David Burrows (IRL) sailing his <strong>Finn</strong> off Howth Head in Ireland in June 2003 Photos: David O’Brien/Ireland Afloat
Gus Miller’s Olympic diary Each day during the Olympics, Gus Miller sent a report from Athens to the US <strong>Finn</strong> website www.usfinnclass.org. What follows are extracts from that diary which can be found in full in the forum section. As always, it makes for interesting reading. Start minus two Who would be here Who would find themselves here The first sailor I met was Dean Barker with whom I stayed for ten days in 1994 in Auckland. Focus of mind and effort, luck and the support of many others has brought athlete competitors from villages and cultures scattered all over the planet. Each will test themselves to see how well they can perform. At this level, each has themselves as the greatest challenge. This is the root bond that each will take home to share and teach. Respect for yourself and for your competitors. How many ways will this value be corrupted by media hype, drugs, greed and other ways of cheating With this much money and prestige it is hard to keep mindful of this basic value. Training weather has been great but now the weather is changing. The practice race saw Karlo in the early lead, then Mateusz with David close. Ben got the lead later after a bad start. No one completed the course. The wind kept moving left as the sea breeze built and one had to play for the pressure rather than the angle. Start minus one The Opening Ceremony was a meditation on an evolving mandela. So many powerful images to ponder. To be there in person, to feel the presence of so many thousands can not come across on TV. First there was the sky and the water filled infield. In the field of myth came the earth and to the earth came life in a small child’s boat. From myth to the reality of the classical period, then Alexander the Great, then the Hellenistic and Byzantine periods. The revolt from the Turks brought Modern Greece, the rebirth of the Olympics and the Greek Music. In a swirling mist were hints of something, pieces of light that evolved into the Double Helix. From the Helix came the tree of life, the drained infield filled with 10,000 athletes from all the world. Each entering country was shown on the world’s map with its area and population. Then the Female chief of the Greek Olympic organisers was followed by the <strong>Finn</strong>’s own Jacques Rogge. He was President of the IFA 1979 - 81 when I was VP Sailing and the qualities he had then were just beginning their journey to his place before the Tree of Life. He spoke of the Olympic Truce and all that it means for Countries who send athletes to the Games. Refuse Drugs and Fair Play. This was backed by a video of Nelson Mandella saying that the UN asks to extend the Olympic Truce to the world and that it be a time of reconciliation. I see four Groups. Group I is GBR and POL who are in a class by themselves. The others will be lucky to read their numbers when they finish. Group II is CRO, ESP, FRA, GRE, NZL and TUR. Group III is AUS, BEL, CAN, CZE, DEN, GER, IRL and USA. Group IV is ARG, BRA, EST, HUN, ITA, NED, RUS, SLO and SWE. Guys in Group III will be able to challenge Group II on occasion. The guys I am coaching are all in Group IV which is why IFA has me here. EST (Imre Taveter) I’ve known since 1978 when he was sailing an Opti in the Opening Ceremony of the preOlympics where I was 3rd. Day one Racing started today. Race 1 in 6 to 8 knots at 185. After a general recall there was a right shift just before the start. GRE got the pin and was gone with TUR right behind him followed by POL and SLO. Next was NZL fighting with CRO and FRA. GBR blew the start and after bailing out pulled up a long way. ESP also sailed up through the fleet. Race 2 in 8 to 11 knots from 165. POL and GBR are gone. GBR passes POL on the first run and POL returns the favour on the second run. GER has a great first half and then fades badly. CRO is 1.5 minutes back at the finish and ESP is 2.5 back. After them the pack is tight between 5 and 19. Day two The Meltemi arrived on the Saronic Gulf today with cooler North winds. Spent the day viewing the racing from George Andreadis’ boat with IFA President Philippe Rogge and President of Honour Gerardo Seeliger. GBR lost the Port and Starboard protest with FRA and so has a DSQ for Race 2. Race 3.1 Wind 10 knots from 335. NZL starts at the pin, goes over to port and has the lead. GBR starts at the RC, goes right and is in the back of the pack. USA is having a great race and is 2nd behind NZL at the top mark; GBR is 20th. On the run the wind is in shafts and veers so the fleet compacts at the leeward mark. GBR passes boats up to 5th when the RC abandons the race. Race 3.2 Wind 13 knots from 010. USA again is having a great race when the RC abandons at the first weather mark. Race 3.3 Wind 13 knots from 040. IRL, NZL, GER and BEL start well and are top at the FINNFARE <strong>OCTOBER</strong> <strong>2004</strong>
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