OCTOBER 2004 - Finn

Gus Miller’s Olympic diary
Each day during the Olympics, Gus Miller sent a report from Athens to the US Finn
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 Finn’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 OCTOBER 2004