Andrew Palfrey's blog after Star Class - Olympics
Andrew Palfrey, Star Class competitor, reports that now the Olympics are over he is looking forward to 're-charging the batteries with the family over the coming weeks.'
'Iain Murray & Andrew Palfrey (AUS) Star Class'
Australian Sailing Team
Click Here to view large photo
From Andrew's blog - www.sailing-dog.com/
The Olympics are over - 14th overall.
The racing concluded in the Star class for the Olympics for Iain Murray and I three days ago.
We finished the event in 14th, beating only the Croatians and the local Chinese blokes.
For me at this stage, the result is not important. To finish anywhere other than the top three at the Olympics is all ultimately the same - IE: not a medal winner. Over the past couple of years, we have beaten every one of the competitors here. But we have also been beaten by them. So, to finish behind the best sailors in the world (and to compete as one of them) is not something to be negative about.
However, there is some disappointment there, as we did not sail to our potential, particularly early in the series. Along with half the fleet, we were the wrong side of a massive wind shift on day one. On Day two we did not have a good day of reading the conditions and were near the back end of the fleet in both races. On Day three we broke our mast in big winds and waves on the run to the finish when we were in 6th place. Possibly pushing too hard - but that happens when you feel you need results to get you back up the leaderboard. So, after three days we were out of contention...
The remainder of the event saw us have our ups and downs. The racing was incredibly close and of the absolute highest level. I have been racing internationally since the late 1980's, but this racing was by far the tightest I have ever experienced.
Upon the completion of the racing, I was a little down about our result. With the support of family and others within the Australian Sailing team, I have come to realize that being able to compete here is a great honour and something that I know I will be forever proud. Also, having had to the privilege to sail with Iain for the past seven years is something I cannot yet do justice by trying to put it into words. We have had some great times, been to some wonderful places. Met heaps of fantastic people and had the chance to race in the best fleet in world sailing. Would I do it all again?? Absolutely yes!
The acheievments of the Australian Sailing Team here at the Olympics have been very positive. Two gold medals (to Natan and Mal in the Mens 470 and Elise and Tess in the Womens 470) and a Silver (to Bundy and Glenny in the Tornado), as well as near-misses in the Laser Radial, the RSX and the 49er. This puts Australia second only to the immense talent and big money and massive resources of the Brits.
I feel the Aussie Olympic sailing movement is in a position to take off. Hopefully the shakedown out of all this will remain positive in terms of funding and that the talented management nucleus we have remains in place.
The challenges will include consolidating the gains made since Athens, but also making the most of the positive media the medalists have received by attracting more young talent to the Olympic classes in Australia and providing them with a path to Olympic success and the support that they will need.
Thanks for the support over the previous three weeks.
No real plans for me at the present. Looking forward to re-charging the batteries with the family over the coming weeks. I will miss sailing the Star and all that goes with it.
by Andrew Palfrey 
Turners Beach, TAS
