bviemma

OK i gave up!

2006-08-04T16:01:00.000-04:00

Alright I know I gave up. The mid winters was good but cold and after
realising that I was too unfit I kind of gave up and worked my butt off at my proper job. My best mate also decided that she was going to have her wedding at the same time as the worlds so what a good reason to give up for 6 months!

I have spent it well. I worked (boo), I did lots of rganising of the kids sailing and we got a new instructor - Chris who works wonders. I applied for another job which I might be moving to but is still under wraps for a while and I had a WONDERFUL time in the UK. Can't stop thinking about what a cool time I had as I am here and that life is there, time to get bottom in gear again. Two weeks to the Caribbean Dinghy Champs in Barbados and then hopefully St Croix for the VI champs.

It is also time to get the dream team up and running for the ladies champs in SXM and as two times defending champion we need to get some practice in, although we have done pretty well so far from justturning up and having a go!

SO my note to self is stop spending so much time on myspace.com and watching CSI and stay happy. I have a great vibe from the UK and I don't want to lose it and get stuck in the melancholy drudgery of life. Don't worry I will leave all the really strange stuff for the other blog.

Mid Winters East

2006-02-22T18:36:00.000-04:00

I am at the laser mid winters east in clear water florida from today
until Monday. There are lots of boats. First race is tomorrow and the
wind is light so far. I am staying at the best western and grant comes
to join me on tommorrow which is good because as nice as it is to get
some me time it sucks for too long.
The internet is cosing me heaps here - not like cheap brazil so I will
give you more tomorrow.

2006-01-02T14:37:00.000-04:00

Happy Christmas and a Great New Year to everyone who has supported or
just shown intrest in my sailing this year. I will be out again next
year as "There is nothing - absolutely nothing - half so much worth
doing as simply messing about in boats."

It´s finished!

2005-12-09T17:23:00.000-04:00

Oh what a week! Now that it is over I can truthfully say I did not
enjoy this regatta anywhere as much as I should. Yesterday was
horrendous, I was so ill that I just managed to finish the first race
with no chance of getting to the second. Today was better and I did
some good sailing in the 30kts.
Even though my result was pants I reckon my best would have been about
10 -15 boats higher than I was. It was definitely a shock coming here
but I have learnt lots from the experience. Mainly how important it is
to sail in the bigger regattas during the year. I think everyone at
the top of the gold fleet has been doing the big circuit for the year
and has full time coaching.
Lots of ladies that have done this event previously said the level of
sailing has gone up 10 fold in the past year and I think it is because
most of the sailors are now very close to full time. It has been
interesting talking to the other competitors about their coaching and
sailing and I think the club is definitely on the right track with our
future plans.
Fortaleza is an interesting city but very poor but I don´t think I
need to come back here. I am really looking forward to getting more
but not to the 19 hour flight to get there.
So overall yes I had a good time, yes I am disappointed with my result
but look forward to training and working on my performance and sailing
in some of the US regattas next year.

oh what a day!

2005-12-07T20:00:00.000-04:00

It is windy. Yesterday it was blowing about 25kts and I have to say i
did pants. Well I actually had a few moments of brilliance followed by
lots of moments of crap but I am learning lots from the other sailors.
The fleets were split last night and I am in the silver fleet. We were
supposed to be the third start today but the race officer screwed up
and put us second which caught me off guard and I got a port end start
which was ok but not brill. I came 31 which was ok considering it is
blowing 30 kts. I decided that I was going to work hard on the starts
for the rest of the regatta and did so well that I got black flagged
in the 2nd race. I was later told by the RO that he could nearly count
the number of boats behind the line. Unfortunately he only b/f 3 boats
from the 25 over and yours truly was one of them. Slightly pissed off
that he decided to go with the three when he could have got a load
more.
So went in and went and decided to have a bit of culture from the
local art museam. Had dinner at nice place in complex only to have 20
other sailors come and have dinner. Lots of people in gold fleet not
having a good regatta.
The interesting thing today was watching paige railey sail off the
line. She is fast and works the boat like a demon. I was impressed.
Anna said I should go to Miami - very sweet of her but need lots of
practice first.
2 days left and I miss home but will carry on working on my starts, it
is definitely not Kansas Toto!

