March 10-13 Valencia, Spain
About 20 boat competed in the regatta over the last weekend. A good international fleet. The regatta was won by Damian Sequin, of France with 9 points. I finished second with 14 points and Antonio Squizzato, from Italy was third with 24 points in 8 races with one throw out.
It was a big regatta for me, after the Murphy’s Law regatta in Miami. I needed to come out and have a good regatta, find my mojo again. It was really good. The boat worked much better and was fast. There is still plenty of work to do, but I can see some really good progress. I was able to come out and win the first race the first two days. My speed upwind is letting me sail the course with more open eyes. It all helps. I think Damian has had a slight edge in the class over everyone. I was able to sail with him up wind pretty much in every race. He is still a bit smoother than I am and gets a bit of an edge there. I will get smoother with time on the water.
There are some areas still to work on. Be more constant throughout the regatta. Speed down wind, I lose a little there. I have some techniques to work on. But all the work on the boat has given me the speed I need to be competitive. This is the first regatta, I can say, that I can compete. To win, still a lot to learn. But there is time.
Damian and I had an edge over the others in the regatta, most of it upwind. He won 6 races, I won two. In two of the races, I had the lead but lost it. So, I feel good. I sailed with older sails, he sailed with new ones.
I had two good days of work with Fernado from Quantum before the regatta. He is making me some new sails that will be ready for Palma in two weeks. Not sure if I will used them as I want to keep them in good shape for the trials in Hyeres, end of April, but very excited to look and test them. I think we are on the right track…
It was great to sail in Valencia again. I have not sailed there such I got ill there in 2007. It felt more like home to me. The people at he club were such a big help. It is a fantastic venue there for everyone. The wind was perfect. Everyday we waited the customary one hr for the thermal to come in. Started the first race in 6+ knots and the next two each day the wind just built to a max of 14-18. The waves were big. There was plenty of water in the boat and I did not sink.. The new battery worked very well. I still had a small problem in one race with my Quadrant breaking, that race I went from a close second to 8th. Sailed the last leg only able to steer to port…. But I did finish.
I have a list of work to do and will get it done. We are back on track, want to follow this one up with a better regatta in Palma. Everyone will be there for that one. A big test.
Thanks for everyone’s support. Waiting for the ferry to the UK. Going there to measure Kanaloa in the UK, then to Palma.
Cheers
D