Sailing Year in Review

Early in the year I put together the season schedule. There were 8 regattas, plus club sailing. This was an aggressive plan and it turns out it was just a bit too aggressive for year end. I dropped the Western Michigan regatta due to time and distance. I dropped the last regatta because it was the last of a series of regattas that kept me away from home too long.

Here's how it went:

• 2/5-2/6 Train Wreck, Lake Eustice, FL (9th place)


• 4/30-5/1 Cow Town Classic, Hoover SC, OH (2nd place)


• 6/4-5 MC Horse Race, Saratoga, NY (3rd place)


• 8/4-8/7 Western Michigans, Crystal Lake, MI (did not go)


• 9/10-9/11 nor'Easterns, Keuka Lake, NY (5th place)


• 9/14-9/17 National Championships, Keuka Lake, NY (7th place)


• 9/24-9/25 MCSA Blue Chip Championship, Spring Lake, MI (10th place)


• 10/1-10/2 Cowan Scow'n, Cowan Lake, OH (did not go)

I did not win any regattas. However in all regattas I performed well in most races. Unfortunately most races is not enough to win regattas.

TRAIN WRECK - in fourth place overall on a borrowed boat until the last super light air race.

COW TOWN - Messed up day 1 and won each race day 2 by a LOT of distance.

HORSE RACE - Lost 2 boats on the last leg of the last race to lose the regatta.

NOR'EASTERNS - A really bad race taking me out of 3rd overall. Best finish of 2nd. Not a good regatta.

NATIONALS - Only 4 races, one of which I won. I ended up 7th but only 4 points from 2nd with a better tie breaker. I just needed more races.

BLUE CHIP - Started with 2 bad races then a win. Ended up a very respectable 10th.

CLUB RACING - Far too little of it this year. I won it by just showing up.

So the season included very low lows, and some big race wins. It also was a significant time commitment at inopportune times. I'm struggling a bit with the balance between sailing and other commitments. The yard is unkempt. I only have seen one of my son's band competitions. The house has gone unmaintained...etc. etc.

I believe every person has something that gives them inner satisfaction. It may be a sport, a hobby, family, work, or whatever. Sailing is the thing that is a challenge to me. I know I'm good, maybe not great, but definitely able to compete at the national level. This year has shown me that.

What will it take to be a national champion? Where is the room for improvement? What skills do I need? Can I even put the effort into it? Can I prioritize that with the rest of my life? Can I afford it?

I know there are a few things I can do now. I can get in shape. I know my extra weight helped in the heavy air. But my lack of conditioning countered that. If I lose 20 pounds and get in shape I can still compete in the heavy air. But I also will be far better in the lighter air.

My equipment is as good as it gets. I have an excellent boat and a very good new sail. That can't get better.

I need practice on certain skills, particularly boat handling. More boat time will help.

I have to figure out a schedule that will be inexpensive, yet competes against the best in the country. Should I do 2 or 3 big regattas like Midwinters (FL), Nationals (MI), local regattas, and Blue Chip (MI) only? Or should I do more smaller regattas closer to home? I don't know.

But now it's off season. Marching band, indoor drum line, work, family, house, and cottage are now all higher priorities than sailing, at least until next year.