Dayu one and two

2005-12-05T20:39:00.000-04:00

Day one was crap as I managed to carch a very nasty cold bug which
strarted with the sinus on Saturday night and had turned into full
blown sore throat, ear ache and chills on Sunday. Had two crap starts
and two crap races which by the end it was enough to finish. Came in
and caught a taxi to the nearest chemist for some pills. I was the
best dressed person at dinner wearing my snug as the a/c was too cold
for me. Seriously disaponitred at the end of the day.
This morning woke up and still felt a bit wozie but got my arse in
gear and decided to enjoy it come what may. The wind has been really
light for the past couple of days which is bad becuase the sailing is
hard but good because there is no way I could manage to hike hard
enough until I have got rid of the bug. The seas are still lumpy which
means if you smack a wave you lose 10 boats.
First race I had an ok start and was about 18 round the mark but lost
some on the 2nd beat and run. Second race had much better start and
was in the top 15 around the mark. but lost about 10 boats on the 2nd
beat. It was really strange with the wind all over the place. I think
I should have gone further right than I did.

The really intresting thing is there are some of the good people at
the bottom of the fleet as they are heavy which means the silver fleet
is going to be hard. It is likely to blow from wednesday onwards so
the joke at the moment is watch the top silver fleet sailors overtake
the gold ones!

Currently lying 66 so unless I end up with 2 fantastic results
tomorrow I will be in the silver fleet. Slightly bummed but did think
as I am racing around today there are sailors here that had to sail
against 100 others to get here and I am in front of them so it means I
can be proud of where ever I come. (Yes I know it would be nice to be
nearer the front of the fleet!)

Thats all for today - going to bed.

It all starts tomorrow

2005-12-03T16:37:00.000-04:00

The last night of freedom! Well actually not as I am going to go to
bed early as tomorrow is the start.Yesterday I got my boat measured
everything was fine but there were lots of people trying to rebend
their masts as the charter ones are all slightly wonky having already
done 3 regattas in 25kts.
Then went and did some shopping for water and the other bits and
pieces. The supermarkets are huge here!
Today we had our opening cermomeny which was intresting and quick. Yes
they had a flag for the BVI and there are at least 50 people who now
know where the BVI is. Personally I think that it is great. I have
managed to upload some photos on to my smugmug but have lots more.
I went sailing today and feel a lot more comfortable than the other
day although I did a great tack and missed the toe strap so ended up
swimming. Luckily did´t see any sharks which I am told are around but
I did see some dolphins the other day.
Tonight they have a concert at the hotel - great night to pick the one
before the regatta when everyone wants to sleep but from the sound
checks today it seems like they have lots of different bands playing
and as I am writing this there are a ton of cars pulling into the
parking lot.
So wish be luck for the first day tomorrow.
E.

My hotel details to contact me

2005-12-01T18:06:00.000-04:00

Room 2321
Hotel Marina Park
Tel 85-4006-9595
fax 85-3253-1803
www.marinapark.com.br

sailing in Fortaleza

2005-12-01T18:04:00.000-04:00

Well I am here, have picked up my boat and been out for a sail and I
am scared!!!
My boat was ok apart from a small ding inside the centerboard case
which they fixed for me. I went out sailing today and it is blowing
20-25 kts and the seas are HUGE! Think sailing in the christmas winds
with a big north swell. I did a couple of beats with some of the ARG
and BRA men and decided this is going to be a hard week if it carrys
on blowing. I need to work on the waves as some of them are just walls
that break on top of you.

