Reflections on a Season

This was actually an important season for me I felt a little on the outside of the sport. Kind of a hasbeen. But I had often wise things. Kick the motor in reverse to get the auld 8mR's prop to fold. Hold the main in the centre to keep the kite flying. We gybe on white sails! After an " in at the deep end" two handed with spinnaker, where I warned I was rusty. But he admitted it was the best of all training sessions that season for a 4 mans crew usually no matter! Then more folk came out the woodwork. They too, didnt like the older one designs in town , or were tired with them. The new express fleet is looking up! Also I managed to figure out a cruising chute with snuffer for the first time. Never used on, been on racing boats or white sails. The owner I coach up in sailing and self confidence was delighted ! All in all in stead of feeling rusty, used up, has been, i got some major sense of mastery. 10,000 hours n all. I took a day when I was laid up sick to look at old Americas cup coverage, from the late seventies, through Australia II to Prada becoming the challenger and found I could challenge the skipper's decisions without actually it being trite after seen wisdom ( as they say in Scandinavia) : I can understand the enormous performance expectation angst affected their judgement. But hey, I won the first express race I helmed this year. It is about sinking your shoulders and getting the right information in from the rail. Not going out on the edge of the diamond. They maybe got caught up in micro metereologist and on board MBA consultant's power point summaries, they fucked up on some basics in these races ! That is why they lost, they made mistakes. Boat speed was up and down with the wind speed, every dog had its' day, seen much tougher match racing in IODs. Also I am not letting myself be in the box of ' not as good as he thinks he is' instead, show what you can do, take it seriously, the job in hand. Dont bitch ( i used to, but not often) get on with your job. Focus! Team only has ME if you fuck it all up and put it mack as TAME!