TWO DAYS OFF? Oct 6, 18:21
Bestimmt nicht! For sure not.
OK, yesterday was fairly relaxed for most everyone on the team. Ops Director Laurent Esquier had to politely insist that people not come to work, and truly take a well deserved break. With a few exceptions, most did get out of their team gear and into the tourist mode, at least yesterday afternoon.
Last evening was the ACM "crew party" here in the paddock next to the cruise ship. Our shore team leader, Tim Hacket, estimates there were 1,000 people in attendance. 12 teams x roughly 50 people per team is 600. Add in the race and other ACM officials, local officials, spouses and other friends, and 1000 is probably a good if not low estimate. One hears the dancing continued until 0330.
This morning dawned cool and rainy, but gave way to a warm, mostly sunny afternoon. ETNZ, +39 and China Team all splashed their boats and at least the latter went for a sail. Shosholoza has been working like crazy to repair the damage to their keel sustained when they went aground after their last match on Tuesday. Two or three teams (not us) had masts out for repairs overnight. K-Challenge no doubt was beefing up the repair to the serious structural problem they suffered on Monday. It didn't seem to hurt them in their matches on Tuesday, including their celebrated win over Alinghi.
Today was a maintenance day. Many were already at work by 0830, with the full team reporting for lunch at 1230, an HOD (heads-of-department) meeting at 1300 and a brief full-team meeting after that. Needless to say the mood continues upbeat after our good showing in Act 8.
Our rules advisor, Richard Slater, once again briefed the afterguard and sailing team on the "brain switch" from match to fleet racing. The biggest changes, of course, are starting and other fleet-racing tactics, marks-to-port, and the offset mark after the top mark.
Another is the new "TLE" rule. Yachts must now finish within 40 minutes of the leader or be scored TLE -- time limit expired. All such yachts scored TLE will score points equal to two less than the last place finisher (but never less than 0). In other words, in the unlikely event that, say, five other yachts finish within 40 minutes after the first yacht finishes, and the other six don't, the race committee can send everyone home without waiting for them to finish and the other six will all score points equal to 8th place (5 points).
76 got a thorough going over from our shore and sailing teams, but she is in very good shape. Any maintenance was routine. By 1700 most everyone had left for a nap, some last-chance touring, or a drink and an early dinner.
Chris Bedford is saying tomorrow could be a bit like Monday was, with tricky winds and maybe thunderstorms passing through the racing area mid-afternoon.
They are predicting huge crowds on shore for these final three days of racing here in Trapani, and a large spectator fleet. It's hard to imagine this event getting even better than it has already been, but it sounds like it might just.
Once again -- let's regatta!
Trevor Berry, Phil "Blood" Jameson, and David "Brookie" Brooke
checking over the spinnaker poles. Seems we've broken more
than our share, but better now than during the LVC or Cup.
As the old Cup saying goes, "If it doesn't break, it's probably
built too heavy."
After finishing his boat duties, crew (pit) Jamie Gale (NZL) finds
his bike needs some maintenance, too. As in Malmo, a bike is our main
mode of transport around Trapani.
A friendly crowd of Trapanese gathers behind our base shouting "or-AH-clay, or-AH-clay".
Alejandra Mato (ESP), a member of our marketing team, gives our new
fans some few team posters.
It seems like sailing team coordinator Aimee Hess's (USA) job never ends.
For the "flyaway" Acts she doubles as team transportation and housing
manager, a thankless job if ever there was one, which Aimee handles
with aplomb.
Dicko, in Skipper mode this evening, having a final review of fleet racing
tactics and rules situations on his laptop.
Just when I think most everyone has gone home for the evening, we find
the performance office-container full of team members still hard at work.
OK, yesterday was fairly relaxed for most everyone on the team. Ops Director Laurent Esquier had to politely insist that people not come to work, and truly take a well deserved break. With a few exceptions, most did get out of their team gear and into the tourist mode, at least yesterday afternoon.
Last evening was the ACM "crew party" here in the paddock next to the cruise ship. Our shore team leader, Tim Hacket, estimates there were 1,000 people in attendance. 12 teams x roughly 50 people per team is 600. Add in the race and other ACM officials, local officials, spouses and other friends, and 1000 is probably a good if not low estimate. One hears the dancing continued until 0330.
This morning dawned cool and rainy, but gave way to a warm, mostly sunny afternoon. ETNZ, +39 and China Team all splashed their boats and at least the latter went for a sail. Shosholoza has been working like crazy to repair the damage to their keel sustained when they went aground after their last match on Tuesday. Two or three teams (not us) had masts out for repairs overnight. K-Challenge no doubt was beefing up the repair to the serious structural problem they suffered on Monday. It didn't seem to hurt them in their matches on Tuesday, including their celebrated win over Alinghi.
Today was a maintenance day. Many were already at work by 0830, with the full team reporting for lunch at 1230, an HOD (heads-of-department) meeting at 1300 and a brief full-team meeting after that. Needless to say the mood continues upbeat after our good showing in Act 8.
Our rules advisor, Richard Slater, once again briefed the afterguard and sailing team on the "brain switch" from match to fleet racing. The biggest changes, of course, are starting and other fleet-racing tactics, marks-to-port, and the offset mark after the top mark.
Another is the new "TLE" rule. Yachts must now finish within 40 minutes of the leader or be scored TLE -- time limit expired. All such yachts scored TLE will score points equal to two less than the last place finisher (but never less than 0). In other words, in the unlikely event that, say, five other yachts finish within 40 minutes after the first yacht finishes, and the other six don't, the race committee can send everyone home without waiting for them to finish and the other six will all score points equal to 8th place (5 points).
76 got a thorough going over from our shore and sailing teams, but she is in very good shape. Any maintenance was routine. By 1700 most everyone had left for a nap, some last-chance touring, or a drink and an early dinner.
Chris Bedford is saying tomorrow could be a bit like Monday was, with tricky winds and maybe thunderstorms passing through the racing area mid-afternoon.
They are predicting huge crowds on shore for these final three days of racing here in Trapani, and a large spectator fleet. It's hard to imagine this event getting even better than it has already been, but it sounds like it might just.
Once again -- let's regatta!
Trevor Berry, Phil "Blood" Jameson, and David "Brookie" Brooke
checking over the spinnaker poles. Seems we've broken more
than our share, but better now than during the LVC or Cup.
As the old Cup saying goes, "If it doesn't break, it's probably
built too heavy."
After finishing his boat duties, crew (pit) Jamie Gale (NZL) finds
his bike needs some maintenance, too. As in Malmo, a bike is our main
mode of transport around Trapani.
A friendly crowd of Trapanese gathers behind our base shouting "or-AH-clay, or-AH-clay".
Alejandra Mato (ESP), a member of our marketing team, gives our new
fans some few team posters.
It seems like sailing team coordinator Aimee Hess's (USA) job never ends.
For the "flyaway" Acts she doubles as team transportation and housing
manager, a thankless job if ever there was one, which Aimee handles
with aplomb.
Dicko, in Skipper mode this evening, having a final review of fleet racing
tactics and rules situations on his laptop.
Just when I think most everyone has gone home for the evening, we find
the performance office-container full of team members still hard at work.
by TFE
