International
:: Ferdinand (RSA8520) Email from Worlds :: (237 Reads)
Posted by
Mark
on Tuesday, August 03, 2010 - 04:55 PM
DISASTER.
The Worlds regatta started on Friday in a strong wind. We sailed the first race and completed it. On the first upwind leg of the second race, we were unfortunately involved in a collision with another boat.
Geelslang has been damaged to such an extent that we had to retire from the race and be towed back to shore. On further inspection it became evident that the extent of the damage is such that she will not be able to sail the rest of the regatta.
This is surely one of the worst ways to end a regatta and our entire campaign to compete in this event.
In desperation we've put up an advert on the local notice board to see if we can find another boat to compete in the rest of the 505 Worlds. We did not receive any response.
We also knew that Dave Hudson (sailor from Cape Town) bought a 505 in Germany. This is one of three additional boats going back in the container with the rest of the South African teams boats. We sent Dave a text message to ask if we can use his boat and almost immediately received a positive response back.
We rigged the boat and registered our change of equipment with the race committee on Saturday (and missed another race)... The boat is set up completely different from our own boat (done by a German sailor who won the 505 Worlds in the past; VERY complicated).
On Sunday we sailed two races, but still had some teething problems and did not do very well. We hope our results will improve in the races to follow.
These things unfortunately do happen, especially when you expect it the least. I believe it is more important to be able to recover if something does go wrong, than try to prevent anything from going wrong...
The above probably applies to other things in life than sailing as well.
Dave; thank you very much for the use of your boat. We really look forward to compete against you in the 505 back in South Africa.
Kind regards,
Ferdinand Holm
| Ferdinand (RSA8520) Email from Worlds | Log-in or register a new user account | 0 Comments | |
|
| |
| Comments are statements made by the person that posted them. They do not necessarily represent the opinions of the site editor. |
