I sit here, typing this entry, feeling like death, aching all over and with a pounding headache! It seems that not racing hurts more than racing!
Yesterday, with a few jobs to do on the boat and the desire to get on the water early, I got down to Double Bay really early and parked the boat in a prime slot. Moments later, Beasho and his Club Marine crew pull in, wanting to shift us out of pole positiona s they also wanted to hit the water early. "Snooze and you lose" sprang to mind, but in the end neither of us launched early so what was it all for?
Having just started to work through the list of jobs, the heavens opened and after a vain effort to work and stay dry, I joined the other sailors sheltering from the rain. The inevitable banter began, mainly about how I must have felt at home, being a Pom in the rain. All the joking still didn't get anybody too enthused and there was a distinct lack of action in the boat park, only matched by the lack of breeeze on the water. However, as the rain eased, Team AppliancesOnline headed for the boat to finish the jobs and, once done, we began to rig. However, before we had finished, the rain came back and we once more joined the huddle in the shelter. I have never seen so many skiff sailors not wanting to rig! Most were doing a pretty good impression of drowned rats, although humour didn't seem to have been watered down at all!
Slowly, it became clear that the park was divided into 2 halves. Those closest to the club were rigged and ready, those further away weren't! As boats began to launch from one end, others sprang to life. We launched at least 15 minutes after the first boat, only to see that they had not yet drifted past the last moored boats. A little puff of wind later and we were up with the early launchers.
The Southerly meant we had to sail across the harbour to Mosman Bay where we were placed in "holding pattern", hoping for some wind. And hoping. And hoping. And finally hoping they would abandon the whole thing. Making a call, we headed upwind so as to be closest to the club in the event of "3 Guns". If the wind filled in, we would have no problem getting to the start, if it didn't, we would be first in. Wrong!
It became clear that it was just not going to happen and the fleet was relieved by the "3 Guns" abandonment. We headed for home, only to see the rest of the fleet getting tows from the spectator fleet. As usual, the boat nearest home got left to last and our cunning plan was falling apart.
Last home and a quick derig saw us in the showers, only for me to find all my cloths were soaked through from earlier. With no option but to wear wet cloths, I proceeded to the bar to chill in the air conditioning! A long wait for the prize giving ensured that it was a wet and cold helm finally headed home. A second hot shower and hot soup helped a little but I sit here now knowing I got a chill yesterday and hoping the aches don't turn into anything serious. There may not be any injuries, but the body feels as sore as it would from a race in full foam up conditions!
This week should see one training session, a Friday twilight race and then the standard Sunday race. After that, we might get one practice sail and then it's the JJ. In another couple of months, we might just be ready.............
Yesterday, with a few jobs to do on the boat and the desire to get on the water early, I got down to Double Bay really early and parked the boat in a prime slot. Moments later, Beasho and his Club Marine crew pull in, wanting to shift us out of pole positiona s they also wanted to hit the water early. "Snooze and you lose" sprang to mind, but in the end neither of us launched early so what was it all for?
Having just started to work through the list of jobs, the heavens opened and after a vain effort to work and stay dry, I joined the other sailors sheltering from the rain. The inevitable banter began, mainly about how I must have felt at home, being a Pom in the rain. All the joking still didn't get anybody too enthused and there was a distinct lack of action in the boat park, only matched by the lack of breeeze on the water. However, as the rain eased, Team AppliancesOnline headed for the boat to finish the jobs and, once done, we began to rig. However, before we had finished, the rain came back and we once more joined the huddle in the shelter. I have never seen so many skiff sailors not wanting to rig! Most were doing a pretty good impression of drowned rats, although humour didn't seem to have been watered down at all!
Slowly, it became clear that the park was divided into 2 halves. Those closest to the club were rigged and ready, those further away weren't! As boats began to launch from one end, others sprang to life. We launched at least 15 minutes after the first boat, only to see that they had not yet drifted past the last moored boats. A little puff of wind later and we were up with the early launchers.
The Southerly meant we had to sail across the harbour to Mosman Bay where we were placed in "holding pattern", hoping for some wind. And hoping. And hoping. And finally hoping they would abandon the whole thing. Making a call, we headed upwind so as to be closest to the club in the event of "3 Guns". If the wind filled in, we would have no problem getting to the start, if it didn't, we would be first in. Wrong!
It became clear that it was just not going to happen and the fleet was relieved by the "3 Guns" abandonment. We headed for home, only to see the rest of the fleet getting tows from the spectator fleet. As usual, the boat nearest home got left to last and our cunning plan was falling apart.
Last home and a quick derig saw us in the showers, only for me to find all my cloths were soaked through from earlier. With no option but to wear wet cloths, I proceeded to the bar to chill in the air conditioning! A long wait for the prize giving ensured that it was a wet and cold helm finally headed home. A second hot shower and hot soup helped a little but I sit here now knowing I got a chill yesterday and hoping the aches don't turn into anything serious. There may not be any injuries, but the body feels as sore as it would from a race in full foam up conditions!
This week should see one training session, a Friday twilight race and then the standard Sunday race. After that, we might get one practice sail and then it's the JJ. In another couple of months, we might just be ready.............
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