Final Day
Today was the final day of the Miami OCR, and we were able to complete our two races on time. In the first race, I had a good start near the pin and held all the way to the left. I got a little lefty and some pressure and tacked to port, crossing most of the fleet. I was able to hold the angle all the way to the mark and tacked around in 5th place. On the reach, Kristian Ruth was yellow flagged ahead of me, so I was able to gain another boat. On the downwind, I broke low and was looking pretty good for awhile, but the breeze filled high at the end of the run and a couple guys caught up I rounded the mark heading to the right side of the course in about 4th place. I came back left, but probably a little too late and some more guys caught up. At the final windward mark I was in 6th. Another decent run and a reach to the finish, and I had a good start to my day with a 6th place finish.
In the second race, I thought the left was favored again, so I lined up down towards the pin. It was a black flag start so the fleet was a little timid, but I poked my bow out and went on time. As we sailed out on starboard everyone kept lifting off of me. I sailed all the way to the left, trying to come back a few times, but to no avail. The breeze had shifted far right, and I was in trouble. I rounded the weather mark with only a few boats behind me. I was able to pass a few boats on each leg, and played some shifts well up the second beat, but ultimately could only recover to 33rd place.
With my 6-33, I moved up to 21st overall. It was a tough week though with very difficult conditions. At this point the only thing I can do is take what I've learned about sailing in Miami and store it for the next time.
This week I'll be hanging out in Miami before moving to Clearwater for some training and the Midwinters East regatta in the middle of February.
