A New Start to the End of the Season
by POFC KEN LO

Slow starts have plagued the Navy for the better part of 2015, heavily depending on the chug to catchup and finish in respectable positions.

LCDR Barnaby has shifted focus to a few, important start components. 1) Heads in the damn boat. 2) Reduce aggression. 3) Stay composed to find water at front of stroke. 4) Count strokes to ensure unison.

The Stanley Main Race final saw the team rid itself of sluggish starts. And the explosive starts continued at the Stanly Short Course Race. Even LJG Sinclair, the team’s most vocal proponent for faster starts, had less to complain about.

HEAT 1. The start was clean and powerful, keeping the team in contention for 1st. A smooth transition with no complaints from the front about rushing from the back. Near the end, the team lost a little steam and settled for P2 behind the Old Boys who took 3rd from us at the Stanley Championships. No revenge today, but qualified for Gold Cup Semi Final anyway.

SEMI FINAL. After a weak showing from the first Small Boat race, sailors downed Red Bull, did yoga, and slapped asses to get psyched. It worked. Backing into the start, the Navy looked out of place next to all the local association teams. With the horn, the Navy stayed on pace with fishermen teams. After the transition, we were head to head with boats on either side of us. Ready and reach calls and power up calls helped the Navy take an impressive P1 and thus qualify for the Gold Cup Final.

GOLD CUP FINAL. Sandwiched between Stormies and Buzz, it seemed that after earlier results it would be a race between the 3 of us. Nope. From the horn, Stanley Market, which did not place in top 5 all day, rocketed into the lead and effortlessly took P1. Stormies, Buzz, and the Navy fought hard in the middle lanes. Through the season, both teams have left the Navy straggling behind after the horn, but in this race we kept up. Head to head until the final moments, Stormies had more energy left and broke away.

Overall. Stanley Market P1. Someone Chinese P2. Stormies P3. Old Boys P4. Navy P5. Buzz P6.

In the Small Boats it was a sluggish first heat followed by a strong showing in the final:

HEAT 1. No matter what the Navy did, the boat did not move. LT Khoe kept us at a comfortable, but still competitive rating. LCDR Barnaby ensured composure and power was aptly applied. But, the boat was sluggish and the Navy was relegated to the Gold Cup B final by Team Mushu and the Tai Tam Tiger’s boat, which embarrassingly enough seemed to have more girls than boys onboard. Let’s blame this one on the weather.

GOLD CUP B FINAL. This time, the Navy applied more ferocity and heart to propel us into P1. UBS fought hard but lost by a hair to take P2. Trophy collected, pride restored.