Posted By: Russell ••••••DATE: July 08, 2011

I arrived on the 26th at around 10pm in Long Beach California for what would become an amazing regatta not only for Team USA but also for me. The boats were Optis, small, but infinitely challenging. With four days of practice, I was going to prepare myself to do well. My goal was top ten but the regular breeze did not fill in for the practice days. Not one day was there the 15-17knots coming down from the right I had thought we would see. However, as the regatta came normal weather patterns returned and locals thought it would be usual Cabrillo Beach Breeze.

First day of racing: I started with a 16- not a bad race, but definitely not where I wanted to be. With a horrible start at the boat, I fought back the entire race in 8-10knots. Second race, I moved to Middle-boat for the start and wanted a good start. I was launched and was able to get to the right first, allowing me to keep ahead in 13knots-2nd. Last race of the day, I was winning with a great start and some hard hiking in 17knots. However, the right kept paying and when I cut back to cover the fleet, someone took more risk, cut more right, and passed me. I angrily took 2nd, finishing a decent day: 16-2-2. I was in 8th place.

Second Day: When we got out to the course, the RC had moved us half a mile to the left of the breakwater which had served as a physical barrier to the fleet in the day before. Most people would just start, tack right, and come two boats from the stone wall to tack onto Starboard again. With no landmark, the real sailing would begin. I started middle and was launched, tried playing the left of the fleet but was crossed by many guys who just went hard right- lessoned learned. In around 12 knots that race, a 6th was good, but not great. I had rounded WW 4th, but hit the mark. Next: With some big lefties coming through, the right was still predominant, but you had to cover the fleet. I started well, rounded WW 2nd, and Leeward in 3rd, but quickly passed my Teammate and SLO 314, Peter, in diminishing breeze. The beat was long though, and it would prove demoralizing as I covered one boat, the other would gain. I took a 3rd, losing both boats who I had passed. Last race, I was winning by a good margin, rounded LW 1st, but lost one who hit the right corner hard. Day: 6,3,2- good day- but room for improvement.

Team racing was next with a Layday before two more days of racing. I was in 3rd, having been in 8th the first day. I wanted to win.

3rd day: The current having switched to being 2 knots pushing down the course (towards the Leeward mark) to pushing up (towards to WW)- This changed the whole game. No longer was the right the harbor of the winners, playing the beats became the game. Laylines would be overstood for the first time in days, and more importantly the OCS and BFD became a true problem. On the 3rd day, we (the fleet) averaged 18 BFD/OCS per start for three races- [[[approx. 160 OCS/BFD for the day with three fleets per race]]]. This greatly changed up the leader boards.

3rd Day Racing: I began with a hard-fought 2nd, with a great start near the boat and to the right where I judged the layline well and ended up winning as my teammate who took line honors was OCS- just one of the many casualties (in that race, 7a, 23 people were over in a 61 boat fleet). With my first bullet, I was looking for another. Next race, number 8, I earned a yellow flag at GO! (2seconds till go) for "aggressive rudder movement " and fought the entire race for a 10th, which with BFD was a 7th. I finished the day with a 3rd, which was the result of a decent start and very fast boat speed. Day: 7-3-2- Very good, the pressure would continue to grow into the last day.

Last day: I was still in 3rd, but tied with Peter, SLOVENIA 314, for Second- we were each one point out of first. 10th race, 1st race of last day: I had a good start middle, tacked onto port, with great speed crossed and tacked right on layline (compensating for current). I rounded 1st, and ended 2nd- losing a teammate on the last upwind. LAST RACE: I was racing Peter, and by my coaches calculations, I was tied. I had a great start, coming from behind the fleet at 35seconds and being punched. I wasn't able to tack, and paid by rounded WW in 6th. However, my rival Peter had rounded 15th. He shot like a rocket and by the leeward mark, he had gotten room at the GATE but only inches, and MAN WAS I MAD. He was now above me, but sailed his beat, and finished 4th, I 6th. Last Day: 2-6 -- Great day, third overall, North American Champ.


With great coaches and support, I was able to sail my best and perform at the highest level. I was very pleased and am looking forward to Worlds in December, and New Englands coming up. Great Regatta for Team USA- finishing 3,4,5,7,9! Thanks Mom!

Optiworld.org

PS: After finishing the 11th race and becoming the North American Champ, I sailed in, and had to leave on the 9:10pm Flight out of Long Beach to sail the next day at home at Noroton Yacht Club in CT with Team Pequot! Who says you can have too much of a good thing