Rigorous training schedule for Laser yachtsmen

Press, 10 February 1982, Page 24

Rigorous training schedule for Laser yachtsmen

By

JOHN COFFEY

More than a . month ol intensive training lies ahead of Phil Penney and Kevin Jamie, the young Canterburv yachtsmen included in the New Zealand Laser class squad, before they leave for the world championship in Sardinia. The prospect of spending part of the New Zealand autumn sailing on the waters of the Mediterranean is most appealing, but both Penney and Jamie realise they will have little time to enjoy Sardinia's tourist attractions. Instead, the completion oi their training programme will only be a lull before the hard work resumes. No warm-up contests have been planned to coincide with the world series because the European season will only be starting, and Penney and Jamie will be pitched straight into competition oi the highest quality. The allocation of the event to Sardinia also has its own drawbacks in terms of travel and expense. The two 19-year-olu Canterbury helmsmen will each have the find about $4OOO to cover air

fares, accommodation, entry fees and other costs. Nothing comes'cheap in Sardinia in the tourist season. Penney became an automatic choice when he was the runner-up to the world youth title-holder. Russell Coutts (Auckland), in the national championship at Lyttelton last month. In spite of his youth, Penney already has a proud record in major Laser contests. He was sixteenth of 350 starters in the last world championship at Kingston, Canada, 18 months ago, and tenth of 120 skippers in the Australian series in Melbourne earlier this summer. But Jamie admits to being surprised at his selection. It was originally expected that Coutts would lead a five-man squad to Sardinia. When this was increased to eight Jamie merited his place on the basis of his eighth at Lyttelton. New Zealand should be strongly represented in the

dauntingly large fleet of 300 yachts in Sardinia. Penney believes that the format adopted in Canada — when about 100 finalists were found after six qualifying heats had been held in seven divisions — will be used again on this occasion. “The biggest priority is to reach the finals, particularly as most of the international helmsmen seem to be mustering about the same boat speed," Penney said.. “The Europeans might have an advantage competing in more familiar surroundings, but they will only be beginning their season and we have already had plenty of competition.” To reach second ranking in New Zealand behind such a skilled yachtsman as Coutts has been quite a remarkable performance by Penney. Last summer, only his second season in a Laser, was not a happy one for him. He frequently fell foul of the rules regarding sculling and incurred disqualifica-

tions in finishing fifth at national level and twentyfifth in the South Pacific championship. Penney feels that there was a certain amount of staleness in his efforts after two years of solid sailing. Penney made a late start

to this season in his Laser because of his involvement as a crew member of the Southern Cross Cup boat. Southern Raider. However, he said that his association with Southern Raider had broadened his over-all knowledge of the sport, and had improved his sail trimming and tactical expertise. From the deck of the Southern Raider Penney stepped back into a Laser for the Australian championship at Melbourne. He was quickly able to gauge his competitiveness against some very talented Canadian. Australian and New Zealand skippers, and was most satisfied with his subsequent second placing in his own national contest. A graduate of the junior P class — “although I was not in that for too long" — and the intermediate J.C. design — “I didn't do very well" — Penney has found his niche in the very popular Laser. But it is probable that the top echelon of Laser helmsmen will transfer to the Olympic Finn class after returning from Sardinia, with the intention of seeking the monotype nomination for the 1984 Games regatta. Penney is undecided between the Finn — “I would probably have to go to Auckland in that case” — and the sailboard, the newest Olympic class. If Penney does not have fond memories of his time in

the two-man J.C. division, . then Jamie ought to. With Rob McGregor as his for’ard hand, Jamie won the New Zealand title in 1979-80, having been third the previous summer. Jamie also had his yachting initiation in P class, and is in only his second full season in a Laser. He was modestly placed in the South Pacific series 11 months ago after a promising fifteenth in his first national championship. “It probably took me one whole season to settle down in a Laser,” Jamie said, “although we had them in the family and I had some idea of what they were about. “But I did not really know how I was going before the nationals this year because Phil was not sailing. I hadn’t competed against anyone nationally since last April and I guess I was reasonably happy even though I made a few silly mistakes,” Jamie said. Within a day or two of learning of his inclusion in the squad Jamie had mapped out a training routine which would exhaust even the keenest sportsman. It encompasses "a bit of running,” five evenings each week on the water, and two nights each week in the gymnasium, the latter to be slotted in after attending night school. Then there is the everpresent problem of finance. A national raffle is to be launched to assist the team, but it is difficult to envisage just when Jamie will have time to sell his allocation of tickets.