Medemblik, Holland
May 22, 2008

We had a busy and eventful three-race day at the opening of the Delta Lloyd Regatta 2008 on the IJsselmeer in Medemblik with finishes of 6-1-9 that left us in fifth place overall when we finally got ashore.

Photo: ©2008 Richard de Jonge

The next start the breeze was a little bit lighter but equally shifty and crazy. We turned in a really solid performance to win this one, moving into first place on the last weather leg and holding off the competition on the downwind to take the gun. Our training partners Mtch Booth and Pim Nieuwenhuis Holland, and the Aussies Darren Bundock and Glenn Ashby were both in contention as we see-sawed our way to the finish.

After the race it went completely flat. It was nearly 7:00 pm and we were wondering if the committee would send us off again. While we waited we were inundated by flies and bugs that covered us, the boat and the sails. It was pretty darned miserable until the breeze blasted in at about 20 knots. Suddenly the flies were gone and we were off on another race, this time a crazy, windy 25-knot rodeo ride in the nasty big chop produced by the wind and the shallow water here. This time we were ninth.

All in all, it was a wild day with pretty much everything from zero to 25 knots. At least it was sunny after the passage of a cold front. This regatta is notorious for cold and rain and although it was a chilly 14 deg C, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky.

We have been in Europe for a few weeks now, training and testing in Palamos, Spain with our coach Jay Glaser and our training partners Mitch and Pim. We were working on light air techniques and trying out a few new sail ideas for China before we drove up here to Holland right before the regatta. Our principal coach Andreas Hagera has joined us here in Medemblik.

You can find full Tornado results at Delta Lloyd Results. We want to acknowledge all the support from our sponsor, Advanced Equities.

Sail fast,
Johnny Lovell and Charlie Ogletree - Team Advanced Equities I