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BACK TO THE LINCOLNSHIRE LYC OPENING PAGE and CONTENTS
GARETH ROWLAND'S IMAGES - PRE-REGATTA [SATURDAY, SEPT 23] GARETH ROWLAND'S IMAGES - DAY ONE [SUNDAY, SEPT 24] GARETH ROWLAND'S IMAGES - DAY TWO [MONDAY, SEPT 25] GARETH ROWLAND'S IMAGES - DAY THREE [TUESDAY, SEPT 26] GARETH ROWLAND'S IMAGES - DAY FOUR [WEDNESDAY, SEPT 27] |
 FISLY 10TH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LANDSAILING REGATTA Le Touquet, France SUNDAY, SEPT 24 - SATURDAY, OCT 29, 2006 |
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Reports from Gareth Rowland
THURSDAY, 21ST SEPTEMBER: TXT 20:45:02pm [Gareth Rowland] - Arrived 5pm. Beach is in very rough condition. Ripples and holes everywhere. Making modifications to yacht tomorrow. Heard the Americans had dented wheels in some of the holes on the beach when they were out today. Christian [B28] from Belgium said of the beach: "More terrible than moon country!" Hoping to get a wireless connection from the hotel. Told the club has one so will send some pix. In fish restaurant having shrimps for dinner. In trouble as a large bowl arrived with lots of hand-wipes! FRIDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER: TXT 10:17:09am [Gareth Rowland] - There was wifi [a wireless connection] but bin lorry broke cable. Been out on beach. Better condition but still rough. Now rain. Time to check K11 via a beer. TXT 22:18.25pm [Gareth Rowland] - In the "Bureau" special beer house. Beers available: Becasse, Julius, all the flavours of Chimay, Orvall saint, Sixtus Bush Beer, Pauwel Kwak and Danish. TXT 22:54.47pm [Gareth Rowland] - Still in Bureau drinking beer. Showers tonight. Now clear. Took sails down to be safe. Have some great sunset images. Will send tomorrow. Lots of old friends here. SATURDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER: EMAIL 13:44:54pm - T r y i n g t o g e t a n i n t e r n e t c o n n e c t i o n a t t h e h o t e l . N e e d t o b u y a w i f i c a r d b u t l o o k s l i k e i t o n l y w o r k s i n t h e b a r o r t h e b u s i n e s s c e n t r e o n f l o o r m i n u s 1. A l l b a c k a t t h e h o t e l h a v i n g a c u p o f " E n g l i s h T e a " . We a r e n o w f u l l y s e t u p a f t e r c l e a r i n g o u t t h e f r i d g e d r i n k s c a b i n e t a n d f i l l i n g i t w i t h o u r i n p o r t a n t i t e m s , S a m M i g u e l , C z e c h B u d var , c h a m p a g n e. R o o m w a s l e f t f o r t h e m i l k ! I t' s s t i l l r a i n i n g o u t s i d e ( 1 3 . 4 4 ). I t ' s n o t c o l d b u t t h e r e w a s n o r e a s o n t o h a n g a r o u n d a d a m p c a r p a r k . T h e t o p s a n d b a n k m i g h t b e a v a i l a b l e b y 4 p m . C o m p e t i t o r s a r e r o l l i n g u p a l l t h e t i m e . K 1 1 ' s c a m p i s s e t u p w i t h t r a i l e r a n d f r i d g e k e e p i n g t h e b e e r s a t 1 d e g C ! U p d a t e o n s o m e o f o u r Br i t s ... D e g s i [K 7 2 7 ] w a s o n h i s w a y d o w n b u t c l i p p e d a n d b l e w a t y r e i n W a t f o r d S e r v i c e s . Deg s i p u t t h e s p a r e o n , a l l l o o k e d O K . 5 m i n s l a t e r i t w a s f l a t . B e c a u s e y o u a r e i n a s e r v i c e a r e a t h e A A w i l l n o t c o m e o u t so D e g s i f o u n d a s p a r e s a n d y a c h t t u b e a n d m a n a g e d t o f i t i t . P o o r f e l l a o n l y g o t 1 0 0 y a r d s d o w n t h e m o t o r w a y b e f o r e i t w e n t b a n g ! Fortunately t h e A A could t o c o m e o u t n o w , and did. Degsi g o t t a k e n t o N a t i o n a l T y r e s a t 5 . 3 0 a m a n d w a i t e d t i l l 8 . 3 0 o n l y t o f i n d t h e y h a d only o n e t y r e so t h e y h a d t o d r i v e t o a n o t h e r N a t i o n a l T y r e p l a c e i n R u g b y to f i n d a n o t h e r t y r e ( p l a c e t h a t h a d 2 t y r e s) , s o t h e y r e t u r n e d a n d m a n a g e d t o g e t a l l w h e e l s r o l l i n g a g a i n . N o t e : R e a d i n t h e l o c a l p a p e r that t h e l o c a l c l u b h a s 4 5 0 , 0 0 0 e u r o s t o p u t t h e e v e n t o n! Regards Gareth K800 SUNDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER: PHONE 08:30:59am [Gareth Rowland] - Start of the first race has been delayed 15 minutes. Not quite enough wind. It's coming from the south east. Had to get up at 5:30 to make the briefing and be ready on the line for the start. There's 43 class 3s are on the South Course so will be a tight tack 3 kilometres down the beach and back. I've drawn No. 9. Degsi's got No. 26. Not sure about Steve Borrill and Christine. Standarts and Class 5s are on the North Course. I wouldn't want to be sailing that one. It's hard to find the bank. I sailed it yesterday and couldn't get across from one back to the other. There's a massive, massive hole-filled gully in