The wind was up and down all day yesterday. My wife and I finished putting shingles on the porch roof late morning. After lunch I rigged the MC-Scow for the afternoon races. While I was rigging it my daughter helped me out a bit. I asked if she wanted to go sail with me, knowing full well that would never happen. Minutes later she was ready with a water bottle and life jacket.
We sailed about two miles to the start. The wind was 2-5 from the Northwest, and we had 340 pounds on the boat. This should be fun. We won the pin and port tacked the fleet. Okay, maybe not as dramatic as that. There were three other boats and we beat them off the line. We were first to the mark by quite a bit. Then I sailed into a hole and ended up even with last at the bottom mark.
Going into the bottom mark, about 10-15 lengths away on port, I cut across the stern of another boat on starboard, dove inside him and gained the overlap with about 5 lengths to go. I thought that was a cool move that would impress my daughter. "Dad! That was a dick move!" So much for impressing a 17-year-old.
We closed the gap to the leader to seconds but never got around him again. Still it was high fives on the boat.
My wife was watching by power boat. She gave my daughter the option to get off the boat. She stayed with me. What a mistake. Right after my wife left in the powerboat, the wind died, the races were called and we had 2 miles to go to get home. We were well past half way there after an hour when we got a tow from a friend. Still it was great to be out there with my daughter.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
In It To Win It
Successful results are a matter of expectations. Twenty years ago sailing E-scows with no money, intermittent crew, and an old boat meant I had significantly lower expectations. If I could put together a good race, or a couple races in a regatta, I was happy.
In the two yeas and few regattas I have attended I have realized there are not that many guys sailing that I can’t beat. My biggest competitor is myself. If I could stay in a regatta mentally, sail each race to be consistently in the top and not have a bad race I will do very well.
Saratoga is a new stop on the regatta circuit. It is a beautiful lake just North of Albany, NY. Devon Howe and his wife put on a great regatta (i.e. free beer). Looking at the list of entrants going into the event, I was pretty confident this was a winnable regatta. The only person I did not know anything about was Zack Clayton. He used to be a professional for the Melges team. He isn’t a past National Champion but close to that for many years. He was there to put on a clinic Friday for the early attendees, then sail the regatta. My scout told me he was beatable.
The only real downside going into the event was the weather forecast – “calm.” I don’t do as well in the light and variable stuff as many think I do. I can get lucky like anybody else. But it is not my preferred wind.
Race 1 was late Saturday afternoon after waiting for hours for wind. And yes, we started drinking about 1:00, well before sailing. The wind dropped from 3 to 0 at the first start and I was caught well below the line. Luckily the half dozen or so boats at the pin end got caught with a big right shift 30 seconds before and pushed over the skewed line. The general recall was very much welcome.
On the restart I wasn’t going to make the same mistake and ended up touching the line with 30 seconds to go, was called over and had to round the end. The last place start was particularly difficult because this was a short course 1-lap race intended to at least get one in the books. I was 9th at the top mark, 7th at the bottom mark, and climbed to 5th at the finish, less than 20 minutes after the start (someone claimed 11 minutes). Although it was a poor finish in a regatta this size, it was a race I could be proud of.
Race 2 was much better. The wind came up a bit but it was still very light. I port tacked the fleet to win the start and led at the top mark. Brent Gillette passed me downwind, and I lost another boat on the last windward to finish 3rd.
In race 3 the wind finally came up to a tolerable level, maybe 6 to 8. The course was longer and square. I hit the line nicely at the start and rolled the boat below me. Unfortunately that boat decided to tack behind me. He went bow down to separate, then tacked. Unfortunately he misjudged. I was sitting on the low side when his bow hit me squarely in the back.
I stayed on the boat, recovered, and found myself in the lee of Zack Clayton. I tacked away to clear. By the time I was back in phase of the shifts I was about 4th at the top mark. Downwind I picked up a boat. On the next leg I picked up another and Zack and I pulled away from the fleet a bit. The last 2 legs were fun. Zack sailed the leg like a C Scow reaching more than running. I sailed right at the mark and close the gap to zero. He had the inside at the mark. I rounded up behind him and pinched to get above and behind him losing 3 lengths in the process. But I was on a layline for the boat and he had to tack. When he came across I was close enough to just duck his stern. He flopped onto port a second later just above me and accelerated just enough to beat me at the line by a foot.
At the end of day 1 I was tied for second with 10 points, 3 points out of first.
