RAMBLINGS OF A MIND UNTAMED

We came dead last of all categories.

lolz.

The kicker, as Vina said after the race, was when a boat of 6 elderlys with white hair literally just sailed right past us on their own steam.

Ahhh. Just reminds me of the days CYL womens was consistently beaten by the childrens team of 14 year old dragon boat paddlers.


Back then it hurt because a lot of us did train, like 2-3x a week.

This time we had a boat of 50% people who started training OC a month ago, and 50% never raced before (and 2 of which started training a month ago).

I think its largely the style in the water. They're just scooping and there isn't like. full and proper strokes so we don't have proper power in the water. I still struggle to get that and I've been going twice a week for a year.

The day after the event
On the Sunday, we went to take the boat back home across the harbour. And it was perfect conditions. The sterrer wasn't present, just 2 of the boys in the crew that didn't make it and I got to hear their real thoughts about what actually happened

1. it was super windy
2. the sterrer was judged really harshly for taking the line he did - not to hug the coast.
The turn was terrible, not sure what happened there.

I know on the day the sterrer said it had gotten into his head, the enormity of the challenge and the lack of training in open waters. so I'm sure that played a role.

Anyway at least thats done and dusted.