the way. Finally got across to the other bank and it was narrow and soft and I wondered why I'd come across. Got to the far end of the beach and I literally fell off the bank! There was a 3-foot drop into water. Scrapped all the bottom of the yacht. The beach overall has improved. It's still banks, holes and gullies but improved. Where holes were the last few days is now wet ripply stuff. There are still holes around and you will drop yachts into them if you're not watching. There's only one way to win this event and that's to sail like the French - ignore the gullies and sail through and over anything in the way. Think we'll get only one race in this morning and they'll have to call it quits. The tides coming in and it moves fast. It will be over the banks by 9:30. It'll catch a few pilots out as the incoming tide backfills the gullies early on. And we're told they want us all back out to race at 5pm! Means we can't have a drink with lunch. And here's our first bit of drama. Brit team member Richard Austin didn't made the briefing and hasn't lined up for the first race. He ate mussels last night and has been throwing up. What's more he's technically failed the drug test. They've introduced drug testing at the regatta and each day they're drawing names out before racing for pilots to be tested for drugs and alcohol. They drew four c3 pilots and three pilots from each of the other classes. Richard was one of the c3s. As he was not at the briefing and is sick he didn't get test. I don't know what the rules are if you don't show up. Opening Ceremony was amazing. Most of the yachts were on the beach and there bands and 100s of people. Had to laugh when they called for two people from each nation to raise their country flag. Whispered to Graham Roberts, the only Kiwi [New Zealander] there, that he had better clone himself, make friends or appoint someone an honorary New Zealander real fast or he was in trouble with his flag unfurling! There was a fantastic sunset last night, very spectacular for the area. Better go get myself sorted. Talk again soon. TXT 10:17:08am [Gareth Rowland] - Race was cancelled 40 seconds before time. Class 5 similar. Also Standart and 2s. So no results today. Now having brunch as tide comes in. TXT 10:28:14am [Gareth Rowland] - Richard Austin turned up for drug test but because loosing fluids from both ends had to drink 2 litres of water to fulfill testing requirements otherwise he would've been disqualified. We might be back out sailing at 5pm but wind!!!??? TXT 21:02:19pm [Gareth Rowland] - All ready at 5pm then delay. Delayed till 6.45pm methinks sailing in dark after briefing. Rain at 6pm cleared spectators. Had video at 7.30 in tent then Town Hall 8.30 for regatta function. TXT 21:20:18pm [Gareth Rowland] - Town Hall speeches took long time. Now in Les Sports eating grilled turbot or squid or sole or salmon. 30 choices of meat dishes! Start 8.00am tomorrow. Class 2 then Class 3. TXT 21:22:42pm [Gareth Rowland] - Ahere else in the world can you eat at 10.30pm Sunday night?!! Going steady on the alcohol in case I get picked for the drink/drugs test tomorrow. TXT 21:56:06pm [Gareth Rowland] - I retract that statement. Food served at 10.52pm. Looks very nice. Welsh rabbit French style or grilled sardines on bed of salad stuff! Could bust a gut here in Les Sports. MONDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER: TXT 07:19:38pm [Gareth Rowland] - 7.12am before dawn. Pouring rain. Light wind off sea. Forecast not good. Having coffee in big tent. Waiting for light and wind. Yuck! Lot of speeches last night. "Silly Hat Night" tomorrow night [Tuesday]. TXT 07:35:46am [Gareth Rowland] - Having coffee with the Irish. Having good time. Tim Spears had to go to Dunkirk last night. Had a fine crack on top of T section on chassis. Went to weld it up. PHONE 07:49:24am [Gareth Rowland] - Lead skies and chucking it down. Forecast rain till 2pm. Racing cancelled at the moment. Won't be any racing this morning. Degsi was up for breath testing this morning. Haven't seen him since but presume he's passed. It really is heavy, heavy rain. The beach is all wet, the car park is wet. We're all in the tent in the carpark above the beach. Everyone is absolutely sodden. EMAIL 10:55:59am [Gareth Rowland] - Class 3 has been stood down at 10.45. Class 2 wait till 11am. Rain has slowed but no wind. The beach south is horrible. Standing water on the smooth but the holes and gullies are worse today. Seems the access to the outer bank is stopped by moon country, the only way to the mark is tight on the bank and a quick 180 degree turn back along the same bank. The Jury says it is not safe but the Sailing Master is determined to get a race in if the wind comes, so the Class 2s wait and wait and wait. coming in and out of the tent we have 500 children coming in groups for film shows, something