Results Mark Lammens Comments The Luttmer X Flag Controversy The Essig 720 Controversy
Wednesday, May 24, 2000 - Kingston, ON - Under near-perfect May conditions, the first three races of the Canadian Olympic Laser Trials were held today at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. The winner of the week-long regatta will represent Canada at the Olympics in Sydney, Australia this September. Nathaniel Stoffelsma of Sidney, BC (the top ranked Canadian) won the first two races of the day and turned in a third in the last race, to hold a two-point lead over Pickering, Ontario's Bernard Luttmer who scored two thirds and a first. Andrew Childs of Bedford, Nova Scotia sits in third with 12 points.
Carole Pearcy, principal race officer of the Sail Kingston-run regatta, says she is pleased with the first day of racing. No protests were lodged by competitors and the race committee was able to get in the one allowed extra race in the two-race format. Early weather reports called for thunderstorms, but Pearcy says the system went north and another arrived after boats were ashore for the day. "The winds were good, they were strong and consistent until thermal time," she says. That meant that the first two races were held in southwest winds of eight to 12 knots. It began to swing for the third race, leaving competitors bobbing for a half hour while it settled in. The course was set for the third race and it got off in about eight knots of breeze. "We had three clean starts," she reports of the high-calibre fleet. One boat was recorded over the start line early in the final race. "Today we got typical Kingston wind," she says. With surface water temperatures of six degrees Celcius, the race committee is taking extra precautions with safety. "It's something we've warned all the sailors about dressing properly. It is still early in the season and it is very easy to go hypothermic. The coaches did a very good job out there."
The racing was fast and exciting today with winds in the 22 - 27 Knot range, with big CORK style seas. I the first race Mike Simms RNSYS - Halifax lead from start to finish as he relished in the strong breezes. Following the race Mike stated that he was cautious down wind to stay upright in the large seas. Second place went to BC sailor Jon Benskin from RVicYC. and third place to Oskar Johansson from Oakville and RCYC. Current leader Nathaniel Stoffelsma from Sidney BC managed a 5th to stay in good shape in the standings.
The second race was a battle of the high wind sailors again but this time Nathaniel and Marty Essig from Hamilton and Mike Kalin from KYC in Kingston took the top three spots, seems that the race leaders Chris Cook and Mike Simms went inside on the first run and found a little less wind and a bad angle for getting back to the leeward mark. Sooo, with 1/3 of the racing over Nathaniel is the leader with 6 pts, Bernie Luttmer is second with 13 points and Mike Simms in forth with 14 pts. All of the competitors feel that there is still plenty racing left and are optimistic that changes in wind velocity will bring changes in results. The CORK race committee is doing a great job and meeting daily with the coaches to make sure that the racing is as it should be .
Day 3, Another nukin' day in Kingston - two races again today in winds ranging from 15 - 20 Knots with big seas and very cold temperatures.
In the first race Mike Simms lead from start to finish, Marty Essig was second and third went to Chris Cook. Current series leader Nathaniel Stoffelsma battled back from 8th around the first mark to 4th at the finish.In the second race Chris Cook lead the whole race, Nathaniel finished second and Bernie Luttmer was 3rd.. Mike Simms did a 720 because of a close cross on the first beat but managed to fight his way back to 5th. At the end of the day Nathaniel Stoffelsma is still in first place with 17 points, Mike Simms moves into second with 20 pts and Bernie Luttmer with 21 points in third. Close behind and tied for 4ht and 5th are Chris Cook and Marty Essig.
