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BREST IS BEST - 1997Can you believe it, 3 European team boats and two failed measurement! Graham! how's that for French regulations? Chaos ruled as 150 Europes, 80 Lasers, 50 "Quatre cent vingts" and 80 Optimists squeezed into the boat park. Steer clear of the Restronguet Rats as they come armed with 5 inch blades handed out freely at registration (don't fret though as Tom's was confiscated immediately, thank God) Jennie shocked the ranks by informing us that the changing rooms were unisex! Don't all rush at once for Nic and Gem soon discovered they were only joined through the middle. Racing had a late laid back start on Friday, but not late enough (where were you Eddy?) Signing on was the usual scramble, but Captain Frogs Legs kept control by sitting us down and calling us up one by one, it was a bit tricky knowing when to go up as our names changed a bit - Barness and Sea-axe. The flag was hoisted so off we went into a choppy sea and wind force 3 - 4. Racing was good and well organised with long square lines, long courses (maybe 1 1/2 miles for the first beat was too long for some Laurie?) Time to start working out in the gym? One more race that day then back for the Pot d'accieul. (hmmm fun!) However, none of the boring lengthy English speeches, just 6 words from the Mayor "Good Luck, good winds, and good sailing" (I translated that for you folks back home). Back at the youth hostel our food was waiting, spaghetti bolognaise, not traditionally French, but nice. After dinner it was a mad rush as to who could get to the pool table first. After skipping pudding, the British got there first, much to the disgust of the French (who had taken the ping-pong balls and bats to their dinner!) - they had to wait about an hour while we tried to pot all the balls (yep, we sure are good at pool!). After a bit of socialising with the French we were off to bed (?). We were greeted by a strong force 4 - 5 on Saturday morning! A huge chop made most of us sea sick. Now I realise I should have held off that extra pain au chocolate. We were used to that after the rough ferry crossing. Long races again today made us all totally exhausted with the wind building to a force 5 - 6 in the afternoon. It really is time for some fitness training. The French were slightly put out with the fact that the British were doing quite well (ha ha). Getting in we packed up and zoomed off for some shopping - bangers were crossed of our lists (boo hoo). The youth hostel was very nice and each region had its table. For supper we discovered cous-cous was not one of Nicky's favourites. The Roast Beefs again beat the Frogs to the pool table, but this time were a bit out-numbered, it was a lively evening before getting off to bed again. Tom practised his drumming on the walls - not to some of our amusement. Having to be cleared out by 10:00 in the morning it was a little chaotic, but after realising we had to Hoover our rooms (you'll remember that next time Barnsey!) we set off to the club - a nice 2 minute walk. The wind was blowing a force 5 - 6 and expecting to increase, and a few, I won't mention any names, rather hoped it would be cancelled. The smaller members of the team wisely chose to keep their feet dry while the rest of us battled our way out on a tiring beat to the start. Mums and Dads sloped off for a glass Kir with the race committee! Our ferry was leaving at 4 pm so the over cautious British were packed up and ready to go at 1 pm (I admit we probably could have completed the last race) Nicky had been lying second up to that point - oh well never mind. Tired, exhausted, and in need of lost sleep we collapsed on the ferry where I am now writing this - the boy next to me has just puked up over his dinner! It has been a brilliant event and next year we plan to come in force with 420's lasers, the lot - and I will say again, it has been an excellent well organised regatta for all. Oh no, he's chucked again, I'm out of here........see you in Brest next year. Nicky Barnes and Gemma Fitzjohn-Sykes |
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