Ryan Palk

                                   

                                                    The wind finally comes

Well the last few days have been slow and long.  On the last day of qualifying i managed to lead the fleet in the first race until at the top mark, the sign said i was ocs, damm.  I then managed to get a shocking performance in the second race in about 2knots of breeze, not good.  I dont no how, but after all that i only lost 1 place and made gold fleet with 2 places to spare.  I was feeling a little down about the whole racing thing but decided to have some fun kamikaze sailing in the gold fleet hitting corners and trying new things.  It was actually a really good opportunity to learn and practice new techniques in a world class fleet, after all how often do u get 70 of the worlds best sailors to practice some starts with?  The races yesterday were held in under 5 knots of breeze with some really frustrating conditions.  I tried some port tack bandit starts which didnt work and some corners that came off bad.  I was shocked however at how many people disregarded basic rules like port/starboard windward/leeward encounters.  I wont name any names but alot of the top 20 in this competition have some of the worst sportsmanship i have ever seen with the bulk of sailors cheating to get themselves ahead.  They have certainly lost my respect.

Today’s 1st race was held in a 3knots SW breeze. After a crappy start i worked my way into the top ten at the top mark.  Then after some shocking mark roundings and poor sailing and tactial decisions i found my self midfleet losing places.  The last race the wnd came in for the windiest race we had the whole series, about 10knots.  I started well and burnt off the fleet with a nice lead halfway up the first beat.  With the fleet splitting to either side of me and me being in the middle i had to decide which side was the correct to cover, which in this bay, is like picking the lottery.  I end up going middle right, with the people who banged the right corner coming out nicely and just ahead of me.  I rounded the top mark in the front pack in about 15th.  By the bottom mark i was about 7th and i had a good upwind be in 4th, with 1st and 2nd a boat length in front.  The last downwind i was confident i could get first as we were all so close.  I worked the left side of the course as had been the better option the whole regatta.  After a while i was in 2nd and all was looking good.  the judge boat flagged a boat near me and i all of a sudden got out of sync with the waves and the tight front fleet caught me and i rounded the bottom mark in 9th!  I made no gains on the last upwind and finished ninth, so close to first!  So cut, but it was fun racing in the first proper breeze all regatta.  Overall the regatta didnt go as smoothly as i would of liked.  I learnt that the maturity and discipline that is shown in a men’s world champiionship made the regatta fairer and more enjoyable for all to enjoy, while in the youth’s, the lack of maturity and discipline made the racing less enjoyable for all.  However i must say, the eventual winner, Kyle, raced consistently, maturely and fairly and was a deservant winner of the 2006 Youth World Championship.  I have learnt alot about sailing and mindsets in this regatta an can relate with Gary Hoyt’s infamous go for gold comments.  The California Yacht Club hosted two great series in what were hard conditions for racing.  I’ve now got a week off to chill in LA ad Mexico, skate, surf and sleep.  We fly back next Saturday depending on Dad’s leg and if it is still infected or not as he cant fly with it at the moment as he has o keep it up, unless of course we get upgraded to first class. i wish!

 

Later 

 

ryan palk

       

                                                   LA in smog mode aka normal

Today racing was postponed by a weird phenomena of smog.  About ten minutes before the first race a weird storm looking cloud was on the horizon.  Within minutes this cloud surrounded the fleet with everything around disappearing from view.  It was one of the weirdest things i have ever seen, with the air smelling like the fumes of a bus, and the land not experiencing any of the smog whatsoever.  After about 20 minutes of confusion the smog cleared and racing begun.  Alot of black flags were given out today with three races being called back.  Thankfully i didnt get one.  I had an alright start and sailed okay to get to the top mark in the top ten, with the same judge following me the whole time.  As i already have a flag for ’sculling’ and ‘hiking’ i couldnt afford another.  I played it safe it on the downwinds and reaches sacrificing places for safety.  I watched as sailors around me got flagged for what was good sailing, and were not doing anything illegal in any way.  With this in mind, i just sat in the boat, not moving so the judge would have no excuse to get me.  the result was that i got 14th in that race with 5th only metres away, but a 14th is better than a flag.  The second race today was real flicky and light.  The race started in next to nothing and i had a bad start.  I caught up then lost it again and rounded the top mark in what seemed like a bad position, however the fleet was really close with the difference between 1st and 70th under 50m.  I caught up a little until the race was abandoned because of shifty and light conditions.  So i got saved a little there.  So now after five races, we get our first drop, counting my DNE, i am 68th and just scraping gold fleet.  However now the DNE is set, as redress this morning was not given as the head judge completetly changed his story from what he told me yesterday in front of the Jury Chairman, which i was upset about. Now all i can do is try and work my way back up the fleet and hopefully into the top ten? It might seem hard but its possible so why not!  Otherwise having more fun today and feeling pretty relaxed for the rest of the regatta.

Nothing to lose, everything to gain…

Cheers ryan  

                                      

Today was not the best day.  I started the first race poorly and had a few run ins at the bottom mark and finished 13th.  The second race i was coming 4th on the last reach until i got done by the judge! THE SAME ONE AS YESTERDAY!  He has been giving heaps out the last two days, especially to people who have just done the whole open worlds and were’nt done once which doesn’t make sense.  When i asked him what it was for he says ‘you hike out to far and to muchwhen u pull the mainsheet on’.  I’m blowing up right now at his call as he made it from over 100 metres away and has no case for hiking to much!  Also he was unclear as to which boat was to take the penalty, so after doing a 720, to safeguard myself i finished the race anyway, in fifth place.  However becuase i finished the race I got a DNE, which means i cant drop it.  Im going to go for redress tomorrow to change it to a DNF so i can drop it, as the only reason i finished the race was because of his unclear intention as to who actually got the penalty. 

