2.4 Paralympic Campaign, 2016
Donation protected
Hyeres Olympic Regatta 2.4m
Dee Smith
A funny thing happened when I stepped up to help the US Olympic Sailing Team. I was told, if I wanted to help the team, I should sail. I knew I had become limited because of my cancer and bicycle/auto crash, but I never thought of myself as being disabled. Iwas told that I might be able to qualify to sail in the Paralympics in Rio, 2016.
To do so, I needed to be Internationally certified and consequently flew myself off to Hyeres to make this happen also to compete in the OCR regatta. The good news is that I did clearly qualify to compete in the Paralympics, and the bad news is I had to admit to myself that I really do have disability.
Incredible as it may seem, after all these years and races around the world this was my first experience in an Olympic regatta arena and also in a International 2.4 class regatta. This was going to be a huge challenge as I was competing against the best 2.4 sailors in the world. As you can imagine the level was high and I was incredibly excited to be there.
My “Road To Rio” program was put together at the very last minute. Everything came together in the 11th hour. Luckily I was able to borrow a boat. My sails came from North Sweden. (Thank you Jens) With very little time in the 2.4, I had set myself a huge goal, and I had a steep learning curve ahead of me in a small amount of time. As to be expected my results were mixed, but fair.
The European fleet proved to be very competitive. Only one boat managed to stay in single digit results. For myself, it was clear to me that not having enough experience in the boat, as well as being so focused with my head inside the boat cost me a lot in managing the fleet, and early placement of my boat on the course. After racing I was able to look at the tracker and could see many mistakes that I would not have normally made in classes that I regularly sail in. I was shocked to see how many places this cost me. I also needed to find a tad more speed so I did not get caught up in middle of he fleet traffic. I could also see that my biggest problem occurred at the bottom mark where my crew (where did that guy come from) work was sub-par. I could count 20-30 points lost at the leeward gate.
I have my work cut out for me, and felt with one more day in the regatta I would have been up to par with those leading boats. I knew I could be more competitive, almost taste it. More time in the boat will be key. Please take a moment to look at the tracker, http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/Sailing/
raceviewer/index.php?event=110&pm=2d&v=103
The areas that I felt most strong were in my starts. I was always on the line with speed and felt I could confidently get into any position I wanted. Secondly, I could make my
way back though the fleet. Due to some of my own bad crew work, I found myself deep many times. Good fleet tactic skills and improving boat speed through the races saved the day. On my first day, the rake was not right, on the second day, I moved the mast step a tad. I felt I was closing the gap, and definitely sailing her faster each time I raced. Thirdly, I had fairly good and consistent downwind speed. I am not sure why, but my best condition was in a breeze.
I do need to improve in these areas - gear changing, maneuvers, bottom marks, lighter air sailing and being able to stay on someone’s hip. This will all come with time in the boat and on the water.
Because I sit so low in the water, the hardest thing to do on this boat for me personally is to see. This is where my injury impedes my ability to read the course and to pick the right side. As a result I sailed conservatively for most of that series not committing to a side. Unfortunately by doing this I rounded the first mark mid fleet, and as a result I had to grind my way back. This is not the way to win a yacht race. My coach and I agreed we would need to pick the right side of the course before the race. We did try this out on the 7th race, and it turned out to be my best, first beat. At the first mark, I rounded equal second, and unfortunately due to my own bad crew work, I messed up at the bottom mark and dropped 14 places before recovering to finish 9th.
I went to Hyeres to find out answers to these questions:
1. Can I be International certified to sail? Answer: yes
2. How good was the fleet? Answer: exceptionally good
3. Will it be challenging? Answer: for sure, a big one
4. Will I be competitive? Answer: yes, with the right program.
Now the biggest question, how can I fund this program?
Dee Smith
A funny thing happened when I stepped up to help the US Olympic Sailing Team. I was told, if I wanted to help the team, I should sail. I knew I had become limited because of my cancer and bicycle/auto crash, but I never thought of myself as being disabled. Iwas told that I might be able to qualify to sail in the Paralympics in Rio, 2016.
To do so, I needed to be Internationally certified and consequently flew myself off to Hyeres to make this happen also to compete in the OCR regatta. The good news is that I did clearly qualify to compete in the Paralympics, and the bad news is I had to admit to myself that I really do have disability.
Incredible as it may seem, after all these years and races around the world this was my first experience in an Olympic regatta arena and also in a International 2.4 class regatta. This was going to be a huge challenge as I was competing against the best 2.4 sailors in the world. As you can imagine the level was high and I was incredibly excited to be there.
My “Road To Rio” program was put together at the very last minute. Everything came together in the 11th hour. Luckily I was able to borrow a boat. My sails came from North Sweden. (Thank you Jens) With very little time in the 2.4, I had set myself a huge goal, and I had a steep learning curve ahead of me in a small amount of time. As to be expected my results were mixed, but fair.
The European fleet proved to be very competitive. Only one boat managed to stay in single digit results. For myself, it was clear to me that not having enough experience in the boat, as well as being so focused with my head inside the boat cost me a lot in managing the fleet, and early placement of my boat on the course. After racing I was able to look at the tracker and could see many mistakes that I would not have normally made in classes that I regularly sail in. I was shocked to see how many places this cost me. I also needed to find a tad more speed so I did not get caught up in middle of he fleet traffic. I could also see that my biggest problem occurred at the bottom mark where my crew (where did that guy come from) work was sub-par. I could count 20-30 points lost at the leeward gate.
I have my work cut out for me, and felt with one more day in the regatta I would have been up to par with those leading boats. I knew I could be more competitive, almost taste it. More time in the boat will be key. Please take a moment to look at the tracker, http://static.sportresult.com/federations/isaf/Sailing/
raceviewer/index.php?event=110&pm=2d&v=103
The areas that I felt most strong were in my starts. I was always on the line with speed and felt I could confidently get into any position I wanted. Secondly, I could make my
way back though the fleet. Due to some of my own bad crew work, I found myself deep many times. Good fleet tactic skills and improving boat speed through the races saved the day. On my first day, the rake was not right, on the second day, I moved the mast step a tad. I felt I was closing the gap, and definitely sailing her faster each time I raced. Thirdly, I had fairly good and consistent downwind speed. I am not sure why, but my best condition was in a breeze.
I do need to improve in these areas - gear changing, maneuvers, bottom marks, lighter air sailing and being able to stay on someone’s hip. This will all come with time in the boat and on the water.
Because I sit so low in the water, the hardest thing to do on this boat for me personally is to see. This is where my injury impedes my ability to read the course and to pick the right side. As a result I sailed conservatively for most of that series not committing to a side. Unfortunately by doing this I rounded the first mark mid fleet, and as a result I had to grind my way back. This is not the way to win a yacht race. My coach and I agreed we would need to pick the right side of the course before the race. We did try this out on the 7th race, and it turned out to be my best, first beat. At the first mark, I rounded equal second, and unfortunately due to my own bad crew work, I messed up at the bottom mark and dropped 14 places before recovering to finish 9th.
I went to Hyeres to find out answers to these questions:
1. Can I be International certified to sail? Answer: yes
2. How good was the fleet? Answer: exceptionally good
3. Will it be challenging? Answer: for sure, a big one
4. Will I be competitive? Answer: yes, with the right program.
Now the biggest question, how can I fund this program?
Organizer
Dee Smith
Organizer
Annapolis, MD
