This weekend we had the End of Season Championships at Rutland, which is the third event of the year the counts towards our end of year rankings.
I have to say it wasn't the best weekend ever of sailing but mostly because of the weather. It had been windy all weekend and forecast to be windy this week so guess what - no wind at the weekend!
The trip didn't start too well when our 6pm ferry didn't leave until 7.30pm - unhappy Dad! We didn't get to our hotel until late but as we were staying close by we didn't have to get up too early, which was good as we needed to sort out my new North V4 sail.
When we got to Rutland it was pretty obvious nothing was going to happen in a hurry as there was no wind. We had loads of waiting around and then more waiting around. It was OK though as I got to spend time with my friends and have a chat with our National Coach about some stuff but what we really wanted to do was get racing.
We eventually got afloat for a slow sail down to the far end of the reservoir for some more waiting around while the race committee set a course and then enough wind to sail. After more waiting around our first race got underway. I had an OK start and was in about 7th place after the second mark when then race was abandoned because the wind had died. So we did some more waiting around until about 3.30pm when everything was abandoned for the day!
Over night in our hotel it was an evening of our usual unusual approach to dinner, Face timing Mum and Freya, a bit of James Bond and then getting to sleep. Why does Dad always get the big bed!?
Sunday morning we got to Rutland early so we would have plenty of time which turned out to be a bit pointless as we couldn't even see the water. Fog, lots of it. We did some more waiting. This was fast becoming the Waiting Season Championships. By late morning the fog cleared and a little bit of breeze started which was the cue for a rapid launch. Luckily we had enough breeze to sail and got three races in the afternoon although this meant no discard!
I had a good first race with an amazing start and a nice lift to give me a 3rd (a 1st for my rankings)! Due to a bad start the next race gave me an 18th however I did recover a lot! I got my emojo back in the next race being just nicked off 1st which was quite annoying however I was happy to settle for 2nd. Overall I came 5th which was alright...!
Racing over I wanted to wait for the prize giving so we waited and waited, yes more waiting. The jury were doing some jury stuff which meant it was ages before the results came out. In the end we had to go to make our 9pm ferry so I never did make it to the prize giving.
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| Quick little selfie while doing some waiting |
I had a good first race with an amazing start and a nice lift to give me a 3rd (a 1st for my rankings)! Due to a bad start the next race gave me an 18th however I did recover a lot! I got my emojo back in the next race being just nicked off 1st which was quite annoying however I was happy to settle for 2nd. Overall I came 5th which was alright...!
Racing over I wanted to wait for the prize giving so we waited and waited, yes more waiting. The jury were doing some jury stuff which meant it was ages before the results came out. In the end we had to go to make our 9pm ferry so I never did make it to the prize giving.
The drive back was rubbish with really slow traffic which meant we just missed our ferry. The next one wasn't until 11.59pm. So you guessed it - we did some more waiting.
My overall ranking for the year is 6th which means I made National Squad again which I'm pleased about!
My overall ranking for the year is 6th which means I made National Squad again which I'm pleased about!
On Monday I fly to Bermuda for the RenaissanceRe Gold Cup. I'm really excited and can't wait to go for so many reasons:
- Sailing against the local sailors and a bunch of international entries
- Sailing warm waters in summer kit
- Mixing it up with the sailors from the Gold Cup
- Staying with my host family
- Just going to Bermuda
- Not being at school (although Mum said I had to take homework!)
I was supposed to be flying tomorrow Saturday but because of hurricane Gonzalo the flight was cancelled so I'm just hoping everything is OK for all the people in Bermuda and for the event.
It's going to be awesome and I'm really glad my school Christ the King let me go, and for my Grandparent's help.
While we were waiting at Rutland I was talking to Matilda Nicholls and her Dad who have just moved from Bermuda who were telling me all the country, the event and they also know the family I'm staying with.
I CAN'T WAIT!!
I'll try and put some stuff on my Facebook page while I'm there and will tell you all about it when I'm back.
