Regatta Wrap-Up: ILCA-NA Midwinters West
Well, it was a regatta…barely. With nine scheduled races, we got none on Friday because we had no wind and two on Saturday. On Saturday, in my humble opinion (after just 35 years of high level sailboat racing) we should not have raced again due to winds in the 3-5 knot range, a strong counter current, 4 foot swells, a six nautical mile journey to the new racing area to attempt to find some breeze, and so much fog you couldn’t see the windward mark until you were right on it.
I understand the organizers wanting to be sure we got the three race minimum to have the regatta count, but this sport is tied to the weather, water conditions, and the rules. I believe that if we just follow the rules, we ensure a fair/sporting regatta for everyone. Sometimes the weather just doesn’t cooperate and the regatta has to be rescheduled. While disappointing, that’s ok. It’s part of the sport.
Not my photo and not from this regatta, but it sure felt like this on the water…nary a breath of wind on Friday or Saturday.
We then got three races completed on Sunday in marginal racing conditions. (5-7 knots of wind) This regatta was a test of patience and mental fortitude for me particularly as the trip to Mallorca, Spain for the start of the Sailing Grand Slam series looms large this week. I was fighting with myself (and to be completely honest, my husband too) about whether it was worth it to continue racing in the marginal conditions versus simply going home and preparing for the start of the most challenging series of regattas I’ve ever raced in. I am glad I stuck it out, though because I had my best race of the regatta in the last race on Sunday, obtained another 21 World Sailing Points to add to my tally, and worked on light air tactics again.
Now, I’m focused entirely on what’s to come. Come this weekend, I’ll be in the Mediterranean again and lining up against 140 women, all of whom have designs on reaching the Olympics. The Sailing Grand Slam series is the perfect testing ground to see how I stack up throughout this year of recovery and strengthened core following the surgery in October. Can’t wait to get there, wheels up tomorrow!
Adios,
Lauren
