Race # 4:
It was super light going out the course on my 10.9…I was getting passed by everyone on the way out. Shit! I had to do a port tack start because Michael and I were a little late for the start, checking the laylines…I could not get powered up at all after the start and hole upwind Michael, Wojtek and I were reaching sideways hardly making any progress upwind…there was less than 5 knots on the middle and right side of the course. I finally rounded the windward mark…stopped planning for about 30 seconds and tried to pump my way downwind. Steve, Cucchi and the rest of the boys were on the horizon ahead of us. I found myself behind the only woman in the fleet and decided it was maybe best to sacrifice this race and go to get my 12.5m!
Race #5:
After a fast rigging session I was out there just in time for the start on my new 12.5 which I’ve never tried…Wojtek, Benoit, Hawkins, Ross and few others went for a port tack start. I was setting myself up to duck a few starboard tackers at about 5 seconds to go and Wojtek just sheeted in on top of me and went at 3 seconds to go. For sure he was way over early and this really screwed me up putting me in really bad air. In such light wind, getting stuck behind another guy on 12.5 m is death. I tacked off and was around 15th at first mark, and made up a few boats and finished 11th after a few DSQ’s.
We started a 6th race in 7 knots and it gradually died to under 7 knots…I rounded first ahead of Steve and Gonzalo, and they passed me downwind. Bijl, Allen, Polanowski, myself, and Lever all planed the whole way through the race to find they had cancelled the race due to lack of wind. It was really too light, but we could do it with a bit of work. It would be nice if they can get a loud signal or a boat with an abandonment flag to let us know…Oh well, good exercise! At least I know I’m competitive on my 10.9m in super light conditions.
No and racing the last day…A little disappointed as I went from 2nd to 4th. I needed two more races to get another throw out!
Sam Ireland
