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

Final Results