The hotel is nice but again big. Everything is a hike but as we are
all fit (!) sailors it doesn´t matter. I have met people from the
english team and including an old sailing buddy Penny who I used to
know when we sailied Toppers.
It is really strange to hear about people from long ago. Tomorrow I am
going to register and then go shopping to get some food and water for
the event.

They have spilt the fleets and I am in the blue fleet. The resturant
opens at 7 and I am starving so I will talk to you all later!

2005-12-01T17:56:00.000-04:00

Laser Radial World Championship 2005
Exciting Line Up For First World As An Olympic Class
Since becoming the new Olympic equipment for the Women's One Person Dinghy
event, the Laser Radial has seen an influx of new talent and a transfer of
old hands from the Europe. From 2-9 December, Fortaleza, Brazil will host
the first World Championship for the new bunch of Olympic hopefuls, with a
truly global fleet encompassing all continents and 78 sailors from 32
nations battling for the World title.
Wednesday, 30 Nov 2005 15:44
http://www.sailing.org/default.asp?ID=j62Fh0~7~

Bon dia

2005-11-29T16:05:00.000-04:00

Brazil is great. Met Mum in Rio and did the tourist stuff to Christo
and Sugar Loaf. Had coconut and corn on Ipenema beach. Like Rio lots
and can tell you how to catch the buses! Now in Salvador on way to
Fortaleza. It is a intresting city - very african but has lots of
people trying to sell you stuff - which I hate, felt safer in Rio than
here. We fly to Fortaleza tomorrow which is great as nervous but more
relaxed than if had flown straight there. Jon has my tiller so
hopefully my ext will make it through another airport. Airlines don´t
like 3 ft carbon sticks.
Note to anyone running internet that the current shop I am in charges
it at 1 Real for 15 mins! Downside is keyboard is crap so sorry for
the spelling mistakes!
Tortola is a world away but miss you all.

