My World Championship Experiences 2014 – By Lachy Gilham
I was so privileged to have the opportunity to compete at the Laser Radial Men’s and Youth
World Championships held in Dziwnow, Poland from 28th of July to 2nd of August,
Representing your Country at the World’s is a dream come true! I also experienced 2 days in
Berlin before driving over to Poland; I was tired but excited at the same time. We headed off
to bed, the next day a van came to pick us up to take us to the town of Dziwnow, where I
picked up my charter boat and Dad did all the paperwork and stuff, all I wanted to do was rig
up and get out on the water and go for a sail which we did I had trained with Tristan Brown
for about 3 hours before coming in for a good meal and a good nights rest. A day before the
regatta Belinda Stowell (coach) and Alistair Young had arrived from the ISAF YOUTH
WORLDS in Portugal. We went for an hour and a half session to sharpen our skills for the
start of the regatta. After the short intense session the whole team went to the opening of the
Men’s World Championships, there was a local rock band that played for all the sailors from
around the world. The opening ceremony gave me a good feeling about the town and the
venue that the regatta was going to be held at.
Day 1, All the Aussies arrived at the club early, washing boats making sure that everything
was exactly right to go out; Belinda briefed us on the conditions. Couldn’t wait to get
underway, I was really nervous and needed to get out on the water. Conditions were strong
(just the way I like it), however I got a terrible start and it showed on the results board for the
day but it was a tough day racing against people who were ranged from the age 15-beyond
and were 80 kgs!
Day 2, very much the same as day 1, with a strong competition across the board, the starts
again were my weakest point of the race however felt good to get amongst the older guys on
the start line and again a hard day at the office, and was looking forward to the next day.
Day 3, again, exactly the same as day 1 with a strong breeze from the north and a strong left
favoured course and a big line! It was pin favoured all day but I decided to play it safe and
start a couple boats above the big pack to go a low grove and just go for speed. Ended up
the day with two 55th’s not the best result but many things to improve on!
Day 4. Was a more steady day with the wind spread out evenly across the course, give me
plenty of options but sadly making the wrong ones, but mostly on the start line however after
the race went to speak to my coach to get some feedback on what I could do better and I
didn’t take all of it in because there was sooo much I needed to improve on coming in to the
last day.
Day 5, the wind was 18knots from the north with very tall and step waves. Was another
tough day at the office were my starts that day wasn’t going to plan but was being able to
catch many places on the upwind with the lighter winds racing against full rig sailors who had
dropped down to compete for the regatta.
Closing and Presentation night was a lot of fun, and I was sad for it all to end… Made so
many friends! And one more Regatta to come!
LASER RADIAL YOUTH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Day 1, we all arrived at the club early, making sure that everything was exactly right to go
out, Tristan Brown (Our Coach) briefed us on the conditions for the day. I was really
nervous and needed to get out on the water. Conditions were light around 5 knots, I got a
fantastic start and it showed in my results getting a top 10 to the top mark until the last reach
coming into the bottom mark, getting a yellow flag and had to do my 720 and sadly ended
losing a huge number of places. Race 2 was a terrible race being very conscious of where
the jury was at all-time not to get my 2nd yellow flag which really was the best but much was
learnt from the day, however wasn’t very happy with what happened, but 5 more days to go
for improvement! And I needed to go home and regroup for the next day.
Day 2, very much the same as day 1, winds around 6-7knots. It was a better day then the 1st
day however I think there was much more to improve on my light wind starts and being one
of the heaviest kids out on the water. The day I thought was mainly about the shift play going
up to the top mark and the down winds where fairly frustrating however I was pleased with
the result but still needed to improve on my starts for the next day.
Day 3, we headed out but racing was postponed and we had to wait for a long time on water.
Finally we started with only 5knots did not do to well with the shifty conditions and I got
caught out on the wrong side ending up at the back of the fleet, I had to rehash for the next
upwind to gain a good number of places. And was a little disappointed with the results but
still 3 more days to improve!
Day 4, arrived at the club was looking like a good day with 10kts of breeze, sailed out and
little chop. Had a really good start and got to the top mark in the top 5! But a thick sea fog
came over the course which made very hard to see where I was going but I had used a sea
buoy as a half-way point between the top and bottom marks which helped me a lot. However
the racing was cancelled for a couple hours due to the thick sea fog. But eventually we got
back out on the water. I was really pumped to put another good result in but sadly was in the
high teens due to stupid mistake on the start line however I was quite happy with the day
and was looking forward to getting into silver fleet.
Day 5, I was excited to go check what fleet I was in for the final series, but sadly I missed the
cut by one place! Anyway the wind was 18knots from the north with very short and step
waves. Finally, I was having better starts which helped me with my placing in the race with a
7th so I was really pleased with my result. The next race again a 7th to the top mark however
got a 2nd yellow flag by the jury and had to retire from the race and go home.
Day 6, This was the final day of the Regatta, was going into the last day with a simple motto
I made up “go hard or go home” this helped me on the starts and the first 3 beats of the race
and absolutely flying on the down winds, I was so happy that something in my technique
clicked so every manoeuvre was smooth and precise. The second race of the day was my
favourite because, I could keep my leeward gap for speed and it worked but It was a
general recall, so I went back to the start line and reset for the start and I was right amongst
the boats screaming and yelling “don’t go in there!” and the gun went but it was another
general recall and we had to wait 5 minutes to find out who was Black flagged and who
wasn’t but the board was put on the back of the start boat and I read the sail numbers and I
was devastated that my sail number was written on the board and I had to finish the regatta
with sad ending of a black flag but I was happy because I needed to improve on my starts in
big fleet racing where back at home there is only 5 -10 boats on the line at training so I had
to make the most of it! So overall it wasn’t my best regatta, the event was fantastic, but have
taken away lots and met some great friends along the way.
I would like to thank SoPYC and FSC for their support and encouragement they gave me
before I travelled to Poland, Western Australian Laser Association, and my coaches, Tristan
Brown, Arthur Brett and Belinda Stowell. All Saints College, The Ron Tough Foundation, My
Mum and Dad, and the rest of my family, and of course my friends!