UKLA Chair blog # 47
Well Super Sunday was yesterday ! Please let us know how you got on – we have a link here class captains or anyone who wants to make a submission. I see Notts Country SC had 24 ILCAs out and Seafarers had 26 ILCAs at their open. First thing this morning we already had 7 club returns. Keep them coming and let’s get a record ! I look forward to hearing more…
I started sailing 50 years ago this month with my brother at the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire and we had a celebration back there on Saturday night. It was great to see so many “old” friends who I grew up sailing with. I spent some time looking for a quote to reflect the occasion and ended up mashing up one from a famous athlete (Jessie Owens) – friendships formed and developed in the cut and thrust of the racecourse are the pure gold of competition. The accolades and awards tarnish but the friendships gather no dust. Ultimately looking back, this is essence of what I have described many times – a sport for life and a passion that keeps on giving.
Of course, the thrill of competition is important to many of us. In many ways it is the journey or indeed the mini-campaigns we put together – I am going to get fit for such and such an event or improve my boat handling. Or sometimes it is just being out on the water. I think many of us have found the mental health benefits of sailing, of just being able to switch off or into a different mode.
Then there is the great performance versus results debate. Many (or most) great athletes do not focus directly on results but performance. Rory McIlroy is not thinking of a hole in one but a great golf swing. It is about visualising and executing a great performance or even a great recovery. And at critical moments these athletes will often say there was absolutely nothing going through my mind- they are in the zone. Results follow performance, which is why many don’t set results-based targets. I think this is especially true in a regatta over many days where staying focussed is important and you don’t want early mishaps to ruin your whole week. I prefer to be able to discard from my mind those results and think about performance. I know that isn’t true of everyone – I am sure Robert Scheidt always had a target of gold!