Dinner was great. I’ll have to tell you about the euchre games that night later. Let’s say it was raucous.
Day 2 8:00 in the morning had winds bordering on white caps. I was psyched. This was my wind. I could handle this fleet in this.
Race 4 start was clean. I didn’t lead at the top mark. I was behind Zack. But downwind I closed that gap and gained the inside overlap at the bottom mark to pass him there. Upwind he tacked left and I went right. I gained a lot of distance there and went on to cruise to a win.
So going into the final race, I had 3 points on Brent Gillette and 4 points on Will Hendershot. All I had to do was just do a reasonable race to win the regatta, probably 5th or better.
Race 5 was delayed a bit to adjust the course. During the delay I watched the wind slowly fade. The start was light. I started fine, and was in the lead pack at the top mark. Downwind I held my own and took the lead on the next leg. Half way up that leg I saw that Will Hendershot was way left. I still had a long distance over him but decided Zack wasn’t my race, Will was. I tacked to go cover him. That tack put me out of phase, in lighter air and lost me a couple places. I rounded the top mark right between the two boats I was competing against.
Downwind the air got really light. Will went way right and I stayed with the fleet left. Will rounded the bottom mark second behind Zack. Brent rounded 3rd and I was 5th. If it stayed this was I won the tie breaker and won the regatta. But the boat right on top of me stayed right on top of me. Getting free took half the leg and put me on the unfavored side. I watched as I slipped to 6th, then 7th. Will beat Zack to the line to win the race and the regatta. Brent finished 3rd putting him in 2nd overall and I slipped to 3rd.
The frustration level was high. I sailed myself out of a win. I blew it. Yes it was light and not my conditions. But I had it won and made the bad choice.
The 4 hour drive home, and the hour and a half cleaning and repacking the boat were spent stewing. Even today I’m kicking myself. It was not a major regatta. But I still really wanted to win. My perspective is skewed heavily now to winning and losing as opposed to placing well. Do I need to adjust that perspective? Or did I never win in the past because I was resigned to being happy with “good” results? I’ll have to mull that over for a few days.
Brent Gillette sailed a great regatta, the best he has so far. Will did well winning his first ever regatta. As bad as I felt, he was flying high with a great come back. Even Zack did well to get 4th in a borrowed boat with a spent sail.
Camaraderie was good. I made friends (I hope). The lake was a great lake to sail.
I’ll be back.
In the two yeas and few regattas I have attended I have realized there are not that many guys sailing that I can’t beat. My biggest competitor is myself. If I could stay in a regatta mentally, sail each race to be consistently in the top and not have a bad race I will do very well.
Saratoga is a new stop on the regatta circuit. It is a beautiful lake just North of Albany, NY. Devon Howe and his wife put on a great regatta (i.e. free beer). Looking at the list of entrants going into the event, I was pretty confident this was a winnable regatta. The only person I did not know anything about was Zack Clayton. He used to be a professional for the Melges team. He isn’t a past National Champion but close to that for many years. He was there to put on a clinic Friday for the early attendees, then sail the regatta. My scout told me he was beatable.
The only real downside going into the event was the weather forecast – “calm.” I don’t do as well in the light and variable stuff as many think I do. I can get lucky like anybody else. But it is not my preferred wind.
Race 1 was late Saturday afternoon after waiting for hours for wind. And yes, we started drinking about 1:00, well before sailing. The wind dropped from 3 to 0 at the first start and I was caught well below the line. Luckily the half dozen or so boats at the pin end got caught with a big right shift 30 seconds before and pushed over the skewed line. The general recall was very much welcome.
On the restart I wasn’t going to make the same mistake and ended up touching the line with 30 seconds to go, was called over and had to round the end. The last place start was particularly difficult because this was a short course 1-lap race intended to at least get one in the books. I was 9th at the top mark, 7th at the bottom mark, and climbed to 5th at the finish, less than 20 minutes after the start (someone claimed 11 minutes). Although it was a poor finish in a regatta this size, it was a race I could be proud of.
Race 2 was much better. The wind came up a bit but it was still very light. I port tacked the fleet to win the start and led at the top mark. Brent Gillette passed me downwind, and I lost another boat on the last windward to finish 3rd.
In race 3 the wind finally came up to a tolerable level, maybe 6 to 8. The course was longer and square. I hit the line nicely at the start and rolled the boat below me. Unfortunately that boat decided to tack behind me. He went bow down to separate, then tacked. Unfortunately he misjudged. I was sitting on the low side when his bow hit me squarely in the back.
