboard, we got penalised from the jury for rule 42 (which
they later admitted that was UNFAIR and UNWARRENTED - AND help us to lose a
dozen places for nothing) - and the worst thing yet - we got hit and holed.
The boat is currently in a boatbuilders shop with a big gaping hole in the
front. Very upsetting to the team. It was before the start of the 3rd race -
and we had to get towed in as we were sinking. Hmmmmm since it WASNT our
fault and it has been a long evening gettting everything sorted. I have been
in the protest room and managed to get redress allocated for todays race we
missed. We have to get up early and have managed to get someone to pick our
boat up with us form teh boat builder - which is great. Spent 2 hours
setting up the rig yesterday - so hopfully it s not all funny after we re
rig tomorrow!
So - we are tired - and disappointed with the day - but are all set for some
luck tomorrow!!