Saturday, May 27, 2000 Kingston, ON Experience sailing in Kingston seems to be paying off at the Canadian Laser Olympic Trials at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour. Two more races were scored today in the 15-race regatta in much lighter wind conditions than the first three days. Southwest winds of 8-12 knots greeted sailors today and Marty Essig of Carlisle, ON, a graduate of Queen's University took control, handily winning both of today's races. He's taken over first place after nine races from Sidney, BC's Nathaniel Stoffelsma who scored to eighth place finishes today. After one drop race, Essig has 24 points, one ahead of Stoffelsma. Michael Kalin of Kingston also managed to move up the standings considerably to sixth place with a second and fifth place finish. Michael
Simms of Halifax, Nova Scotia remains in contention for the lead, with a fifth and third place finish today, leaving him with 28 points. He's tied with Pickering, Ontario's Bernard Luttmer after nine races. "This was a really good day," reports Principal Race Officer Carole Pearcy, "after three really tough days, the sailors needed something a bit lighter." Light, fluky wind first thing in the morning settled in and there was only one course change required for the day, Pearcy says. "On a day that looked like we would have no wind, we got two good, consistent wind races in." Both of today's races were a windward-leeward configuration to ensure quick mark changes could be made in the light winds. After the 10th race is scored, sailors will be able to drop their two worst results in a regatta that is almost two-thirds finished and still remains up for grabs.webMaster comment :Right on Carole! I'm sure Mike Simms needed something "a bit lighter" Like two doses of Essig.
Actually check the results out and see how consistent the first 8 sailors are.
Day 5 Races 10 & 11
Sunday, May 28, 2000 Kingston, ON Tactical skills were put to the test today for the 31 Laser sailors who are vying for the sole position of representing Canada at the Summer Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia during the fifth day of sailing at the Canadian Laser Olympic Trials. Marty Essig of Carlisle, Nova Scotia now holds a two-day lead in the fleet, with two second place finishes on the day. Essig has 21 points after 11 races. Sailors were able to drop results of their two worst races after 10 were scored. In second place at present is Michael Simms of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with 25 points. Simms won the first race of the day and placed third in the second in the tight fleet. He shares a point total with third place Nathaniel Stoffelsma of Sidney, British Columbia. Stoffelsma held the lead for the first three days and turned in two fourth place finishes today. Bernard Luttmer of Pickering, Ontario sits in fourth with 29 points, having won today's second race and placing sixth in the first one. Kingston's own Michael Kalin had a rough day, scoring a 12 and 18th, but continues to hold onto sixth place with 50 points.
"Tricky was the key word for today," reported Principal Race Officer Carole Pearcy. "The wind didn't make up its mind all day about what it wanted to do. We had everything from a high of 090 to a low of about 015. "The first race wasn't bad, but it kept swinging back to 055, but the race was a fair race." Between today's races, there was a cold, 90 degree east wind that tried to come in and take over, but did not hold. It did, however, create havoc on the start line during a first attempt. "We didn't manage to catch the window before it shifted back to 090 and on the second start we managed to get that window and got the race off."
Although the wind was steady, it wasn't coming from the same direction on all parts of the course, Pearcy stated. "It was a real challenge to them today, they had to remain alert. If they could see the shifts, they could play them." Both races featured winds of 8-10 knots, with puffs to 12 knots. "it was a really good, tactical day, a real challenge for everyone."And we learn another politically correct term "A really good tactical day" = shitty sailing conditions. Although the first four boats managed places in the first 6, the next four overall finishers sailed down the toilet and said goodbye to any outside chances of a top three finish. Not sure if the first four all went the same way or if they got out ahead and could sail their own race. Nothing worse than having to tack on big shifts into dirty wind. Dammed if you do and suicide if you don't.
Monday, May 29, 2000 Kingston, ON With three races to go, Marty Essig of Carlisle, Ontario improved his chances of representing Canada at the Summer Olympic Games this September in Sydney, Australia. Only one race was held today at the Canadian Olympic Laser Trials at Portsmouth Olympic Harbour in Kingston, Ontario and Essig controlled the day, handily winning the sole race in 8-10 knots of easterly breeze. Essig is familiar with sailing in Kingston, having raced with the Queen's University varsity team where he became the first Canadian to ever win the intercollegiate singlehanded championship. Essig sits with 22 points, seven ahead of second place holder Michael Simms of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Simms was fourth in today's race. Bernard Luttmer of Pickering, Ontario has taken over third spot with 31 points, just ahead of Nathaniel Stoffelsma of Sidney, Nova Scotia who has 33 points. Kingston's Mike Kalin remains in sixth place, having finished eighth today. Principal Race Officer Carole Pearcy said she is "really disappointed" two races weren't scored today despite a valiant effort. Shifty winds and a strong current are being blamed for several general recalls today. "Sailing conditions for a second race were not championship quality," she said. The remaining three races may be held tomorrow, although there are provisions for the regatta to continue through Wednesday.