I stayed on the boat, recovered, and found myself in the lee of Zack Clayton. I tacked away to clear. By the time I was back in phase of the shifts I was about 4th at the top mark. Downwind I picked up a boat. On the next leg I picked up another and Zack and I pulled away from the fleet a bit. The last 2 legs were fun. Zack sailed the leg like a C Scow reaching more than running. I sailed right at the mark and close the gap to zero. He had the inside at the mark. I rounded up behind him and pinched to get above and behind him losing 3 lengths in the process. But I was on a layline for the boat and he had to tack. When he came across I was close enough to just duck his stern. He flopped onto port a second later just above me and accelerated just enough to beat me at the line by a foot.
At the end of day 1 I was tied for second with 10 points, 3 points out of first.
Dinner was great. I’ll have to tell you about the euchre games that night later. Let’s say it was raucous.
Day 2 8:00 in the morning had winds bordering on white caps. I was psyched. This was my wind. I could handle this fleet in this.
Race 4 start was clean. I didn’t lead at the top mark. I was behind Zack. But downwind I closed that gap and gained the inside overlap at the bottom mark to pass him there. Upwind he tacked left and I went right. I gained a lot of distance there and went on to cruise to a win.
So going into the final race, I had 3 points on Brent Gillette and 4 points on Will Hendershot. All I had to do was just do a reasonable race to win the regatta, probably 5th or better.
Race 5 was delayed a bit to adjust the course. During the delay I watched the wind slowly fade. The start was light. I started fine, and was in the lead pack at the top mark. Downwind I held my own and took the lead on the next leg. Half way up that leg I saw that Will Hendershot was way left. I still had a long distance over him but decided Zack wasn’t my race, Will was. I tacked to go cover him. That tack put me out of phase, in lighter air and lost me a couple places. I rounded the top mark right between the two boats I was competing against.
Downwind the air got really light. Will went way right and I stayed with the fleet left. Will rounded the bottom mark second behind Zack. Brent rounded 3rd and I was 5th. If it stayed this was I won the tie breaker and won the regatta. But the boat right on top of me stayed right on top of me. Getting free took half the leg and put me on the unfavored side. I watched as I slipped to 6th, then 7th. Will beat Zack to the line to win the race and the regatta. Brent finished 3rd putting him in 2nd overall and I slipped to 3rd.
The frustration level was high. I sailed myself out of a win. I blew it. Yes it was light and not my conditions. But I had it won and made the bad choice.
The 4 hour drive home, and the hour and a half cleaning and repacking the boat were spent stewing. Even today I’m kicking myself. It was not a major regatta. But I still really wanted to win. My perspective is skewed heavily now to winning and losing as opposed to placing well. Do I need to adjust that perspective? Or did I never win in the past because I was resigned to being happy with “good” results? I’ll have to mull that over for a few days.
Brent Gillette sailed a great regatta, the best he has so far. Will did well winning his first ever regatta. As bad as I felt, he was flying high with a great come back. Even Zack did well to get 4th in a borrowed boat with a spent sail.
Camaraderie was good. I made friends (I hope). The lake was a great lake to sail.
I’ll be back.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Season Opener
Ten boats on the line! It was a delayed start while the fleet had a meeting. We only got in three races. Before the first race in South 5-10 winds, I did some speed testing with Brent Gillette. We did essentially one lap. I can tell you he is fast.
Race 1 started well enough. Off the line I went left with Brent Gillette. We rounded first and second. I picked him up downwind and went on to win.
Race 2 was more challenging. The wind was getting light and spotty. My start was lame but ok. I went left again, contrary to typical local conditions. I rounded something like fifth, picked up a couple downwind, and charged on the final leg to just miss getting second, ending up third. Brent Penwarden with his son on board won the race.
Race 3 showed an obvious right favor. I won the boat and immediately tacked. then was called over. I restarted by looping around the boat and stuck with my plan to go right. I got lucky that others wanting to go right got forced left. I rounded second just behind Sean Tracey. Going into the top mark I decided I wanted the West side going downwind so I set up to jibe the windward mark. I spun hard to get inside Sean. I picked him up downwind rounding the bottom mark first. I went way West and actually overstood the finish badly due to a shift. Regardless I won the race.
Monday the wind never came up so there were no races. I finished putting a roof on the porch.
