False start for Pre-Worlds 2023
Photo by Nic Brunk
Due to a lack of wind on Biscayne Bay, there was no racing for this year’s Lous Piana Cup. While the sailors were disappointed, sailable conditions did not manifest all weekend. On Saturday, the teams waited for wind on the water ever hopeful but on Sunday, with an even bleaker forecast from class meteorologist, Chelsea Carlson, sailors were forced to enjoy the sunny weather from the shoreline while they caught up with new and old friends.
Things kicked off Saturday on a beautiful sunny on Biscayne Bay, but unfortunately, no wind was in sight. As sailors prepared with anticipation to start the pre-worlds competition, there was hope that the wind would pick up beyond 5 knots. The Race Committee (RC) held racing until noon. By 1:30 pm, the RC called it a day, realizing there was no hope for good racing. Everyone met back up at Biscayne Bay Yacht Club to mingle in high spirits and talk about the “bummer” of conditions hoping for a better climate Sunday to finish the Louis Piana Cup on a solid note.
While there was no racing Kai Hockely (GBR 1014 – Palavar) is optimistic and looks forward to more opportunities to get on the water. As an upcoming sailor with the Greig City Academy (London, Haringey), he stated, “It’s all about dedication.” Veterans noted that the group on Palavar holds a great passion for racing, is focused while competing, and requests more time for practice. This type of youth and the support behind them will continue to carry the future of racing.
Palavar – Greig City Academy sailors – Photo by Nic Brunk
Palaver’s coach, Jon Holt, gave insight into this fantastic crew’s drive, stating that the team has been sailing Etchells for a year due to the generosity of the Etchells Group in England and have managed to secure a boat for the Worlds. Holt states, “they raised the money, which is a lot of money, to buy Scaramouche, which was an ex-US entry to the Admiral’s Cup in 1981. Scaramouche is quite famous, and we bought that boat, and they restored it with money they raised.” Part of their fundraising techniques has focused on giving presentations to potential donors allowing the team to build skills outside the racing world.
Holt continues to share that the crew has “been sailing on dinghies on lasers all over the UK. [but] then they slowly got into keelboat racing, and the minute that they saw an Etchells and they got sailing on the Etchells, they just absolutely loved it because, I think they, from their point of view, they’ve just learned so much because of the number of adjustments that you have to make… As we all know, you have to perfect so many elements of your sailing and your setup on an Etchells that they learn huge amounts. They’ve just completely run away with the idea of racing and doing competitions.”
As the Etchells Fleet gear up for the World Championship in April, the Biscayne Bay Regatta Series will continue to welcome new and old faces who all share a passion for racing Etchells. The next event will be the Sidney Doren Memorial Regatta on January 14th and 15th.
Reporting by Hadley Hege. Editing by Kate Somers.
