..more swot and dampus

my weaknesses are actually much the same as in outside life..

lack of concentration, tiredness, lack of being able to think three things ahead

this comes down to lack of training and lack of mental relax/focus from going up the first beat.

Preparation means scrubbing the boat, tuning the rig, getting a feel, using electronics to measure speed . Same as in work and family situations, I'm the type who getsmost from putting in some prep and being pysched up wiht a liitel cleared from the decks.

Practice is what is needed each season and this year I got little if any. Last year I did the right stuff and trained up, be it frustrating, on the 109 to a really good færdern. So it pays....another day at the office.

there are some tricks:

luffing at the leeward mark to a new lane, fake roll over and dive to lee on the gust, gybing on the lifts, following the gusts down, using the compass, finding wind bends and lifts, two boat tuning, sheeting in and understanding the weather mark so the others overstand, using the rules to win situations, fake tacking, so on so on and so on...

But the basics

1-. knowing the boat is set up or can be gear shifted and when. Back to basics, think all variables and controls

2- how to slow the boat down!

3- if you make a mistake, fix it quickly.

4. go out early, go down the night before

Also another weakness is that I lose an element of assertiveness and control and let other people take over a bit. Giving and taking is best, and keeping a cool head like i did when I helmed last night. Not being overly precious, but sometimes standing my ground!

Also, remember I have had some realy glory moments in Oban, in Cork, on the fourth and some very, very promising starts in dinghies

SO a little humilty, patience and remember I have been up there but get rusty