Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Laser North Americans

The 2010 Laser North American Championships are being held at Texas Corinthian Yacht Club in on Galveston Bay, June 24-27.

Follow results here.


Click here to read daily reports.



Tuesday, June 22
I arrived in Texas today and picked up my charter boat. I went for a quick sail not wanting to stay out too long in the heat - it was 40 degrees today, sunny, and the water is 32.
I am doing another training session tomorrow. Racing begins on Thursday.

Wednesday, June 23
After registering today I went for a 1.5 hour sail. We had similar conditions to yesterday - 6-12 with small waves, but it was overcast and not as hot, making the sailing more bearable. Racing begins at noon tomorrow.

Thursday, June 24
No racing today - no wind.

Friday, June 25
In the first race I had a great start at the pin end, sailed into the first patch of pressure and tacked onto port. I led the fleet to the first weather mark, but lost one boat on the run. I was able to pass the boat back early on the second beat, but lost Evert McLaughlin who hipped up on me and got some more pressure. I sailed a poor run and lost a couple of boats to finish 5th. In the second race I had a poor start near the boat end, but was able to tack out and get clear quickly. I sailed fast to the right hand side and came in to the weather mark in the top 8. I passed boats on the run and finished 6th. In the last race I again had a great start at the pin, but it turned out I was black flagged. I sailed a great race, leading throughout, going fast. With the disqualification I am currently in 19th in the fleet of 68. Odds are we will only get one race Sunday, if any, so the racing tomorrow will be crucial in trying to make up some distance to the leaders.
Weather: 6-10, ESE, 40 degrees, partly cloudy

Saturday, June 26
In the first race I had a good start at the pin end, and won the left side. The boats on the right came in ahead at the weather mark and I rounded around 10th. I made some gains on the first run but lost going left again on the second beat and finished 9th. In the second race I had a poor start near the boat end and was forced to tack out early. I had to foot out to get my own lane, but was eventually able to get clear. I positioned myself well coming into the weather mark and made some gains to round in the top 15. I lost a couple of boats on the second run but was able to make a couple back to finish 13th. In the last race I had an okay start near the pin end, but lost my lane after a couple of minutes. I played the shifts well, and came out of the left in okay shape, rounding around 10. I was quick on the reach and was able to escape to the inside on the first run with pressure and took off on the pack behind to round 4th at the bottom. I passed another boat on the second beat and held to finish 3rd. With scores of 5,6,BFD,9,13,3 I am in 5th place. Only 9 points separate 4th and 8th.
Weather: 6-14, ESE, 40 degrees, sunny

Sunday, June 27
In the first race I had a poor start towards the pin, but was able to get clear eventually and rounded the weather mark around 20. I passed 4 boats on each of the downwinds and made gains upwind to finish 11. In the second race I had an awful start and found myself well back. I was able to make some gains on the first run but lost again on the second beat. I passed a couple of boats on the last beat and finished 20. In the last race I started at the pin and was able to get a clear lane quickly and go fast. I rounded the weather mark second, lost one boat and distance on the reach, but was quick downwind and rounded the bottom 3rd with a gap behind. I was 2nd to the next weather mark but lost one boat on the run and another 2 on the final reach to finish 5th in the race and 5th overall in the regatta.
Weather: 6-14, ESE, 40 degrees, sunny