A Love 4 Sailing

Day 2 and 3 of the Clagett had more light winds with unpredictable shifts.  Unfortunately we were on the wrong side of most of them.  For some reason I had a tough couple of days.  I lacked energy and struggled with boat speed.  Both Maureen and I learned a lot which we will take  into the worlds next week.  I look forward to see how we stack up against the rest of the world.  We are on the right track and understand we will have to work for everything we want.  Although we may be the favorites there are no guarantees.  The game is just beginning.  We will find out who wins in October.  Thanks to everyone for all your support.Â

After spending the last few days practicing and going through a US Sailing clinic hosted by five-time Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year winner Betsy Alison and rules expert Dave Perry the racing got started for the C. Thomas Clagett Jr. Memorial Regatta. 

Day 1 brought light, fluky winds from both the north and the south. Range was 4-7 knots.  Race one started a northerly 5 knots with downwind current and lots of weed.  We started at the weather end and tacked right to get current relief.  The rest of the fleet went left.  We unfortunately ran over a big kelp patch while crossing a current line.  We should have had a big lead but the weed held us back and we rounded third.  Due to light winds the course was just a windward-leeward.  We caught up to the Chinese downwind but just missed beating them at the finish. 

Race two went somewhat similar. We started well, lead at the first mark only to catch more weed at the weather mark.  We got caught and past downwind and rounded second.  On the next beat we were losing more ground so I decided to stop and back down to remove the weed.  Now nearly thirty boat lengths behind, we rounded the last weather mark still in second and caught all the way up to finish just a half a boat length behind first. 

Race three we had a poor start, tack to clear and tacked back to stay left.  Rounded weather mark in second, made the pass downwind, rounded leeward mark and protected the right where we saw more pressure.  Finished well ahead.  So we ended up with a 3, 2, 1.  Still in first by two points.  Thanks to Mike Pinckney, all my sponsors and my friends and family.  More to come this week.