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Mirror Worlds - Day 4 - Change to lead

Written by Peter
Friday, 07 January 2011 02:00
Written by Dan King of Brightlingsea SC Day-4 saw firm, warm south westerly winds coming off the Sterling mountain- range and out across the bay. Perfect conditions for all and a great day it proved to be for many. Many, many happy returns to Craig Bond on his 50^th birthday – Craig and Tom King have smiled their way through the week and so it proved today as well. With Millie and Jessica lying 1^st by only 1 point overnight to the Irish boat of Ross Kearney, there was high hopes and jangling nerves as the boats went out for the first race of the day (Race 11). A stonking start saw Millie and Jessica head out into the lead, easily clearing the windward mark in 1^st place closely followed by the Filipino boat and Ross Kearney. However on the final beat to the line they were pushed into 2^nd place with Ross coming through into the lead. So all points square at the end of 11 races – let the nail biting commence. No such sign of nerves in the 2^nd race of the day though (race 12) with the girls storming to 1^st place easily beating the field. With the Tazzy girls in 2^nd, the Filipinos in 3^rd and Ross Kearney in 4^th there should be a 3 point lead at the top for Millie and Jessica. In the last race of the day (race 13) controversy reigned. With the girls well placed, the on-water judges decided an infringement to the rules had taken place and whistled their boat. On hearing the whistle the girls executed a 360 degree turn – not a 720 degree turn as listed in the sailing instructions. Although they crossed the line in 4^th they were subsequently disqualified handing the overall lead to Ross Kearney who had crossed the line in 3rd. They now lie in 2^nd place overall 5.2 points behind Ross, with Ross’s average scores improving race by race due to an incident earlier in the week where he suffered a holed boat that was rightly adjudged to not be his fault. The girls have graciously accepted the judge’s decision, unlike some of their supporters (namely yours truly). The Filipinos and South African lead boats follow closely behind so there is no room for any further slippages. Elsewhere in the field, the Lulham-Robinsons took an excellent 6^th in the 11^th race, an 8^th in the 12^th race and 19^th (discard) in the 13^th race to stand in an excellent 9^th overall by the close of day 4. Matthew and Ben are only discarding a 20^th and a 19^th after 13 races, proving how consistent you need to be to score well in the Worlds. David Conlon and Charlotte Boind pulled a 12^th in the 11^th race, 18^th in the 12^th and 8th in the final race of the day (race 13) to move back up to 13^th overall. This has been a frustrating Worlds for the reigning 29er UK national champion but perseverance pays off and they are still in the hunt for a top 10 finish. Miles & Rory Odell took an 18^th, suffered a black flag discard in race 12 and, with Miles sporting what can only be described as ‘war paint’ instead of sunblock, closed the day with a very solid 14^th place to lie in 16^th overall. Nigel and Rob Thomas continue to show consistency with a 25^th and a 23^rd in the first two races. Then a very strong sail in the final race earned them a 6^th place to leave them lying in 17^th place overall (180 points net) just 5 points ahead of Ed Grayson & Mat Foster in 18^th overall. Ed Grayson and Mat Foster suffered a capsize in the 11^th race clocking a 41^st after being well placed, improved in the 12^th race to take a 19^th place, but suffered again in race 13 with a 51^st. Allowing for discards has not damaged them that much and sets up an interesting 3 way tussle with the British boats for the final day. Emma & Rachel Grayson came an excellent 15^th in the 11^th race, a 17^th in the 12^th putting a smile on the girls faces as they came in for lunch. Unfortunately a capsize in race 13 gave them a 46^th place discard to lie a much improved 24th overall at the close of the day. Craig Bond and Tom King took 29^th, 21^st and 29^th to lie 27^th overall. Martin Egan and Ruth Smith took a 44^th, 40^th and a 45^th (discard) to lie 40^th overall. Ollie and James King had another torrid day with two 51^st in the first 2 races and 2 capsizes in the 13^th race to finish in 55^th, leaving them in 54^th overall. Ben and Vicki had a really great 11^th race but unfortunately Vicki then injured her hand ahead of the 12^th race – leaving substitute Julie Eeles to take the helm with Ben for the last race of the day. They found the drink and retired but a great experience for the mother/son duo. Just time to wish Craig many happy returns once again – go enjoy your birthday fella – and the girls all the best for the final day tomorrow.
Last Updated on Monday, 10 January 2011 08:41

