Day Four
Today was the fourth day of the Miami OCR and the first day of Gold fleet racing. We had 10-15 knots of breeze, sun, and warm temperatures making for a pretty perfect day of sailing.
In the first race, I had a good start in the middle of the line, but just below the big pack at the boat end. I sailed off on starboard until I began to get knocked and tacked and crossed the fleet. At the first weather mark I found myself in 3rd place behind Jesper Stalheim (SWE) and Marco Gallo (ITA). We stayed the same on the reach, and on the downwind Bruno Fontes (BRA) and a Greek guy went really high and brought pressure down in front of us, moving into the top two. I rounded in 5th, but on the next beat I was able to play the left well to move back up to 3rd place. At the last weather mark, it looked like it would be a fight for third as Bruno and Jesper were pretty far ahead and 3-10th were all very close. I had a great downwind to fend off the fleet and take a 3rd in the race!
In the second race, I had the same game plan, but I think most of the fleet did too. I had a good start near the pin and went out on starboard. This time though, most of the fleet came with and I was pinned almost to layline. I didn't have a great lane coming back, and the breeze went right at the top. I found myself in the high 20s at the first mark. I stayed around there for the rest of the race, but was able to pick up a few boats here and there to finish with a 19th, my throwout.
So with a 3-19 I am in 8th place. The points are very tight behind me though, and with one day left before the medal race, I'm hoping to have a good day tomorrow!
