NZ OPTI TEAM AT THE ASEAN REGATTA IN MALAYSIAThe final results are as follows: George 17th and first non Asian, Susannah 24th, Russell 26th, Scotty 29th and Frankie 30th
Report 1: Coaching comments:
We had our first day training yesterday. There is an awkward chop (shallow water) and strong tide at limited times of the day but the major determinant is the wind. It generally swings left during the afternoon, from NW to SW and back again in the evening, but within that there are 20deg shifts e.g. 240-260 or 220-240. Those who can keep their head in the extreme heat score big time over those who miss the shifts aiming at a bland, haze-filled horizon.
The only teams that we have been able to pace against so far are Sri Lanka and Malaysia. The Malaysians are amongst the best in the World so it is encouraging. Frankie's weight certainly isn't holding him back upwind or down and his experience is keeping him at or near the front all the time. Each of the others has had moments of brilliance. We just need to find a way of maintaining their concentration in the heat to improve consistency.
Anyhow, the aim of this first session was just familiarization/orientation so that was achieved as they all now feel more comfortable about the location and what they are up against.
Steve
The kids are now getting used to the time difference. They are all enjoying each others company and are certainly making the most of what's available. The weather has been amazing, clear sky with light breezes and the temperature in the low thirties. We had our first experience of the smoke from the forest fires yesterday. We couldn't see the kids sailing a half a km off the beach. I can see the race course sitting on our balcony (with a cold beer in my hand). We have woken to an overcast sky with light rain. The temperature is in the upper twenties with high humidity.
It is very quiet around the resort with only three teams here at the moment. Most of the other teams arrive today.
Dave
Report 2: FridayHot again today 35 at a guess, and 6 to 18 knots. Lots of water consumption going on.
Came up against the Malaysians again today and they are quick. They have a sailing academy based here and the best sailors from around the country come and live here and train all year round. The top girl is the one that the worlds team were having trouble with. She came 27th in Switzerland. There are numerous other sailors that are just as good if not better and all weigh in at around 35 kilos.
Russell Today the Malaysians were doing straight line testing and we joined in afterwards in a race only to find how quick they were. We got left behind but managed to get into clean air and fought our way back up to the top few of the fleet. They then went round the boat as a top mark and went downwind and I think after that we can keep up with them down wind. On the reach we looked OK.George Today we also changed hotels for breakfast and it was good, we had a buffet of hash browns, bake beans pancakes, cereals, croissant, etc. After sailing in the morning we went back to the beach bar next door and had a swim and more good fooooooood!!!!!. Frankie hasn't sailed for the last two days because of a shoulder injury because he slept wrong.
Saturday: Measurement was more drama today. They failed all our sails due to them being up to 30 mm too long in the foot. Steve's military approach (best form of defense is attack) took some time to convince the measurer that she was wrong. Russell's rudder also failed until again some vigorous arguing convinced the measurer that it measured under the old rules and therefore complied. The charter boats being supplied are Extremes out of Singapore. The owner of Extreme Sailing Products is an Aussi guy who has gone out of his way to make sure we are sorted and has been very supportive.
After measuring and registration we hired a mini bus and went to a Fun Park in Kuala Lumpur. We all had a ball and the team are getting on well, great bunch of Kids. As George said Frankie has hurt his shoulder although he doesn't know how it happened. Looks like Rotator Cuff, he is quite sore and limited in the motion of his arm. It is improving but it is unlikely to be 100% by racing.
Tomorrow is scheduled official practice racing in the afternoon so will be interesting to see how the team feel after that.
Jeff
Report 3: Monday EveningHi again, practice race yesterday was a fizzer as there was absolutely no wind. They waited around all day then sent the kids out while it was glassy calm with no wind in sight only to have the kids sit around in their boats for 1 hour and then to send them back in again.
Last night was the opening ceremony which everyone enjoyed. This regatta is a big thing for Malaysia and some of the State Presidents attended. For Russ, Scotty and George, being their first international regatta, it was quite special to be part of a NZ team.
Today after a stormy night, we woke to a beautiful day. With the sun shining and the heat kicking in the locals forecasted good winds. Race 1 was raced in 0 to 3 patchy knots. The course was very small, 80 boats, start line 150 metres long and first mark approx 100 metres from the start, 6 minutes to the top mark in 1 &endash; 2 knots of breeze. After one general recall on an "I" flag they went straight to a black flag. Our guys struggled with the 3 knot tide and no wind on the start line and were slow to start resulting in the following: Russell 19th, George 21st, Susannah 35th, Scott 39th and Frankie 47th.
The 2nd race was raced in approx 0-1 knot of breeze and with almost the complete course was glassy calm, difficult conditions but Russell and George competed well. Frankie and Susannah protested the race committee and had the race abandoned to be re sailed tomorrow. Many of the other countries involved were very happy with Frankie as a result of his competence in front of the jury together with the outcome. Frankie is now King as far as the invitation teams are concerned.
With two days of little or no wind we are desperately hoping the situation improves. The Malaysians and Singaporeans seem very at ease in these conditions whereas we in NZ have little experience sailing in such light wind.
We took Frankie to the hospital and it turns out his problem is the scapular (excuse spelling if incorrect) muscle in his back. He was given pain killers, ice treatments and after a physio treatment today and some more pain killers he is very quickly on the mend. The kids are in good spirits and enjoying each others company.