So the coolest part of the day Sunday was that there were a number of crews out there. We also had a newbie, E-Scow sailor William Hudson. He did well for his first races in the boat. I certainly do look forward to more crowded starts.
Race 1 started well enough. Off the line I went left with Brent Gillette. We rounded first and second. I picked him up downwind and went on to win.
Race 2 was more challenging. The wind was getting light and spotty. My start was lame but ok. I went left again, contrary to typical local conditions. I rounded something like fifth, picked up a couple downwind, and charged on the final leg to just miss getting second, ending up third. Brent Penwarden with his son on board won the race.
Race 3 showed an obvious right favor. I won the boat and immediately tacked. then was called over. I restarted by looping around the boat and stuck with my plan to go right. I got lucky that others wanting to go right got forced left. I rounded second just behind Sean Tracey. Going into the top mark I decided I wanted the West side going downwind so I set up to jibe the windward mark. I spun hard to get inside Sean. I picked him up downwind rounding the bottom mark first. I went way West and actually overstood the finish badly due to a shift. Regardless I won the race.
Monday the wind never came up so there were no races. I finished putting a roof on the porch.
So the coolest part of the day Sunday was that there were a number of crews out there. We also had a newbie, E-Scow sailor William Hudson. He did well for his first races in the boat. I certainly do look forward to more crowded starts.
Monday, May 16, 2011
Scowabunga
I opted not to sail a regatta I was originally planning to sail in Tennessee last weekend. So all weekend I was thinking about what could have been.
Friday night I got the call from Chris Craig rubbing it in more. He was there. Sunday I called him to get a regatta report. Chris took second to Keuka sailor Bob Cole. He also said the wind was my kind of wind, that I would have done well.
So rather than drive 14 hours each way to sail, I finished tiling a shower stall, put bead board paneling on the porch ceiling, fixed a spigot, etc. I also spent some time with the family.
So in hindsight what would I rather do? Hmmmmm.....
Friday night I got the call from Chris Craig rubbing it in more. He was there. Sunday I called him to get a regatta report. Chris took second to Keuka sailor Bob Cole. He also said the wind was my kind of wind, that I would have done well.
So rather than drive 14 hours each way to sail, I finished tiling a shower stall, put bead board paneling on the porch ceiling, fixed a spigot, etc. I also spent some time with the family.
So in hindsight what would I rather do? Hmmmmm.....
Monday, May 2, 2011
Schedule Change
Gas prices, schedule conflicts, and general family time have made me reassess my schedule this year. I simply can't do the Scowabunga in Tennessee. THat leaves 8 regattas, actually a REALLY full schedule. I highly suspect Cowan or Blue Chip will fall off the plans too.
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 (new this year!)
8/4-8/7 Western Michigans, Crystal Lake, MI (No longer attending)
9/10-9/11 nor'Easterns, Keuka Lake, NY
9/14-9/17 National Championships, Keuka Lake, NY
9/24-9/25 MCSA Blue Chip Championship, Spring Lake, MI (if I qualify)
10/1-10/2 Cowan Scow'n, Cowan Lake, OH (probably not though)
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 (new this year!)
8/4-8/7 Western Michigans, Crystal Lake, MI (No longer attending)
9/10-9/11 nor'Easterns, Keuka Lake, NY
9/14-9/17 National Championships, Keuka Lake, NY
9/24-9/25 MCSA Blue Chip Championship, Spring Lake, MI (if I qualify)
10/1-10/2 Cowan Scow'n, Cowan Lake, OH (probably not though)
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Hoovers Regatta Report
I traveled to Columbus, Ohio, for the first regatta of the year with my own boat. It is about 6 1/2 hours away. I had checked out the satellite photos of the lake to find it is TINY. Winds with West or East components would mean very short courses.
Day 1 had just such a wind, East Southeast blowing 2-8, very light and very shifty. My goal for the 22-boat regatta was top 3, specifically beating Chris Craig who spanked me out of the lead in the last regatta we met at.
The first race was a near disaster for me. After starting very poorly I found I was way behind and falling out of touch with the leaders. The course was 3 1/2 times around a short course, a total of 7 legs. Mistakes were costly. Repeatedly I found myself in traffic that I simply could not get around. Back in the pack they tend to sail against the boat next to them rather than try to gain distance on the boats ahead. After 4 legs I was in 12th place and not really moving up.