Despite "shifty winds" the top eight sailors finished in the top 9 places.
LAST RACES REPORT MISSING - Light winds meant more "Good tactical days" Apparently the last race was marginal = An "excellent tactical race" Check out the lottery results from Race 15. The 27th finisher came 2nd.
POS SAIL SKIPPER RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE RACE TOTAL NET
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 POINTS POINTS
Wed. Wed. Wed. Thu. Thu. Fri. Fri. Sat. Sat. Sun. Sun. Mon. Tue. Tue. Tue. AFTER
1100 1230 1430 1115 1335 1208 1409 1218 1402 1113 1446 1338 1100 1213 1517 2 DROPS
1 168471 ESSIG, MARTY 7 2 5 7 2 2 4 1 1 2 2 1 4 2 11 53.00 35.00 CAN ON CARLISLE,ROYAL HAMILTON YACHT CLUB
2 167329 SIMMS, MICHAEL 8 7 2 1 4 1 5 5 3 1 3 4 3 1 8 56.00 40.00 CAN NS HALIFAX,ROYAL N.S. YACHT SQUADRON
3 168564 LUTTMER, BERNARD 3 3 1 10 6 5 3 2 5 6 1 2 5 7 20 79.00 49.00 CAN ON PICKERING,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
4 169385 STOFFELSMA, NATHANI 1 1 3 5 1 4 2 8 8 4 4 9 7 16 6 79.00 54.00 CAN BC SIDNEY,ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB
5 166110 COOK, CHRIS 2 5 11 6 5 3 1 25 4 10 5 7 2 3 9 98.00 62.00 CAN ON WHITBY,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
6 168438 KALIN, MICHAEL 5 13 6 4 3 6 9 3 2 12 18 8 6 4 3 102.00 71.00 CAN ON KINGSTON,KINGSTON YACHT CLUB
7 168413 JOHANSSON, OSKAR HA 10 6 8 3 8 7 7 4 7 13 15 3 1 6 24 122.00 83.00 CAN ON OAKVILLE,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
8 169559 CHILDS, ANDREW 4 4 4 9 7 9 6 10 10 3 11 6 17 9 OCS 141.00 92.00 CAN NS BEDFORD,BEDFORD BASIN YACHT CLUB
9 167281 WRIGHT, DAVID 9 11 9 13 20 13 11 12 9 14 13 22 9 11 1 177.00 135.00 CAN ON OAKVILLE,R.C.Y.C.
10 169314 COWAN, NATHAN 13 12 12 17 17 14 10 11 15 7 19 10 12 8 4 181.00 145.00 CAN ON BURLINGTON,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
11 166796 PIOVESAN, BRENDAN 6 8 7 23 14 16 DNF. 6 6 11 8 11 22 13 OCS 215.00 151.00 CAN BC VICTORIA,ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB
12 166776 WHARTON, TOMMY 11 16 21 8 11 8 8 19 22 17 21 14 8 5 7 196.00 153.00 CAN ON TORONTO,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
13 169379 CORFU, RETO 15 24 13 12 19 15 12 20 12 5 16 12 10 10 5 200.00 156.00 CAN ON TORONTO,WATER RATS
14 162425 TADDY, MATT 18 15 16 11 10 11 14 18 24 9 7 13 11 24 14 215.00 167.00 CAN BC VICTORIA,ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB
15 164281 HOLDEN, ERIC 14 18 17 15 16 21 17 7 11 8 14 21 19 12 10 220.00 178.00 CAN BC VANCOUVER,ROYAL VANCOUVER YACHT CLUB
16 168203 BENSKIN, JONATHAN 17 28 27 2 9 10 13 27 27 21 6 24 14 15 17 257.00 202.00 CAN BC VICTORIA,ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB
17 165874 CULLEN, ROBERT 16 14 20 DNF. 13 12 18 24 13 27 23 15 13 14 13 267.00 208.00 CAN BC WEST VANCOUVER,ROYAL VANCOUVER Y.C.
