Dear Friends,

Yesterday, Monday, January 22, was the first day of racing at US Sailing Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta (RMOCR from now on!). We had practiced Saturday and Sunday, and were ready to be racing again in the last ranking event for the 2007 U.S. Sailing Team.

The sailing conditions were great, and so were we! The wind was a steady 8 to 12 knots (10 to 15 mph) from the south, warm, and sunny -- beautiful conditions for racing. We sailed three races, and crossed the finish line in 3rd, 4th, and 11th, and are currently in 6th out of 18 teams. For complete results, please visit the regatta website: http://www.rolexmiamiocr.org/results/470_06.htm

For the details, please read on!

In the first race we wanted to go right because we thought that the wind might be shifting right. We got a great start, a little late at the boat (right) end of the line, and were the first boat to tack back right. We played the right side of the first upwind, and rounded the first mark in the top 5. We stayed in the top pack for the entire race, and crossed the line in 3rd. A great start to the regatta!

In the second race we decided to take advantage of a slight left bias in the starting line. We won the start at the pin (left) end of the line, and motored towards the left side of the course leading a pack of boats that included some of the fastest boats. We came out of the left side on a nice left shift, and were again top five at the first mark, and again stayed there for the rest of the race, passing a boat here and there to cross the line in 4th. Still a keeper!

The last race of the day was the most disappointing because were again in 3rd only three legs from the end of the race, and slipped to 11th. Bummer. At the start , we were set up at the pin end of the line, but realized with 20 seconds left till the starting gun that we wouldn't be able to cross the line. We tacked over, and ducked 3/4 of the fleet at the start, heading right, in a patented Richard Feeny "pray and boogie" move. The "pray" is for pray that you're going the right way towards a shift, and "boogie" means that you should go really fast. We did both of those, and were in good shape at the first windward mark. On the second upwind we again sailed a great beat, and put in a really tight lee-bow on two boats just a little too shy of starboard layline to the mark. We hit the mark, spun a 360, and our troubles started. Boats passed us here and there, and we crossed the line 11th.

Overall we were really pleased with our day, minus the last three legs of the last race. We were going fast and were (relatively) smart. Still getting better every day!

The forecast does not look good for today, Tuesday. Right now we are postponed ashore with no wind. It's hot and muggy, and we doubt that we'll actually get to sail races today. Keep your fingers crossed for us!

Best,

Erin and Isabelle