I tactically picked up 4 boats on leg 5, found a great lucky puff on leg 6 to pass 4 more and close the distance. I picked up 2 more at the bottom mark to find myself in second place. I finished in third happy to have avoided disaster.
Race 2 was next. A 40-degree left shift with a minute to go meant a crowd at the pin. I had a great start planned, in a crowd on port at the pin. My timing was off, I had to circle around with seconds to go and ended up deep. I struggled for a second race, this time only recovering from 16th to 12th at the finish. There were 6 races scheduled with no throwouts. I could not afford any more races like this.
Race three after lunch was more of the same. The pin end this time was the obviously favored end. I had a great start, and approached the first mark in the top 5. I ducked another boat hard, the boat flattened and our masts hit. I had to do penalty turns which put me deep again. I started taking chances I should not have, which didn't help. For the third time that day I counted only 6 boats behind me. I clawed back to 9th place.
At this point I assumed I was out of it. It is not usually possible to win a regatta on the first day, but you definitely can lose it. I sailed off by myself to pout and argue with myself. I decided to sell the boat.
In race 4, the line was good with a bit of a boat favor. I hung out right of the boat pouting more, feeling very sorry for myself. Ted, the leader of the regatta, was over with me. With 30 seconds to go I moved into position to find a hole opening up at the boat. I won the boat, went right and was leading at the top mark. The boat was no longer for sale.
I lost the lead on leg three. Someone snuck past me when I wasn't paying attention. The two of us then battled for the entire rest of the race, at one point extending 1/2 a leg on the rest of the fleet. In the end I was unable to execute the pass and finished second.
When the results finally were posted I realized a lot of other people had bad races too. I was in a pack of boats between second and 9th that all were within 8 points. The leader, Ted Keller (ranked #3 last year) had locked it up pretty solidly with a ten point lead over second. There was hope. A second place was feasible if the chips fell right.
HOWEVER Chris Craig was just ahead of me in points and decided he and Captain Morgan would try to slow me down. A great dinner and most of a bottle later we called it a night.
Breakfast the next day consisted of 2 Tums, an allergy pill, Prilosec, 2 Excedrine Migraine and a Diet Pepsi. I am feeling old.
The wind had changed direction to blow from the South, and it was now blowing harder. Many people were excited to have their favorite conditions. All I saw was a lot of hard work.
Race 5 was a longer leg race only 2 1/2 times around. With 25 seconds to go I found myself near the boat with a crowd of all my competition around me. I dove for speed and tried to outrun them. Only Chris Craig followed. In the back of my head I also thought left was the way to go but the line was right favored. I found a hole, dove through it and hit the line going fast with a gap below me. I immediately trimmed for depowering and went bow down. About a minute later I was clear to tack, did so, and found I was left and higher than most. At the top mark I led by about 10 lengths.
Downwind I blew that lead and had both Richard Blake and Chris Craig on my tail as I rounded. I stayed on Starboard. They split right. I only went maybe 10 lengths and got a nice header. I tacked. When we crossed again I was well in the lead. I extended on each leg after that as other got caught up in traffic and won by a couple minutes.
In terms of score, others in the crowd stayed up front with me. Ted locked up the regatta with a 3. I was tied with a couple others for second r third range. I never am good at that math on the water.
Race 6 was still windy. I had an OK start, and worked hard on a short first leg. I stayed left, got good shifts and rounded in the lead. The wind built behind me bringing the fleet down on me. I lost three boats by the bottom mark. I quickly cleared my wind and set up for speed. It took half a leg to regain the lead followed by one other boat. We rounded close. Downwind I worked hard to stay between him and the next mark. He closed the distance but I maintained the lead. On the final leg, I let him split right, got a great left shift and pulled away. I extended after that and won by about a minute.
I locked up second, and Chris Craig finished tied with 2 other for 4th, ending up 6th (YES!). Sorry Chris but this is officially a rivalry now.
So three bad races and two bad finishes almost took me out of the running. Essentially it did. But it was a good experience, a good result. and I'm sure I'll go back.
Day 1 had just such a wind, East Southeast blowing 2-8, very light and very shifty. My goal for the 22-boat regatta was top 3, specifically beating Chris Craig who spanked me out of the lead in the last regatta we met at.
