Here is a report from John Ladha of Newfie Gold, as his campaign moves on from Kiel (GER) to Gdynia (POL) for the 49er Europeans coming up next week:
“They managed to get 2 races off to finish the event. We decided to be a little experimental with the starts, and the leeward marks, because if we’re going to try anything bold that we may need to use in Poland, we have to try it out first, and yesterday was the time for that. In order to keep our options open, we have to be good at doing gybe drops, and double gybe drops, which are really hard in any amount of breeze. Also, we wanted to do two gutsy starts on port, but it takes even more guts than we used. We have to come in there at 95% speed, pointing right at peoples transoms expecting a lane to pop into, and if it doesn’t exist, I have to turn at the last second and point at the next transom. It’s high drama starting, and we must be able to use it at performance events like Poland in a couple of weeks. We were doing quite well in the last race, when a boat crashed into us and locked our wings at the gates. They didn’t break any rules, just acted wreckless, and then as 15 boats sailed by us, and Dan was trying to unlock us, they were just standing there, like moose in car headlights, and only when I verbally tore their heads off, did they snap out of it. We’re lucky that there was no damage, but I was amazed at how pissed off I was. I should chill out.
We met at 0900 this morning and went out for some speed tuning, and sensitivity training for 3.5 hours. We worked hard at the sail and boat trim all of the way downwind, trying to screw each other over. Then both skippers were blind folded again for the upwind. It was a good drill again, and both Dan and I were better at it. Another drill that we did was a no talking drill. It was important for us both to know where we wanted to be in relation to the other boat, and to know when it was the time to gybe. Kind of sketchy, but Dan and I are on the same page most of the time. Finally, it was the speed tuning. What’s good about this drill is that we are punsihed right away for slower adaptations, because we’re in such close quarters with the other boats when tuning. I really like the mentality of working hard for every inch, and when adapting to the constant changes in so many variables that are invloved with sailing, the inches add up fast.
Hunter and Gordo, from Vancouver and Toronto, have been racing the 49er since ‘96 & ‘97, and thy’ve worked with coaches all over the world, but it was the first opportunity that they had to work with Rigo. Just as Dan and I, they were so happy with his work. They said that he is by far the best coach that they’ve ever worked with. We all really want to work with him again. Thanks Rigo! Dan and I are going to put together a small report for ourselves, just because there has been so much info absorbed over the past week. Tomorrow we’re off to Poland to test some equipment and start training with our European Championships kit.”
- Jon “I’m not Mexican” Ladha
CAN 709
The NA representatives at Kieler Woche did quite well. Here are the NA results:
Erik Storck & Trevor Moore (USA) – 10th
Peet Must & Carl Horrocks (USA) – 19th
Gordon Cook 7 Hunter Lowden (CAN) – 20th
Alex Bishop & Val Smith (USA) – 38th
Jon Ladha & Dan Inkpen (CAN) – 40th
Oliver Toole & Hans Henken (USA) – 51st
Full results here.
Videos here. (be sure to check out all 6 days of footage)
Good luck at Europeans, guys!
.