Dispatch from Hyeres, Final

Dispatch from Hyeres, Final

The Aussies who came here travelled for 24 hours and they mention it as if they strolled around the corner to pick up a pain au chocolate. They are great competitors, great people, and are always up for an adventure.

This morning, we were postponed for an hour or so as the race committee waited for breeze. A few grumbled that they should just call it as the breeze wasn’t going to fill. But it did. And we went sailing.

As five hundred boats sailed out of the channel, one came back against the grain. Scott Ferguson had forgotten to put his yellow band on the check out board, which results in a 3-point penalty. He sailed back in, dropped off his bracelet and made it to the line with plenty of time to spare.

Many opted for their lightest sailing clothes, except for a few like Al Clark who had on his full hikers. The breeze continued to fill and those who store a spray top beneath their lifejacket, like Mark Bear, quickly donned them. The wind was at 85 degrees, and quite enjoyable, the line was just about square and when the sun came out the breeze seemed to go right.

The first start for the gold Standard  Masters fleet was a general recall. Shope started closer to the pin than Scott Ferguson, who was closer to the middle. And then they were off.

The Standard Masters Silver fleet was the fourth to start, and we weren’t sure if we would get our two races off, as the sailing instructions specify we cannot start after 3:00 pm. I got a clear air start, sailed my own race, found my way to the right side of the course when the sun came out, and found myself in 10^th downwind. I was able to play the waves and reeled in a sailor from Greece on the last beat to finish 9^th, my best race of the regatta. As I crossed the finish line, I salute the committee boat, “Monsieur, Merci beaucoup. Viva La France!”

I believe Peter Shope ended up third overall and Scott Ferguson finished fourth. Al Clark kept his top-ten position, and of course, the Aussie Brett Beyer won the regatta for our division.

The anxiety of returning the boats to the charter boat company was alleviated when the silver fleet was sent in as there was not enough time for us to have a second race. There are hundreds and hundreds of charter boats, so I thought getting it back to the company would be pure mayhem. Since we were first in line, it was quite simple, actually. We just took our boats apart and gave them back.

The last fleet on the race course will be the one where it gets sporty as there are a couple of dollies missing and no one wants to spend 600 Euros on a dolly that was stolen or otherwise.

This was a great adventure and I have to thank my wife Lisa for encouraging me to sail. I never would have made the leap if she hadn’t pushed for it. It’s easy to say, “I’m not ready for the Worlds, maybe next year.” She said, “how about this year? And maybe you should get a coach.”

Thanks to Coach Peter, I was able to compete with dignity, complete each race, and stay out of the fetal position in the bottom of the boat. I have a long way to go on my journey to becoming a competent Laser sailor, but you have to start somewhere. The camaraderie of being part of fleet 413 is extraordinary. The farther you get from home, the more people look out for each other.  Thanks to the RC for getting off races with 500 boats to figure into the equation. It wasn’t easy, but it was a lot of fun. Next year, I hope to be at the Worlds in Canada with all of my favorite Fleet 413 people. It will be a grand adventure.

Au Revoir,

Joe