phrf

final day...

Worlds 2010 is done, and the US turned in its best overall performance in at least a decade (and probably much more; anyone have pre-2001 results?). Wade led the US with an 11th overall, surging with single-digit finishes in the final five races. Wade's 11 is the best US finish since 2001, possibly the best US finish in several decades and perhaps since US won Worlds in 1970 when it was a much smaller (less wordly?) event. Congratulations to Wade on a rigorous, focused performance in a deeply competitive fleet.

The key in today's single race was choosing between apparently better breeze left and distinctly stronger favorable current right (see signal boat foto below). The choice was the latter.

Today's race was the last circuit around the Opti trap for Christopher, Duncan, and Harry. 420s, 29ers, and all the other sailboats in the world beckon. Wade and Richard (with four top tens here) look to get back to Opti Worlds, a year from now in New Zealand.

Followers, look for more postings and photos after the team returns to the US...

 

A rare appearance...indeed, the first appearance...of the black flag here at worlds, in the final race...raised after 2 general recalls for 15a, re-raised for first starts of 15b and c...can you say: RC wants to get to the bar, um, friday prayers?

13-15 knot breeze at start and the signal boat laying with the current up the course

US best Wade Waddell rounds his final wing mark...

...with all but three boats behind him

the new World Champion, Thailand's Noppakao Poonpat. Asians took the top four spots, and eight of the top ten. (Girls, including the winner, took 3 of the top ten.) Hey, US Opti sailors, who's up for some serious competition at 2011 Asian Champs in Singapore in late July?

day 5 fleet...and Worlds 2012

prepping boats and minds

The boys turned in their best day overall of the event. Wade had 3 top 10s, Harry and Duncan 2 apiece, Chris and Richard 1 each. Conditions were similar to yesterday: cloudy sky, good breeze (peaking at over 15kn) and strong current pushing up the course for most of the day, until turning and making for trickier finishes as the breeze crapped out in a hurry during R14b and c. US starts were much more aggressive than yesterday (though still perhaps not as much as Lucas would like), and this is reflected in the results. The 15th and final race is scheduled for tomorrow morning. See official sites for latest results.

day is done

In voting for Worlds 2012, neither Dominican Republic nor Denmark received a first-round majority but Qatar with 11 votes was eliminated. The final vote was 33-30 in favor of DR, which will host the event in mid-July 2012. The arrangements will be significantly upgraded from 09 NAs: instead of beach launching from in front of the official hotel, the venue will be at a full-service marina facility at one end of town and the hotel will be the upscale Hamaca at the other end of town, with shuttle bus transport. Like 09 NAs, there will be wind and waves!

day 4 fleet...and some IODA notes

Waiting to launch (sorry, followers, no US parent-fotogs on water today)

 3 races (9-11) today, in the strongest, most consistent, least shifty breeze (10-13kts) since we've been here. This was more like the breeze that knowledgeable locals have said is coming...for two weeks. But the story today, for the US, was in the current and the line: the former was strong, the latter was well abused, by others.

Tide was high at 1330 and breeze was right, so the first upwind was in strongest current, flowing up the course. US boys were generally cautious in R9 starts especially, to avoid OCS, but other, more aggressive sailors, challenging an RC that has not once gone beyond I flag and does not police its line, found places to hide and got off early without OCS calls; of many boats over, few were called. 

By R11, the current had reversed, especially along the second upwind to finish. Sailors who did not pick up the change added multiple tacks, especially approaching finish.

Still, Wade had a good day, with the best US finish (4 in 11c) and lowest total points for the day. Duncan and Harry were not far behind in total points, but Harry's 15 in 11c, which finally moved him into double digits in fleet, will soon be posted as a killer DNE (details on request).

Check official sites for latest results.

In other news, some highlights of US interest from today's IODA annual general meeting (AGM) here:
-Proposals by AHO (Netherlands Antilles) for a separate Girls World Champion, Girls NA Champion, and age out at 16th birthdate for continentals and Worlds were rejected.
-An AHO proposal to increase opposite gender participation on certain continental teams (team of 10/1 opposite; 11/2, 12/3, 13+/25%) was rejected; an IODA counter-proposal passed: team of 8/1 opposite, 9/1, 10/2, 11+/25%. For the large US NA and SA teams, this is effectively no change from the current 10+/25% (Euros are separate boy/girl fleets).
-A proposal by NZL (2011 Worlds) to increase the host Worlds team to 10 boats starting in 2011 was, after some discussion, rejected.

The final substantive vote is tomorrow: 2012 Worlds location. The front runners are DOMinican Republic and DENmark, with QATar rated a longshot.

On the water tomorrow: likely 3 races (12-14), with R12 enabling a second drop.

team race day 2...

...in the Final Stage (round of 16), the boys lost to SLOvenia (with a 4-5-6-7) and beat ARGentina (1-2-3-4) to advance to the round of 12. There they lost to PERu, and were eliminated. PER, with the same team that went to the finals at last year's Worlds, went on to finish 3rd overall, and THAiland beat SINgapore to become the 2010 World Champions.

It is not easy for the many teams that become teams by being the top five sailors at their national qualifying events to compete against the teams from Asia and South America especially who train together for weeks and years. USA would liked to have beaten PER and had a chance at THA but it was not to be.

There was great emotion coming off the water but there was quick recovery. Indeed, after some play in the hotel pool, some of the boys went to a massage parlor for some full body work. The mothers had done this yesterday and highly recommended it, especially at just 70 ringitts/hr ($23). The Spreading Eagle parlor is connected to the team hotel, was opened just a month ago by a fellow from the nearby island of Penang, and despite what some readers may be thinking is a legitimate and wonderful place. The ladies have been attended to by "the master"; this blogger has booked the same Chinese lady who handled his son today for after dinner tonight.

Tomorrow is the much anticipated layday, with a boat tour through a mangrove forest planned.

team race update

Because of discrepancies in the seedings between what the RC and the sailors had, 3 races from yesterday have to be resailed today with new pairings. USA is not involved, but we will not know the pairings for the round of 16 until the resails. This morning we have rain and light wind, so not clear yet whether there will be enough time to complete the TR today as scheduled. Tomorrow (Tues) is allocated as a layday to complete TR if necessary...

Some pictures of Team Racing today

The boys are ready for Team Racing!

Last discussions before launching.

Jackie, Tracey and Gerard watching the Team Racing.

Giving an interview to the local reporter.