Caribbean Ladies One Design Regatta

2005-11-07T16:41:00.000-04:00

Team BVI went to St Marten this weekend to the Caribbean Ladies One Design Regatta and we won! The team was Clair Burke, Linda Phillips, Rebecca Paull and me. We were sponsored by Doyle Sail makers and Latitude 18. This was the second year we have won. This time the format was slightly different as they had fewer teams than normal. Instead of dividing the fleet into a gold and silver we all raced together but as there were 10 teams and 7 boats we all did 7 races out of the 10 held so we each raced a boat.
The first race my start was crap and we came 3rd, the second race we got the crap boat. When we got into it I took the rudder and it felt like sailing through mud. We had a great start and sailed up wind but we were just not going anywhere and when we got to the windward mark we just stopped in the wind shadow of another boat and just slid sideways. I was getting slightly frustrated to say the least as were now in last but we sailed downwind and played with the keel and rudder and managed to work our way back to 5th but it was so disappointing. The next race we won which made me feel better! Then it was off to the club for lunch but as we had to sit out the race due to the rotation so we went shopping at Nautique.
After lunch at the YC we were the next race so we sailed back to the start and had a nice talk to Bex’s friends from the Lady C whilst the race comm. moved the course for a wind shift. We then had the next two races which we got bullets in each. I can’t remember that much as it all turns into a bit of a jumble. Whilst we were in our 4th race the team that had the crab boat retired and we thought it was because the shroud had gone but the center board had broken off.
It was our last race for the day and the car was at the YC so when we got back to Uncle Harry’s I asked Robby what they were going to do as there was now a “good’ boat in its place. He referred me to David Devries the judge. So I put a request for redress in which meant that all the boats that had sailed that boat got redress. We went back to the club after racing and for the meeting and the final decision was we got average points from our other 6 races for the race that we were in the crap boat.
This gave two sets of results on Sat night but we were in front by one point. Good cards had to beat us by two points to win with 2 other teams also in contention by a point.
Now going into the next day in first is good but also very nerve racking as you feel like the rabbit in the cross hairs of everyone else. I knew the simplest answer was just to win both races but that didn’t stop me from waking up at 5.30 doing mental arithmetic to sort the scores out in my head. Whilst we were having breakfast a reveler from the night before came and started talking to us which wound up some of the others left but I found it really good as it totally took my mind off the sailing for the day!
When we got to the boats it was windy and we were worried they were going to call for a reef but they raced us in the wind. We had a pretty good start and played the shifts really well. The crew all hiked their butts off and we just powered through the gusts. We had also worked out when we needed to drop the jib to stop sliding sideways. Our main competition hadn’t been out in that race so the next race was going to be the key.
The RO called for a reef in the sail and once everyone had swapped boats and reefed we started again. I screwed the start slightly with good cards to leeward and slightly forward on me and the Virgin Islands above me. Luckily the VI tacked off as they were sliding so we kept on going on a lift and then tacked on to the next lift which took us in to the buoy. All I could hear behind me was good cards saying hike, hike, hike so I said to the crew you need to hike as hard as you can because they are! We got to the wind ward mark first but GC was right behind us and caught us up downwind. We had water at the leeward mark and they came up to high and stopped. We just kept hiking and covering them up the beat. On the last tack in we had a lift into the mark which they didn’t get so they had to do two more tacks which meant the others caught up with them. We kept our lead on the run and had a nice beat up to the boat, although we did take a head a bit too far to the left and I was glad of the huge lead which meant we didn’t lose it.
GC was coming in 2nd but Miriam came in from the left had side of the course underneath them and tacked on to starboard as they were coming in on port. GC tacked late and in Miriam’s water so M had to do a huge luff to miss them. There was contact which was GC fault as she shouldn’t have been there and so they gybed around the finish line and tacked back across to get 4th as VI had come in and got third. GC said the Tiller ext had come off but they still hadn’t tacked in time. This meant we had 2 firsts so we had definitely won. We came ashore and I had to do two interviews which I am getting better at but trying to think of snappy phrases to say is not easy!
The rest of the team had then to convince me we had actually won!
We didn’t have to do the 3rd race but after watching the first leg we realized that VI was so far ahead they were going to win we went back and showered.
A nice lunch at the club and then prize giving when Robbie said lots of nice things! We all got a pair of Maui Jims (my 3rd free ones!) and a nice Swarovski crystal boat from Little Switzerland.
Overall a great regatta and good fun. If only we could get LIAT to fly on time the world would have been wonderful!

Round Tortola

2005-10-24T15:42:00.001-04:00

I did it!!! I sailed around Tortola in 5 1/2 hours. I have to collect the final amounts but I reckon I have raised between $1500 and $2000. Thank you to all that have helped and believe that not only could I sail around Tortola but that it is good that I am going to Brazil to represent the BVI. Your belief in me and your kindness is really touching. I have to keep pinching myself.

