Newport RI
6/22-24/2018
Dee Smith
2.4 USA 7
Over the last weekend I successfully competed in the 2018 Clagett Regatta and the 2018 US Para Sailing Championships in my 2.4. This regatta is one of the largest disabled regattas of the year. Able bodied sailors are also invited to race in this 2.4mR class. As some of you may already know, the boat is a small meter boat, very low, very wet in waves but very tactical to race. My primary regatta for this year will be the Para Worlds in September in Sheboygan, WI. The Clagett was a very important tune up regatta for me.
Sailing in Newport is always fun in June. The weather is mild, sometimes wet with a bit of rain and fog. I really enjoy the currents and winds that are on the course which always helps make it more interesting. Going the right way is more important than being fast. And there is always that opportunity to get back into the race. Good starts on the correct side of the line are very important, as it sets you up to being able to get to the side that is favored..
On the 1st day, 4 races were held in a south east wind of 7-12 knots, with a cross current and was very tricky. Knowing when to use the lee bow current of the flood tide was very important, compared to just getting across the main current to a slower moving area.
This was to be my best day with good clean starts and I was able to use the current successfully to score 4 firsts. I found that starting up tide was important but still keeping track of the wind bias on the line. If it was favored more than 10 degrees, I would start on the favored wind end of the line. Otherwise, I would just play the current. Once I got to my best current area, I would play the shifts, and there were some big ones to be had.
The 2nd day saw 3 races held in a north east wind. My starts were not great and I had quite the job on hand trying to get back into the 1st race to finish 2nd. Fortunately the shifts were big enough to get me up with the leading boats. The current was not running so hard on this day.
The 2nd race I was forced into a bad start by a boat which was protested and ultimately disqualified for the situation. Once again it was quite the challenge for me to sail through the fleet. A gybe at the last top mark put me in a position to almost win the race. Danny Evans sailed brilliantly, wire to wire and beat me by one foot. So close… Message to Dee, stay clean at the start, don’t get mixed up with others, bad things happen. The 3rd race of the day, with a clean start, I was able to go on to win the last race of the day.
Sunday was our last day of racing. Unfortunately before the start of the 1st race I was fouled again by the same boat earlier in the week. I had to gybe to avoid a collision. This forced me to the wrong side of the line and I had my worst race, finishing with a 3rd. Still not bad.. What was that message again?
The 2nd race, saw me turn a small lead at the weather mark into a big win by playing the current correctly on the run. This was the way to pack up….
Winning these regattas has kept me on course in my preparation to win the Para Words in September, my overall goal.
Judy Clagett McLennan really knows how to do a wonderful job with the regatta organization. Her volunteers are there in force to help as much as they can. The race management is one of the best. The 2 day race Clinic held before the Clagett is invaluable to everyone and insures all the competitors to do their best out on the water on race days. The coaches this year were Betsy Allison, Dave Dellenbaugh, Dave Perry, Brian Todd and Ken Legler and their pre-regatta clinics were extremely educational on all levels.
This week, I am back in Annapolis and have already started to work with Mark Reynolds from Quantum on a new set of sails for the Para Worlds. Currently I am very happy with the speed of the boat, but also understand there is always room for improvement. I am still looking at tweaking a few items on my boat to see if that will make a difference.
A big shout out goes to all my sponsors and friends that have help me get me to where I am today.
Please take some time to read some other reports on the event below: