Gus Miller at Finn World Masters: Rueful Wednesday

by Gus Miller 24 May 2018 06:41 PDT

A senior member of the Finn class, and Super Legend, Gus Miller (USA) writes from the 2018 Finn World Masters at El Balis, Spain:

No racing on Tuesday as we sat on shore waiting, sometimes in light, sparse rain. For me there was a Spanish siesta mid-afternoon lying next to my Finn with the sail up, ready to go.

Not even any sailing Tuesday at all but yes, this experience makes one energized and engaged for being in this regatta among so many substantial and accomplished friends with whom one can talk in depth about almost anything. I’ve wondered about why that is so and came to the understanding long ago that training in and racing a Finn is so intense that an intimate conversation, heart to heart with an intellectual, emotional and spiritual maturity goes with the game. Not only for me but for most coming to the Finn Masters it is a bit like opening up the world because these older Finnsters have come from all over the globe. No wonder the level is generally so high.

I have a new protégé in Facundo Olezza who Luca had taken under his wing and trained him up enough to qualify for Rio. In Rio he won the first race. Facundo was hired by John Alexander to train for this and by the two of us sharing a room I have discovered that he has a unusual mind like Luca’s but is from the new generation. If Facundo becomes the guy to beat in Tokyo, I for one will not be at all surprised.

Wednesday produced three races for each of the four divisions the fleet has been divided into on two separate race courses. The wind ranged between 6 and 12+ knots out of the Southwest along the coast. When the wind lightened it backed and when it strengthened it veered. There was a current with the wind and that caused a substantial sag in the line.

For me, I had two great starts because I allowed for the current and knew that everyone would be pushed back. Going up the first beat with clear air put me in the first third each time. First race I blew my chance by not tacking cleanly under someone up near the first weather mark so did my penalty circles to leeward of the starboard layline traffic and spent the rest of the race eating dirty air in the last third. Second race I kept my position and actually moved up a bit after the first weather mark which was satisfying for having so little racing experience in the last few years.

In the third race start Henry and I got entangled up near the committee boat end with me to windward having to keep clear. Henry pulled the trigger early and reached off into completely clear air because of the current caused sag. However, I got rolled, had to tack to port to look for a clear lane and never found one. It is not the first time Henry and I have tangled at a start. It has happened many times. The first I remember was the Finn Gold Cup in 1974 off Long Beach. We were next to each other in the first race then and I pulled the trigger early which forced Henry to go. Henry got caught with a black flag but I was hidden and escaped. He went on to port tack the fleet in every subsequent race and won the Gold Cup. I was 60th then. From my position in the back third of this race I was getting a little light headed because of the sun and in spite of drinking 4 liters of water I hit the leeward mark in a sloppy mark rounding. After two penalty turns (in my muddle headedness, I forgot that only one is required) I was DFL and that is where I finished.

I was tired, disgruntled with a sloppy third start and two sets of penalty turns and a little mentally disoriented sailing in. There are those Finn friends of mine, especially from New Zealand and Australia who are certain to tell me I'm mentally disoriented all the time. Thankfully there was lots of help getting my Finn up onto the dolly and up the ramp. Then one of the Nordic guys came over from his Finn, took my hand and said, “You are still a great sailor. You are fast!” That was a classic Finn gesture and that made the day worthwhile.

John Alexander and Facundo Olezza came over and helped me roll the sail up and cover the boat. We brushed off the post race party and came back for a shower, some food and a badly needed rest. We also brushed off the Regatta dinner for a simple supper locally. Natalia had been to Barcelona and visited Gaudi's Basílica i Temple Expiatori de la Sagrada Família. She had seen a lot and gave us a vivid description of all that she had seen; in effect she took us along on her visit.