Day 1- After 3 flights, a bus, ferryboat and a taxi ride I finaly arrived in Cozumel- Mexico. Together with Jan Sebastian, his father and Dominique from Canada.
We going to stay this week in Hotel Fontan about 2 km from the event side. It was dark when we arrived but it seems a very nice place, our rooms are on the ground floor and right at the swimmingpool and sea.
Now I very tiered and will go to sleep- goodnight.
Now I very tiered and will go to sleep- goodnight.
Day 2- It was a short night as I have 2 hours time differents and so i was awake at 6am and couldn't sleep anymore. In the mroning there was a perss conference where some of the athletics had to be, so was intresting to be.
We rented this morning a scooter so me and Dominique going to event side by scooter and also do some sightseeing this week.
In afternoon we did two sesions of training. The wind was very light special in the late afternoon and a lot of seagrass in the water. The first session I was with Dominique and Cuba. The second time I went out with Demita and some guys from Mexico, I do like as in Bonaire all the time being alone on the water isn't easy to train.
In the evening we went with Neven and his family to the main square in town for dinner, it was a nice day.
In afternoon we did two sesions of training. The wind was very light special in the late afternoon and a lot of seagrass in the water. The first session I was with Dominique and Cuba. The second time I went out with Demita and some guys from Mexico, I do like as in Bonaire all the time being alone on the water isn't easy to train.
In the evening we went with Neven and his family to the main square in town for dinner, it was a nice day.
Day 3- Ready, steady, enjoy ... North American championship 2011 in Techno, RS:X, Formula experience and Raceboard. Host of the event is beatiful island of Cozumel in Mexico. Find out more about the perfect windsurfing conditions here and great travel destinations that island has to offer. http://www.windsurfmexico.com/
Today was first sightseeing in the morning with Neven fom USA and his family. We went to see the ruines in the middle of the island what was very intresting, later in the day we went on the water.
I was training with Dominique (Can 5) and Cuba and later on with Demita who also did some video and photo shooting. It was a nice and usefull day.
Today was first sightseeing in the morning with Neven fom USA and his family. We went to see the ruines in the middle of the island what was very intresting, later in the day we went on the water.
I was training with Dominique (Can 5) and Cuba and later on with Demita who also did some video and photo shooting. It was a nice and usefull day.
Day 4- Today was going to be the practise race. I didn't feel very well, so we stayed for an hour in the room to relaxe and then I felt better. First we did registration and messearment, everything was oke. We went for lunch back to the hotel where we had a plate of pasta. Then we went back to the eventside for the practise race. It's good to do so you know where the course will be etc. I did the complete course, to feel the current, winddirrection, finding the marks....Etc. It was a good training and was happy i did the full course.
Quick de-rigged my gear, as in the vening we had the opening ceremonie.
When we arrived in the centre of Cozumel for the openeing they told me I had to carry my flag. What was a bit of suprise and as my country starts with A, I had to go first. I was more nervous then before a strart of a race. ;-) The opening was very nice, with some talks and some dances too. After we had some drinks and food in a restuarant with all the other competertives.
For me the races can start, waited long enough for it....
Quick de-rigged my gear, as in the vening we had the opening ceremonie.
When we arrived in the centre of Cozumel for the openeing they told me I had to carry my flag. What was a bit of suprise and as my country starts with A, I had to go first. I was more nervous then before a strart of a race. ;-) The opening was very nice, with some talks and some dances too. After we had some drinks and food in a restuarant with all the other competertives.
For me the races can start, waited long enough for it....
Day 5- As good as it gets ... First days of racing, perfect conditions, incredible "playground" for competitors, perfect scores for the local favorites. See for yourself ....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XO6i0s6yy_A
I was a bit restless in the morning at breakfast, as this was going to be my first test to see if i can beat does girls from Cuba and Uruguay and to get my spot for the PANAM. Of course we not the only once, we have Dominique from Canada, Demita from Mexico as many other girls from Mexico to compete against.
