Sail Melbourne-Day 6-Medal Race-Today started out under postponement as there was very little wind on the course area. Eventually, we headed out to the course area. After watching several other fleets before us, we got underway in a very light gradient. I had a poor start three boats up from the pin, and spent most of the first work getting bounced around by boats infront. I rounded the top mark in 8th. On the first run the fleet split to either side, and I managed to find a great lane down the center of the course to round the bottom mark in second. Up the next work, the group split again. I got stuck in the middle for a little bit, but eventually headed out right to get a bit more pressure up the top of the course to round the top in 2nd. On the last run I went down the middle of the course again. At the bottom I had two guys setting up to attack on the inside of me. I choose to stay on the outside, to protect my position against my closest rivals in the overall standings who were also on the outside. I ended up third in the race which moved me up to 5th overall.
Now I am back in Sydney for a few days of light training, before heading up to Terrigal on the 24th.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Friday, January 18, 2008
Sail Melbourne Day 5
Day 5-Sail Melbourne-Today's forecast calling for 20-25 knots from the East never materialized. Instead, we were greeted with drifting conditions, and a two hour postponement. Finally the racing got under way with a light gradient breeze. Like every other day, the fleet had several general recalls, and finally got away under a black flag start.
With about a minute left in the sequence, I noticed a right hand shift which squared up the line. I immediately headed up to the boat to get away from the majority of the fleet fighting for the pin, and started underneath a small pack at the boat.
I managed to pop out from underneath my pack at the boat, and headed left with the fleet. There were a few boats that popped out from the pin, but most boats down at that end struggled for speed and crossed behind me. Eventually, the lead boats from the left came back, and I tacked to leeward of them, leading them back to the mark to round tenth.
The first run was difficult as the main pack behind sprawled out across the course, making it very difficult to find clear air. We all came back into the bottom mark together, and I managed to sneak around a few guys on the run. The rest of the race a bit of follow the leader with no major passing lanes, ending with an 8th. To my disappointment, that was the only race of the day. I now lie 8th overall heading into tomorrow's medal race. It looks like it will be a very tight race as 6th-10th are only separated by 3 points.
Cheers,
Mike
With about a minute left in the sequence, I noticed a right hand shift which squared up the line. I immediately headed up to the boat to get away from the majority of the fleet fighting for the pin, and started underneath a small pack at the boat.
I managed to pop out from underneath my pack at the boat, and headed left with the fleet. There were a few boats that popped out from the pin, but most boats down at that end struggled for speed and crossed behind me. Eventually, the lead boats from the left came back, and I tacked to leeward of them, leading them back to the mark to round tenth.
The first run was difficult as the main pack behind sprawled out across the course, making it very difficult to find clear air. We all came back into the bottom mark together, and I managed to sneak around a few guys on the run. The rest of the race a bit of follow the leader with no major passing lanes, ending with an 8th. To my disappointment, that was the only race of the day. I now lie 8th overall heading into tomorrow's medal race. It looks like it will be a very tight race as 6th-10th are only separated by 3 points.
Cheers,
Mike
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Sail Melbourne Day 4
Day 4-Sail Melbourne-Ground hog day again. The breeze started out around ten knots when we arrived at the club. Once we got on the water, we could feel the breeze starting to kick, and by the time the first race was started, the breeze was between 14-16 knots.
After several general recalls, the first gold fleet race finally got off under a black flag. I lost sight of my transit early on in the sequence, but fortunately was hidden between a bulge a bit below and above-both groups having sailors called OCS. I developed a pretty good lane, and headed out towards the left towards some pressure. I eventually tacked under and ahead of the group coming back from the left, and managed to get around the windard mark in around 5th-having a few boats from the right coming in ahead. I didn't seem to have my normal pace today, and got engulfed by the pack behind, ending up 7th in the race.
Race two was a similar story with a bit more breeze: a few generals followed by heading out left up the first work. I unfortunately got pinned by another sailor a bit further left then I would have liked, and rounded the top in about 6th. Again, my pace downwind was really off-normally the runs are my bread and butter. I got passed by 2-3 boats a run, and capsized on the second downwind, finishing a lackluster 13th.
With one more day of Gold fleet racing, it looks like it will be a bit of a battle for the prized medal race spots. At the moment, I am in tenth overall, 8 points ahead of 15th, and 5 points away from 5th. The forecast is calling for more of the same: 20-25 knots, but this time from the east.
All for now,
Mike
After several general recalls, the first gold fleet race finally got off under a black flag. I lost sight of my transit early on in the sequence, but fortunately was hidden between a bulge a bit below and above-both groups having sailors called OCS. I developed a pretty good lane, and headed out towards the left towards some pressure. I eventually tacked under and ahead of the group coming back from the left, and managed to get around the windard mark in around 5th-having a few boats from the right coming in ahead. I didn't seem to have my normal pace today, and got engulfed by the pack behind, ending up 7th in the race.
Race two was a similar story with a bit more breeze: a few generals followed by heading out left up the first work. I unfortunately got pinned by another sailor a bit further left then I would have liked, and rounded the top in about 6th. Again, my pace downwind was really off-normally the runs are my bread and butter. I got passed by 2-3 boats a run, and capsized on the second downwind, finishing a lackluster 13th.
With one more day of Gold fleet racing, it looks like it will be a bit of a battle for the prized medal race spots. At the moment, I am in tenth overall, 8 points ahead of 15th, and 5 points away from 5th. The forecast is calling for more of the same: 20-25 knots, but this time from the east.
All for now,
Mike
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