18 165110 JOHNSTON, MATT 24 17 15 14 12 19 19 23 18 24 10 16 16 17 15 259.00 211.00 CAN ON TORONTO,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
19 168452 PURVES-SMITH, ZEKE 20 9 19 24 15 18 15 15 23 20 12 18 20 20 DNF. 280.00 224.00 CAN AB CARSTAIRS,GLENMORE SAILING CLUB
20 168611 LEIGH, MIKE 22 20 14 19 22 23 21 9 16 15 26 17 15 19 23 281.00 232.00 CAN BC VANCOUVER,ROYAL VANCOUVER YACHT CLUB
21 170089 HAVERSTOCK, JOHN 19 10 10 20 18 17 16 16 28 OCS 22 23 18 18 OCS 299.00 235.00 CAN NS HALIFAX,ROYAL N.S. YACHT SQUADRON
22 165061 SIMPSON, MATT 23 21 18 21 23 24 25 13 14 25 9 19 21 25 19 300.00 250.00 CAN ON MISSISSAUGA,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
23 168329 HAMILTON, TREVOR 28 19 24 22 24 26 23 21 17 29 17 25 24 21 12 332.00 275.00 CAN NS HALIFAX,ROYAL NOVA SCOTIA Y. SQUAD.
24 158762 FEAVER, JOHN-CHRIST 26 22 22 16 26 20 20 22 29 16 25 27 26 22 DNF. 351.00 290.00 CAN MB WINNIPEG,ROYAL CANADIAN YACHT CLUB
25 168391 WALTON, KENNETH 12 26 26 DNF. DNF. DNF. 22 17 21 26 27 5 OCS 26 21 357.00 293.00 CAN ON TORONTO,STONY LAKE YACHT CLUB
26 162519 TODD, MICHAEL 29 27 29 25 25 25 26 28 20 18 24 26 23 27= 16 368.50 310.50 CAN NS BEDFORD,BEDFORD BASIN YACHT CLUB
27 155357 BOUEILH, ANTHONY 27 29 28 27 28 28 27 14 30 23 28 28 28 23 2 370.00 311.00 CAN PQ STE.FOY,ANBB
28 169408 BROWN, KEN 30 30 23 18 21 22 24 29 25 22 DNF. 20 25 29 DNF. 382.00 318.00 CAN BC VICTORIA,ROYAL VICTORIA YACHT CLUB
29 164319 COAKLEY, MARK 21 25 25 26 27 27 DNF 26 26 19 20 OCS 27 27= 22 382.50 318.50 CAN NS HALIFAX,BRAS d 'OR YACHT CLUB
30 169309 BUSSIN, SAM 25 23 30 28 29 29 28 30 19 DNF. DNF. DNF. DNF. DNF. DNF. 433.00 369.00 CAN ON TORONTO,R.C.Y.C./ I.Y.C.
31 152168 BOARDMAN, ROB 31 31 OCS 29 DNF 30 DNF 31 31 28 29 29 29 30 18 442.00 378.00 CAN BC VANCOUVER,ROYAL VANCOUVER YACHT CLUB
Here are Mark Lammens' comments - What you
don't read about in the "official" press releases.
Racing The level of fitness was very impressive. Races 4,5,6,and 7 were in 20 knots plus and boats were being sailed very well. The fleet also sailed very hard for the 7 days. One sailor had to drop out because of a death in the family but everyone sailed hard for the whole 7 days.
Nathaniel Stoffelsma, 15th at the 1999 Worlds and 5th at the Pan Am’s looked to be the guy after 7 races. He had a 1,1,1,2,3,4,5. However races 8 to 11 he had an 8,8,4,4,9. It was basically over for him. Marty Essig, Gold Medallist from the 1997 Canada Games had a 1,1,2,2,1 in race 8 to 11 and was obviously sailing like he wanted to go to Sydney. Mike Simms, CYA Sailor of the year for 1997 and World Youth Silver medallist Bernard Luttmer were still in the hunt finishing in the top 3 to stay close.
