Owner-reported racing lesson. Dates, classes and official event names are still being checked against records.
I arrived at Witbank Dam confident and unprepared. I had an aluminium propeller. Experienced racers did not. I finished last, and the embarrassment was specific enough to be useful.
Before the next event I changed the equipment and paid attention to people who already knew the sport. I finished third overall for the weekend and beat the reigning world champion in a race. That was not a miracle. It was a short, uncomfortable feedback loop.
Last place was information. Treating it as a verdict would have ended the story at the first chapter. The rest of the career — national titles, the Trans Agulhas, Springbok colours — sits on that decision to learn the details.