 Im really ticked off at the moment and frustrated with my sailing.  Had i kept my fifth today i would have been in 11th spot.  However, now i am in 61st, scraping the edge of gold fleet. Not happy Jan.

 Hoping for a better day tomorrow.

 cheers ryan

                                                            

                                                                Hanging at the Hollywood sign…

 

 

Yesterday we went to the Hollywood sign and chilled out at Malibu beach for a surf, where we literally froze our butts off.  Dad got run over by an out of control surfer and got a nice fin gash. 

 Today the youth worlds started and i didn;t have the best day.  We had a two hour postponement as we waited for the breeze.  Somebody brought out a tennis ball so so 180 of the worlds best laser sailors decided to have a game of brandy out on the water.  The racing got under way in a 5knots breeze from the WSW.  I had an alright start and a consistent upwind but nothing flash.  The real light guys were hiking off their feet while we were sitting in and they flew around the course.  The second race had a breeze which filled in to the right to about 15 knots throwing the lighter guys behind and giving the massive look over 18 guys a good shot.  I had an alirghty start lined up when somebody rammed in underneath me on the start.  All of a sudden in irons, i had to be really aggressive with the tiller to get myself to closehauled.  BANG. Start goes, i have no speed and to make it worse a judge watches me move tiller and deems me to be sculling so next second, WHISTLE!! 1-6-6-0-2-1 Australia!  I do a 720 and am all of a sudden coming 75th in a 75 boat fleet!  Ahh nuts.. With no other options i bang the right corner first then left on the upwind and caught up quite well to about midfleet.  I keep on the pace and catch up to the front pack which i was quite pleased with.  Even though results were sketchy today i was happy with the way i sailed in the second race and had some fun with the other aussie youths, Julian and Ben.  I’m currently coming 34th, so lets hope with some good results tomorrow i get can get myself up there!!!

 

heads up, cheers!

                                                            

                                                                   Stoked!

Well yesterday’s racing stayed consistent with an 18th in the first race. My starts were average with the second race start as bad as they come, as the wind changed to much on the start and i could not make the pin boat.  After alot of yelling and crashing i got away and had an alright placing of 16th.

Today, racing was held in a 5-10knot WSW.  With yesterday the right side paying off it seemed the best choice for the conditions.  I started really well and got out in front, and along with the other leaders headed right as we learned from the day before.  Unfortunately, the wind swung left with the back ofthe fleet reaping the benefits.  This race turned out to be my worst with a 41st, not happy.  We then had to get the last race in by 4.00pm otherwise it would be cancelled.  I wanted another race as i had a shocker and needed a good one to keep my top ten spot.  We had a general recall and restarted the timer at 3.52pm.  The race got away at 3.57pm with a black flag start.  I came away with an alright start and sprinted my way into the top 20.  On the last downwind i was about 19th however i needed to finish in the top 15 to keep my spot.  Fortunately, i caught more on the reach and on the last short upwind i caught another 3 boats, giving me 13th spot, and retaining my position. 

Presentations were awesome with a sunset ceremony with the marina as a backdrop. I came 8th overall, due to countback tie with 7th.  They only give out 8 world title cubes so i got one! So stoked! My goal was top ten so to achieve it is really exciting!  After presentation the cubeholders had a special photo session where we were treated like red carpet celebrities with hundreds of cameras snapping away.  Brasil’s Fabio sailed an awesome regatta and won by 5 points, he was a joy to sail with and taught me alot.  All the competitors in this event have been awesome to race against and have so many stregths that i have learnt from.  Now i have to use these lessons learnt to improve my results for the World Youth Titles which start on monday.  Till then im gonna chill out, have a surf and recharge…till then cheeers

 

Ryan Palk 

                                                             

Today was by far the windiest day of the regatta with a nice 15 knot seabreeze which at times gusted to 18.  First race start was alright and the upwind okay.  I came around the top mark in around 30 something and started the reach. I soon found boats passing me really quickly until i realised i had snagged a massive bit of sea kelp near the top mark.  After clearing the kelp the boat came alive again and i sprinted back, having a good downwind and upwind to regain myself to 21st.  Second race was windier again giving the heavier sailors of the fleet time to shine.  I managed a steady start and held onto the front pack and had some good downwinds and reaches.  Unfortunately, i hit the bottom mark twice and lost valuable spots which was very frustrating.  I’m not sure what i came in that race as the results haven’t come out yet but i am pretty sure it was in the top 15.  All in all, a good day on the water with some fun and fast sailing has by all, bring on tomorrow!

cheers

ryan

                                                          

                                                             Chilling before the race

Today was the sunniest day we have had so far.  The smog cleared by 10.00am and a seabreeze started to fill in.  The first race was interesting with a steady start and working my way up to 11th. Then we had a massive gap in between races as the girls starts had some recalls and so did the boys.  We finally got racing by about 4pm and after an alright start i managed to race to 13th. I am now coming 5th overall.  I have a massive rash and but i am having heaps of fun! Bring on tomorrow!

 cheers 

Today racing was held in lighter breezes on a Sunny LA day.  The smog burned back by race time with a seabreeze slowly building from the left and clocking right slowly.  I forgot my start watch and had not so good starts today.  In the first race I worked back to 21 which was okay.

 The second race start was no better and i was forced to take the game plan to the extreme and hope the wind would swing right earlier than expected, so i banged the corner and came out about 20th at the top mark.  I worked my but off downwind and the next upwind to catch up to the front of the fleet, i then had a good battle on the last upwind to get 5th.  Overall today was good fun, got sunburnt though so i am a bit sore, i’m now coming 7th overall and looking forward to tomorrow!

 cheers

 

ryan