Final Day

Friday Aug 28

Written by Jens

Wednesday morning, we were greeted with fog again, at the motel, and at the club. That means that the entire area of St.Margarets Bay is probably fog covered. The race committee said that they would send out some motorboats to scout the area, before they would start the races. After a while, they sent the sailors out. The fog was not as thick as Brad had raced in before, but visibility was only a couple hundred yards at the club, so I wasn’t going to bet that any racing would get done. After Brad sailed off into the fog, I decided to bike ride over to the viewing spot I had found on Tuesday. When I got there, the fog was no better than before. I could not see the fleet of Lasers, I wasn’t even sure where to look. Once in a while, I would catch the glimpse of a boat, but the fog kept swallowing them up. I sat there for a few hours, watching the waves crash on the rocks, before I decided to head back to the club. I just got my bike loaded onto the bike rack on the van, when I noticed a couple of lasers already pulled up onto the shore. Then I see Brad pulling his boat up the hill. I’m confused. Where are all the other boats? Brad was in the 3^rd start, he should have been one of the last ones back in. Not that I was complaining, that meant he could get his leased boat checked out and returned. That was going to be a long lineup. We had already decided that we were going to skip the closing dinner, as we were anxious to get going on our way back home. We got driving at about 5:30 pm, Nova Scotia time. We got passed Montreal by 8:00 am, and got home around 2:30 pm Thursday. Glad to be back.

It’s been quite an experience for Brad and me. I know Brad was disappointed with his overall finish, but he got a chance to play with the big boys.

Written by Brad

So it's the final day of racing and guess what? It's foggy again, but much colder today as well. We sailed out through the thick fog to the other side of the bay where the sun was shining and the wind was blowing. The wind was about 15 knots and building. We were greeted with large steep waves with the occasional really big roller. Another feature to the day was intense amount of weeds in the water. They would literally stop the boat when they got attached to the centerboard and rudder. After waiting for awhile for the Gold and Silver fleet to start it was our turn. I had a decent start but the theme of the regatta of picking the wrong wind shift held for the first upwind leg and I rounded the top mark well back. I lost a few more boats on the downwind leg. I managed to play the shifts well the second upwind and held off the boats behind me finishing much better but still not where I believe I should be placing. At the end of the race I realized my rudder blade had tilted back a fair amount, this is not good for boat speed. My unlucky ways continued when I tried to tighten the rudder blade rope, only to realize my rudder line had broken. I tried to fix this, but with no luck, now I am starting to panic about missing the next race. I notified the race committee about what had happened, and to my surprise, they gave me a new rudder. Now trying to change my rudder and tiller on the water was not the easiest thing to do quickly let alone trying to do this in large waves and strong wind. But I managed to get it done, only to have the bronze fleet race abandoned and our fleet was sent in! Wow talk about being in a panic for nothing.

So all and all I had a lot of fun and know the areas I need to work on. I was not too happy with my overall placement due to the unlucky shifts and things that had happened to me. But all and all it was an awesome experience and I thank everyone for their help and support!!!!!!!!

Bad Luck All Around

Tuesday Aug 25 – Evening
Written by Jens

What I should have written in the last line of my previous entry was, I hope the spectator boat shows up. I walked 4 km to the Shinning Waters Marina where I was told that the “Delovers”, the boat that I was assigned to, was to pick me up. I was there ½ hour early, at 12:00, and waited. I looked around, no Delovers, so I asked at the marina if they knew where this boat was kept. Yes, at the Hubbards marina. That is on the other side of the bay, past our motel. That’s like a 40 minute drive. Somehow the paperwork got screwed up. So I walked back to the club, jumped in the van, and drove Up the Peggy’s Cove road, trying to find a viewing spot on this side of the bay. I found one, just down the road. The course was quite a ways out, and I could barely make out sail numbers. But trying to find Brad’s number was not easy in a sea of white sails, and white hulls. I managed to see him a few times, and managed to follow part of a race.

