Sunday, April 24, 2011

1st day SOF Regatta

Breezy conditions today! I had a 7, 8 which is pretty consistent. It's a good way to start the event, but I definitely want to improve tomorrow.

My biggest downfall today dealt with my starts. I kept getting shot out the back...I just lined up too close to the boat to leeward of me thus resulting in a bad start. I did my best to catch-up, but was stuck in the positions of 5-10. It was very hard to pass from them.

Luther and I were happy with the results, but have discussed things that I will work on for tomorrow and for the future. It's suppose to be light air tomorrow, but I want to keep the things I thought were my weaknesses in my head so I can take them to training to improve them.

Tomorrow we start at 9.30 (YIKES THAT IS SOOOO EARLY!) So keep checking the results!

Friday, April 22, 2011

Hyeres, France

The fourth stop of the ISAF World Sailing Cup is here = )

I've been doing training with Luther over the past couple of days. We have been very careful to not over do it since I have been ill with some kind of food/water sickness. The training has consisted of two hours that are very intense. The last few days have been pretty windy. We focused mainly on my boat handling and short course racing with a lot of boats. It's been really fun and I have really enjoyed sailing with all the girls! I actually managed to round the windward mark, drop my tiller and take out the whole fleet! That takes some serious skills to mess up all 20 boats you're competing against! hehe.

Now, I am going to take a few days off and get rested up for the event. Racing starts on the 24th and you can view the results/regatta website at http://sof.ffvoile.net/.

I hear that I am on the same course as my brother!!!! That's going to be soooooo much fun. We will be able to share information and see first hand how each other sail.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Vacation Europe!

It’s been since 2007 since I have been in Hyeres France, but first let me tell you about vacation time!  A group of friends and I went traveling around Southern Europe. It was so much fun. We first started off our trip in Monaco. That has to be the wealthiest country I have ever seen. Driving around in a Bentley or Ferrari was common. Guess you can say that my 2005 Fiat Ducato with neon flower stickers and peace symbols didn’t quite fit in. = ) One of the prettiest things about the country was it was all based on a mountain. Housing extended to the top of the mountain that overlooked the super yachts in the marina.
Next, we headed off to Venice, Italy.  We stayed in the middle of town where all the locals lived. It was nice to be there because it got us away from all of the tourist, which there were billions of. We visited everywhere ranging from the famous piazzas to local palaces. It was so unique since the city is located on a canal system.  Instead of taking a bus to get around you instead rode a water bus. The highlight of the trip was going to the opera. We went to a palace where a live opera was performed in all the different rooms. It was very up-close and personal. I loved it!
We attempted to find a place in Milan, Italy, but the housing was too expensive. So, my wise brother said he found a place on his GPS, but it ended up being 2 hours away. We raced our way down at 1 in the morning to Genova where we were confronted by the local gang. HMMMM, don’t think we will be going back there anytime soon. It was a beautiful city, but we just saw some different aspects of it. 
Now when I’m supposed to start training again I decide to get food poisoning. Yippee! I’ve been sailing some, but I was weakened by the ordeal. Luther and my goal is to take it easy and not go too hard since the SOF regatta will be starting soon.

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Princess Sofia Regatta

Hello!!

3rd stop on the ISAF World Cup is done...I finished fourth which I am pretty happy about.

I started the event off with a bang. I was extremely consistent with finishing 2nd in the first four races...but then things started to change.

First, I did something that I find quite amusing. I didn't make the time limit in one of the races. HAHA! The leader of the regatta got stuck in no wind and couldn't finish. It was pretty funny to me, but not my coach!

Second, I managed to mount the pin and get stuck on a chain link anchor line. I thought to myself, "O NO, but boat!" I came out of it without a scratch and actually managed to win the race. I was completely lucky! I wish I could say it was skill. I remember sailing the race and saying to myself, "Is this one of those events where I can't do anything wrong? Where everything happens to go my way?" Was I ever wrong!

I then had two races where I struggled with the wind. I couldn't figure out how to tactically go upwind which resulted in me getting a 24 and a 28. Those two races were the majority of the points I earned for the whole event and resulted in me dropping out of first.

I was pretty disheartened after the second bad race, but I pushed through it. I ended the event with a 4 which I am really happy about. This proves to me that when things start getting tough that I can hang on and not do anything drastic to get it back on track. I feel that this was a huge turning point in my sailing.

Now, Im off to Hyeres, France!!!!