Mirror Worlds - Day 3 - GBR KEEP THE LEAD

Written by Peter
Thursday, 06 January 2011 06:38
Written by Dan King of Brightlingsea SC Day-3 saw probably the strangest weather conditions seen by the British Mirror fleet since arrival. The morning started warm and bright and without a breath of wind. As the boats prepared for light winds we could see a shimmer across the harbour and an increasing roughling of the water coming towards us. Then it hit, a hot dry wind from the North and temperatures soared to 41 degrees C. As the day progressed we saw thunder storms, torrential rain and squalls a plenty ... then no wind at all again for the last 'race. During all of this, the day got off to a start very well with Millie Newman and Jessica Rust (overnight overall leaders) taking 2nd place in the first race of the day (race 8), with Ross Kearney / Max Odell in the officially Irish boat (although Max is English) taking the win. The Lulham-Robinsons came an excellent 4th and David Conlon / Charlotte Bond hot on their heels in a closely fought 5th place with only a boats length between 3rd-5th places Then it all went a bit downhill for the British girls; coming 19th in race 9 and 13th in race 10. While Ross and Max continued to pile on the pressure and move themselves into contention by taking an 8th in Race 9 and another 1st in Race 10 to win the day and leaving them only 1 point behind Millie and Jessica on aggregate (counting 2 discards). Charlotte and David had a disastrous 9th race coming 35th after tangling with the committee boat anchor chain, capsizing and having to take 'turns' to ensure they weren't disqualified. Disheartened but not out of it they ventured out for the 10th and final race of the day to take another 35th moving them down to 15th overall and finally out of contention. The last race was no race at all with barely enough wind to ruffle the sails following a torrential downpour leaving conditions hot, steamy and humid. Conditions that seemed to suit the Grayson boats with Ed and Mat Foster coming 6th and Emma and Rachel Grayson coming in 9th. At the end of the day the Lulham-Robinsons have climbed back to 8th in Arctic Donkeez with a very solid 4th, 9th and 10th over the course of the day. Miles and Rory Odell slipped slightly to 14th ahead of David and Charlotte, having suffered in the light winds of the last race. Ed Grayson and Mat Foster are sitting in 16th and Nigel & Rob Thomas holding 18th after another set of very consistent results (11th, 16th, 11th). Emma & Rachel Grayson sit in 27th overall, Craig Bond / Tom King in 29th, Martin Egan / Ruth Smith in 31st, Ollie and James King in 56th and Vicki Bond / Ben Eeles bringing up the rear in 61st. Honours are still with Millie and Jessica after 10 races, they are 1 point ahead with 5 to go. Now is the time to get excited. Come on Britain, get behind them.
Last Updated on Monday, 10 January 2011 08:43

Mirror Worlds - Day 2 - GBR TAKE THE LEAD

Written by Peter Robinson
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 01:03
Written by Dan King of Brightlingsea SC Sorry for the delay folks – Internet access in this remote area is not always consistent. Day 2 of the Worlds; despite the forecast, we awoke to very strong winds again. With Millie Newman and Jessica Rust confirmed in 3^rd place overall overnight (behind the Australian team of Paul Taylor and the Filipinos), there was much to compete for. Four races on a day of two halves. Strong easterlies in the morning, tailing off and swinging south easterly in the afternoon saw Millie and Jessica claim a 1^st, 4^th,and two 2^nd places to take a convincing lead overall in the Worlds as we head into the lay day. They also won the day’s sailing taking the African Cup our first piece of silverware. They sit ahead of Paul Taylor (Aussie National Champion) and the Filipino boat with Lachlan Gilbert (Aussie Tornado sailor) in 4^th. David Conlon and Charlotte Bond have made a charge, progressing over the day taking 7^th, 17^th, 7^th and 6^th moving them up to 8^th overall – they are gearing up to make their move. Miles and Rory Odell continue to show consistency to sit in 9^th overall. The Lulham-Robinsons dropped slightly to 11^th overall, but are sailing extremely well given the conditions. Ed Grayson and Matthew Foster continue to compete strongly taking a 23^rd, 15^th, 20^th and 26^th (discard) in B-Limey to sit 17^th overall. Having missed the Aussie Nationals, Nigel and Rob Thomas appear to have adjusted well to the Albany winds and waters, sitting in 20^th overall by the end of Day 2 with results that improved as the day progressed. Emma and Rachel Grayson are vying with Craig Bond / Tom King (27^th and 28^th respectively). The girls boat literally hanging together with sponsors stickers (thanks Constance Hotels) while Craig and Tom are starting to make significant progress taking 11^th in the final race of the day. Martin Egan and Ruth Smith, having made front page of the Albany newspaper for some spectacular windward turns, are in 31^st overall, also improving significantly as the day progressed. Ollie and James King finished all 4 races, struggling again in the wind in the morning but making significant progress in the lightening afternoon session (helped by emptying water from a full front tank) taking 56^th, 52^nd, 46^th, 31^st to lie 58^th overall. Vicki and Ben are yet to complete a race but have been practicing hard. All in all an excellent day. Easily the best Mirror racing seen from the Brightlingsea Squad for some time. That has also seen strong performances from the other GBR Team competitors with 6 boats in the top 20 (4 in the top 11). We take a rest day tomorrow, well earned and required by all and we will be celebrating both Millie and Jessica’s results as well as Craig’s 50^th Birthday.
Last Updated on Monday, 10 January 2011 08:44