When Brad came in, I could tell that he was upset. Apparently, he had been doing very well in a couple of races, only to loss many boats when huge wind shifts came in with him on the wrong side of the course.


Written by Brad
I can't remember the last time I have been so unlucky sailing. The frustrations continued again today for me. Not because the other sailors are better (ok they are good), but because I can't get a wind shift to save my life! First race started off with a bad start and bad wind shifts to put me close to the back of the fleet. The next race I had a much better start and was about in 10th place at the top mark. I maintained that position on the reach and downwind leg. On the second upwind leg, another huge wind shift and I lost 30 boats.

In the last race of the day, the frustrations continued, when exactly the same thing happened. Doing very well for the first three marks of the course, then on the second upwind leg, another massive right hand shift came in while I was on the left side. I was on the wrong side of two huge wind shifts from two different directions in the last two races of the day! Talk about bad luck!

I can only hope my final day of racing will be better before Dad and I drive home. Missing everyone back home!

No Wind, Just Dolphins

Written by: Jens

The lasers were sent out for a race to start at noon, but the wind did not show up. The sailors floated around for 5 hours, before the race committee finally gave up and abandoned the race. All the boats were towed back in. Frustrating for everyone concerned. Brad told me that the highlight of his day was that he and his friend Sam Fuller got to mingle with a group of dolphins for about 15 minutes. Other than that, it was a long day.

Tomorrow, the 1st race is at 11:30, and Brad has been put into the bronze fleet, so he will be in the 3rd start. The plan is to have 3 races. Brad has no problem being in the bronze fleet, he knows it will be very tough to place well in that fleet. I have made plans to go out on a spectator boat tomorrow. Hope the wind shows up.

Massive Waves at Peggy's Cove

Written by: Jens

Hurricane Bill was a bit of a fizzle for us. We waited until mid-afternoon at the motel and the wind was up, but not what I was expecting. It rained for a few hours, but not in the volume I thought we would get.

Brad and I decided to drive to Peggy’s Cove, as this might be the only time we would have the chance. As we got closer, every view of the water was wilder than the one before. When we got to Peggy’s Cove, we were greeted by a spectacular view of the largest waves I have ever seen in person. Words really cannot describe the scene. Brad and I sat and watched for quite a while, trying to take it all in. I did take pictures and video.

This is Monday morning, and we were at the club at 7:00 am. By 8:00 am, all the boats had been removed from the buildings, and things put back to normal. Now, we are waiting for the wind to pick up, so the racing can start again.

Thank You to My Supporters

Written by: Brad

I would like to thank all those who contributed financially to help offset the cost of my Laser Worlds experience. Without you, I would probably be sitting at home, dreaming of this event:

• Brenda Collins
• Helga and Bill Cousins
• JDE Marine
• John Kabel
• Fanshawe Yacht Club
• Michaela Huard
• Jens and Sharon Biskaborn
• Doreen Greene
• Monica Maitland
• Betty and Steve Dietrich and family
• Phil and Connie Barton
• Barbel and Harold Brummer
• Ute and Leroy Martin
• Wonderland Dragon Boat Club
• Gayle and Mark Lemieux
• Karen Hernandez and family
• Evelyn and Patricia Nolan
• Kevin Biskaborn and ScriptReaction
• Amy Biskaborn
• Kellogg's Supervisors
• Maria Extendicare
• Rob Perquin
• Kellogg's

Thank you to all of you and of course, all my supporters back at home!

Bracing for Bill

Written by: Jens

Its 10:30am as I write this. The rain started at about 9:00 am. It’s just been a steady rain, and at this point, the wind is blowing from the east at about 10-12 knots (20-25km). I woke up at about 5:00 am and had a peak out - all was calm - not what I was expecting.
At 6:30 am, I went outside and took a couple of pictures and decided to go for a bike ride, as Bill seemed to be late in arriving. I rode the same bike trail that Brad and I took a week ago. I noticed an ocean freighter anchored in the bay, he must be going to ride out the storm at anchor. I rode for 2 hours, and got back just as the rain started.