Ok for the good stuff. I left the beach about 8.30 after a very nice man (sorry didn’t get his name) took my trolley back up the beach. I was still fairly certain I was going to go west but I went out for a bit of a sail upwind and down wind to check. West seemed good so I called Becky on the VHF to let her know I was off and confirm I was going west and then set my stopwatch. I stayed off shore and it was a reach down to Fort Recovery and then a broad reach to a run. The seas were ok but the wind seemed light with planning only in the gusts. I figured this was because off the current. It was a bit over cast and there were only a couple of other boats around. I had arranged with Becky that I would start and she would catch me up but as I was approaching West End I couldn’t see her so I checked my watch and realized that I had only being sailing for about 30 minutes. This was a lot quicker than I had imagined so I tried calling her to say I was way ahead of schedule but couldn’t reach her so I saw the Bomba Charger coming past Havers and asked them to relay for me. I couldn’t hear Husky but I could here Bomba Charger talking to them and then they confirmed they had past the message on.
It was a run through the west end narrows and I gybed on to starboard about half way through and stayed in the middle to keep in the current. I came a bit to close to Steel Point and lost my wind. It was then really fluky with big calm patches followed by huge gusts. Once I got past Smugglers Cove (Belmont Point) it steadied and I had a great reach past all the bays up to Cane Garden Bay and Du Pois Point. The sea was really flat and it super sail although I understand why the coach says reaching is the best practice because it makes your legs and arms work. Becky caught up with me as I reached Cane Garden Bay and to give you and idea of speed when I was planning in the gusts she was planning along side me at ½ throttle. I was at Brewers about 11am. From Du Pois Point past Brewers Bay it turned into a tight reach but gusty.
As we reached Rough point I could see the line on wind on the water and I had to harden up on to a beat. To start with I was heading for Muskmelon Bay on Guana but got huge lifts in the guests which took me towards Tortola. I stayed hiking at about 70% but had to work it through the gusts. Staying on starboard was beginning to hurt and my hand holding the mainsheet was getting fatigued so I tacked on to port and headed into Tortola which was nicer as it was across the waves. I didn’t want to get too close so I tacked back onto starboard. Up near Monkey point I had my only near capsize when the wind shifted in the middle of the tack which had me on the wrong side of the sail! I sailed towards little Camanoe and Becky went and had a looked at the Bridge and then up to Marina Cay. The current was going south towards Beef Island so I carried on going. After all going under the bridge seemed a bit of a cop out and I would have had to capsize. Just past Trellis I stopped and ate my sandwich as it was getting a bit rough and my head was still hurting from the morning (no not a hangover just dehydration from the previous day). Sailing out from Marina Cay the seas were big as it was wind against current plus the strong wind. I sailed put so I was well off the Bluff and got there at 1pm. Then it was on to a broad reach the whole way back to Nanny Cay. I got back and had a small reception committee of Grant, Kevin, Heather and Ewan and Tom taking some photos.

Thank you to Becky who drove the rib around and kept me sane, Husky Salvage and Towing for providing the rib and fuel. Mark for convincing me to go west and Captain Mulligan’s for helping me to raise funds. The Royal BVI Yacht Club for supporting me and helping me at the auction which is another story. Grant for putting me up with me!
All the individuals who have given support and money. I appreciate each and every donation.

Columbus Day Open St Thomas

2005-10-15T16:25:00.000-04:00

The Colombus Day open in St Thomas was a very wet and windy affair.
We loaded the boats on to Ewans Bertram on Saturday at TMM in the bright sunshine and heat, there was no wind. Ewan, Alec, Erin, Amanda and Elsa all have US passports so they were fine to go by boat but I had to high tail it to West End and catch the ferry. Stopped for a shower on the way and changed into the second shirt of the day and then had to some formula one driving to get to the ferry. Sometimes it is nice to know that is it going to leave late!

Walked to the YC from the ferry. It was a good walk and took about 20 mins but I did begin to get worried when I hadn't got to the turning after 15! Last time I caught a taxi and it was dark! We were staying at the Anchorage Beach Resort and they had put them in a 2 bed room which wasn't going to work but went and got us moved. Went and got myself some sunnies and changed into the third shirt of the day after getting oil on the last. We all went for dinner at Molly Malones.

Sunday dawned wet and windy. They binned the Green fleet so Amanda and Jonathan didn't get to sail but the rest of the lasers and optimist were allowed to go out. We all launched and I got out there and realised that the committee boat wasn't even out. Everyone was screaming around in the wind. I went for a sail to get some practice in the waves and managed to capsize on the way down wind. Got it back up and sailed around some more but realised the committee and mark boats where having problems because of the wind so went and sailed into the bay to save my sail. The committee boat put the ap up and then sent everyone back into the beach. Elsa and I went for a sail and John and Beecher came out as well. Both of them capsized which was amusing. Elsa did really well in the waves but pointed really low. We headed back into the beach to find out what was happening.
There were lots of squalls coming through and the RO was watching the radar. They were going to move us round to the next bay which was going to be flatter but had to get a permit to sail there. Sorry this is my one dig at the US system - you need a permit to sail someone? You have to tell the CG what you are up to all the time. Land of the Free my butt! I understand the need for safety but BIG brother is out there.
Anyway they decided that it would be too dangerous to get 30 boats through the cut so they were just going to hold the sailing closer to the bay. Lunch was moved forwards and sailing was going to be at about 12.30 /1ish. After some Pizza yup love the fat and carbohydrates from Domino's we went out again. I don't know what the deal is but the YC has it's own caterers which to be frank I am a bit surprised they didn't use them. Most caterers would have kicked up a stink if you brought outside food in.

