Bertrand Racing

Weymouth Pre-Olympic Regatta 2011

2011-08-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

This week we had a first glimpse of what is in store for sailors competing in the 2012 Olympic Games. The Weymouth Pre-Olympic Regatta is a test event designed to replicate the Olympics exactly to familiarize sailors to procedures during the Games. Participating countries select one sailor per class to compete, making the regatta much smaller than its World Cup counterpart, Sail for Gold. As the Olympics draw closer, the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy is a familiar venue to most seriously campaigning Olympic-class sailors. However, the Olympic test event had a few surprises in store for competitors.

The Olympic Test Event is also a practice run for the 2012 London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) . Having these guys in charge is like having "Big Brother" watching over you. Whenever anything out of the ordinary happened, the standard answer given was "We're doing it this way because LOCOG ordered it." Two weeks before the regatta, there was a lockdown period for the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy, the Olympic sailing venue. This lockdown occurred at the usual time when sailors get in their most productive last minute preparations - throwing a major complication into training. However, the Sailing Academy gave the sailors access to a launching ramp and gravel parking lot outside their gated campus, so normal preparations could continue. After three days, without notice, we were informed the ramp was now closed. The reason was, "LOCOG ordered it." It didn't stop the sailors from getting on the water, only now they invaded local, expensive, sailing clubs, or launched off the rocky public beach. Some windsurfers kept their boards and equipment inside their coach boats. The windsurfers were able to find the most creative solutions, but did have a few problems. The Dutch men's Gold Medalist had a real scare when his equipment was stolen from his temporary beachside launching area. It was after making a public appeal that his board showed up in the bushes a week later, just in time for the regatta.

Another surprise was that the organizers switched courses between classes daily. Unlike Sail for Gold and other World Cup events where the classes are confined to one course for the whole event, we rotated around the five course areas. On some days, classes even raced one race on one course, then switched to another course for the second race. This was accomplished by moving with the whole race committee, marks and all, to an entirely different course. The course changes significantly impacted sailors because conditions on each course are widely different. For example, the harbor course inside the breakwater (referred to by some as the "kiddie pool") has relatively flat water and a confined space with no current. In contrast, the east course sees big chop on top of big swells and the greatest current flow. The west course is tucked in the bay near Weymouth beach with high cliffs and big valleys bending the winds every which way, which makes the course very gusty. The south course is in the middle of the bay, and can be as big as the east course in strong winds or as flukey as the west course, because the wind bends around the high cliffs of Portland. And finally, there is the Nothe Course, also known as the Medal Race course. It is tucked way up under the Nothe fort, which sits high atop a steep hill and butts up to the massive Portland harbor break wall. This is the "stadium course" where the medals will be decided in short sprint races. After the shock of this new decision, and having prepared for the last three years to race on a specific course, the sailors took it in stride. From my perspective, this actually made the competition much more interesting and a bigger challenge. I don't think it changed the overall results because to win at the Olympic level, you need to be strong in all conditions.

Finn Racing on the Nothe Course

The other major difference was the staggered schedule over the two weeks of racing. The Finn and Star classes started five days after the Women's match racing. The schedule was a little unsettling to some, and almost anticlimactic. Normally there is a certain buzz on the first day of racing at World Cup events, as everyone suits up and has to deal with the day's competition and conditions. But here, we experienced teammates and team coaches who were fully into their regatta, good or bad, and we were still chilling out waiting to start. On the other end of the event, when the Finn and Star classes were going into our two last days of racing, the rest of the fleet was packing gear and leaving. Before the Finn Medal race, the venue felt like a ghost town with all but a few boats left on campus.

On the Finn course it was business as usual. Ben Ainslie continued his dominance over the fleet. However, the competition for the lesser medals is heating up. Pieter Jan Postma from the Netherlands posted three 1st and two 2nd places on his way to the bronze medal. An 8th in the double-points medal race, by virtue of Ainslie match racing him at the start, dropped him out of the Silver medal putting him behind Frenchman Jonathan Lobert.

The Netherlands and Australia were the only two countries with double gold medal performances. The Netherlands added two more medals, a silver and bronze, to Australia's one silver medal. Great Britain topped the medal haul with five medals, adding two silver and two bronze to Ben's gold. Other gold medals were won by France, Poland, Finland, and Japan. Spain won two silver medals, and Belgium and Russia took one silver each. The United States won two bronze medals, one in the women's match racing and a gutsy performance by Paige Railey in the Laser Radial after a slow start, winning the last two races to secure her medal.

The Weymouth Pre-Olympic regatta accomplished what it set out to do. The race committee work was flawless and the event staff were friendly and efficient. Each country and sailor has a better understanding what it will be like at the Olympics, and most importantly, what improvements are needed to be better prepared to win medals.

San Francisco Laser Masters Clinic - Local Knowledge Can Be Deadly

2011-07-13T14:11:00.000-07:00

After winning the One Ton Cup as tactician years ago in San Francisco, I wrote an article for a national sailing magazine titled "Local Knowledge Can Be Deadly." The title was a play on the commonly heard comments from local sailors after big championship regattas, such as, "Its never like this here." Even though I was a "local" Bay sailor having grown up with the Bay tides and breezes, I prepared for the One Ton Cup with a fresh approach. I also used this strategy when I coached Luke Lawrence to his Finn Junior World title last September. The same approach was again effective this past week, when I ran a clinic for 14 local and non-local Laser Masters sailors that focused on mastering the tides, and addressed the areas that have the greatest effect in securing a top result.

To really understand the currents in San Francisco Bay, you have to go further than what the tide book says and what is available online. The nuances are what make the biggest difference. Having the confidence that comes from knowing what the tide is doing means you can concentrate on the windshifts and tactics, and not find yourself doing things that the top locals would never do.

Organized by the International Sailing Academy (ISA) and hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club, Vaughn Harrison and I ran the five-day clinic. Instead of organizing the clinic in the normal way with lots of boat handling drills, I decided we needed to change things up. We spent 90% of the time racing or practicing starts on what will be the two course areas for the World Championship. This enabled us to quickly get to the core issue of playing the tides, learning the wind shifts, working on starting well and choosing the proper laylines in the strong currents.

Besides getting familiar with the currents and course, I gave my students the tools to go beyond what the tide book says. It required increased observations while practicing and being diligent at checking the various government buoys that litter the course area. The students learned how to calibrate the timing of the tide and how best to use that knowledge.

There are two Worlds courses: the city front course and the Alcatraz island course. Both require different tactics. The city front course brings into play the land effect of the wind shifts and current flow. There may be times when the fleet will want to hug the shoreline to get current relief and/or a favorable windshift. Making the break for the rounding marks is a tough decision; going early means fighting an adverse current to make the mark. Hit it right and the payoff can be big. The Alcatraz course is more definitive about which way is favored, because it splits the two major shipping channels. This puts a premium on starting well at one end or the other in the outgoing tide. During the incoming tide, playing the middle is the best strategy for the most current relief.

