One thousand dollars a race? Ahh who cares!

We have all experienced a regatta where racing is either blown out due to too much wind, and also due to the other extreme of there being absolutely nothing at all. This is what the distinguished folk of the Laser Masters Worlds were dealt with for their 2006 Championships in Korea.

Absolutely no wind to speak of for basically 90% of the regatta. This meant it would have cost approximately $1,000 a race!

Dad at the Laser Nationals this year - Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron

This was my Dad’s first ever world championship. He had been training practically every day for the past 10 months in an effort to snag a highly acclaimed “Cube” to proudly place on the mantel piece in front of all the sailing trophies I have received over the past 15 years. He was determined to outdo me, my younger brother, and himself. At 59 he thought it was about time.

You see, my Dad is a pretty amazing person. He has always managed to battle his way through everything, and without revealing some pretty deep family secrets, he has achieved more through adversity than any other person I know of.

The downs far out weighed to ups for a large chunk of his life, and whenever something amazing happened, it was usually overshadowed by despair or tragedy somewhere else. But regardless of all this, he always manages to keep a smile on his face.

Dad has been training with some of the world’s finest Laser sailors. Names like Brendan Casey (now a Finn sailor), Greg Adams, Kerry Waraker, Lyndall Patterson and past Olympian Christine Bridge. With talent like this, it was sure to rub off onto Dad and he would end up on page one of the results. (Page one if the text was shrunk to fit!)

The emails were coming through from Mum to ensure I was kept in the loop with all the happenings of the regatta (I did mention to her that there was a website dedicated to the event…)

“As far as the sailing is going it is a non event due to lack of wind - so disappointing for the sailors who have spent lots of time practicing and expense to get here. So far they have only completed 3 races and over the time there should have been 12. With only 2 more days left of the regatta they will be lucky to get 7 races in. They haven’t raced the last 3 days.”

Throughout the regatta friends of Dad were constantly contracting me in an effort to get a thorough update. (I told them there was a website as well…)

“All is well at home, the house is still standing - Dad, Keith says you need to hurry up and win a race.”

“Tell Keith there is no wind and this looks like a 3 race regatta unless we sail to day, doesn’t look likely as there is a lot of fog and mist this morning . Love Dad”

Dad didn’t end up winning a race, however was extremely proud of his efforts regardless…

“3 races today 15 knots plus, 5 swims in one race. 6th grand master in the world. I’m giving myself a well done. Of to South Vietnam tomorrow there is a typhoon up that way at the moment… Typical… See you soon”

So all in all Dad comes home “Cubeless”, however he will always be able to brag that he competed in the Laser Masters Worlds in Korea in 2006. The year there was a Typhoon one week and nothing the next. The year he went back to Vietnam, just to check things out, and the year where he achieved a lifetime goal and enjoyed what racing they had with people he respects and enjoys spending his golden years with.

He can also proudly say…

“I was the 12th Australian, 6th Grand Master and 31st overall. I rock!”

Dad’s next venture will be the Laser Metropolitan Championships, Sail Brisbane, then the National Titles in Tasmania. The tickets are already booked for the 2007 Laser Masters Worlds in Portugal, where I am sure he will give veteran Tillerman a run for his money!

I’m fortunate that I have someone so amazing to admire and look up to…