Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

Letter from Qingdao- Chinese Holy Water

by Denis Kiely on 12 Sep 2008
Skud 18’s beat up the Qingdao shore, race day 3 - 2008 Paralympics - Qingdao Dan Tucker http://sailchallengeinspire.org/
Denis Kiely reports on Thursday's racing from an Irish Perspective:

Thursday - Races 6,7 & 8

Didn't happen. At the morning briefing the race officer told us he was going to postpone the start until there was some sign of wind filling in so, a little like battle of Britain pilots waiting for the Luftwaffe to appear, we sat around the dock area, 'shooting the breeze'?? [Can you shoot the breeze when there is no breeze??] with other sailors waiting for the signal that the postponement was over and we could get in our boats and get out there and do battle.

The call didn't come until 14.00 and when we arrived at the start area it was to be greeted with a sickly easterly from 110. About 5 kt, but somehow it seemed to have less gizz in it than 3/4 kt conditions that we had on earlier days. The start was got away around 15.25 and the boys were well placed in the centre of the line - no bias, but it had been flicking 10/15 degs to the left just before the start signal. [advanced stuff - Spring course] This may be what tempted a crowd to develop at the left hand end of the line and there was a bit of a pile-up with a number of boats over the line at the start.

When that happens the offending boat/s has to come back and start properly - easier said than done when you have boats on either side of you. If you don't come back and start properly you are disqualified from the race. After about 100 meters up the course the Israelis turned around and came back - another disaster - and later found out they were not over the line at the start at all - bigger disaster!

At the top mark the Norries were thrown out for being over and not returning - bigger disaster still for them. Everybody else was delighted as it meant more room at the top them.

Rhino has just called me to go for some holy water just outside the village - so short adjournment!

This Chinese holy water is good stuff - Rhino, who is under curfew, says that the beer changes to holy water as it goes down?? Only had two - so just a venial sin? What a lot the kids today are missing, no Connie Lucey and no venial sin - takes all the excitement out of life.

Anyhow b*****r this advanced stuff - later. We were 10th at the top mark, 3rd at the bottom mark first time round [a 7 place improvement] lost one place to the aussie-wassies at the top mark 2nd time and another place to Kenny [Canadians] at the finish - 5th place - our best result to date. Where we should have been finishing all the week.

The race officer postponed the remaining 2 races until tomorrow - running out of light and wind. So 3 race day again tomorrow and 2 on the final day, Saturday - if we get the wind.

Chinese kid next to me here in the internet centre skyping his girlfriend - no no no, not that - he is just talking to her over the 'net - anyhow, God bless them. Tomorrow.

Good night
Denis
Henri-Lloyd Dynamic RangeNorth Sails Loft 57 PodcastRooster 2025

Related Articles

Tassie yachts take on the Vics in M2D Yacht Race
The AdvantEdge team is racing against the clock to repair a torn mainsail Tasmanian entrants AdvantEdge and Just Farr Love will be flying the flag for their home state in this year's Melbourne to Devonport 'Rudder Cup' Yacht Race.
Posted today at 11:09 am
Transat Café L'or: Pam Lee has Class40 baptism
First skipper to have her own boat and her own project ready to race Ireland's Pam Lee has already made her own little bit of history as she lines up to start the Transat Café L'Or, the doublehanded race from Le Havre to Martinique.
Posted today at 10:09 am
The passing of one of the greats of WA Sailing
Remembering Don Devine It is with deep sadness that we share the news of the passing of PDSC Life Member and Past Commodore Don Devine on 11 October 2025.
Posted today at 6:51 am
16ft & 13ft Skiff Port Jackson Championship
A surprise guest on Red Pumps Red! Zoe Dransfield thought her boyfriend was joking when he told her he might be able to secure one of the world's best sailors to fill in on Red Pumps Red for Saturday's Port Jackson Championships. And who could blame her?
Posted today at 5:26 am
Pittwater Sail Expo This Weekend
Australia's Largest Sailing Boat Show Get ready to step aboard and set sail. The Pittwater Sail Expo 2025 is this weekend, from Friday 24 to Sunday 26 October at the Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC).
Posted today at 4:52 am
Rolex Middle Sea Race Monohull Line Honours
Remon Vos' Black Jack 100 finishes at 05:44:07 CEST on Tuesday Remon Vos' Black Jack 100, skippered by Tristan Le Brun crossed the finish line of the 2025 Rolex Middle Sea Race at 05:44:07 CEST on Tuesday 21 October to take Monohull Line Honours in an elapsed time of 2 days 17 hours 44 minutes 07 seconds.
Posted today at 4:47 am
Scholarship for U19 World Champion Rory Meehan
From the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship Queenslander Rory Meehan has been awarded a Sport Australia Hall of Fame's 2026 Tier 3 Scholarship for 2026. The 18-year-old iQFOiL sailor is grateful to be awarded the scholarship as a representative of sailing.
Posted today at 4:43 am
Sydney Short Ocean Racing Championship entry opens
Regulars and first timers alike are expected to take part Entries have opened and regulars and first timers alike are expected to take part in the 2025 SSORC when a mix of passage and windward/leeward courses will put every crew through their paces to decide the best across both styles of racing.
Posted today at 4:35 am
Coastal Classic: Predictwind and Doyle Sails' tips
Predictwind's Nick Olson and Doyle Sails' Mike Sanderson gave competitors some pointers Predictwind's Nick Olson and Doyle Sails' Mike Sanderson gave competitors some pointers for success in the upcoming PC Coastal Race.
Posted today at 4:12 am
Coastal Classic: Fleet takes shape
The stage is set for the 42nd PIC Coastal Classic, New Zealand's most iconic coastal yacht race The stage is set for the 42nd PIC Coastal Classic, New Zealand's most iconic coastal yacht race, which will see more than 100 boats charge north from Auckland to Russell this Labour Weekend.
Posted today at 3:37 am