To illustrate the fact that the tide book isn't always exact, for the five days we sailed, the flood tide was an hour early on the city front but was right on schedule at in the middle of the bay at Alcatraz. If we solely relied on the tide book we would have missed a major change on the city front course. It is critical to observe first hand what is happening the week before the regatta to really be prepared.

Another unique approach I took with this clinic was to split the group when we practiced starts. One group would run through a practice start and the other would observe. This allowed the sailors to really see how the current was affecting the fleet's starting. It also lead to a breakthrough moment for one the the Grand Masters: he confided in me that he finally realized he need to be more aggressive at the starts. He was able to successfully apply this during the week, getting consistently great starts! Another comment from a Southern California student who had sailed on the bay numerous times before, was how he always felt like he was always missing something. Now he has command of the tides, and most importantly knows what to look for so he can sail with confidence.

San Francisco Bay is unique given the high volume of water that flows through the relatively small gap of the Golden Gate Bridge. Coupled with the windshifts caused by the city front and the ever present fog, it makes for a very different and challenging race venue. The sailors who participated at the clinic now have a good idea of what the Bay has in store for them, and are entering the Laser Masters World Championships confidently.

Unfortunately, I won't be able to compete at the Masters Worlds. It's disappointing not to race on my home waters, but my Olympic coaching job takes precedence. I will be coaching the Australian Sailing Team's Finn sailor at a major event, the Pre-Olympic regatta in Weymouth, UK, which is at the same time. However, I'm glad I could be involved in the event in a small way by helping solve the San Francisco tide puzzle for a few competitors and giving them confidence going into the racing.

The Strong Rise to the Top: Ainslie Dominates the Sail for Gold Regatta

2011-06-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

For the past few weeks, I've been coaching the Australian Finn sailor, Brendan Casey, in Weymouth for the Sail for Gold Regatta. Last week, Weymouth lived up to its billing as a heavy weather venue. With the exception of day one, the cold wind blew hard for the entire event. Sail for Gold is used by many countries as qualifying for the pre-Olympics in August and as is the case with the US team, as a qualifier for Olympic team selection.

The Finns and Stars shared the same race course which is the furthest laid course from the harbor. It is a 45 minute tow downwind, and the return trip takes close to an hour. In addition, the multiple one hour and twenty minute races meant that we spent up to eight hours on the water for most of the event. Throw in the bone-chilling cold and you can really appreciate the strength and mental fortitude these sailors have.

The on-course conditions made it difficult to read the wind shifts and currents. The long starting lines and long legs meant the fleet spread over a half mile from left to right on the first leg. Picking the proper side on the first beat was critical to a top result. From a coach's perspective, it was important to get a feel for the shift trends and current. Weymouth is one of those venues where the more time you spend racing and training the better. It is important to develop a "sixth sense" about the shifts.

A lot of competitors struggled to master the conditions. We've seen races with big breeze this season, but haven't seen the immense waves and chop that persisted during the week. It required a different setup with the mast and precise steering to keep the boat moving at top speed. The decision where to start strongly determined tactics on the first beat. The three main factors tactically on the beats were current, wind shifts and pressure. It was never obvious which factor would play out the best and made the decision where to start nerve racking. A number of times, the current would be more favorable on one side but the forecasted shift was to the opposite side. The one thing that was consistent throughout the week was that it was never favorable to sail the middle of the course.

Competitors also had a tough time mentally and physically when facing the difficult conditions. The strongest sailors have a good mental game, which is the most important preparation a competitor can make. Having a good mental game supplements physical preparation. It's important to go out with a positive attitude, a few clear goals, and realistic expectations.

On the Finn course it continues to be the Ben Ainslie show. He again dominated the fleet winning by 14 points. Early on it looked like Dan Slater from New Zealand would make a run at Ben by winning the first two races, but Slater fell back to earth on day three with more typical results. Not surprisingly, the British team enjoyed great success winning the medal count in the Olympic class with two Gold Medals, three Silver medals, and two Bronze medals. The Australian team was second with two Gold Medals, and one Silver medal. Next was New Zealand with a Gold and Silver, followed by France, Netherlands and the USA with one Gold and Bronze each.

Next month Brendan and I are planning on training in Weymouth for two weeks prior to the Pre-Olympic Regatta. In the meantime, I'm headed to San Francisco to run a Laser Master's clinic in early July as a tune up for the Master's Worlds in August. The Worlds happen to fall on the same dates as the Weymouth event, so I will unfortunately miss out on challenging for a world title in my home waters. It's disappointing not to race, but I'm really excited about helping Laser sailors perform well in the difficult conditions found on San Francisco Bay.

Back on the Circuit

2011-05-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

I am back on the Olympic circuit once again. This time around I’m coaching. I’ve been hired by the Australian Sailing Team to Coach their Olympic Finn hopeful, Brendan Casey.

Australian Finn sailor Brendan Casey training in Miami

Although I have been coaching at a number of the individual World Cup events over the past few years for a few of the Laser and Finn sailors, being back on the Finn circuit doing another lap is a challenge I am relishing. My job started at the Sail for Melbourne regatta last December and includes all the 2011 & 2012 World Cup events, the pre-Olympics, ISAF Combined World Championship in Perth in December, and ultimately, the Olympics, if we meet the Australian qualifying criteria.

Reconnecting with the Finn class started last year while coaching Luke Lawrence leading up to his Finn Youth World Champion title in my hometown San Francisco. The Finn and its equipment, along with the sailing techniques, have evolved over the years since I last sailed the boat. The hulls have evolved to the point where they can be customized to certain body type and hiking style. For example, you can get a hull that is softer in the bow and deck that “twists” in heavy air and flexes to absorb energy of the waves, making it easier to hike if you are smaller or less powerful. The carbon masts have also improved the boat’s performance by reducing the tip weight and precisely controlling the bend characteristics. “Dialing in” the hull/mast/sail combination is a lot easier then in the past and is still the goal each sailor and coach is striving for. It’s crucial to have a good sail-mast combination that works over a wide range of conditions. However, the underlying fundamentals to succeed are still the same: fitness rules supreme, and you’d better be tactically sound and fast downwind.

latest modern Finn with see-through decks

There is one country and one sailor in particular who continues to dominate the class. The British have always been strong in the Finn class and in recent history have won the Gold Medal in the past three Olympics. However, this Olympic quad, the British squad has three sailors who are legitimate Gold Medal contenders, including the current World Champion Ed Wright, Giles Scott, and 2008 Gold Medalist Ben Ainslie. These three have dominated the top spots in the Finn class over the past year. However, Ben has recently been head and shoulders and shoulders over the rest. Not only has he won three of the past four World Cup events, but he dominated the fleet in Palma and Hyeres. In a number of races, he would finish a minute or more ahead of the next boat. It is truly inspiring to see him perform at the top of his game.

British Finn team dominates the first four World Cup events

Ben Ainslie
Olympics Gold 2004, 2008
Finn Gold Cup 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008
Europeans 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008

The British Finn trials are a selection process that has not been publicized. From the outside it looks to be subjective with no given deadline. However, the upcoming Sail for Gold World Cup regatta will be used by a number of countries, including Great Britain, to select the sole sailor in each class to compete in the Pre-Olympic regatta in August. The word around the boat park is that the British Finn sailor who medals at the pre-Olympics will be selected for the Olympics. If that is true then Sail for Gold should be well worth following the Finn action to see who gets the pre-Olympic berth.

