From left: BVI Sailing Federation Federation official Tamson Rand, Laser Sailor Thad A. Lettsome, BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim E. Penn and Sailing Coach Alec Anderson in Paracas by Thad's Laser, after opening day races were called off. Photo: Dean H. Greenaway aka ‘The Sportsman’

With a noon start, two races were scheduled on opening day but by 3:45 pm when things hadn’t improved, officials called it a day.

‘Patient & relaxed’- Lettsome

“It was to be a 12 o’clock start. It’s a little delayed but happens a lot,” said Lettsome who faced the same scenario during the ISAF World Youth Championships in Poland, July 13-20, 2019. “There’s breeze now but just waiting for it to be steady. Everyone is trying not to get anxious, don’t waste any energy and stay relaxed.”

Lettsome said he’s a ‘pretty relaxed person’ when asked how he deals with these types of situations. “I don’t even call it situations,” he said. “I’m just cooling. I’m chilling out. It’s just another thing you need patience for, no big deal.”

Lettsome said he came to sail and Monday’s scheduled reserve day, which will now become a race day, isn’t normal for him and a lot of his colleagues.

“It’s not like anything else planned so it’s not really an issue,” he stated. “It would be nice if we have a full day off but if we have to sail, it’s no problem, just get ready for it the night before—do the same as you do every day. If it’s very windy the day after the rest day and the day of the rest day, that might change a little bit for you. I recover the day of the rest day, but it doesn’t really change anything much. “

He said he would have liked 9-10 knots of breeze to start the competition, relatively flat, and steady-ish breeze with some shifts. “No big breeze or anything for the first day,” he said.

‘It’s part of the game’- Coach Anderson

As sailors, Coach Alec Anderson said you can’t let the situation get to you.

“This is the sport we play and you have to wait for the wind sometimes,” he said. “Keep cool, keep calm, stay in the shade, eat plenty of food, drink plenty of water and be ready to rumble when it happens. This is just part of the game.” 

BVI Olympic Committee President Ephraim E. Penn and Secretary General Lloyd K. Black, took the three-hour trek from Lima to Paracas.