Merrily
Administrator
Hey, I’m going to the Easter Laser Regatta at Austin, TX, and so will finally meet the Candyman, AKA Gouvernail AKA Fred Schroth. This means I’ve gotten over the fear of Texas that was instilled by the movie Thelma and Louise. I’m calling this account the Road to Peeps because chocolate makes me sneeze and with repeated consumption my Eustachian tubes block up so much that I get dizzy and feel that I’m at sea and stagger around the house. This is too bad because I love love love chocolate and it’s going to be a trial for me to be around it and not eat it. I’m hoping the old Fredster will provide some gooey holiday marshmallow substitutes, Peeps.
OK, now for the sailing. Things were a bit pathetic at MMWE, but I’m making no guarantees that this event will be better, so if you want to hear that Janet Rupert suddenly turned into superwoman, super motivated, with magically improved sailing abilities, please fast forward a few years and read that blog. OK, apologies for the hostility and hope that’s out of my system. I’m going to the Easter Laser Regatta to catch some warm weather and get in some sailing, but avoiding injury while doing so is highest on the list.
I do understand some of my mistakes. Foremost were the training choices that I made, plus just not doing enough. I had a calf injury about 10 days before the event that I didn’t mention, I think, and I had to stop everything. I’m going back to the old standbys of cycling, rowing, wall sits, hiking simulation, pilates, plus, and this is important for me, weight training to be able to get back into the boat. That was the worst mistake that I made, substituting different exercises for the tried and true. I had trouble getting back into the boat due to a bit slack upper body, and I was just worn out from the get-go and could really feel it. It didn't help that with the first capsize to windward I was flung out of the boat so far that I was under the sail, got a snoot full of water, and swam to safety wondering if this was truly going to be a deathroll. Then my boat hit me as she heaved in the waves. She never did that before. Bummer. Now I've a better idea what to expect and have great respect for those who regularly sail in those conditions.
Cindy Taylor sailed in the regatta and she told me that I was pinching when she saw me sail downwind. This is a good clue for why I was slow and isn’t really mysterious. This is a typical problem for flat water sailors when they first meet waves. It shouldn’t be much of an issue on Lake Travis, should it? This doesn’t explain why I was slow upwind too. I don’t think I was pinching then, as I was able to keep both windward and leeward telltales flying. Or do both of those fly in waves when you are pinching and there are other clues? Any ideas?
OK, now for the sailing. Things were a bit pathetic at MMWE, but I’m making no guarantees that this event will be better, so if you want to hear that Janet Rupert suddenly turned into superwoman, super motivated, with magically improved sailing abilities, please fast forward a few years and read that blog. OK, apologies for the hostility and hope that’s out of my system. I’m going to the Easter Laser Regatta to catch some warm weather and get in some sailing, but avoiding injury while doing so is highest on the list.
I do understand some of my mistakes. Foremost were the training choices that I made, plus just not doing enough. I had a calf injury about 10 days before the event that I didn’t mention, I think, and I had to stop everything. I’m going back to the old standbys of cycling, rowing, wall sits, hiking simulation, pilates, plus, and this is important for me, weight training to be able to get back into the boat. That was the worst mistake that I made, substituting different exercises for the tried and true. I had trouble getting back into the boat due to a bit slack upper body, and I was just worn out from the get-go and could really feel it. It didn't help that with the first capsize to windward I was flung out of the boat so far that I was under the sail, got a snoot full of water, and swam to safety wondering if this was truly going to be a deathroll. Then my boat hit me as she heaved in the waves. She never did that before. Bummer. Now I've a better idea what to expect and have great respect for those who regularly sail in those conditions.
Cindy Taylor sailed in the regatta and she told me that I was pinching when she saw me sail downwind. This is a good clue for why I was slow and isn’t really mysterious. This is a typical problem for flat water sailors when they first meet waves. It shouldn’t be much of an issue on Lake Travis, should it? This doesn’t explain why I was slow upwind too. I don’t think I was pinching then, as I was able to keep both windward and leeward telltales flying. Or do both of those fly in waves when you are pinching and there are other clues? Any ideas?