Controversy. Race 10 The X flag (individual recall flag) and the horn went up 15 seconds after the start. Bernard Luttmer went back to restart, although he was not over. Luttmer protested indicating that this ‘action by the race committee’ biased his result. He lost the protest.
This is perhaps an area that needs to be cleaned up in the sailing rulebook. The rule says that the flag must go up ‘promptly’ with the corresponding sound. The ISAF case appeals indicates that "45 seconds is not prompt". However, how difficult is it for the rules people to say that race management must put up the X flag within 1-2 seconds or 5 seconds after the start. The late X flag situation continues to be an issue at regattas and it seems to be the last Race Management rule issue that needs to be cleaned up to make it fair for the sailors.
webMaster Note: If I was on the Jury I would have sided with Luttmer, 15 seconds can mean an eternity in terms of getting back through the fleet. It is not "promptly". It is a screw up by the race committee. If someone is over then the second gun and X-flag should go off IMMEDIATELY = 2 or 3 seconds later. Five would be the absolute max. Luttmer finished 6th in that race.
Controversy, Race 11, Essig fouled Luttmer on the start line. The fleet was at the pin end of the line and Essig hit Luttmer while tacking under him. Luttmer won the race, Essig was second. Essig signed the 720 form indicating that he had done a 720. The National Sailing Team coach indicated at a gathering of coaches that there was no way Essig did a 720, ‘he saw the whole thing’. "His maneuvers were pre-start maneuvers, not a 720". Others including myself also saw this.
For your armchair reporter, this brings a bit of a sour taste to the overall results. Did Essig really do a 720? If you foul you have to do it right away not several minutes later. With several witnesses according to Lammens it is difficult to understand why a protest was not made. If a witness changes his story of not being sure if Essig did the 720 and there are still other witnesses that said he did not, then a protest should have been made.
An inquiry regarding the 720 was submitted to the Jury. The next day the jury said they would require a protest. Unfortunately the story from the National Sailing Team coach was modified. This issue was obviously a dead issue if one was hoping to have an unbiased third party as a witness. During the regatta I filmed every start as well as the downwind legs for sailor kinetics. For race 11 the battery for the camera I was using lost its charge. Unfortunately, I was unable to film this particular start.
Going into the last day of racing, 3 races could provide for some movement in the overall standings. Simm’s beat Essig in the first 2 races but could only make up 2 points. Essig finished right behind him in both races. Luttmer lost 8 points on Essig and was looking at a 3rd overall. Simms was 5 points out of first and would need one scenario to happen for him to win. Win the race and Essig finish 6th or worse (Simms would win the tie breaker if Essig is 6th) Essig had two 7th place finishes as his drop races so Essig’s goal was simple, do not let Simms win the race.
The first 3 recalled starts were very entertaining. Excellent boat handling and Simms using the Race Committee boat to try to loose pesky Essig. It seemed to be a toss who had the advantage in these starts. The final and real start had Simms at the Pin and Essig on the right side of him, with starboard tack advantage. The rest of the fleet was at the boat. This was a very long Starboard tack, Simms tacked and Essig lee-bowed him. Perhaps Essig made a mistake, he should have taken him to Rochester, New York, and instead he let him back in the race. As they approached the weather mark starboard parade, Simms got away from Essig. Now Simms had to pass 8-11 boats to win the race.
Wind was getting very, very light. Some sailors that went to the Kingston side gate mark are rumored to still be in ‘the hole’. The Race Committee was trying to figure out whether to shorten or abandon the race. It was shortened at the windward mark. Simms only managed an 8th, and Marty Essig is won the trials.
Marty has a strong racing record. He finished 3rd, 2nd, 2nd the National Youths, 3rd and 1st at Canada Games, finished 25th at the 1998 Worlds, won the Youth triple-handed World Championships and finished in top 15 at the World University Games. He has been a Carded athlete on the National Team for 3 years. Essig’s forte is very strong racing skills, he is solid mentally (difficult to rattle), and for this event he was the top starter.