1st in the Medal Race Bumps Me Up To 2nd Overall!
Today was the medal race at the Kiel Week regatta, and I entered the day in 5th place. The medal race was a 10-boat, two lap, windward-leeward course sailed in a shifty 4-6 knots of offshore breeze. It was very shifty and reminded me of my college sailing days.
I got a pretty good start third up from the pin. Very quickly the fleet tacked to port, and I looked pretty good. I played the middle left and found myself in 2nd place at the first windward mark, just behind Tom Slingsby (AUS). On the downwind I remained in 2nd and rounded the leeward mark headed left. Again, Tom and I played the middle left and had extended a little from the fleet. At the very top of the beat I was able to get some pressure and a shift and get around Tom. I found some nice pressure on the final downwind and sailed in for a first place finish!
By winning the medal race I was able to move up to 2nd place overall! I’m pretty excited to get my second podium finish in the world cup this year!
Tomorrow I fly home to NJ for some rest and training. Then it’s back to England for the Sail For Gold regatta and our World Championships in August.
Photo by Fried Elliott
