Wow! What an SDBF!
Hope that everything went well for most of you. If it doesn't, don't be disheartened. Just go back to the drawing board, tear the old design away and start over. Chances are, if you want it bad and hard enough, you will get it. Set small targets first because it will all add up to become the big one. I'm planning to start a thread to discuss technique, tactic and strategy. In D-Boat, there is no secret. And there is always a counter. My generation learned that the Lean Forward style was the one. Then the Canadian Pull came along and beat that. Just one year ago the world d-boat community was talking about the Philippines Stroke. At the ADBC and Macau this year, the Chinese used a short and fast style that could be the ideal solution for a short distance race in shallow waters. The sport is evolving and the team that found the suitable style will prevail =)
Coming back to the SDBF. apart to the capsize on Sunday, everything went generally well. There were teams as well as individuals who were kind enough to offer feedback and suggestions how to improve the event. SDBA will deliberate on them of course. If feasible, they will perhaps use it next year. Then there are also those teams that tried to exploit the loopholes. All I can say to that is - good try. To those that were caught, SDBA now knows where and how to plug the breech. To those that weren't, SDBA will be looking out for ya. This kinda things happen. Remember that fairness is something that everone involved, from the race official manning the car park station to the elite athlete must practice together. The situation is getting better. Hopefully we can all make it ironclad fair in our lifetime.