Jeff
Report 4: Tuesday evening:Hi all. Today started with our worst fears being realized. The first race was started in 1 knot of breeze that had very little substance to it. The kids all got reasonable starts but the 3 knot current together with the large windless holes took its toll. Again Susannah and Frankie struggled significantly with their weight and the team in general suffered from little experience in these conditions. Race 2 Results: Russell 16th, George 18th, Susannah 35th, Scotty 43rd, Frankie 47th and again Malaysia and Singapore filled the spots in front of Russell.
Race 3 was started after lunch on the water. During lunch the breeze filled in to around 4 knots and just as the wind dropped again to 1 to 2 knots they dropped the postponement flag and we were into another windless race. The fleet struggled around the first few legs of the course then the wind completely disappeared. Those sailors who had made it to the wing mark had the current which provided the impetus to make it to the next mark where they were finished. Those that didn't went rapidly backwards and ended up with a DNF.
George and Susannah did manage to finish, with 15th and 17th respectively. Scotty was lying 21st but as only 20 finished, he just missed out. It was a real drifting match and a case of 'snakes and ladders' going from zephyr to zephyr to squeeze around the marks but slipping back in the tide in the glassy flat patches. Those who had a zephyr at the critical stages popped around the up-tide marks and raced away down the following legs on the tide.
In Race 4 we had the first 'decent' breeze at 6kts and all the Kiwis had excellent starts. Susannah again crossed the fleet out of the start but was not able to hold off the Asians and ended up 28th. George pulled through to 17th,, Frankie 18th, Russell to 25th and Scotty was 30th.
Race 5 also produced a 5-6kts breeze and the Kiwis had excellent performances with all five in the top 15 around the first mark and three in the top ten at the finish, the results being George 4th, Scotty 5th, Russell 9th, Frankie 16th and Susannah 37th.
Their overall standings at present (no discard) are: George 11th, Susannah 22nd, Russell 23rd, Scotty 29th and Frankie 33rd with a DNF to drop for Russell, Scotty and Frankie after 1 more race.
They are finding the strong tides difficult and are rapidly re-learning old lessons about starting in both light air and strong tide pushing the fleet over the line as well as staying up current on the reaches. Maybe we should have conducted all the training at Wakatere!
Tomorrow is the Team Racing day. They have decided to run separate round robins for ASEAN and Non-ASEAN countries but the winners of each will race a final to determine the best nation, time permitting. We are up against Japan first which will be tough then have a bye followed by relatively easy matches against Australia, United Arab Emirates and Sri Lanka. If we can beat Japan, we should get the chance to race either Singapore or Malaysia in the final.
Pray for wind for us please…..
Jeff and Steve
Report 5: Wednesday:Teams racing got underway after lunch as the wind came in from the west at around 5 knots. New Zealand won the Invitation team round robin convincingly and will sail off in the final against Singapore on Friday or Saturday. The team sailed well in the steady breeze that built into the afternoon.
By the finish of the Teams Racing the wind had built to a lovely warm 15 knots and it was decided to run fleet racing. It was wonderful to finally have a stable quality breeze and we felt we could compete well in the conditions.
However, after two races were completed it is fair to say that we were given a sailing lesson by the Asians even in the pressure. There were moments of brilliance from our Team but all in all we could not compete. Speed was the main problem apart from the odd departure from sound tactics. In one race Frankie got the dream start and after a few minutes was launched out from the fleet only to get pulled back in and finished 16th. After generally good or great starts all round, the lack of speed soon created the necessity to bang one side or the other. Scotty was crook and only raced 1 of the 2 Fleet races today.
Report 6: Thursday: Lay dayBeen into Kuala Lumpur today for a break away and have regrouped. We are feeling positive about tomorrow in terms of improving our positions with 4 races left to complete to make up the maximum 11. Scotty is fully back on his feet. As they stand at the moment the results are as follows: George is 18th, Russell 22nd, Susannah 28th, Frankie 32nd, Scotty 38th.
Jeff
Report 7 FridayFriday: Today the wind came in around 1pm and the breeze firmed to around 6 knots by race start. By the second race we had a lovely 12 knots and it was relatively cool. Russell and Susannah had a good day with Russell's best placing 10th and Susannah achieving an 8th and 13th.
Report 8 SaturdayWell it was another one of those days where the wind struggled to get to 3 knots. The Race Officer in both races today set a start line that was biased and where the top mark could be laid from the pin end. The second beat in the first race could be laid with eased sheets and the locals took advantage of the significant tide well. Today George and again Susannah sailed well with George achieving 4th and 28th and Susannah 28th and 10th. Scotty also sailed well with an 11th and 23rd. In both races those that made it to the pin (which was extremely difficult, if not impossible, due to the significant tide and little wind) before the gun had a clear port tack run to the top mark.
The final results are as follows: George 17th and first non Asian, Susannah 24th, Russell 26th, Scotty 29th and Frankie 30th.
After completion of the fleet racing we sailed the final of the Teams Racing against the Singaporeans. The Singaporeans showed their class and in the very light flukey conditions convincingly beat the NZ team.
Tonight is the closing ceremony and each team has been asked to perform something from their country. We of course will be performing the Haka and have had a few hilarious practices.
All in all the Team has learnt (and re-learnt!) volumes from this trip and we are certain that they will all be better sailors and people because of it.
We would like to thank all those involved in making this trip possible. Without the commitment of so many people such would not be possible. So on behalf of the team, we sincerely thank you for your interest and support.
Kind regards
Jeff