Mirror Worlds - Day 1

Written by Peter Robinson
Monday, 03 January 2011 05:45
Written by Dan King of Brightlingsea SC Day 1 of the worlds and it was blowing to 30 knots as the wind increased during the day, causing many retirements through broken masts, spars, etc and some loss of confidence. No such fate befell the UK boat of Millie Newman and Jessica Rust. Resplendent in the ROL Cruise livery of the Brightlingsea Squad, Millie and Jessica defied the wind to take 3^rd place overall (13 points) at the close of the day, achieving a 3^rd, 2^nd and 8^th place in each of the 3 races. The latter result achieved with a broken spinnaker. Also there with an amazing sail considering the conditions and lack of weight on the boat were the Lulham-Robinson boys, Matthew and Ben, holding 4^th place (22 points) following a 10^th, 6^th and 6^th. Miles and Rory Odell in 7^th made it 3 GBR boats in the top 10. A really amazing days sailing for these three boats, one that was publicly acknowledged by event director, Anthony Galante, at the close of day awards ceremony. Day 1 saw the dominant Aussie National winner, Paul Taylor, leading (6 points) ahead of the Pilipino crew of Balladares & Chavez (7 points). The next GBR boat was that of Ed & Matthew Grayson sitting a creditable 16^th at the close of the day, 3 ahead of Nigel and Rob Thomas in 19^th. Further back in 24^th were David Conlon and Charlotte Bond (having suffered a broken boom and retirement in race 3), Martin Egan / Ruth Smith in 34^th, Emma and Rachel Grayson in 37^th (sporting a taped up hole in the front port tank from a collision with an Aussie boat in race 2) and Craig Bond / Tom King in 48^th (disqualified from race 3 – over the line at start). Brightlingsea Rookie crews, Ollie & James King and Vicki Bond / Ben Eeles, are yet to score following a torrid day in very difficult conditions. However Ollie and James received special mention for persistence from the rescue crews, continuing to attempt a finish despite nose diving and semi submerging in race 3. High winds, strong competition and tired hands make for an early evening for all.
Last Updated on Monday, 10 January 2011 08:46

Worlds Opening Ceremony

Written by Peter Robinson

Monday, 03 January 2011 04:48

New Years Eve saw the opening ceremony of the 14th Mirror World Championships with Event Director, Anthony Galante, on behalf of the Princess Royal Sailing Club and its members recognised the cultural and spiritual links that Noongar people have to the land and sea, and acknowledged the traditional owners of country know today as Albany or Kinjarling, or place of the rain.

Mineng Elder, Alwyn Coyne, welcomed the competitors in a traditional welcome to country which was followed by traditional dances by the Kinjarling Yoorls, a group of Aboriginal dancers. Backed by troup leader, Ryan Humphries on didgeridoo, the group of boys and men performed a number of dances including the "Wind Dance."

Kinjarling Yoorls performing the Wind Dance

Commodore Paul Terry and President of the International Mirror Class Association, Celia May, welcomed the sailors and wished them well in the Event.

The mixing of the waters from the UK, Ireland and South Africa with water from Princess Royal Harbour was performed by Reverend David Hosking.

The sailors were also anointed by the Reverend prior to the final address by the Member for Albany, Mr Peter Watson MLA who officially opened the Championships.

The Mirror Class Flag which has travelled from Championship to Championship was raised by Alwyn Coyne and City of Albany Mayor Milton Evans, prior to the buffet dinner in the marquee.

A large crowd partied into 2011 witnessing the spectacular fireworks that lit up the Albany sky. ?