A Love 4 Sailing

Not much to say but……IT’S OVER!!!!  IT’S OVER!!!  IT’S OVER!!!!!!!!!!! We did it!!!!!!     WE ARE GOING TO CHINA!!!!!  Maureen and I have won the trials. We don’t even have to sail tomorrow.  We will sit on the sidelines and watch.

Thanks for everyone’s support.  We couldn’t have done it without you.  We are so excited.  We both cryed at the finish.  It was quite emotional.  I’ll update more tomorow.

Click here for results   http://208.106.141.167/npt/c/cnt/down/07PTResulst101307.pdfÂ

Day 7 - Brought temperatures near 60 with 10 - 20 knot southwesterly winds.

Race 11 we started in the middle of the line and headed left.  Tacked and ducked the 2 boats on our upper hip.  Waited for the wind to go back to the right and tacked back to join the fleet.  Crossed all but one boat and chose to play up the left side.  With a nice left hand shift we vaulted into the lead.  Unfortunately this cost us to slightly overstand the weather mark.  We still rounded first but with just a 3 boat length lead.  Sailed well down wind to round the leeward gate with a 10 boatlength lead.  We stretched our lead throughout the race and won by nearly 2 minutes. 

Race 12 - We started one boat up from the leeward end.  Due to a large left hand windshift, we failed to make the pin and ended up tacking and ducking 2 boats.  The winds increased to nearly 20 knots as we tacked back to the left to protect that side.  The wind shifted huge to the right as we struggled to sail up wind in the heavy breeze.  At the weather mark we could not make our starboard lay-line and had to tack and duck a couple boats.  Unfortunately, we failed to complete the duck and “love-tapped” one of our competitors.  This forced us to complete a penalty turn as the other boats rounded and set.  We jibed after our rounding as the fleet sailed off on starboard.  They were sailing on a lift which we capitalized on by jibing.  This put us immediately back into 2nd place near the leeward mark.  The RC made a course change top the right as we rounded the right-hand gate.  The wind went back to the left and we tacked.  This put us in the lead temporarily as the lefty faded-out and shifted back to the right.  We crossed our competitors and stayed right but another left-hand shift came in which allowed them to close the gap.  We rounded 2nd at the weather mark and headed downwind.  At this point there were gusts of 25 knots as we planed towards the leeward gate.  We rounded the left gate this time and made huge gains on the right as we tacked and crossed our competitors.  We covered them the rest of the beat to finish 1st.  It made for quite an exciting race.  We now have a 13 point lead with four races to go.  Thanks to Mary Kate’s brothers and sister as well as Amy Simmons for showing-up in support. 

Two more races scheduled for tomorrow.  With a couple of good finishes we will be able to say we are going to China for the Games.  Thanks to all my supporters and click here for the results.    http://208.106.141.167/npt/c/cnt/down/07PTResultsFri.pdfÂ

Day six brought temperatures in the low 60′with 5 to 12 knots east to northeast winds.   Three races today, race 8 we started in the middle of the line.  Our main goal today was to stay in front of the second boat.  With good speed we headed off to the left and tacked on the first shift.   Crossed our main competitior and headed to the right.  We sailed conservatively and covered the fleet.  We had a ten boatlength lead at the weather mark.  We stayed in front all the way around and finished first.

Race Nine:  We again started in the middle of the line.  This time we protectected the left side and pushed the fleet to right.   We covered the fleet all around the course until the last beat.  The second and thrid place boat separated as we covered the second place boat.  As we approached the finish line the third place boat picked up a nice left wind shift.  This allowed them to cross us just before the finish.  We ended second.  Putting our main competitor in third. 

Race Ten  Middle of the line start.  Tacked right with the two boats closest to us in points.  We covered them the whole race and finished first.  Our main competitor had  three 3rds today.  This now gives us a 10 point lead with 6 races to go.

Prediction is for heavy winds tomorrow and more cold weather.   Thanks to Bev Roberts, Pinky and Rowell Green for showing up for support. With three or four more good races we should be able to wrap this up. 