Giles Scott, the only sailor to beat Anslie in a World Cup, and coach Matt Howard confer before the World Cup medal race in Palma, Spain

We are currently in Weymouth this week training with the British sailors before heading to the next World Cup event, the Delta Lloyd regatta in Holland. We then drive right back to Weymouth to prepare for Sail for Gold. I'm looking forward to doing my best to help my athlete succeed, and to seeing the outcome of this season's peak event.

Turning Masters into Athletes - International Sailing Academy Laser Masters Racing Clinic

2011-03-13T15:30:00.000-07:00

I just finished heading up the ISA Laser Masters Racing Clinic in PuertoVallarta, Mexico. Fourteen Masters sailors from the U.S. and Canada came to the “camp” to improve their skills and speed. Most, if not all, look forward to competing well in the upcoming Masters world championship this August in windy San Francisco Bay.

I was really excited with the format for the week of four days of training followed by the three day Mexican Laser Masters Championship. It provided an opportunity to do something that I’ve always wanted to do: hold a clinic during an actual regatta. After doing a number of Masters events where I spent time discussing what I did (or didn’t do) during the races that day with an inquisitive and eager group of sailors, I felt this was a perfect opportunity for sailors to get the knowledge and experience they desired reinforced by good coaching.

My philosophy was to run the camp just like the international Olympic sailors do when they have a seven-day training block. Namely, focus on boat handling with numerous drills, speed work, extensive videotaping and review, and short course racing. I wanted to emphasize those areas that would make the biggest difference to their performance around the course.

I shared coaching duties with ISA part owner and clinic organizer Vaughn Harrison. He went all out for the Masters by expanding the camp to accommodate a larger group. The ISA trademark is its all-inclusive package. ISA provides the boats, coaches, on the water support, housing, and meals. And it is all top of the line. The boats are in great shape, the housing is roomy, located on the beach right outside the world class marina, and a short five minute walk to the boats and meal service. The food deserves a special mention. It is prepared and served by Leah Holsten-Danielson, former cook on mega yachts and caterer extraordinaire. The food is served at her home overlooking the marina and Banderas bay. After sailing and quickly unrigging, the sailors (and coaches) walk to her home and are treated to ice cold face towels as they sit down to a delicious snack followed immediately by a healthy gourmet dinner.

An added benefit was that a local and highly world-ranked sailor, Tanya Elias Calles, trained with us for the week. During the regatta, top local Laser sailor Pablo Rabigo, and a group of juniors who traveled five hours to compete joined in. They were scored separately.

The first two days we focused on tacking, jibing, and mark rounding. The wind was not the classic strong sea breeze, but this worked to our advantage. Were able to fully develop technical skills in calmer conditions without the worry of fatigue. I felt it is important to mimic the same technique that the international sailors employ and not “dumb it down” for the master sailors. Here is an example of how to properly roll tack in light winds.

On day three, the wind kicked in and the group enjoyed some speed sailing. Day four was a long downwinder. We towed the group up the coast for over an hour before the sea breeze filled in, and spent the rest of the day chasing a free floating leeward mark working on downwind technique followed by three sprint races before heading in. The group was ready for the regatta to start and must have been feeling a little fatigued from all the drills and short course work of the four prior days.

The regatta was organized by the International Sailing Academy & Marina Riviera Nayarit, La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nayarit, Mexico. The committee work was exceptional. Many of the race officers will be running race courses for the upcoming Pan Am Games this October just a few miles down the coast in Puerto Vallarta. Not all the action was reserved for racing, however. Friday night, the Yacht Club hosted a Salsa party for the sailors that included salsa lessons, and a bonfire barbeque on the beach Saturday night.

I decided to race and not coach for the regatta. It was great to mix it up with the students at the start and around the track. Having both Standard and Radials meant that the fleet split into two groups after starting together. But with more breeze, the Radials were able to push the full rigs up the first beat.

Tracy Usher, who had a definite edge in the breeze, won the regatta as a Master. I missed the last two races, which started late, to catch an early flight out to Europe. But given the last two races were sailed in 20 knots, I was probably not going to beat him any way! First Grand Master was Richard Quinlan in from Canada and the first Apprentice was Kurt Wessells.

It was a great week all-around. For a week, the group experienced what it is like to train like the top sailors in the world. We enjoyed a five-star treatment on the shore and the nightly debriefs and video were insightful and productive.

We're making plans for a series of Masters clinics before this year's Laser Masters Worlds in San Francisco. The clinic will address the concerns of starting and racing in current, and heavy-weather maneuvers - critical for mastering San Francisco Bay! Details will be forthcoming shortly.

Florida Laser Masters Week is Heating Up and Attracting International Sailors

2011-02-27T18:55:00.000-08:00

Davis Island Yacht Club, Tampa, Florida

The Florida Laser Masters Week is rapidly becoming great winter training for international sailors. Three regattas with seven days of racing over a nine day period, sunny, warm weather, and two great tourist destinations provide superb conditions for sailing and relaxing. Not to mention, regattas are held at accommodating and welcoming host clubs, boat charters are affordable, and an international airport is located in every city. Essentially, international Masters sailors are learning fast that the third week of February is providing a well-organized structure for a solid block of training and racing, adding valuable time on the water to their winter plans. This is proving to be a winning formula for many sailors.

Competition is heating up with an influx of sailors from Denmark, Germany, Mexico, Chile, Canada, and the Dominican Republic added to the usual crowd of Americans traveling from all parts of the country. Hot Apprentice Masters are also joining the fleet, including a few Olympic contenders. Most notable was Matias Del Solar from Chile, who is one of the best Laser sailors in the world and ranked 9th in the ISAF world rankings. Eric Oetgen from Savanna, Georgia, is a three-time Finn Olympic contender; Mark Mendelblatt is another notable newbie who didn’t attend this year but sailed the Masters Atlantic Coast Championship last year; and Ernesto Rodriguez, the winner of the Florida Masters regatta.

Matais Del Solar Masters Midwinters first place overall

Florida Masters Week consists of three regattas, the Florida Masters, Midweek Madness, and the Masters Midwinters East regattas. There is an overall winner to the week, but the major prizes are awarded for winning the Florida Masters and the Midwinters. Like a few of the competitors who decided to skip the Midweek Madness, I needed to be in Clearwater to do some coaching and only competed in the weekend events.

My schedule this winter has been really hectic with a new coaching job that took me to Australia for a month and kept me busy during January for the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, and I wasn't able to get in the on-the-water training that I wanted. I've still been hitting the gym hard, and have been feeling quite good about my level of fitness. Basically, fitness is what held together my week, and although I was sore from the change in routine and return to the boat, I managed to have decent regattas.

