I started today sailing out an hour early before the start in a very light easterly and I though this is not what was in the brochure !!! not only was there no strong wind as there had been every day for 2 weeks but it was 36 degrees and a 5m great white shark was spotted a few clicks down the coast … great …

After patiently waiting just after 2pm the seabreeze came and it started building and building from the south. The waves picked up and we got off the first race in about 12 knots.

I started at the boat and got out to a clean and clear start. The fleet was below me and I powered away to round the top mark in 3rd close behind Matias (CHI) and Christoph (SUI). On the run I closed the gap on Matias and caught Chris and rounded in 2nd to go right on the beat. I made big gains out there and almost retook Matias but he tacked right in my face to slow me up. Burman caught us both and it became a free for all downwind. I caught back up to Burman and Matias and then charged out to the right again to round the top in 2nd behind burman but switch back inside him to take the lead and win race 1 !!! great start !!!

Race 2 was simular with me starting up near boat but just down (about 5 boats) again clear start. Burman was pin and the breeze went left … debarcle !!! he led by about 100m by the top mark and I rounded in 4th … I caught both downwind and went back to 2nd to duke it out with Fredrik up the 1st outer upwind. I closed the gap on Burman and closed again on the run. The 2nd beat they went left and I went right … I got out to where the pressure hooked right and rode it across to take 1st again !!! the run I kept an eye on Burman but did not look back at Fredrik who rounded quite a long way back in 3rd. He had the run of his life and piped me to the bottom mark. By that point I was pretty done and feeling light headed from the epic hike off of the racing. I hung on to the back of him and finished very close 2nd. It sounded like I got the horn and the win but it turns out the race committee was just slow !!! oh well always a next time …

Below are the results in top 10 to date. This is only race 1 and 2 so alot to go but a good start and I finally broke my bad habit of starting a regatta poorly. Stay tuned for more action tomorrow with 2 races at 930am.

Overall Results – Laser Standard

Pl	Name	Sail Num	Bow Num	Club /Cty	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Total Points	Net Points
1	BRUNNING, Ashley	193100	304	NSW	1	2											3	3
2	BURMAN, James	191644	305	NSW	2	3											5	5
3	BOTTONI, Christoph	194926	303	SUI	3	5											8	8
4	HANNAN, Ryan	188613	321	WA	5	4											9	9
5	WESTMAN, Fredrik	194927	342	FIN	9	1											10	10
6	DEL SOLAR, Matias	161167	364	CHI	4	6											10	10
7	BURTON, Thomas	193403	306	NSW	7	9											16	16	Youth
8	HUGHES, Todd	190363	324	SA	6	14											20	20
9	GUNTHER, Ben	194936	320	VIC	8	12											20	20
10	PALK, Ryan	192291	359	QLD	10	11											21	21	Grand Master