Block 2 - April
After a chilly training camp 1 we were excited to get back to it and put some real hours in before the first event of the year.
As soon as we arrived we were pleasantly surprised with what felt like summer Garda conditions, beaming sun, powerful Aura South winds and boats filling up the lake. From block 1 we still had some manoeuvres to get down and nail before racing starts a week later and we were really pushing.
Our last two days of training were racing focus and the team produced some of the best sailing of the boat I’ve experienced. Feeling the connection and all the teamwork coming together after a matter of weeks is an exciting prospect for the rest of the season. That said the day didn’t end as we wanted. Finishing one of the manoeuvres Hebe very stoically mentioned that her fingers was hurting a bit and that we needed to swap Sophie in – little did we know that Hebe had broken her finger, which we found out in the evening after a trip to the doctors.
Last year the team didn’t sustain any serious injuries and it’s something I hadn’t really thought about but now both Max and Hebe had injuries…
With Hebe out days before the event it means Sophie had a big week incoming after a big week just gone. It was the first time we would be without the dream duo, however Sophie managed really well.
The final day of training was actually my birthday and it was great to be with the second family celebrating the day – the night before the team were all asking me what I wanted to do on my birthday and my only answer “a full day of racing”. Although with our two days break from training block and event the team had organised a day on a Via Ferrata – thanks to Gino our guide for being a legend and taking us on a little adventure and Max for sorting it out!
Event 1 of the year is always exciting as you don’t quite know where you stand and with 3 new teams to the fleet it adds some thrill. We had 8 69F boats racing including; Fin1 Sailing (Finnish), Groupe Atlantic (France), Katana sailing (Swiss), us (GBR), Cer GVA (Swiss), team Teen Age (Malta), team Pirogovi (Dubai) and team Hubex (Spain).
Our practice days consisted of 16-18 knots, big sea state and a lot going on for the fleet. It was clear to see that everyone had put hours in over the winter and the standard of the racing was going to be high. Our official practice racing day was super solid for the team with a 2,2,2,2 and some of the most exciting racing I’ve done – hitting 28 knots on reach one, super close contact to the other boats with everyone closing in around mark 1 and then into a downwind, approaching the shoreline and waiting for the boat inside to gybe so you have space to gybe. The team definitely showed that the training we had been doing was paying off.
Now into racing – light wind upwind downwind racing, enough wind to foil around the course but being careful not to fall into any patches of no wind. Day 1 the team held some great modes and really pushing the more experienced teams, unfortunately a few bad manoeuvres meant we dropped those good positions but leading races and showing we can do it is really promising.
Day 2 was a big waiting day, lots of seeing breeze come in and getting mentally ready, then watching it dip out or do a 180 in direction. NO RACING and all on for the last day.
Day 3 starting off similar with light winds but fortunately enough for some really close racing – marginal foiling conditions and being precise today was the winner. We picked up a few penalties from pushing a bit too close to other boats which was super costly to the results but the way we were sailing meant we were really pushing the racing.
Congratulations to Fin1 sailing for winning Event 1, Group Atlantic for coming 2nd and Katana sailing for coming 3rd. Thank you to the race committee for some great racing, hopefully better wind and more racing to come.
Next comes the Youth Foiling Gold Cup Act 1, followed straight after by the Grand Prix 2 in Torbole. For Act 1 we will have Filippo Amonti joining us as main trimmer, a well experienced sailor who has previously raced in the 69F. For GP 2 as Hebe is still recovering we will be joined by Dutchsail Womens and Youth Americas Cup sailor Ismene Usmen who will flight control! We are super excited to be joined by some new sailors and what an awesome opportunity awaits.
See you on the start line.
Great effort Zac! A solid start to the new season 👏