The first regatta of the series, the Florida Masters Regatta, proved to be challenging for me because of the windy conditions. I'm still slightly too small to be really fast upwind in the breeze, but I had some great races nonetheless. Racing in the ocean in 25 knot winds and huge seas really shook the cobwebs out. The first race along with many others, I misjudged the current and a last minute left hand shift meant a few of us started on port tack late ducking the fleet. Within a minute I tacked back to starboard on a huge right shift. I was in phase and the fleet was out of phase, and just like that I had a commanding lead and went on to an easy victory. The rest of the series was not so easy. My main competition are some of the younger Apprentice guys who are proving to be really fast. Ernesto Rodriquez was really quick in the breeze upwind but I could still take him on the downinds. But when the race committee wisely decided to race the second day inside in the choppy and more confined tidal Inter Costal waterway, there was no hiding from the more powerful sailors upwind, and the runs were shortened with the swift moving current. One race Ernesto misread the course and finished after one lap instead of doing the second circuit and he still beat me. I ended up second overall and first Master. I was really pleased to receive a print of a watercolor by Michelle Davis, an enthusiastic Masters sailor and ornithologist from Miami. The print depicted a Laser surfing a wave, with very meticulously painted Florida fish and birds surrounding the boat (no sharks!).

an awesome and treasured trophy

Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa hosted the Masters Midwinters East. DIYC is a modern and attractive club located on a hook enclosing an old seaplane basin, with a large percentage of membership very active in racing. I was looking forward to sailing here, and to the lighter wind forecasted for the weekend. The forecast did not disappoint but surprisingly, and kudos to the race committee, we only sailed one non-hiking race. The race committee waited out the doldrums and we sailed late as the afternoon breeze pumped in, watching the sunset as we dragged our boats up the short beach.

Many of us have gone to a three-day regatta that turned into a two-day event because of weather. How many have showed up for a two-day regatta that was actually three days long? I did just that. I showed up a day late and still won the Masters division and placed third overall!

first place Midwinters Master division

There is no excuse that I can give about showing up on the wrong day that doesn’t begin with dumb and ends with ____ (you can add any ending you want). I skipped the midweek regatta, and had it in my head that the racing was on Wednesday and Thursday with Friday as a travel day for the Masters Midwinters East. I was wrong. The only thing I can say is that it was a good thing I decided to drop my boat off Friday afternoon at 3:30pm for what I thought was a Saturday start.

It had been a windless day anyway, so I decided not to practice before the regatta and instead get a few housekeeping chores done before Sunday’s drive north after the regatta. I got my van washed and detailed, took it to get the oil changed, and was booking flights for coaching in Europe this spring. I had a nice leisurely lunch. It was really quite a relaxing day. And now I was going to drop my boat off and be ready for the regatta the next day. As I turned the corner and saw a few boats out on the water, I didn’t think much anything of it. I saw Davis Island Yacht Club and didn’t notice any boats on the beach. I look back and see a lot of boats on the water AND they were all bunched around an anchored sailboat. Oops!

I have always wanted to show up to a regatta, quickly rig, and just make it to the start line as the gun went off - just to see what it was like, and just because it would be “cool.” As I drove in I assessed the situation. No one was still on the club beach except one guy who was a random member. The wind must have just filled in because the committee looked like they hadn’t set the course, so they must not have raced the first race yet. I asked the guy and he confirmed my analysis. But the wind was good enough to get something going soon. Could I, should I, do I try and make it? Hell yes!

The boat was on top of my van in full covers, but fortunately I raced last week and it was ready to plug and play. I drove up onto the lawn, undid the quick straps, rotated the boat off the racks and down onto the lawn. Covers off, put the mast sections together, boom, mainsheet, sail, centerboard, rudder, tiller and tiller extension, lines, and life jacket. It all went together very quickly. I asked myself next if I should get dressed or sail in my shorts and t-shirt? I looked out and saw the fleet in a starting sequence, in the last minute, all lined up. Maybe they would have a second race but it was 4pm already. I decided to throw on my hikers and grab my boots and hope for the second race, with this being my throw out. I looked up - It must have been a general recall, because they were sailing back to the boat. I grabbed someone’s trolley and launched. I pushed off the beach and looked up – no battens, shit! I pulled them out but was too rushed and forgot to load them. I was only ten meters off the beach but I can’t race without battens and headed, back, another 3 minutes wasted.

The wind was building and I semi-planed to the course. I put my boots on without losing the plane. It was a balancing act. I didn’t see any flags, and the boats were milling around so it looked good, but it was still is about a half mile to the boat. The race was on. I closed on the line where the boats were lining up, but where were they in the sequence? As I arrived at the committee boat, the one-minute horn sounded. I lined up in the middle, although the leeward end looked favored but I couldn’t get there in time. Gun fired and we were off. I got a good start but my speed was off. After a minute I noticed my traveler was not pulled tight and was suspended a foot in the air. I pulled it on while others were tacking and going right. I had no idea which way to go, so I decided to keep going. My motto is if you don’t know the shift, keep going. It worked and I ended up left, got into the lead group and rounded in 3^rd. Matais was launched; his older brother, “JP” was equally launched in second (and they were taunting each other around the course, it was very funny). I was in a tight pack and finished 5^th after dropping two boats at the final leeward mark before the short reach to the finish. It felt like a win nonetheless.

As it turned out, the Masters Midwinters East was a two-day regatta. On Sunday, the wind didn’t show, and the race committee wisely let us pack up at noon, and fired up the barbeque.

The Masters racing is heating up with more international sailors attending and world-class talent using the regattas as part of their Olympic training. Having said that, the fun factor is still high, especially when the “water” boat gives you the option of an ice cold Bud or Bud Light.

Join us next week at the Laser Masters Clinic in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico!

Private Coaching - The Challenge and Rewards

2010-11-18T16:46:00.001-08:00

coaching a one day Laser clinic at the Martin County US Sailing Center

I've had the opportunity to train with the best Laser sailors in the world over the past year, and I've learned new tricks and reinforced old ones. Now I'm ready to pass on what I know through private Laser coaching and a selective few Laser clinics this year.

I really enjoy coaching and teaching. I love the process of imparting knowledge to a wide range of people with vastly different skill sets. From the very beginner (no matter what age), to the most seasoned Olympic caliber sailor. I love to see someone improve, learn something new, and reach a goal. It requires an individual and personal approach.

We all learn differently, and there is no one approach that can be applied to everyone. To maximize the experience and overall benefit, it is critically important to determine how an individual processes information to make sure it is delivered and received properly. Finding the right learning channels and packaging the message properly is key. In other words, you've got to speak the language of the student.

The three major learning channels are sensory, auditory, and visual. If someone is a visual learner, you can talk until you're blue in the face, and chances are the message won't get through. If someone's strength is auditory processing, then demonstrating something is not gonna do it. The sensory learner needs to feel it or experience it before they can grasp a new technique. And the challenging part is it could be different channels depending on what is being taught or given different external circumstances. So knowing all that, the best starting point is to deliver the information or lesson in all three channels and be observant to which channels your individual students are picking up.

