Miami sailing dispatch 1 January 16, 2009
Miami in January is like Southern California in late, late August. Balmy with a breeze. However, in South Florida the wind comes from all the directions on the compass on different days as it sits between the big continental ridge influenced by Arctic storms and the uplift of warmth streaming north from the Caribbean in the Gulf Stream.
Finn sailors here training two weeks ahead of the ISAF World Championship stop #2 include Chris Cook of Canada, whose been coaching the Canadian youth team in Florida since November. Cook was 5th in the Finn in the China Games last August.
Rafael “Rafa” Trujillo of Spain, who was the Finn World champion in 2007 and silver medalist in Athens in 2000. Ed Wright of Great Britain, who when Charles Benedict Ainslie, OBE, stays home, may be the best Finn sailor from the world’s best Olympic sailing program. Both he and Rafa are funded by their national governments and private sponsors for their sailing performances. Good finishes at this Miami Olympic classes regattas count toward maintaining or increasing their financial renumeration.
Clearwater’s own Zach Railey, who got the silver in Athens, alternates between sailing and earning money conducting sailing workshops across the Southeast. He will vie with USA Finn Association class president Bryan Boyd and 2007 U.S. National champion Andy Casey for the three spots on the U.S. Sailing team, which actually provide more in bragging rights then in actual benefits other than a few articles of clothing and a spot in some glossy photos. As best as can be learned, U.S. Sailing’s Olympic effort depends on sailors lining up their own funding through their own entrepreneurial schemes or luck having been born into the right well-endowed family. Casey spends his nights and off days doing boatwork, of which there is plenty hereabouts these days.
Three young Canadians hope to place well enough in the regatta to earn development funding through the Canadian Yachting Association—Matt Johnston, who doubles his time here as a Star crew, John Romanko from British Columbia and Adam Nicholson, Albacore sailor and aspiring actor.
American Ian Cook, between semesters at Cornell, hopes to put some experience in the bank for a future all-out Olympic campaign.
The cast hits the water every morning for intensive practice sessions, guided by the principles of Chris Cook’s just published “Playbook”, which contains diagrams of sailing drills and an articulated philosophy of training that includes working together, sharing knowledge, developing body memory, and starting and ending on time. Larry Lemieux’s clear-headed, no nonsense approach enlightens Chris’ best insights
After sailing, the pros bicycle to the gym; the others to their sanctuaries in short-term rental housing, recreational vehicles, or that night’s couch-surf digs. Lots of communication through email and text-messaging. It’s apparent who’s doing what that works for getting on the podium; and it’s even clearer for whom this is just vanity.
