Klaus followed by NSW sailor, Caitlin Tames
Get Optimised at www.qioda.com !
When the ‘plane home is delayed, and you have to spend more time than you would like at the airport, you do at least have time to think, and maybe reflect on why you are there. I flew down to Sydney last week to race in the Pittwater Spring Cup regatta, and take part in the two days of training which preceded it. The objectives were, firstly, to get a feel of the waters where the Optimist Nationals will be held in January, and, secondly, to compete in my first big regatta since July. There were 41 Optimists on the start line for most races, which is a sizeable fleet. On day 1, Saturday, we were on the water for 6 hours without a break, but achieved only one start due to light and fluky winds. I did win the race, and it was very hard work! Day 2 saw 5 starts in rather better wind conditions, of which I won 2, came 3rd in 2, and got a 6th, which I was able to drop. Overall, I came 1st, with the other Queenslanders, Kye Evans, Kyle O’Connell, and Charlie Wyatt at 11th, 12th, and 20th positions respectively. I was very lucky to have been able to stay with the Campbell family, and to be supplied with a boat by Steven bond of OziOpti. Without this assistance, I would not have been able to compete at all.
I was especially pleased with the result as I had not been able to sail my boat here since July, as the airline would not carry my mast and sail back from Melbourne. I used the time instead to try and pass on some of my experiences to the local Sabot and Optimist sailors to help them on their journey to their respective Nationals in the new year. When I go away to sail, I am always asked who my coach is. Actually, I have no coach, although I do get plenty of encouragement. Coaching is a very repetitive thing…. tacks, gybes, mark roundings, boat speed, starts, etc., and the only thing a coach can do is encourage continuous improvement; he or she can’t sail the boat for you, let alone win the race. I learn new things at every regatta I go to (each one is training for the next), but, between times, I coach myself. It’s just a matter of practice, practice, practice, and if you practice the wrong thing, you will find out at the next regatta!. In this respect, the Whitsundays are among the best places to sail in the world; I can sail any day I choose… I simply get off the school bus one stop early, get my boat out, and go sailing, usually with my sister Eva as training partner…and 3 times a week Eva and I train with the whole squad of 5 or 6 boats. Although city kids get more competition in their larger club fleets, they can’t spend the time on the water that we can.
Our Whitsunday training squad is always looking for new members, and I encourage anyone to join us and start sailing better by training and racing harder and more frequently. You can contact the squad through the sailing club.
The picture is me, followed by NSW sailor, Caitlin Tames.
End. – Klaus Cooper