17/9/2014
Ed Powys’ and Dave Evans Silverline 49ers Santander Training Camp
We are currently resting at
home, reflecting on a great training camp in Santander and getting ready for
the most important regatta since the last Olympics - the ISAF Sailing World
Championships in Santander, Spain. We arrived in Santander on the 12th
September with a new boat and a long jobs list to tick off before the Worlds,
and after 18 days sailing we feel as if we ticked off most things and are in
pretty good shape for the racing.
Dave arrived in Spain from the UK and I flew in
from deepest Russia with multiple stopovers, but miraculously arrived with my
bags. We were both excited to get back into the boat after a couple of weeks
away from the 49er and a lot of hard work fitting out our new boat.
Fortunately the new boat is going fast and we had a
range of conditions for the training, which gave us time to tune the rig and
practise some specific techniques across the conditions. Towards the end of the
training block we had a coaches regatta, which as you'd expect, highlighted a
few weaknesses that we need to address, but also gave us a big confidence boost
- we were fast and sailing well, with good kit. Unlike previous regattas, where
we have struggled with kit selection we are definitely not making the same
mistake again, with all our race kit decided and ready to go.
Santander is a venue made for sailing - a big
natural harbour at high tide and a short sail to open ocean. We were fortunate
to get some great sea breezes, accompanied by rolling swell and Spanish sun,
which made for dreamy sailing and racing. Fingers crossed we get some of that
when the regatta starts. One of our race courses is practically touching
distance from a surf beach and another over a shallow sand bar in the harbour,
giving dead flat water and big top speeds when the breeze is up, so we should
have a great variety of conditions.
The city centre is just a five minute walk from the
sailing centre and it is a hive of activity all day and definitely all night.
It is a typical Spanish night out, with a night club that doesn't open until
4am, so we are told!
Dave is currently at home relaxing in Poole and I
have taken a few days to head to Hossegor in SW France to get away from the
boat park. We meet up again in a few days for a few days training, measurement,
registration and racing, starting on the 15th.
Before racing gets underway we would like to give a
huge thanks to Silverline Tools, as without them we would not be able to
afford, let alone maintain our new boat with their tools, and also Harken UK
for continually supplying us with the best fittings, hardware and service. We
also owe a huge thanks to Payne Hicks Beach for the tireless work they do on
our behalf and especially Martin from team sponsor Princecroft Willis for
loaning us an engine for our coach boat - quite a vital piece of kit! Not only
good at accounts - also very generous!
Stay tuned to the details below for updates between
now and the end of the Worlds.
Ed Powys’ & Dave Evans
@Silverline49ers
www.deepsailing.com
