Sigurd Vergauwe, Wim Craenen, Paul Goossens, Filip Willems
Representing Belgium with Wim Henderieckx as coach
After a not to be underestimated trip of more than 2000km we arrive 6 days before the competition to acclimatise. This works out quite well and it is fun and chill to put everything in order at your leisure. We train without really tiring. The settings are constantly being measured and adjusted. We think we have found a good speed. We compare ourselves with previous champions who are also regularly on the water. We are hopeful.
The first competition day there is noticeably more wind and we are sobered up. Everyone struggles and there is not a single Belgian in the first half of the pack. Day 2 there is less wind and then we perform better. Just fantastic. Sigurd gets 2 x a 12th place. Filip manages to be 1st on the downwind leg. Wow, even the coach was impressed!
8th across the finish line! That gives a boost.
On the third day, the stress subconsciously kicked in. Sigurd starts near a lot of judges and is flagged for ‘bodypumping’ by a strict judge, which means he has to leave last after taking 2 penalty laps. Filip arrives halfway up the pack, but loses almost everything because of 2 penalty laps (port- starboard). He came out in the last 5 of the fleet. Wim is showing a lot of progression, but can’t make it to the finish yet. Paul sails most consistently around position 70 for the time being.
Wednesday night dinner. Filip gets a prize as 3rd legend in the standings. Everything is still possible. The men are only eight points apart.
I can pick up a prize as a coach, my work for the class is mentioned by the speaker. That is gratifying.
We are keen to do better. Tomorrow there are more chances.
Gogo Belgium !
event site : http://fvrm.sailti.com/es/default/races
