Hey all,
Finished sail melbourne today with a brilliant final race of the series completing some 11 races over since the 16th of December.
Today I was in 7th to start the morning and had a big barrier to the next guy in 8th of 21 points. I also had a 13 point gap to the next guy in 6th so I needed a great one to move up the rankings.
Before the race I had a quick line up with Mike and had some good speed. Today was a shifty and patchy Northerly coming straight from the city of Melbourne. I made the assesment before the race that the breeze tended to hang in on the left longer then the right and the tack angle was high on port.
That meant the start would be down near the pin to get out there fast and thats exactly what I did.
I got off to a clean start with plenty of room below me and waited for the left hander to roll in. It did very slowly but I made some digs back toward the main part of the fleet and then sailed in front of them but to leeward waiting for the big left hander. About 300m from the top it rolled in and Josh Junior (NZL) and I peeled away from the fleet on a huge lift to take 1st and 2nd around the mark. I stayed in the pressure downwind and held my ground and then almost took 1st place up the second work.
On the final downwind I knew I had to get past the kiwi to win. I came up behind him and blanketed him to take the inside at a perfect moment when there was wind just on his inside. I sailed parrallel then past him to take the lead and then got into phase and made a break. I lead into the final reach mark and reached to the finish to tap my hand on the deck proudly winning the final race of the world cup Sail Melbourne Event !!!
With this great result I managed to move upto 6th overall and almost took 5th. Very pleased with this result and now can go home with a smile and feeling confident leading into the national titles in a week in Fremantle, Perth. The next aussie was 60 points away which is a huge buffer and I feel I have made a transition again up another level.
A big thanks needs to go to a few people.
Adrian Finglas – for so much support coaching me this event and there to talk to me before every race and points to work on. He helped refit my boat and even threw in $5 to buy some lines haha. Learned alot this event from Adrian and am glad to be working with him at the moment on the ASDS.
Brendan Casey – New set of hikers today proved lucky by SEA thanks for the support mate.
Josh Chant and Mike Leigh – Always being there to chat to and good blokes to stay and train\line up with. The right attitude and the right guys to be associated with. Oh and the risotto is brilliant Mike.
My mum and dad for helping me out with my younger brothers boat and calling me for support everyday (and you too benny and stevo and Apps)
And of course all the competitors from near and far who came to Melbourne post Olympics. I need you here to make me better and appreciate it so one day I be up there in the top few.
OK
Now home to Sydney tomorrow morning. See the girl and family for a few days then fly to Perth for the nationals on the 27th Dec.
