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