Thanks for everyone’s support…..you are here with us.

Click here for results.  http://208.106.141.167/npt/c/cnt/down/07PTThursdayScores-htm.pdfÂ

Day four had mid 60 temperatures with 5 to 8 knot north to northeast winds.  Race seven we started one boat down from the weather end and headed left. Tacked on the first left shift below and ahead of our competition.  Since it was a northerly wind it was quite shifty, 30 to 40 degrees at times.  We waited for the right shift and tacked back to the left– crossing the competition.  This allowed us to control the race up the first beat.  We rounded first at the weather mark and jibed shortly after we set the spinaker.  About half way down the run we jibed back to the middle before our competition which allowed us to seperate from the group.  We took the right gate at the leeward mark as the wind started to lighten up.  We covered the second place boat on the middle left as one boat headed off to the right.  As the right hand shift came in one boat made big gains and appeared to be crossing us for a while.  We sailed conservatively and waited until we could cross.  Even though our lead was cut by more than half, we rounded ten boat lengths ahead.  We jibed and sailed most of the run down the left hand side.  This allowed us to maintain our lead and finish in first. 

Lack of wind forced the cancellation of the second race.  Tomorrow is a lay day, which is good because it is supposed to rain.  Racing will continue on Thursday….stay tuned.  Appreciate your comments.  Click here for results.  http://208.106.141.167/npt/c/cnt/down/07PTResults100907.pdfÂ

Day three started with rain showers, low 60 degree temperatures and 10 knot southwesterly winds.   Race 5 we started near the weather end and protected the left side of the race course.  The southwesterly wind made for shifty conditions on the course.  We did our best to stay in phase with the windshifts which paid off well.  We rounded first at the weather mark and extended down the run.  Sailed conservatively the rest of the race and ended with a commanding lead. 

In between races the winds lightened up and temperatures warmed to the mid 70’s. 

Race 6 we again started near the weather end and held everyone to the left.  As the wind shifted to the right it made for tricky conditions.  The weather mark was placed very close to shore which made things unpredictable.  We protected the middle left and had a slim need at the weather mark.  A right shift came as we sailed downwind as the fleet condensed.  We were the first to jibe away which helped us extend from the others.  Race committee signaled a course change and moved the weather mark to the right.  As we rounded the leeward gate we tacked to starboard which helped us extend even more.  About half way up the beat we hooked some seaweed which made for an interesting finish.  Fortunately we finished just in front of the 2nd place boat, giving us 2 firsts for the day. 

We currently have a 5 point lead with 10 races to go.  Prediction is for 15 knot winds tomorrow.  Stay tuned…..click here to see the results. http://208.106.141.167/npt/m/_general/default.aspÂ

Day Two brought colder temps in the low 60’s and 10 to 17 knot North to Northeast winds. 

Race three we started near the weather end.  With good speed we held the fleet to the left and tacked to the right as a first boat came behind us.  Tacked on the first right hand shift and crossed everyone from the left, hit the next left shift and had a good ten boat length lead at the weather mark.  With a good set we extended away from the fleet.  We jibed on the next two shifts downwind and rounded the left gate back to the weather mark.  As the wind fluctuated up and down we just tried to sail a lifted tack.  This allowed us to extend even more as we rounded the second mark 30 boat lengths ahead.  We sailed conservatively downwind and won the first race. 

