Ryan Palk

                                                                   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

Today was the first day of racing of the 2006 Laser Radial Men’s World Championship.  The race started in 10-12 knots on a smoggy, overcast LA day.  The race committee have decided not to split the fleet which means there is alot of boats on the line, the biggest i have ever started in.  I had a pretty good start and came around the top mark in the top 20.  Unfortunately on the upwind, the cunningham cleet spring broke making it useless for the rest of the race.  The race took just over an hour and i came 9th with the fronrunner only seconds away in an extremely compact fleet.

During the break i attempted to fix the cunnigham cleet with a Make Poverty History bangel.  This worked for the start of the second race, however i could only change it on starboard which was a real bummer.  I started the second race okay slighty struggling upwind as the breeze strengthened with my cunningam giving way soon after the start.  I made ground back up through the rest of the race to finish a respectable 20th.  Currently i am coming 13th overall but it is only first day, still 4 days of racing to go.  Otherwise, everything has been heaps of fun and am looking forward to racing tomorrow!

cheers

                                                           Here we go!

Well, it is now the night before i leave for LA! Who would’ve thought this day would of ever come, it feels like it has been an eternity!  The bags are packed, the AUS stickers stuck and the adrenaline pumped. It has been a long and illustrious journey thus far that has taken us all over Australia’s East Coast, but that has been half the fun.  I must thank all my family and friends for their overwhelming support, as well as,the Noosa Yacht and Rowing Club, Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron, Suellen and Johnsee from LiveSaildDie.com, Ken Hurling, Al and Marian from Seaway Marine, David & Mindy Newington from LA, Dale from Noosa Boatman, Bec & Teenz from Rising Generations, Jono from Beachhouse Fitness Centres, Ray from Ray Scholes Marine, all supporting businesses of the Sunshine Coast, my training partner Klade and his family also, and of course to my coach Scott “Scotty” Sinclair.  Now I can only hope that I take the decisions and opportunities you have all given to me and turn them into GOLD!!! So Tinseltown…Here we go baby!

Training at RQ

The past week and a half has been non-stop sailing in basically every spot in South-East Queensland, preparing for every type of condition has meant training not only at the river, but also at Laguna Bay, Lake Cootharaba, RQYS, Mooloolaba and this weekend in Southport. This weekend will see the end of the endurance/feel phase of the training programme, with a well deserved break in Sydney for a menatal Psych up at the National leadership camp, and then perhaps a Regatta at Middle Harbour Yacht Club to get back into the big fleets. Then it is back to Noosa to finish the final parts of training and work on making more improvements to ensure it is all smooth sailing for worlds. cheers

Hi all, this is the First blog ever!  Klade and I will keep you as up to date as possible with results, news and other related info as we get it.  Thankyou to the sailors, rowers, members and staff who put on our Farewell party on Friday Night and thankyou for your generous support! It is much appreciated!  Also a big thankyou to Suellen and Johnsee of the globecast network for providing this webpage.  If you have any queries or interest in creating your own website be sure to contact them via www.theglobecast.com 

 Once again thank you all and look forward to bringing you many more happy updates

cheers

ryan