Bouwes very dramatic last race in the mumm30 Worlds regatta
Thank you waltercooper for a very good photo. I think Bouwe is on top to the right.
Hi Arne, before the last race, we were in third place, 6 points behind first. As a team we decided to go for 1st, so full power, no safety. We had a glamour start we thought, full speed, but were called( very late) over on the VHF, afterwards we learned the bow was just over. We did turn back, and we were retuning in the middle of a long line, we took our backbearing ,( a reference point on the shore taken before the start) and I judged as well from were I was. Happy with that all so started again. Had a glamour beat, and were in the top ten at the top mark, with only the leader ahead of us, and the other podium contenders well behind us. The approaching the bottom mark, sailing in the two boat circle, asked for room to the boat behind us, and they acknowledged. We gybed, but then the owner of Glory lost control and sailed right in us. A big bang, our helmsman on the floor, hole in our SB aft section. Screamed protest and flew the flag, and grabbed the helm to keep our boat clear of others.. It was obvious that our helmsman didn’t survive the crash very well, her thumb was hanging on the side of her hand and she was in terrible pain. In the mean time Glory started their 720 penalty turn, and I called a chase boat for assistance and informed the race committee we retire from the race. But than saw that Glory pulled out as well, and we learned that their helmsman got the boom in his head while doing the 720. So both owners off in the chase boat to the hospital. We motored over to the committee , to say thanks for the regatta, ( they did a marvelous job) and then learned that we hadn’t turn back properly.
Back on the shore looked into options for redress, first of all of to get us re-instated for the OCS, and then to get redress( average points) for the crash,
Before going into the room, had a chat with the race committee, Peter Reggio who normally runs the Americas cup. He told us that the shrouds didn’t clear the line, and he was backed up by somebody else. So decided not to file , as I knew the outcome if going to the room. As the owner and tactician from Glory had apologized to us, didn’t file the protest against them. Sometimes thinks can get organized without wasting each other time.
Of course disappointed with the result, won’t say we would have won the regatta, but we had a very good chance to come in the top 3. That’s racing.
Cheers,
Bouwe
Here a copy from Chris Larson ( tactician on Glory) posted on the opti web.
Subject: Incident with Grooverderci
Approaching the starboard leeward gate on leg 2 of Race 10, Glory (John Buchan) was clear astern of Groovederci (Deneen Demourkas). There was considerable traffic ahead and around both Glory & Groovederci. Groovederci was giving room to boats directly ahead of her causing her to slow her speed and wait their turn to round the mark. Glory did not anticipate the sudden change of course and reduction of speed while trying to take her stern. Contact occurred between the bow of Glory and the starboard rail of Groovederci approx 3 feet from her transom.