Annapolis Master sailor, Jeff Caruso and I having a private lesson

I recently had the pleasure of giving private lessons to a local Annapolis Master sailor, Jeff Caruso. It was really enjoyable because of Jeff's enthusiasm and his ability to apply new concepts very quickly. I saw a great improvement in his sailing in only a couple of sessions working with him. The first session was the day before the Chesapeake Masters regatta. He reported seeing a drastic improvement during the regatta from his normal competitiveness. It helped that our first practice the day before the regatta was in similar conditions (extreme) to the first day of racing. A few simple tips kept him on his feet and more comfortable and less energy spent in those conditions. On the second day in calmer conditions, he was able to work focus on applying some new principles and rig settings. It is very satisfying as a coach to hear a report like Jeff's; that at most mark roundings where he normally gets passed by boats, he was passing them instead. Also, after a rather tangled start in one race that put him near last at the first mark, he reported passing seventeen boats during the course of the race.

My analysis of Jeff is that he is able to pick up new techniques and theory very quickly. I think Jeff has at least two channels working, and maybe all three. My first impression of Jeff is that his auditory processing is dominant and well developed. From almost the first moment we met, he asked me to explain what it was we were going to work on for that lesson. And he was very focused on what I was saying and asked quite a few questions to make sure he fully understood the particular concept or subject.

Once on the water it was too windy to effectively talk (and I lost my voice in the process of shouting over the howling wind), so I demonstrated what I wanted him to do. I made him follow behind me and imitate what I was doing. This took a little longer for him to pick it up but he did after a very short time. We were working on sailing the boat super flat. Instead of using the mainsheet, I had him ease the mainsheet beyond the normal heavy air upwind setting and had him sit on the deck (not hiking) and only use the tiller to keep the boat flat. I wanted him to see and feel how the boat was when sailed flat. The other main lesson was the proper body position in the boat. This enabled him to expend less energy and he was able to "relax", even in the high winds. Just a few simple pointers gave him the ability to conserve his energy and increase his overall confidence.

Knowing the right communication channels greatly increases the information uptake and leads to a more productive and meaningful experience for the sailor.

Chesapeake Bay Laser Masters Championships - the Highlight of the Year

2010-10-19T19:45:00.000-07:00

2010 www.jdeutsch.com

mugging for the camera in front of the beautiful Fishing Bay Yacht Club house

What is becoming a home away from home for me, the Fishing Bay Yacht Club, hosted another spectacular Master's event, the Chesapeake Bay Masters Championships. This regatta was the highlight of the year for me (and I had a big year). It had the perfect combination of organization, venue, facilities, conditions, and most importantly the sailors who attend. It hit all the notes perfectly.

Tidewater Virginia

Fishing Bay Yacht Club is located in Tidewater Virginia, rural, flat lower Chesapeake country. In this quiet Chesapeake country the changing of the seasons are evident. The air is not cold yet, but the leaves are turning and the frontal winds are beginning. There is a feeling of the transition into full autumn, but it can be still quite warm and sunny. The farms that populate the whole southern Chesapeake area are filled with old dried-out corn stalks or maturing soybeans that create a carpet of golden brown. Nature abounds with migratory birds passing through and groups of deer foraging along the field edges.

The Fall is the absolute best time for racing on the Chesapeake Bay. You don't have to deal with the cold water temperatures of the spring or the summer doldrums and summer storms. The fall is when the frontal winds reappear mixing with the warm water to provide shifty and challenging racing.

25-32 knots first race - 2010 www.jdeutsch.com

Jon Deutsch, photographer and regatta organizer extraordinaire. I used his photos for this blog.

The regatta is superbly run by Jon Deutsch and a small group of volunteers. It is a low-key affair but Jon's attention to detail is greatly appreciated. One of the highlights of the two day regatta is Saturday's dinner cooked by Laser Masters sailor and French gourmet chef Alain Vincey (who doesn't sail so he can prepare the dinner). The clubhouse is a modern structure with the the dominant features of the ground floor being a sitting area in front of a fire place and a well-appointed kitchen capable of catering large events and a large covered porch for dining. The second story is a beautiful "trophy" room and bar area with high ceilings. About half the competitors camp on the club grounds and others stay at bed and breakfasts.

gourmet chef Alain Vincey surrounded by his four sous chefs - 2010 www.jdeutsch.com

sunset dinner with the Solomon's Island team - 2010 www.jdeutsch.com

preparing for a big night around the fire - 2010 www.jdeutsch.com

The majority of the sailors who attend are from the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding area; there are always a small band of sailors who come down from Newport, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Delaware. As with all Masters regattas it is a true reunion and celebration. What was particularly special was seeing a group of nine sailors who came from Solomon's Island, Maryland. This is a newly formed laser fleet that is well organized and focused on growing. They had apprentice sailors all the way up to grand masters with varying ranges of abilities and experience. Their enthusiasm and spirit was what this regatta is all about. I hope this is a trend that catches on in other areas around the country and others realize how much fun it can be getting wet in a dinghy.

the inside course, notice the big breeze past the point! - 2010 www.jdeutsch.com

After running the first race in "epic" 25-32 knots conditions (with a lot of resulting carnage), the race committee decided to move the course in near the club and close to shore. It was really shifty, puffy, short course intercollegiate-style racing. The following situation happened at one of the windward marks that perfectly defines Master's sailing. I rounded the weather mark ahead of the second and third place boats who were neck and neck. As I past them on their approach to the mark, they were having a full-blown, animated discussion about the shifts on the leg and how they played the windward leg. I'm sure it went on even after they rounded the mark. This is something you see a lot in Master's sailing and for that matter in junior sailing. It's all about the joy of racing.

Race report
Results

Brenner's Response

2010-10-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

It's obvious that Dean Brenner has a selective memory...or Luke and I do. Luke and his family are now reaching out to US Sailing and I hope to be able to report a positive outcome. Stay tuned.

Chairman Dean Brenner (photo credit Walter Cooper)

Dean's response, published in Scuttlebutt:

"In Scuttlebutt issue 3196, the lead story was an excerpted blog post with some opinions and statements about the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics, some of our athletes and the new culture we have instituted. While each of us is entitled to our own opinion, we are not entitled to our own facts. And, quite simply, there were several factual inaccuracies that should be corrected.

Luke Lawrence is a member of the 2010 US Sailing Development Team. Period. And, as far as we are concerned, he’ll be on the team for the remainder of the year unless he chooses to step aside. We think Luke is a great talent, and we hope he’ll apply again for the team in 2011. We’ve never kicked him off the team, we’ve never asked him to resign, and we’ve never excluded him from any team meetings, barbecues, or training sessions. The blog post in question made lots of statements about his removal and exclusion from the Team. I was surprised to read that, it was news to me, and I maintain a complete open door policy to chat with any sailor at any time about anything that concerns them.

Our Development Team is intended to be a path for young sailors to learn to compete as Olympic athletes… something that Olympic sailing in the USA has been in desperate need of for a long time, and that we are proud to have created. We give them coaching and lots of other kinds of support, and we give them opportunities to train alongside and learn from our top athletes, like Finn Silver Medalist Zach Railey. We look for developing athletes who have the skills and the commitment to be a part of this team, and if they want to take advantage of the opportunity, we welcome them with open arms. If they would rather go their own way, then that’s fine also. We’ll cheer just as loudly for any athlete who would prefer to follow their own path and who finds a way to win an Olympic medal on their own. If Luke chooses his own path, then that is great. On the other hand, if he wants to take advantage of the opportunities on our Development Team, then that’s great also. Either way, we will cheer his success.

