GREAT DAY OF RACING -- Ouch! Aug 27, 18:43
It was a great racing day -- sunny, breezy but not overly so (12-18 knots), flat water, and many close, tough matches, especially ours with Alinghi.
But I don't care how good a spin you try to put on it, losing hurts.
As our veteran (his 12th Cup campaign) Operations Director Laurent Esquier (FRA/USA) said after the Alinghi race, "After the countless hours of preparation, and all the hard work by all concerned, it just hurts -- like a punch right between the eyes.
"It is especially tough when you win the start, and are ahead at the first cross. 80% of the time, or more, that boat goes on to win. Unfortunately for our side, not today. So, you pick yourself up, get over it, learn from it, make yourself better, and punch back next chance you get."
I don't hear anyone in the team tonight dwelling on the costly windshift, or a defective $25 halyard clip. No excuse to lose. Alinghi was better on the day, it was a well-deserved win for them, and we have to be better next time to beat the defending champions.
Full marks, too, to UITG. It was probably a wise decision by their senior management to sit out today's matches so they could check their equipment, and recover from the multiple injuries sustained by their crew the past two days in the heavy going. Day before yesterday their bowman and our old friend and former teammate, Geordie Shaver, injured his hand, and their midbowman was also hurt, when the spinnaker pole crashed to the deck and broke. Yesterday, as has been widely reported, their backup bowman Christian Buck, broke his jaw and was knocked unconscious while effecting repairs high up the mast. After spending the night in the hospital, welcome news this morning that Christian is okay and rapidly recovering. Hopefully Team Germany's white boat will be back out on the water tomorrow.
Tonight Dicko, Gavin and the rest of the sailing team are in good spirits, already looking forward to tomorrow's matches against China Team and the steadily improving Desafio Espanol. Conditions should be similar to today.
As I write this another of Laurent's "block party" BBQ's is underway in our base right outside my container/office. BMW ORACLE has invited everyone in the paddock (teams and organizers) for a low-key burger and beer. We did this in Marseille last year, and in Valencia this year. A nice gesture, and another example of the good, neighborly atmosphere among the teams in the paddock. A bit of a mission without our master BBQ chef Grant "Guthrie" Davidson who is back in VLC working on our new base.
Time for a glass of red wine.
The BBQ brewing outside my office window.
The famous French BBQ chef, Laurent "Leroy" Esquier, feeding the
hungry masses.
But I don't care how good a spin you try to put on it, losing hurts.
As our veteran (his 12th Cup campaign) Operations Director Laurent Esquier (FRA/USA) said after the Alinghi race, "After the countless hours of preparation, and all the hard work by all concerned, it just hurts -- like a punch right between the eyes.
"It is especially tough when you win the start, and are ahead at the first cross. 80% of the time, or more, that boat goes on to win. Unfortunately for our side, not today. So, you pick yourself up, get over it, learn from it, make yourself better, and punch back next chance you get."
I don't hear anyone in the team tonight dwelling on the costly windshift, or a defective $25 halyard clip. No excuse to lose. Alinghi was better on the day, it was a well-deserved win for them, and we have to be better next time to beat the defending champions.
Full marks, too, to UITG. It was probably a wise decision by their senior management to sit out today's matches so they could check their equipment, and recover from the multiple injuries sustained by their crew the past two days in the heavy going. Day before yesterday their bowman and our old friend and former teammate, Geordie Shaver, injured his hand, and their midbowman was also hurt, when the spinnaker pole crashed to the deck and broke. Yesterday, as has been widely reported, their backup bowman Christian Buck, broke his jaw and was knocked unconscious while effecting repairs high up the mast. After spending the night in the hospital, welcome news this morning that Christian is okay and rapidly recovering. Hopefully Team Germany's white boat will be back out on the water tomorrow.
Tonight Dicko, Gavin and the rest of the sailing team are in good spirits, already looking forward to tomorrow's matches against China Team and the steadily improving Desafio Espanol. Conditions should be similar to today.
As I write this another of Laurent's "block party" BBQ's is underway in our base right outside my container/office. BMW ORACLE has invited everyone in the paddock (teams and organizers) for a low-key burger and beer. We did this in Marseille last year, and in Valencia this year. A nice gesture, and another example of the good, neighborly atmosphere among the teams in the paddock. A bit of a mission without our master BBQ chef Grant "Guthrie" Davidson who is back in VLC working on our new base.
Time for a glass of red wine.
The BBQ brewing outside my office window.
The famous French BBQ chef, Laurent "Leroy" Esquier, feeding the
hungry masses.
Racing | by TFE
