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| Home >> Top Tips >> TopTip2020 #77 - The Victory is in the Participation - by Justin Meredith, GBR |
TopTip2020 #77 The Victory is in the Participation!
by Justin Meredith, GBR
Justin Meredith thought he was driving out to the Italian Lakes to put his feet up ashore whilst his daughters did all the hard work. However, the enticement of the Lago di Garda and the inclusivity of the fleet got the better of him and before he knew it he was lining up on the start line of the RS Aero European Championship!
' The Victory is in the Participation!
A letter from Garda, Italy...
I really do not know what happened last year at the RS Aero Europeans.
Back in blighty all seemed under control. Packed up the boats 1X 29er check, 1X RS Aero (5 rig) check, two daughters and an additional crew for the 29er check. Mrs Meredith booked on the flight, a good book to read so all set to go.
So how with such precision planning did I end up on the start line of the RS Aero European Champs a few days later? Was it the Gavi, the lure of Garda, the persuasive skills of Liam and RS Lynn from RS who convinced me to charter an RS Aero (7 rig) or the warm welcome from the RS Aero (now fellow) competitors and support. Who is to know but there I was mid fifties, unfit, overweight last having sailed a GP14 several years before at Aberdovey and now at the Europeans and having the time of my life. All I had to do was not crash and a successful event was to be had. Not troubling the pointed end of the fleet has its advantages. If conditions were not perfect the Gavi / Peroni and good company ashore was always waiting. No pressure to have to compete in every race and count those discards. There is though always a race within a race with a healthy selection of likeminded competitors with no aspirations of winning. I remember Neil Wharmby and I sitting on the quay side watching the start of the 9’s and deciding that we should race after all as the wind had settled to a gentlemanly level. Starting behind the 5’s and full 6 minutes behind the 7’s did not matter and a very good time was to be had (suspect we have to thank the race officer for his indulgence).
Reading the RS Aero Top Tips 2020 during the lockdown has been very entertaining and are all great tips to take on board going forward….maybe …but for me the real win was being part of the RS Aero community and just getting out there. Some might say abandoning my shore crew duties to the 29er campaign might be bad parenting but I say they had better get used to it as they will be on their own during the RS Aero Worlds at Garda next year as well.
So you don’t need to be 20 something years and fit to be able to enjoy an RS Aero or even own a boat for that matter. I can not wait for next year's Worlds now! '
Justin Meredith, Papercourt SC, UK
Reply
22/07/2020 17:13:00
Peter Barton
Posts: 4664
