Boy, did I need to be here. Even though I was able to make good improvements sailing in Annapolis, nothing is better than the best competition in the world.
First day, I felt I sailed the course well but did not have enough speed upwind in the sea breeze of around 15 knots. There was a chop. Looked around at the other boats and it seemed the biggest difference was my rake was less. The next morning I added about 3” and that day my speed improved. Then there was the trim. I really have not sailed in big seas before. My smooth water speed was good at the Worlds, all we had really. But in the seas, I needed a better trim. Again, looked around and with the rig back, I could twist the main more and keep the balance, the boat went better.
My starts, were ok, but I did get stuck in one or two races in the 50 boat fleet. I started to use one of my old techniques I have used in big boats and it worked very well. After the second day, I was able to get any start I really wanted. In the last one, I wanted to control the boat ahead of me in the standings and it was done, and I got a very good fleet start too. Comfortable in that size fleet. The Paralympics will only have 17 boats, so it will be different. This next series will have about 25 boats, so more adjustments needed here.
This race course was not easy to read. I was ok at best over the series. I think I know it now, but of course when you go to a new area, it takes a while. Very interesting place. Current was always flowing out of the river on the west side of the course. We had wind from almost every direction. Then it would move and there was big pressure differences. On my best racing day, 1st & 3rd, when the wind went everywhere, 255-320 I read it very well. Some of the other races, I had to claw my way back from the wrong side, for that matter so did a lot of the others. I think I have a handle on what is happening now, but won’t really know till the next series, Sail Melbourne.
Damian, was in a class of his own. Fast in every condition. Sailed very well. He went for a side of the course and learnt quickly from his mistakes. He goes for it. Has the speed to claw back if he picks the wrong side.
Heiko : great speed. sailed a very different regatta than Damian. Raced the series conservative, never in the corners. Always came back by chipping away with his great boat speed. Always will be in the hunt. These two are the best when it is windy.
Matt : also very strong in a breeze. Very fast in downwind. He sailed by me a few times. I stopped working hard once just to watch on one leg. Hopefully I picked up something. Will find out next week.
Helena: She found more speed in the breeze. She has done some work on her rig and sails. I have done some of the same work on my boat at home, so I think I am going in the right direction. She sails very smart. Works the shifts well.
Megan: Sails well and fast. Was 1 point behind me going into the last race and took a second in that last race to jump from 7th to 5th. Unfortunately, Helena was selected as the Brit for the Paralympics, so Megan will not be in Rio.
Bjornar: The amazing Norwegian. First Para at the 2.4 Open World’s, August, Finland. Incredibly fast in light air, very smart. He was one point ahead of me going into the last race. I pushed him to the wrong side of the starting line on the last start, and he took his throwout in the race, he and Megan traded spots.
These are the players, potential medal winners, that I consider to have a chance in Rio. They all sail extremely well. They are all pros, paid to sail by their countries and supporters. They have been in the class for 15+ years and know their boats and the fleets inside and out. For me, finishing 6th this time around has given me the confidence that I am on the right track and moving up the ladder. I finished with 63 points, 17 points off the podium. Less than 2 points per race. Damian won averaging 2.7 points.
Big thanks go out to all of my supporters. I could not be here with out Ted Green and the use of his 2.4M. Quantum sails have made a big improvement in our sail program and when I get home there is more work to do before Miami. My Keanon glasses worked very well, it is not easy to see the wind here but the glasses let me see the shifts well. My Velociteck, Pro Start was a great help to get my great starts. Without it I would be lost on the line. My Gill gear kept me warm and dry on the water.
I have sailed myself onto the US Sailing Team with this regatta. This regatta was not the USA Paralympic trials, those are to be help in Miami next month and Hyeres, France in April.
So what is the plan from here:
Compete against these guys as much as possible. We start racing again Wednesday in Sail Melbourne, an ISAF World Cup event. Ted’s boat is on the way back to Miami. Matt Bugg found me a boat to sail and I will find him one for Miami’s World Cup, next month. Great trade for both of us. Next Spring, I will send my boat to Europe for these 4 events, Princes Sophia in Palma, Hyeres, Lake Garda, and Medemblik.