that is being pushed by the French, the only way to get young people in the sport. Class 2 now wait till 11.30. Rain is now slowing so might have a nap and look round some shops. Need to stock up on nibbles and liquids. All the golfers have finally left our hotel the Westminster and we can get back in the car park again. Signing off for today. It really looks a lost cause. Weather forecast is not good tomorrow either, only Thursday looks good for the wind. Oh well time for another croissant/French bread. Still have some Lincolnshire Poacher cheese that might go down well. It's just after 11am so will find Robert "Don't Call Me Bob" Coburn and see if he agrees with the sun over the yardarm (beer)!!! Update tonight maybe... TXT 19:17:47pm [Gareth Rowland] - Just finished race. Very fast reaching. Came 8th or 9th and top Brit. Nigel Spurr 12th, Christine Heath front puncture. Steve Borrill ripped boom out of track. Hard race. Many broken yachts. TXT 22:07:59pm [Gareth Rowland] - All yachts repaired. Had prizes. I came 7th. Now eating pizza then bed. Up 6.30am to check over yacht. Need to wash out sand. D. Spears took superb pics with sunset. TXT 22:27:01pm [Gareth Rowland] - Sent pics of Standart. Many many more. No personal injuries. Will try & connect in hotel in 1 hour. TUESDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER: CELLPHONE CALL 07:19:38pm [Gareth Rowland] - Racing started. Class 2s on the southern course and class 5 racing on the northern course. A good on-shore breeze of 10-15mph making for reaching races and benefiting those who have had the luck of drawing good grid positions. WEDNESDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER: TXT 06:35:40am [Gareth Rowland] - Wind meant to be from North but 10mph East off land at moment. Not enough wind for evening race last night. Had fun race photo with sunset. Will send tonight. EMAIL 03:58:22pm [Gareth Rowland] - While kicking my heels waiting for over 90mins on the start line for wind Weds morn I fished out the little camera and took some shots while waiting. The race eventually started after it reached 4 metres per sec straight down the beach from the south. At the breifing we were told the beach was the best it had been!!! I was on grid No. 43 so was at the back of the pack in light winds. I followed Hans Werner out over the ripples and the outer bank then came back in to join the pack. Reading the beach was tricky with yachts tacking all over the place. The banks were narrow. Ripples and small moon-country meant you had to choose to run on a bit or tack early, clear yachts and then power across the beach. Downwind was worse. By the second or third lap you had yachts sailing upwind and downwind. It was sometimes better to dribble along the bank and choose your moment. It took me three laps to work some sort of course out, but by now then the tide was coming in fast. What was a small splash on the previous lap turned on the next lap into a jet-wash as you crashed the bank only to find deep water where earlier it was shallow. The top mark had to be moved in on my last lap and to save more jet-washes you had to keep tacking downwind on the narrow middle bank. Then the Class 2s were sent out on a fast disappearing beach. A pretty dire race was had, soft sand, water, etc etc. The Standarts fared no better. Our Martin Leach was caught out on the wrong bank. He went swimming. The water got deeper and deeper, up to his chest! Got him worried as he could not move the yacht. In the end he followed the water flow to shallower water. The irish also had a snorkel session. I am sure others did as well. THURSDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER: TXT 12:32:21pm [Gareth Rowland] - Race just finished. Light wind tacking in southerly wind. Came 16th. Not good in light winds. 12th overall after four races but only 2 points in front!. Christine Heath took B21's back wheel off. B21 not happy, ended his champs.. |
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| PRE-REGATTA SATURDAY Le Touquet Beach Conditions From Gareth Rowland, K11 Click on photo for larger image. | ||
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| SUNDAY'S PHOTOS Bits and Bobs Happening From Gareth Rowland, K11 Click on photo for larger image. | ||
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| MONDAY'S BIG WET When It Rains In Le Touquet It Rains From Gareth Rowland, K11 Click on photo for larger image. | ||
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| DAY THREE - TUESDAY After The Wet & Sailing Into The Sunset From Gareth Rowland, Mark Lloyd & Dave Spears Click on photo for larger image. | ||
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| DAY FOUR - WEDNESDAY On The Beach In The Dark! From Gareth Rowland, K11 Click on photo for larger image. | ||
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