I was ready with my gear before the most, did some stretching in the shade and waited patiente for the first start.
I did a little mistake at the first start as I'm so used to do a planning start, but non of the other girls did so got stock in the group without wind, so quick daggerboard down. Then I was on my way, but get a big fall caused by a powerboat in front of me wich gave big waves and so my board digged into a wave and me haed first down into the water, after fall a few more times and worked hard to get back. I finished in the first race 5th.
Then the second race I did amazing. The start wasn't that good, but at the upwind mark already catch many girls, then on the downwind even more. I stayed more in the shallow water so not to fall in the big waves and somehow this was the perfect strategie for me, as at the finish line Demita waited for me and told me I was 2nd in this race. I was very supridsed! Dominique broke a harnassline and went back to the beach to fix it so couldn't finsh and I was muchs faster then the others. So I was of course very happy.
The last and third race I did well. I finished 4th, still my start not so good and made a mistake at the upwind mark as the current is very strong there, but was happy with my score.
I can look back to a very nice racing day (5th- 2nd and 4th) and overall 3rd after one day (and in front of Cuba and Uruguay) with two more days to go. So will have a goodnight sleep now.
Day 6- Another day in paradise. I woke up this morning and for a moment i thought I did dream I was on 3rd place, but no it wasn't a dream. It was real! So today was going to be toff day, to keep that place. With 6 races we would have a discard and Dominique should move up at least to the 2nd spot.
So my plan was to work hard and try to do all the best.
Unfortantly the race commitee decided to put a small blue flag under the OUT flag and I was so stuppit not to ask what that blue flag was meaning. I fnished as first overall, but then i realized we had to do two times the outer loop instead of once. I couldn't make it in the time limit so a DNF. I was very disapointed about it as I did race well again as was in 4th position, at the mark. Lucky later I could use this race as discard.
The 2nd and 3rd race of the day I raced very good but the other girls too, so was a real competion till the end of the race end even at the last downwind mark up to the finish line it was a fight who was going to be first over the line between Cuba 2, Mex 4 and me.
After this day I was one point behind Mex 4 and egeal points with Cuba on 4th position, so you could say we where all fighting still for the 3rd place, the podium, what was going to be very intresting for the last day.
So my plan was to work hard and try to do all the best.
Unfortantly the race commitee decided to put a small blue flag under the OUT flag and I was so stuppit not to ask what that blue flag was meaning. I fnished as first overall, but then i realized we had to do two times the outer loop instead of once. I couldn't make it in the time limit so a DNF. I was very disapointed about it as I did race well again as was in 4th position, at the mark. Lucky later I could use this race as discard.
The 2nd and 3rd race of the day I raced very good but the other girls too, so was a real competion till the end of the race end even at the last downwind mark up to the finish line it was a fight who was going to be first over the line between Cuba 2, Mex 4 and me.
After this day I was one point behind Mex 4 and egeal points with Cuba on 4th position, so you could say we where all fighting still for the 3rd place, the podium, what was going to be very intresting for the last day.
Day 7- Already the last day of the event. The wind was a bit stronger in the morning then the other days and increased a lot during the day. I did a lot of extra downhaul after some advice from Dominique. We had real planning conditions today, so no daggerboard use at all today. My starts went fine, tactics was doing very good also special in the upwind where I was rounding most of the time in 3rd place just during the race in the last bit I lost a bit. Mex 4 sailed very strong this day and kept her 3rd place.
For me--> I was happy!!! I surfed a very good event and learned again a lot. To sail with 2-3 meter waves, with very strong current and with current going in two different directions in one course, completed all 9 races and many many tactics.
But most important for me I did QUALIFY MYSELF FOR THE PANAM- Mexico 2011.
But most important for me I did QUALIFY MYSELF FOR THE PANAM- Mexico 2011.
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