Results to this point at SIRS regatta

Laser Full Rig Qualifying

Pl	Name	Sail Num	Bow Num	Club /Cty	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total Points	Net Points
1	LEIGH, Michael	8818		CAN	1	5	4	2							12	12
2	HERNANDEZ CEBRIAN, Javier	9		ESP	6	4	14	1							25	25
3	MCLAY, Blair	2575		NZL	5	10	15	6							36	36
4	MALONEY, Andy	1961		NZL	10	2	13	13							38	38
5	COUTTS, Matt	71		NZL	3	15	11	16							45	45
6	DEL SOLAR, Matias	7		CHI	12	9	17	8							46	46
7	BRUNNING, Ashley	3100		AUS	16	7	5	19							47	47
8	SANDALL, James	2307		NZL	9	18	7	14							48	48
9	TARITAŠ, IVAN	1944		CRO	11	8	10	20							49	49
10	HANNAN, Ryan	3418		AUS	17	24	8	3							52	52

Day 2 Sydney International Regatta ‘Try for consistency!’

Hi again, reporting on day 2 of Sydney International Regatta !!!

The day started off with putting the boat together and heading out about an hour early before the start. The wind was a NW at about 5 – 8 knots and as I sailed out it swung to the W and then the SW !!! The southerly arrived on time for all three races !!!

My parents managed to get out in their tender and took Apple out to watch the racing at the top mark. A good day not to choke !!! pressure to look good and sail well !!!

First race the top mark was up in Rushcutters Bay and there was pressure lines coming from the left between Clark Island and the Double Bay Shore and also from the right from the little bay where the CYCA is located. It was going to be a tough race as clearly sailors could go left or right and benefit near the mark.

I started up from the bunch about 50m down from the boat. It was shifting alot so I knew it was a good clear start that I needed and I got it. I came rocketing out on starboard and tacked freely to cross the fleet with Mike Leigh Directly off my shoulder. We headed right and knocked and I waited a little for an even bigger knock I saw coming. I played the pressure up the middle and made some small losses and gains due to the constant left to right shifts. I managed to hang in there with the front group and came around the top in 11th. The bottom mark was hazardous and I waited for a small group to pass me by and then rocketed out to the left and tacked out early to run inside some left handers.

This was a great move as the other boats went to far and hit the gust more head on then I did and subsequently knocked. I held ground out to the right near the top mark and rounded 8th. The run I sat to leeward and constantly searched for pressure lines. I caught 2 boats (A croatian and a Kiwi) in quick succession but lost Mike who really seemed to pick his VMG angles downwind. I finished 7th and was pleased. A good start to a very shifty day !!!

Race 2 they moved the top mark into the middle of Double Bay. This meant the left handers were going to be predominant but I kept an eye on the right up near the island as I knew from many times sailing there that it would naturally hook around the island and lift you on starboard. I again started in a simular place to the first race and tacked out to the right. Sure as the sun shines a right hander came from the island and I hooked up to cross in. The left also came in at the last second and I just fell outside the top 10. The run I again went low and stayed in pressure lines and made a small gain. The second beat was my moment as I watched the right handers come and kept peeling off to get their high lift angles. At one point I thought I would cross the fleet but the left hand breeze again came in at the last second and I lost about 4 boats at the top mark to round in 5th.

I held position to the finish by staying in front to leeward of the fleet behind me. I kept in the pressure and rode it as much as possible taking some high and low angles and then using the speed to head back to the finish. This was necessary due to the high levels of chop. Anyway another great finish and very happy.

The final race of today was the same as the 2nd race. Except this time I chose to go left and changed the game plan as left looked better for a few minutes. However after a good start I got locked into the fleet and lost control of my tacks due to starboard boats. Disaster turned worse when I got to the left and the breeze clagged … I knew I had to come back and rounded the top mark with only about 10-15 boats behind me. I pulled out an excellent first downwind and caught about 3 boats and then the second upwind I played the right as I had in prior races and made some big gains to round the top mark in the early 20s. The run I really got in the groove and caught some big waves on a broad reach angle. This catapulted me forward through a group of boats to take 18th !!! great comeback but lesson learned in terms of the change of game plan. Don’t get greedy and get solid results when everyone else is going up and down.

I finish the regatta today in 7th and am very happy. Now to hold it together for the last 5 races. Wish me luck !!!