SailJuice's Andy Rice crewing Mike Lennon at the 14 Worlds 2008
After a few weeks doing other stuff, like actually going sailing for a change, it’s time to kick start SailJuice into action again for the Olympic Games.
I’ve been off doing a bit of International 14 Racing in recent weeks, that’s me at the front crewing for Mike Lennon at the 14 Worlds in Germany a couple of weeks ago. A great week of moderate to strong breeze, enormous waves, hardly had to bend my old legs all week, which was nice. However the mast crashed down during a particularly nasty, black squall in what proved to be the final race, so we finished 5th overall. Slightly disappointing, but generally you get what you deserve.
Provided, of course, you get enough races in. At the 14s, we got six of our seven scheduled races in the event, so Archie Massey and Matt Noble were the right people to win. Will we be able to say the same of the Olympic Games three weeks from now? Let’s hope so, but the sailing instructions state that the Olympic Regatta could be decided on just one single race.
A medal race to end all medal races. Great for TV, not so great for sailors who might have invested the last 20 years of their lives in the sport. Please, Qingdao, don’t let it come to that. Ben Ainslie has likened the fog-bound town to Gotham City, but maybe Qingdao has just one more surprise up its sleeve, and it will be sunny and windy for a fortnight… mmmm… not holding my breath for that one.
I’m flying off to China next week, arriving just the day before the Opening Ceremony, so after a dearth of news from SailJuice in recent weeks, prepare for a deluge!
Gotham City, aka Qingdao, photo courtesy of Wu Hong