Yesterday, after Brad went out, the other fleets hung around for about 2 hours, before they were given the horn to go. I worked for about another hour after all the sailors were gone. I heard a radio report from the race committee that they were on the other side of St. Margaret's Bay, near the viewing spots I had used before. So, I went with Bill Fuller, and his friend Kelly, over to that side, to watch some of the races.
Using 20x binoculars mounted on my camera tripod, I was just able to make out sail numbers when the boats reached the bottom of the course. When we thought that the first boats were heading back to the club, we packed up and drove back, just in time to see Brad getting back.

After de-rigging the boats, all the boats were brought into the buildings and stacked against each other, either on their sides or on their transoms. Then it was off to sit out Hurricane Bill.


Written by Brad

We were greeted by fog again today when we arrived at the club. The Race committee decided to cancel the only race the blue fleet completed on the previous day due to the condition (see previous entry). So it was decided that only the blue fleet from yesterday go out an hour early to race there make-up race. After that race I was put into the yellow fleet. So I rigged up and hit the water still covered with fog. We actually had to wait at the channel mouth for about an hour waiting for the fog to clear. Once out on the race course the wind was blowing fairly hard and temperature was a little cool. Then literally when the RC set up the sun came out and the wind lightened up. The light wind didn’t last too long and by the start of the first race it was about 10-15 knots and stayed that way throughout the day. The first race went pretty well with the usually mid fleet first mark rounding and then losing some boats downwind. I found a bit of a groove the second downwind leg and held off a few more boats from passing on way to a better finish. Today, I am in the yellow fleet, and that means I have to start another race immediately as yellow is the 1st normal start. No rest time. I didn’t get too many shifts go my way and struggled throughout the race managing only to beat 10 boats. The last race of the day, once again no rest, I was starting to feel tried. Having only had two power bars to eat the entire day and a Gatorade, I was feeling it. In the last race, I had a bad start, covered by other boats, all taking my wind. Again, the first halve of the race was a struggle. I hit some good wind shifts the second upwind leg to pass a number of boats, only to have my race fall apart when German sailor decided to force me to the wrong side of the course, and then decide to literally stop me by luffing me up near the finish. This caused me to loss a number of boats at the finish line. I finished well back in this race.

On the sail back in to the sailing club the intense thick fog returned and visibility was minimal. After sailing back to the general direction of the club I found the channel and pulled the laser out of the water. We then had to completely de-rig the boat for storage until hurricane Bill passes. All the sailors have to be at the club for 7:00 am Monday morning to pull out all the boats to race again.

Race Day #3

Written by Jens

It’s Saturday morning, and fog is in the bay where the sailing club is located. I’m not convinced that any sailing will be done today.

Well, guess what, there were 12 protests from the blue fleet about yesterday’s racing conditions. That is the fleet that Brad was sailing in. The race committee has decided to throw out the blue fleet’s race. The red and yellow fleets did not protest, so their races count.

At the coach’s meeting today, it was announced that yesterday’s blue fleet, will have to re-race yesterday’s race at 12:00 today. The other fleets will not start until that race is over. Today, Brad is in the yellow fleet, which is the normal 1st start every day. That means that Brad will have 2 races, back to back, if the fog lets them.

We were also told that tonight is summer high tide, which is 2 meters higher than normal. We should also expect a 3 meter storm surge on top of that. If this happens, we could have wet feet where we are staying. We will have the van packed and ready to go to higher ground tonight, just in case.

As Brad is launching, the fog appears to be lifting around here. Who knows, they might get some races in. With only yesterday’s blue fleet out racing, there are a lot of people hanging around all over the place, waiting to go out. I have not heard any reports from the race course yet on the conditions out there, but at the clubhouse, the wind is blowing pretty good, and the sun shows up from time to time.