We believe strongly in the system and culture that we are building on our Development Team and on the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics. We believe that shared training and a collaborative culture is better for everyone. We believe it helps stretch our resources further. We believe it creates a better environment for our sailors. And we believe it creates something that sponsors, donors and fans can embrace.

We have a system, and it is an entirely new culture. But it’s not for everyone. It would be impossible to create a structured system that also caters to every specific need of every athlete. And with about 100 hyper-competitive, goal-oriented athletes on our teams, it’s also unrealistic to expect that all of them will love everything that we do. But we do believe that a system is necessary, and if someone wants to work outside the system, at the end of the day, the sailors on the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Teams are still representing the USA and we’ll be there alongside them, cheering and supporting.

One of the key issues with our system, however, is the role of the private coach. We work hard to hire staff and per diem coaches who believe in our new culture and can have a positive effect on both their athlete(s) and the entire team at the Olympics. In the lead-up to the Games, the role of the private coach is an issue when staff coaching is present at the same event. We understand full well that some athletes will want or need some additional, personal support. Those private coaches are welcomed into our training and our meetings, with a few specific requirements. The coach has to be trustworthy, has to be a team player, and we won’t hesitate to respectfully exclude someone whom we determine, in consultation with other athletes on our team, would have a negative impact in any way on our culture, training and effectiveness.

Finally, I want to applaud our Finn results over the last two years. The record speaks for itself and we have a world-class Finn program in the USA for the first time in a long time. That’s a credit first and foremost to our sailors, but also to our coaches and our friends in the Finn class who have worked so hard to make USA success in the Finn a reality.

Respectfully,

Dean Brenner

Chairman

US Olympic and Paralympic Sailing Program"

The US Sailing Team - Does One Size Fit All?

2010-10-11T08:23:00.000-07:00

Sarah Lihan's got game and a great sense of style!

The cover story for this month's Sailing World Magazine, "Stress Test," highlights the changes within the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics for this Olympic cycle. It is an insider's look by reporter Stuart Streuli, who spent time with the team at a physical training camp at the US Olympic training center in Colorado Springs last March, and at the Kiel Week regatta in June. Streuli gives a glowing review of the new direction and philosophy that Olympic Sailing Director, Dean Brenner, and head coach, Kenneth Andreasen, are taking. Stressing team unity and overall fitness are cornerstones of their approach. However, I was dismayed to read that certain sailors on the team were singled out for not being team players, allegedly hurting the US team's chances for medals at the 2012 Olympic Games. The sailors singled out included the very talented young sailor I have been coaching in the Finn, Luke Lawrence. In Luke's case, nothing could be further from the truth. Why would the "Brass" at the Olympic Sailing Committee go public with such an allegation? I believe this sentiment revolves around a management philosophy and mindset akin to the infamous statement "you are either with us, or against us." I believe it highlights a glaring weakness in understanding, and also a lack of desire to understand how to effectively develop an individual's potential within a team environment. In others words, does one size fit all?

Streuli writes that:

"Not everything that Andreasen and Brenner touch turns to gold - literally or figuratively..... A big part of the USSTAG's new culture is intra-squad training; all the U.S. sailors within a specific class working together under a common coach for a large part of the Olympic cycle..... Erin Maxwell and 2004 Olympian Isabelle Kingsolving won the 2008 Women's 470 World Championship. Amanda Clark and Sarah Chin finished 12th in the 2008 Olympics. Together they could form a potent training duo. However to date they haven't trained together. USSTAG officials imply this is due to a personality conflict...."

"The same can be said of Luke Lawrence, a confident Floridian who won the Laser silver medal at the 2008 ISAF Volvo Youth World Championships. In his first Finn regatta, the 2010 Rolex Miami OCR, he finished in the top half of the 37-boat fleet. But, unhappy with the attention he received from Andreasen at the first two European regattas of the 2010 season, he hired 1984 silver medalist John Bertrand as his personal coach, isolating himself from the rest of the U.S. team. It appears to have benefited Lawrence, who won the Finn Junior World Championship in San Francisco in August, in the short term. But will it hurt the U.S. team's medal hopes (and those of Lawrence) in 2012 and further down the road?"

just moments after winning the Finn Junior World Championship
Luke is proud to have represented the United States

The situation that Streuli refers to in the article is Luke Lawrence hiring me to coach him in the European World Cup regattas. Luke, who is the 2009 ISAF Youth Worlds Silver medalist in the Laser class, made his debut in the Finn earlier this year at the Miami Rolex OCR. He is also a member of the 2008, 2009 and 2010 US Sailing Youth Development Teams (USSDT). As a current member of the USSDT, he was offered free shipping of his Finn to Europe, coaching support from the Finn (and head) coach, Kenneth Andreasen, at the World Cup events, and the opportunity to attend team training camps. The USSDT, according to the US Sailing website, is "designed to provide an elite environment designed specifically to prepare the young sailor for the highly competitive world of Olympic Sailing, with knowledge-transfer and experience-sharing that can only come with (their) Olympic coaching staff and athletes." The website also states that the USSDT "is designed for the developing sailor who is highly interested in becoming an Olympic-caliber athlete and who has shown the skills and commitment to such a goal. It is designed for the sailor who is willing to learn to make decisions on his or her own." In this instance, Luke showed initiative and drive by hiring a private coach, myself, to further his development as a sailor, become more competitive, learn the game faster, and get the coaching resources he was lacking from the team.

Luke was not satisfied with his results after his first two World Cup regattas. Luke, being the newbie in the four-boat team, was frustrated with the lack of on-the-water support he was receiving and how he was being treated by the coach. At times he was hard pressed to get access to the coach boat to get food and water, let alone access to Andreasen for post-race observations, because the priority was Zach Railey and Brian Boyd, the number one and two US team sailors. Luke, as a committed, motivated sailor, needed Andreasen's knowledge and experience, but simply wasn't getting it. With the prospect of no coaching support at the upcoming Finn European Championships, which Zach Railey and Andreasen were not attending, he decided to hired me to coach him. We spilt the cost of the coach boat with Brian Boyd, and I provided the on-the-water support for all three US Finn sailors at the regatta.

In the practice days leading up to the Europeans, Luke, Brian and Caleb Paine (the third US Finn sailor at the regatta) trained together. I took video of these practice sessions, which I shared daily with all the US sailors, giving everyone as much insight and help as I could provide. Luke really benefitted from these sessions and I saw tremendous improvement is a very short period of time. He ended up being the top placed US sailor at the Europeans and won a Silver medal as the second-highest scoring youth sailor. Because of his rapid improvement, Luke decided to keep me on as his coach for his next regatta, the Delta Lloyd regatta in Holland.