The first race was a near disaster for me. After starting very poorly I found I was way behind and falling out of touch with the leaders. The course was 3 1/2 times around a short course, a total of 7 legs. Mistakes were costly. Repeatedly I found myself in traffic that I simply could not get around. Back in the pack they tend to sail against the boat next to them rather than try to gain distance on the boats ahead. After 4 legs I was in 12th place and not really moving up.
I tactically picked up 4 boats on leg 5, found a great lucky puff on leg 6 to pass 4 more and close the distance. I picked up 2 more at the bottom mark to find myself in second place. I finished in third happy to have avoided disaster.
Race 2 was next. A 40-degree left shift with a minute to go meant a crowd at the pin. I had a great start planned, in a crowd on port at the pin. My timing was off, I had to circle around with seconds to go and ended up deep. I struggled for a second race, this time only recovering from 16th to 12th at the finish. There were 6 races scheduled with no throwouts. I could not afford any more races like this.
Race three after lunch was more of the same. The pin end this time was the obviously favored end. I had a great start, and approached the first mark in the top 5. I ducked another boat hard, the boat flattened and our masts hit. I had to do penalty turns which put me deep again. I started taking chances I should not have, which didn't help. For the third time that day I counted only 6 boats behind me. I clawed back to 9th place.
At this point I assumed I was out of it. It is not usually possible to win a regatta on the first day, but you definitely can lose it. I sailed off by myself to pout and argue with myself. I decided to sell the boat.
In race 4, the line was good with a bit of a boat favor. I hung out right of the boat pouting more, feeling very sorry for myself. Ted, the leader of the regatta, was over with me. With 30 seconds to go I moved into position to find a hole opening up at the boat. I won the boat, went right and was leading at the top mark. The boat was no longer for sale.
I lost the lead on leg three. Someone snuck past me when I wasn't paying attention. The two of us then battled for the entire rest of the race, at one point extending 1/2 a leg on the rest of the fleet. In the end I was unable to execute the pass and finished second.
When the results finally were posted I realized a lot of other people had bad races too. I was in a pack of boats between second and 9th that all were within 8 points. The leader, Ted Keller (ranked #3 last year) had locked it up pretty solidly with a ten point lead over second. There was hope. A second place was feasible if the chips fell right.
HOWEVER Chris Craig was just ahead of me in points and decided he and Captain Morgan would try to slow me down. A great dinner and most of a bottle later we called it a night.
Breakfast the next day consisted of 2 Tums, an allergy pill, Prilosec, 2 Excedrine Migraine and a Diet Pepsi. I am feeling old.
The wind had changed direction to blow from the South, and it was now blowing harder. Many people were excited to have their favorite conditions. All I saw was a lot of hard work.
Race 5 was a longer leg race only 2 1/2 times around. With 25 seconds to go I found myself near the boat with a crowd of all my competition around me. I dove for speed and tried to outrun them. Only Chris Craig followed. In the back of my head I also thought left was the way to go but the line was right favored. I found a hole, dove through it and hit the line going fast with a gap below me. I immediately trimmed for depowering and went bow down. About a minute later I was clear to tack, did so, and found I was left and higher than most. At the top mark I led by about 10 lengths.
Downwind I blew that lead and had both Richard Blake and Chris Craig on my tail as I rounded. I stayed on Starboard. They split right. I only went maybe 10 lengths and got a nice header. I tacked. When we crossed again I was well in the lead. I extended on each leg after that as other got caught up in traffic and won by a couple minutes.
In terms of score, others in the crowd stayed up front with me. Ted locked up the regatta with a 3. I was tied with a couple others for second r third range. I never am good at that math on the water.
Race 6 was still windy. I had an OK start, and worked hard on a short first leg. I stayed left, got good shifts and rounded in the lead. The wind built behind me bringing the fleet down on me. I lost three boats by the bottom mark. I quickly cleared my wind and set up for speed. It took half a leg to regain the lead followed by one other boat. We rounded close. Downwind I worked hard to stay between him and the next mark. He closed the distance but I maintained the lead. On the final leg, I let him split right, got a great left shift and pulled away. I extended after that and won by about a minute.
I locked up second, and Chris Craig finished tied with 2 other for 4th, ending up 6th (YES!). Sorry Chris but this is officially a rivalry now.
So three bad races and two bad finishes almost took me out of the running. Essentially it did. But it was a good experience, a good result. and I'm sure I'll go back.
Monday, February 7, 2011
NYS Senator Michael Nozzolio honors the champions from the Victor Centra...
Emily and Dannay are two of the honorees in Albany today.
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