Oyster News 52 - Oyster Yachts

MIAMI OCR 2004
The Miami OCR is a very important event for both the Olympic and
the Paralympic teams. It is used as an early indicator, as well as
qualifier for some countries. We arrived to find very little wind, which
as all the locals told us was very unusual, but that’s sailing! All the
top teams from the Worlds were there, meaning that competition was
extremely competitive and would be tight.
We started the event well being consistently in the top five of our fleet.
Unfortunately, our luck changed half way through the week and John
our helm was taken ill, meaning that he couldn’t sail. Our coach Mark
Barron sailed with us so we could continue racing, but some of the
other countries that were competing were not very happy with this as
we were beating them without our proper race crew. So unfortunately
we had to retire from the rest of the event. However, the experience was
useful, and we now have an indication of how the other teams are doing
and can predict who we will be racing against in the Paralympics.
3 SAIL WORLD CHAMIONSHIPS
After the Miami OCR, we travelled to St Petersburg, Tampa for the
able-bodied 3 Sail Worlds, where we enlisted the help of former Laser
Youth Squad sailor, 22 year old Mark Addison, to sail with us as the
fourth crew. We knew that the sailing was going to be of the very
highest quality and we weren’t really expecting much, merely using the
event as a means of training against some of America's top sailors.
However with only one day remaining we were lying 2nd behind the
American Paralympic representative. The able-bodied sailors got the
shock of their lives! We raced consistently, proving that we are an
equal match for the able-bodied sailors, assisted by Mark and his
stunning work on the foredeck. Unfortunately on the last day, there
was really thick fog in the morning, meaning that the racing was
postponed. However, not to be beaten, the principal race officer sent
us out, where we spent the next two hours trying to find the committee
boat and not crash into each other. With five minutes to spare and five
general recalls later, we had started. Disappointingly we were over the
line, and even though we went back, we still got a 20% penalty and a
disastrous last race. Unfortunately with all races to count this pushed
us down to 5th overall and the second Paralympic boat.
NATIONAL OFFSHORE ONE DESIGN REGATTA
This event ran directly on from the 3 Sail World Championships, by
which time we were all very tired. After the disappointing end to the
Worlds, we were determined to do better. The racing at the NOOD is
over longer courses, and rather interesting as you have to share your
course with seven other types of one-design boats. After some very
tight racing in 25 knots of breeze, the disabled sailors were still
proving that they could be as competitive as the able-bodied sailors.
We only managed to complete four races due to the ever increasing
breeze, with three 4ths and an 8th place. Again we were 5th overall
and were beaten by just one point for Paralympic honours.
In March we will be returning to St Petes to take part in the Disabled
Midwinters, which looks like being as competitive as the World
Championships. Doing well at this competition has always been our
main goal and we will be doing our best to win gold at this event.
All of this of course would not have been possible without the
support of Richard Matthews, Oyster Marine and many of Oyster's
owners and suppliers. Having been invited to attend the Oyster
owners London dinner, little did I realise that in the space of a couple
of hours my total funding requirement for the year would be raised.
Everybody was so generous and I am very grateful to you all.
My Paralympic dream is now very much a reality and, along with the
rest of Team GBR, we will be Sailing for Gold in Athens 2004.
Hannah Stodel
For more information about the British Paralympic Association see:
www.paralympics.org.uk