Well, this regatta did not work out as planned at all! After weeks of working on my boat with the help of many great people, Kanaloa was not as ready as I thought she was. Everything we did definitely made the boat faster. Unfortunately I ran out of time to test everything out. My biggest mistake I have made in this campaign.
As you all know by now I try to review the good and the bad after racing… There was plenty of bad. I started by sailing poorly in the first 3 races. Then things fell apart, literally. Like a big one, the mast fell down before the first start day 3. With help from my coach Kevin Burnham, Betsy Allison and Bill Shore, I made it back out for the last 2 races of the day. I made a great recovery to take 2,2 to Helena, the current gold medal holder. I felt I was back. The next day with the wind up, I was excited because of the work done on Kanaloa should prove fast in this condition. A condition I was never great at. Boat took off at the start, and never looked back, lead at every mark by a huge margin. Both pumps broke. I was swamped by Sonar waves 1/2 down the last leg.. DNF
There were only 3 races that something did not happen out of the 10. I have to live with a 6th place. I now have to make up 3 places in Hyeres to win the USA trials for me to go the Rio.
Good news is I am fast now in all conditions, enough to compete with the best. My sail program has made a huge leap thanks to Quantum Sails. With the help of Ben Hall, we produced a very fast rigs. Yes one failed, but we now know the problems and will fix. The boat work done at Edge Sailing Placida, FL also helped my overall speed. I am very happy.
Now, what I need is a few fixes and time on the water in the boat. Today, Kanaloa is on her way to Spain. I will meet her first week of March, to complete my repairs and get her in the water plenty early before my next regatta in Spain.
Thanks to Ted Green I plan to get my mojo back, by sailing his boat this weekend in Port Charlotte. I have 3 months before the final trials in France. The boat and I will be very ready by then..