Friday, after touristing around Annapolis, we had the opportunity for some on-site practice. Unfortunately, the wind was uncooperative. However, we did get some good practice with boathandeling: here's clips of the sailors honing their craft along the seawall. Obviously these tacks are not legal - there was no wind - but the techniques were deemed legal by the umpires when used in more wind, and are how one should practice college-prep boathandeling!!
Dae and Chris Z420 Jybes:
Ali and Liza FJ Tacks:
Sophia and John Z420 Tacks:
Saturday Racing began in light airs on the Severn River. Despite poor starts, both Chris/Max and Ali/Liza were able to come back in several races by playing the shoreline lifts coming off the left river bank, as well as sailing to an edge to where there was less adverse current and clear air downwind. When the racing was moved out into Annapolis harbor, the shifts became less predictable, and the team struggled, dropping all the way down to 5th at the end of Saturday's races.
Sunday brought beautiful early morning fog, but better breeze, which freshened all day as we raced out in the harbor. Ali and John won 2 races, but the team remained inconsistent throughout the morning.
After lunch, with winds in the 12-15 kt range, Chris and Max really turned it on, posting 8 straight top 4 finishes (with no throw out races, consistency is the name of the game!) to take A Division. Sophia and Brian closed out the regatta in B division with consistent results of their own. The course dictated that you dig into a side - to get out of the cone of convergent current around the start line, and to benefit from either big left pressure, or right shoreline lifts. Chris/Max tended to favor the right on the first beat, while Sophia/John/Brian preferred the left, but both were able to round in the top 3 from their respective sides when they executed well. Downwind was all about staying on the headed jibe, while finding lanes down the middle that allowed you to sail the lest distance and stay wing-on-wing. Overall the teams effort sailing in the breeze was phenomenal, and we felt like we had the best boathandleing, and improved to have the best boat speed on the racecourse! After racing Sophia successfully defended herself in an educational protest (our 23 point cushion on 3rd meant we could loose and still be locked in to 2nd), as we wrapped up an exceptional Sunday effort. The season concludes with St. Thomas set to compete in the Baker Team Race Nationals held in Chicago in 2 weeks!
photos courtesy of Arthur Blodgett, Karin Gillette and Tracy Williford
PS. The Navy Says:
Hi Mr. Blodgett,
ReplyDeleteI'm a reporter and editor for the STA online newspaper, the Raider Review. I wasn't sure how to reach you other than to comment here so I figured I would ask you my question here. May my reporting group and I use any photos or videos that you have of the STA sailing team here? We are writing an article about their placement at the Mallory Trophy and would really appreciate being able to use your media.
Thanks,
Veronica Gordo