We were given a shock when Andreasen arrived in Holland and promptly told Luke in a private, two-minute meeting at the boat park that he was not allowed to tune up with the team or attend any of the team's briefings. In fact, Andreasen told Luke he needed to resign from the USSDT. The following day we stressed to Andreasen that we would share any information with him and the team, including photographs and video like we did at the Europeans, and we would also actively participate in the team's scheduled tuning sessions and daily debriefs. However, Andreasen didn't change his position. He said it was not fair to the other sailors that Luke would enjoy the benefits of having a private coach. I was perplexed by his position, given the team's stated emphasis on inter-squad training, openness and sharing of knowledge, and that we would be adding another set of eyes and experience that could be utilized by the entire Finn team. This attitude is not present in other classes. Over the winter, I trained with the US Laser team in a number of US Sailing training camps that included as many as 15 international sailors and as many as five international coaches all working together in daily sailing sessions and video debriefs. It was amazing to see the level of cooperation and willingness of the sailors and coaches to work closely together sharing their observations each day. It is unfortunate that the Finn team could not utilize all the benefits of having another coach on board, a free one at that, not even using the limited US Sailing Team resources.

Effectively, Luke was banned from the team, and he and the two top women's 470 teams are being held out as examples for not being team supporters, supposedly hurting the team's chances for medals at the 2012 Olympics. In Luke's case, he is actively being shunned by OSC Chairman Dean Brenner and head coach Kenneth Andreasen. During Kiel Week, Brenner never approached Luke, and he was excluded from the team barbecue, unlike all the other USSDT members. Is the leadership of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics correct to force Luke to resign from the team? Could Luke have just accepted the limitations the Finn team provided and waited until the following year to improve his situation? Does Luke deserve this type of treatment from the leaders of the team?

When considering the current crop of the world's top Olympic sailors who, like Luke, are singlehanded-trained sailors, you find the likes of Ben Ainslie (GBR), Paul Goodison (GBR), Tom Slingsby (AUS), Robert Scheidt (BRA), Ian Percy (GBR) and Ed Wright (GBR). Are any of these Gold medalist and world champions entirely products of their national teams, or did they benefit from focused individual support? In the case of the dominant GBR sailors, the answer is that they are not entirely products of their national teams. They may have risen through a system, but they each put together their own programs and have individual coaches giving them full support and pushing their limits. Most top-level sailors, regardless of class, benefit from individual coaching. They may also benefit from significant financial support from their sailing federations. Would Ben Ainslie or Paul Goodison accept a situation they knew limited their opportunity to be the best? I don't think so.

The notion that the best chances for the US to medal in 2012 by strictly adhering to the "new deal" is very limited. Exclusively working within the limited resources of the team, including only working with team coaches, works for some classes, but in other classes it is obviously not working. For example, under Dave Perry's leadership the women's match racing teams are making great progress by working together. However, in the Finn class, I see the opposite happening. After his hard-earned 2008 Silver medal performance, Zach Railey should have had a breakout year. However, as Streuli's article points out, Zach is dissatisfied with his finishes in 2010 and likely the net negative effect it has on his 2011 funding. The Finn team is in tatters with the number two sailor Brian Boyd retiring, and the coach's self-inflicted drama surrounding Luke. It is likely that Zach's performance is suffering from this turmoil and a lack of focused coaching. If you consider that Zach was working singularly with Andreasen as his personal coach in his rise through the Finn ranks and his surprise performance at the Olympics, it would be easy to conclude his struggles this year could be due to the change in his coaching situation as Andreasen's attention is divided.

In US Sailing's pursuit of their agenda, it appears to me they are willing to make an example out of certain sailors who want to supplement their programs to get better quicker. Wouldn't it be better to have the flexibility to focus on the individual needs of the sailors? In other words, instead of focusing so much on what a sailor is doing to support the team, they would be better off looking at how the team can better support the individual sailor so that each can make progress in the best way possible within the team, together making the team better. I believe this attitude is coming from the top.

Based on my recent experience with the team, I believe their "one size fits all" approach is hurting the team's prospects in the short term and is creating a long term problem that may take years to recover from. There may be a feel-good aspect to what they are doing, but I fear that it will limit the development of our future stars, who tend to be "different" and creative, and who are naturally driven and impatient. By trying to totally control the environment and support only their favorites, the USSDT will discourage the new blood, and this may lead to a drought of good sailors for future Olympics to come. A very strict and controlled system is only successful if resources are available to allow intense competition from a group of many sailors.

Team GBR can take a more strict approach than US Sailing, because they can financially afford to bring in large numbers of sailors to see who rises to the top under their strict system. These sailors are provided with almost everything and can just focus on sailing. The US on the other hand is attempting to adopt the British model, but only a very few top sailors can get along without supplementing their campaigns with their own money. Only the very diehard, stubborn, and / or well-off sailors can commit to the 4, 8, or 12 years it takes to reach the top level of funding under the current system. If a sailor on the USSDT has drive, talent, and funding, US Sailing needs to take advantage of it for the benefit of the team. The current lack of resources can be remedied by an open-minded attitude, willingness to accept help no matter where it comes from, acceptance of limitations, openness of communication, and inclusiveness.

It is a tough dilemma for US Sailing, and they all, including Brenner and Andreasen, genuinely want to improve the system. However, while they struggle to figure it out, I would expect them to treat every sailor who is making a commitment fairly, respectfully, and evenhandedly. Politics, personal fears, and selectivity should take a backseat to openness and inclusiveness.

two of the most naturally gifted and creative sailors I have ever met who are not currently on the US Sailing Team
Luke Lawrence and Brad Funk

Luke touching base with his sailing roots - catamaran sailing

2011 Laser Masters Worlds Wrap Up - Getting better, and the lessons learned along the way

2010-09-28T17:06:00.000-07:00

For me, the 2010 Laser Masters World Championships was more about seeing how much I could improve in the year after the 2009 Masters Worlds, than about whether or not I won another Laser title. I was a last minute entry in the 2009 championships, having only sailed in a couple regattas since coming back into the class after a 30 year hiatus. I ended up finishing 10th overall in the 2009 worlds which was surprisingly good given that I couldn't hike very long in the windy conditions, which meant I wasn't particularly fast. Nor was I very smooth or fluid in the boat. But I knew that the opportunity to challenge and test myself both mentally and physically over the next year would have far-reaching benefits beyond Laser sailing, but Lasers gave me a focused goal to work towards.

My plan was pretty simple. Shift the workout plan from general fitness to focus on increasing my sailing fitness. Do more on-the-water training to improve boat handling, starting, boat speed, and fluidity. And finally, do more racing to increase confidence and re-learn big fleet championship tactics and strategy.

