Last year was such a great year for me on the water, defending my European title for the 5th year running and winning the Laser World title for the first time meant a great deal to me. This year will be concentrating more time an effort in to training on the Olympic waters in Weymouth. I will be targeting certain International events and doing a bit of big boat sailing to mix things up.
Hayling Island will host the Laser World Championships in September and the Olympics are of course coming to Weymouth in 2012. Two massive events on home soil so to speak, so I want to make use of any home advantage I can get. Another World would be a real special achievement, especially to be able to do that in the UK.
First though, over the winter and the start of 2010, I have been racing mostly in the Melges 32 series in America. I have used these events to help develop my tactic skills and avoid some of the cold weather. I have also been spending time in the Laser with trips to Clearwater and Palma to stay sharp.
I was sailing on Red, the Melges 32 team helmed by Joe Woods. The team is a great bunch of guys which made for not only great sailing but good fun. It was my first time sailing on a Melges 32 so it was all quite new with lots to learn, luckily as tactician I didn’t have to pull any strings which made life a bit easier but there was still a lot on especially when the breeze was up. As a tactician you have only to concentrate on what is ahead giving you more time to prepare for all different eventualities making it much more of a mental game. It’s a great way to practise tactical awareness and planning without having to worry about boat speed. Taking part in my first series, it was easy to see why the fleet is so popular as the boats are quick, the racing super tight and the fleet is staked with talented sailors.
The Gold Cup series takes place over three events in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Clearwater, and after some really close racing our team ended up winning the trophy. The team did a great job and we seem to be improving each day.
After sailing some of the crew managed to catch the basketball game to see Miami Heat beat the Lakers in overtime. It was a pretty impressive game and great fun to watch. I had a chance to head home for a night before flying out to Palma for a week’s Laser sailing, to be greeted with snow and freezing weather. I went for a bike ride in the mountains which was great way to start my training there. Starting at Inca I made my way up to the top about 1 hour 40 of climbing as I gained altitude it got colder and the snow got deeper. It was pretty cold on the way back down. All good fun!
Then it was back home for the second qualifier of the year. Fifty two Laser made the trip down to Plymouth for a great weekend of racing. With a full series of 5 races, and after limited time Laser racing this year so far it was great to win 4 of the 5 races.
Last weekend again was a chance to get out racing in the Laser on the Olympic waters for a RYA National Ranker. It was nice to be on the games courses and start winning races, again winning 4 of the 5 races was a pleasing performance against the guys that have been hard at it over the winter.
The big thing for me next is the start of international racing in Hyeres, which is getting me back on the campaign trail so to speak. Then I have some serious training back at Weymouth in the summer, this is going to be really useful ahead of the Olympics in 2012.
In previous years I have had limited time to train in Weymouth in the summer months due to the race calendar. This year I will be clearing the diary to get that vital time to train on the Olympic waters in the summer months in preparation for the games.
Most of my training will be based here but I will try and do some sailing in Hayling Island in preparation for the Worlds this year. The Worlds are a massive event and to have them here in the UK is a great bonus, also there is a qualifying event next weekend in Hayling Island so I will have the chance to get some race practise there ahead of the Worlds. Hayling can be a mix of conditions depending on the weather system. In the past I have found it a great place to sail and have some good memories from there.
After some more Laser training in France, then it’s Melges 32 in Italy at the end of April for some more big boat racing. Again this is something I am really interested in as it develops my tactical skills which I can then use in my Laser racing. Of course it’s great to try new things, but the Laser is my passion and anything I can do to develop my skills in that class has to be useful in my upcoming Olympic campaign.
It has also been the start of the bike racing season with the first race last weekend a 10 mile time trial. I wasn’t far off the pace with a 23.36 just 6 seconds off the leader. Pretty pleased it must be the new bike shaving the seconds off!!
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