Race Four the wind had backed to near 10 knots as we stared one boat down from the weather end.  With good speed we held off the boats on the left and tacked and went behind the boat to our right.  This allowed us to get to the right side early and hit the first right shift.  We tacked back to the left and stayed on starboard as we kept getting lifted.  The wind continued to go to the right as did the fleet.  We stayed on the left waiting for the wind to go back to the left.  Once we tacked we had to ride a header back to the right.  This allowed the fleet to catch up quite a bit as we leebowed them near starboard layline.  We jibed set around the weather mark and rode the right hand shift down wind.  This allowed us to extend from the fleet.  As we jibed back we now have a 15 boat length lead. We rounded the right gate and headed back upwind.  The race committee changed to course to the right.  We tacked towards the right side and covered the second place boat.  We sailed almost all the way to starboard layline before tacking back to the left.  We again jibed set at the weather mark with good down wind speed we held off the competitors to the leeward gate.  We rounded the gate and headed back upwind for last windward leeward.  With another course change back to the left we sailed towards the right side covering the second place boat. As we tacked on the right hand shift we seemed to slightly over stand the weather mark.  We set at the weather mark and again sailed conservatively downwind.  This allowed us to have two firsts for the day.  We stand currently with a three point lead over Karen and JP and 4 points over Scott and Julie.   As we arrived at the dock we found out that Scott was filing a protest against Karen.  We left before we found out the result.  Stay tuned for more tomorrow.  Click here for results. http://208.106.141.167/npt/c/cnt/down/PTResultsday2.htm

Day one had high 60 to low 70 temperatures with 8 to 11 knot winds.  Race 1-we started in the middle of the line and headed left.  Current was coming in so we felt the best spot was to be close to shore.  As the boats tacked to the right we tacked up on their left hip.  With good speed we led from the left.  A slight right shift came in allowing the fleet to catch up as we approached the weather mark.  We rounded the weather mark in first with just a two boat lenght lead.  We set the kite and jibed.  Our downwind speed seemed to be slightly off the pace as we were passed by two boats by the leeward mark.  They must of put 10-15 boatlenghts on us.  On the next beat we played the middle.  We were somewhat fast upwind but barely held on to third by the next weather mark.  We rounded the weather mark the second time and again lost distance to the leader and were passed by the 4th place boat.  As we approached the leeward the leeward mark, three boats took the right gate while we took the left.  We headed right as the lead pack headed left.  We gained quite a bit up that beat as now we were only three boat lenghts behind first and battling second.  Heading down the last run our downwind speed allowed the first two boats to separate again.  We played the middle down wind which seemed to be the right move but we just lacked the speed.  Coming to the finish the first two boats finished within 5 seconds of each other as we held on to third.

In between races we made some adjustments. 

Race two-Started one boat up from the leeward end and headed left.  As the fleet tacked to the right we again tacked up on their left hip.  This time the wind stayed left as we led to the first mark.  With a ten boat lenght lead we set the spinaker and extended down the right side of the run.  The second boat jibed and headed off to the left side.  We jibed to cover as our downwind speed seemed to be much better in this race.  We jibed back to the middle to stay in the incoming current.  We then jibed back towards the leeward mark but slightly overstood.  As we rounded the leeward mark the second place boat was only a boat lenght behind us.  We protected the right side up the next beat as the fog started to roll in.  With very little wind shifts we maintained our lead up to the next weather mark where the race committee decided to shorten the course due to the fog.  We finished 3 boat lengths ahead placing first.

We ended our day with a 3 and a 1.  Which currently puts us in the lead.  Tied with Scott and Julie.  The winner of the first race finished 4th and now is 1 point behind.   We felt good about our day once we made the proper adjustments.  We still have 14 races to go and the prediction is for the weather to cool off over the next few days.  All in all a pretty good first day.  We look forward to more races.  Maureen did an excellent job and Dan and Mike where there for the support.

Tomorrow we heard the race course will be north of the Jamestown bridge in an area called Potter’s Cove.  Check back for more updates tomorrow.  Thanks for everyone’s support. See the results at http://208.106.141.167/npt/m/_general/pararesults.aspÂ

After two days of measurement and three days of practice the trials get started tomorrow. Prediction is for the mid 70’s,  6 to 10 knots. of wind.  Five boats will compete for the one and only spot  to represent the United States in China in 2008.  Maureen and I are looking forward to the competition.  Sixteen races are scheduled over the next 9 days. Daily results should be posted on line at the U.S. sailing  website (www.ussailing.com)  Mike Pinckney and Dan Tucker have prepared the boat well and we are ready to go.  Mary Kate, Clarence , Ira, Colin, and Chad will be here to support….much appreciated.  Hope to be posting daily.  Check back often and send good thoughts.