The Croatia IOM class association’s web page was born in the end of the year and I noticed with pleasure that there is regatta not in March but in January already. So let us start. As I mentioned earlier, the IOM class’s strongest field is to be found here. In this race, as well there were 28 contestants plus our pair with Transylvanian Ferencz Gyula that we can slowly call a constant pair.

The location is Rogoznica, and an experimental genre in the radio controlled sailing, a tour race was the first day’s program. I was wondering about this a little. Once beside other reasons I have switched to sailing from basketball, because there was no need to run. However, here predictability one needs to walk or run 8 kilometers next to the boat on the shore. I did not expressly rejoice, but I had to try this. Let alone, that the boat has to be controlled in a rush, not from a still position. It is surely a new challenge.

The start in a Croatian style was “at around 10”. Understand, we managed to take off at around half past eleven. The 8 kilometer was conquered in three races, where there were extra buoys in each race too. This way there were more opportunities to get further points. Practically the three starts has equaled with seven races.

The race did not start well, as after the first 0.66 miles section I stumbled and fell with my boat in my hand, which caused some nasty wounds on the freshly repaired structure. Luckily, there were no major injuries. Rather was the sight grim.

The next section was the longest. Here we were to take nearly three miles around the isle and back. Sometimes with a need to reverse the boat at the cliff, with pine branches hanging into our face so one could see not a jot round the world.

In the end, we repeated the first section only backwards. One thing is a fact. I have never walked so much during sailing. This thing does not even sound very well, however it develops extraordinary well the boat driving skills. Especially when in raum you have to run madly next to the boat not to drop behind. Until the end of the day, we succeed to do two regular races on the normal field. The wind fortunately has been blowing well sometimes, which show itself in my mending results.

That day, as the closure of the day, we had a dinner, as a surprise it was not made of fish. Flushed with beer, it brought a good night’s dream. Next to the open window, this is not typical even on the Adriatic Sea in January.

It would be great to say, that the day started as the previous ended, but unfortunately it is not the truth. Early starts, faults, series of mistakes until the last race, where eventually I more or less managed to excel again. If I count well in myself, I managed to loose more than the half of the races at the starts. Although it was possible to go up into the B group, the field was hard enough, to get into the A as well.

All in one, I did not do too badly on the competition. We got nearer a bit to the top. If I did not really accelerate the boat much, occasionally I was able to put up with them.