This is an entry that I wrote shortly after the Olympic Trials in March, I just didn't have the gusto to post it at the time, so here it is! (see the follow up at the end)
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And the Dream is… Over.
For now anyways
I would really have liked to title this posting “I’m going to the Games!!!” Unfortunately that is not the case. For those of you who have been following the progress, you will already know that I did not win the Olympic Trials for Canada. I came second and will not be going to China in August for the main event.
The World Championships in Takapuna were really something else. By something else I mean the event was not in any kinds of conditions that were ‘normal’ for the area or what the rest of the world really expected. It was even different from the conditions that I was training in at the venue pre-worlds. “Auckland is a windy place!! Should be really good!” said some people. “March is a variable time of year, but it should still be great sailing there,” said others. The first forecast we got leading up to the event was calling for more than 15 knots for the entirety of the regatta, then it changed that only the first two days were going to be windy. Then the first day of the regatta was no racing due to a lack of wind. Day two brought 15 knots, followed by 3-10knots for the following days. Now, the wind strength is one thing. Did I mention that the direction of the wind was changing constantly? Oh yes, and the current. The tides were ripping in and out every day and made for even more interesting racing.
It may sound like I’m complaining, but I am certainly not. The event was extremely well run and though we were waiting around a lot, the organizers did a fantastic job of getting fair races in. Except for the fact that I lost my trials, I thought it was a pretty decent event. There were things that I would do a little differently, but I think all in all I gave it a pretty solid effort. I was quite happy with how consistently I sailed in the extremely variable conditions. Looking at the results, you can see that even the very best of sailors had some shocking finishes near the back.
My one main problem was getting off the starting line. For some reason (and after weeks of reflection I still can’t quite understand) I just could not get myself punched out on the starting line. What I was good at through the event was just plugging away at the fleet. I felt like I had pretty good downwind speed and I also was able to make gains in almost all of the races on the final beat to the finish line. I don’t think that anyone really had the place figured out, so it was just a matter of minimizing mistakes and choosing one side of the course. The wind would come down in alternating lines down the sides of the course, so it was easy to want to cross the course. That would be deadly because by the time you would get to the side where you thought the wind was, it would be on the other side again. It was a bit of a gamble coming into the windward mark, but it was so important to stick to your guns and be patient.
I would like to thank so many people for their support during my Campaign. Firstly I owe my family so much. They have been there for me during the highs and the lows. Without them as a constant in my life, who knows if I would have been able to make it to where I am now. James, my boyfriend has been an important addition to my life and my sailing over the past year and I owe him for just being there on the other end of the phone after sailing everyday… that’s a lot of days and a lot of listening!!
Also I would like to thank all the people who have been following my blog, or been watching the results and thinking of me. It makes me want to share the excitement of the racing and it helps me push through the lows. So thank you for all the e-mails and comments on my blog.
Thanks to Tine Moberg-Parker, my coach. Royal Vancouver Yacht Club for the support through the Corinthian Fund. The Canadian Yachting Association, Sport Canada, BC Sailing and the Phelan Foundation have all been a part of making this possible for me. Without all of these people and organizations an Olympic Campaign would be next to impossible.
Also, I would like to congratulate Lisa Ross who will be representing Canada at the Olympic Games in the Laser Radial. Go get ‘em!
For me this is hardly the end. This is the beginning of some new things for me, but I still intend to do another Campaign for 2012. Sailing is what I love to do. There is always something new to learn.
That’s all for now folks!
Thanks again for all your support!
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Reading that posting again is hard, but I'm now at a place where I feel I can move on. My apologies to those of you who had been checking my blog regularly, I doubt anyone reads this anymore... but here we go!
After the trials I told myself that I would see my season through, after all it is what I love to do. This was a huge mistake. I went to France and to Holland for the same regattas that I've been doing for the past seven years, but this year things were incredibly different. I had lost my sense of purpose and all confidence was gone. To be honest, I don't know that I've ever been through such an emotional roller coaster, but I have come off the roller coaster and I've managed to steady my wobbly legs from the ride.
And now a quick look at what is in store for me now!
I'm going to start University at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. It's going to be a good change for me since I think by the time these trials came around I was pretty burnt, but I was not letting myself see that. So back to school for me! There is a sailing team there and I fully intend on sailing continuously while I'm studying, I will not travel nearly as much though. James and I will be sailing a 505, I will have my Europe Dinghy and a Laser to play around on... what can I say, I love to be out on the water!
