Day Four of OCR

Today was the fourth day of the Miami OCR and also the first day of gold fleet.  Much to its reputation, the racing was twice as hard today as the fleet was cut in half and the best guys were all on one line today.  We sailed two races in about 6-10 knots out of the North-Northeast.

In the first race, I had a great start near the pin and continued to the left.  After a few minutes I got headed and took a good opportunity to tack and cross the fleet.  I was in the top five group looking great as we crossed everyone from the right.  As we continued across, the breeze lightened up a little and our angle began to cave.  I looked over my shoulder and saw guys that I had crossed before looking great with pressure and a nice lift further left.  So I hitched out to the left trying to get some of that.  But things went downhill from there.  When I got there the breeze was gone and then the right came in huge.  I was left struggling to get back and ended up rounding the mark in the 30s.  What was more frustrating was that the guys I was with who continued were in the top five at the first mark.  I tried to fight back throughout the race, but 12th to last place were so close that there wasn't much room on the course.  I limped into the finish line in a miserable 40th place.

In the second race, I again got a good start at the pin.  I tacked and crossed the fleet again with the top group and was looking great.  But again, I failed to get in phase at the top of the beat and the guys from the sides got me.  I had a good second beat, picking up 15 boats, but my downwinds were mediocre today and I ended up giving some places back.  I was 24th in the second race.

Overall, the day was quite frustrating.  I think it's important to stick to your side and be patient, especially towards the top of the beats, but I haven't not been doing that.  It doesn't make things easier that every boat in the fleet is a rockstar, so any mistake you make will be jumped upon by others.

Two more races are scheduled for tomorrow.  The game plan is to just go out and hopefully end the regatta on a better note.

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