The racing was fun but hard. I got 1,3,1,3 my starts were the main difference between the first and thirds. Down wind was the best hiking at the back of the boat. At one point the 4.7 next to me was 3/4 out of the water. These regatta really showed how the different rigs equalise the sailors. Thomas and Cy in the full rigs were out in front but the first radials and 4.7 weren't far behind. The biggest shock of the day was St Thomas coach was in a radial and I didn't know who it was so on the first race I turn around and this strange person keeps catching me up. Looking at the photos I wasn't hiking as well as I should have been and need to make a effort to straighten my knees. Anyway Saturday was long and hard and I was happy to hit the beach at the end!
That night we went searching for Chinese and I took the kids for a drive whilst Ewan and Heather got some CF hours. At the end of the day I am 1st with 8 points, 2nd has 10 points and I don't look any further. It is my rule to not worry about the points but just sail as well as I can.
Sunday morning I wake to Elsa coming to sleep in my room as the lightening has woken all the kids up. No chance of a sleep in then! Heather and Erin catch the ferry back in the torrential downpour.
Went down to the beach and lots of keen souls are rigging so I get mine up but the RO decides to wait until the thunder squalls go so take the mast out and hide it behind some bushes. Once it looks clearer we go out and it is even windier than Saturday.
I figure I will just drift into the line as it so windy and would have been fine if the very nice gentleman in 2nd had decide to come up underneath me and push me over the line. So I have gone about 5 boat
lengths before I hear I am over as I am sure there was only one horn. Stopped and made a crap bear away. Why is it when you need to be slick you can't get past a reach - sailed past the line gybed, capsized got
it up and crossed the line and I am still not last!!! Frits and Elsa are crossing the line at the same time. Anyway I am so mad and pissed off that i sail like shit to start with and see all 4 of my competition in front of me downwind. Gybe, capsize and finally get to the leeward mark. As I am going round the mark I see Hugo bringing his boat back up and he is way downwind and sails in - yes one down!
Decide that I might be able to catch them up and actually start sailing better. Now this is the weird thing the guy in front is broad reaching and not going anywhere. He sails under and luffs the guy up in second who promptly capsizes. He then heads off downwind and I am catching him up. I think that is going to be close but I just need to stay near and hope the points work out on the discard when boom he gybes and capsizes. YIPPEE. Knowing this is my only chance I do the best gybe of the weekend and finish first to win. See it is all about KARMA be nice to others and then you do ok. Screw someone elses race up and it will come back to you!

Getting butt into gear

2005-10-07T14:31:00.000-04:00

I have just realised that today is the 7th which means in less than 2 months I will be in Brazil and sailing in the worlds. Need to get my butt into gear with and bring the training up a level.

I have been sailing twice this week. Last night I ended up sailing in the dark which was cool. The waves seem even bigger when you can't see them correctly but it really helps on sailing by feel.

This weekend we are off to St Thomas with 3 lasers and 3 oppies sailing for the BVI. The BVISF is paying the entry fee for the teams. Having just looked at windguru.com it says it is going to be howling on Sunday which is not good as the regatta is just Sunday and Monday and I don't have the guts to ask Cindy for time off so I am only going Sun and hope the racing finishs in time for the last ferry. Although if I am doing really well I might see if I can stay the extra day.