Chris Herrera works on strengthening my shoulder

For my fitness program I contacted Chris Herrera, who is the trainer for the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics and co-owner of Bow Down Training and Jaguar PT. Chris is very hands-on and creates sailing-specific workouts based on the latest scientific training principles, that also employ a balanced full body workout. One of the benefits of his program is that it changes every 4-6 weeks and the programs are delivered online with video descriptions of each lift or workout movement. Chris's program enabled me to reach a really high level of fitness and as it turned out, be able to hop back into the Laser after a six month layoff and still be effective.

the Swedish KSS national team was one of many international teams that I trained with in Florida last winter

I was fortunate to train with some of the world's top Laser sailors with coaching over a couple of months last winter. This included Clay Johnson (USA), Rob Crane (USA), Nick Thompson (GBR), David Wright (CAN), and many more international sailors and their individual coaches. They were preseason training in Florida for the first 2010 Sailing World Cup event, the Miami Rolex OCR, and I was able to join in. At first, it was quite humbling trying to keep pace and not get in the way. Even though I coached Brad Funk on the international circuit, it was good to experience the core fundamentals firsthand and see the subtle differences in techniques of the top laser sailors.

competing in the 2010 Miami Rolex OCR in the open division

Although my plan was to maintain a full schedule of regattas leading up to the Worlds, the reality was that my coaching schedule virtually eliminated any of my own racing or on-the-water training for most of the year. I was able to do the Rolex OCR (January), Laser Midwinters East (February), and Midwinters West (March). Prior to a few practice days before the worlds, I got in a few hours of sailing with a few San Francisco masters in July.

Even though I registered for the 2010 Masters Worlds at the first opportunity, I was still undecided about whether I was going until a few weeks before. I would have liked to had more boat time and racing, and I was considering joining a team for the Melges 32 Worlds which conflicted with the event. However, I felt strongly that I could still do well and would regret missing the opportunity and the experience.

The Masters Worlds is real championship racing in every sense and is not just some watered down regatta. The competition is top flight and every finishing position and overall placing is hard fought. The atmosphere on the shore is friendly and light hearted, but at the same time there is the sense of purpose that is unmistakable. On the water, the racing is just as intense as any world class fleet regardless of age.

Hayling Bay gave us a good variation of conditions challenging our heavy, moderate and light air speed over 10 races. The first and final days of the championships tested our fitness and heavy air sailing in ocean like conditions. Clean starts, good upwind speed and being fast and upright downwind ruled the day. Keeping inside the laylines given the upwind currents was another key factor in having a good result. The middle three days in the moderate to light winds was all about getting a quick start off the heavily favored start lines and staying out of the "black holes." This really tested our patience and ability to recover from picking the wrong side or randomly being dumped on.

pre-worlds training partner and two-time Grand Master Champion Wolfgang Gertz

A few key factors led to my success at the regatta, which included an early arrival for training, good starts, downwind speed, and overall physical fitness. Even though I didn't have much practice before coming to the regatta, it was important to get there early to get used to the conditions, especially the tides. Every day of training I got faster and let my body get over the shock of sailing after such a long layoff.

mid-line start just in front of the visible gap

Starting well is imperative to having a good series. The strong current could either help by holding you back from the line or hurt by pushing you over early. Always knowing what the current was doing and analyzing tide charts was critical. The other technique that I relied on was to constantly check both ends of the line before the start by sailing close hauled at each end and visually looking to see which end was favored. I also would check the wind direction constantly to determine the phasing of the shifts. I started mostly in the middle of the line, like overall winner Scott Ferguson. On the windy day, there weren't big shifts and clear air and speed was king, and on the lighter days the shifts were so big that the thought of being on the wrong side of a 20 degree shift was untenable. Being aggressive to the line is another key. I slipped a few starts and held back thinking my group was over early. Sure enough, they weren't, and I was stuck in bad air leading to a bad race.

Paul Goodison Blog

You can't win or score well unless you have great downwind speed. When you see someone like Gold medalist Paul Goodison dominate the World Cup regattas, it's because he can round the first mark in the thirties and finish in the top five. His secret is that he is damn fast downwind. Fortunately, I am getting the hang of the new technique and was quite quick downwind.

being alert and fresh everyday is a big plus

Finally, fitness was what held it all together. As I tell the sailors I coach, it is a freebie. You don't need to spend hours on the water learning a new technique, testing new equipment, or going to regattas to improve your tactics, but you can work out anywhere and there is always time in every day to do some sort of workout. Being fit improves concentration on the race course and recovery in between race days.

I am pleased with how I performed in the championship finishing 3rd only one point shy of 2nd. It would be easy to look back at a capsize in the first race that cost me 3 places or the broken downhaul on the last day that cost me 5 spots, but I'm more than satisfied with 3rd, knowing that there is still more work to be done before the next Laser Masters Worlds, which are being held in my home waters in San Francisco in eleven months. There is no time to lose!

The greatest benefit of the Masters events is meeting friends from the past. (This is Dr. Alberto Larrea from Argentina, who competed with me in Takapuna, New Zealand, at the 1980 Finn Gold Cup.)

2010 Laser Masters Worlds - Bronze Medal (Laser Cube) Finish

2010-09-20T01:05:00.000-07:00

on the way to the race course for the final day

The final day of the Laser Masters Worlds was filled with drama including broken gear, a capsize, and a penalty turn in a three-way battle for the silver and bronze medals in very physical and challenging conditions. The ebb tide produced very big, choppy waves that compounded the challenge in the 17-20 knot winds. The tide also created an adverse effect at the starts by pushing the fleet towards the starting line, dramatically increasing the risk being over early and possibly getting black flagged for the race. Scott Ferguson had a big enough lead that after finishing 3rd in the first race and didn't sail in the final race. So the day would turn into a three way fight for the last two podium spots.

My day started locked in a battle for the bronze with Christian Pedersen from Denmark. It was going to come down to who beat who in the two windy races. With conditions similar to the first day of the championships where Christian posted a 3-4 finish to my 7-9 placing, I knew he was going to be hard to beat. I also knew it would be physically taxing pushing my fitness to its extreme. I relished this opportunity to justify all the training in the gym over the past year.

I started the first race just above Tracy Usher from San Francisco who is big and fast in the big breeze and waves. Normally he would grind me into the dust in no time but I was going well enough to ride his quarter wave for quite some time. In essence he was "towing" me upwind faster then I would go being on my own. After about three minutes he hit a nasty set of waves and I actually rolled him. This was a huge bonus because he was starting to spit me off the tow. Christian sailing fast came out of the right to round the mark just a head of me.

On the run I let it fly and quickly over took Christian and moved into 4th place approaching the leeward gate. As I pulled on my downhall to the maximum setting, it broke with a big bang! Laser sailors know the significant performance difference between a super tight downhaul, and maximum tight is only a few millimeters difference in pulling the tack of the sail up tight against the boom. My tack was now 4 inches above the boom and I've never seen a sail look so ugly. I limped upwind as best I could and overtook some boats on the final run to salvage an 8th. More importantly only one place behind Christian. The other thing that happened that race was Arnoud Hummel, who was second going into the day, capsized on the run and posted a big score. Now the final race would determine who would finish second.

with a broken downhaul the you can see the wrinkle cut through the sail numbers - very slow!

The final race I again got a quick start in the middle of the line and was able to sail free and clear the whole beat. Half way up the beat on port tack I ducked behind Christian letting him go left electing to minimize my tacks in the huge waves. It worked out he gained a couple of boat lengths and got two boats in between us, but I was still very close. Arnoud was a few boats behind both of us and the race was now on. We overtook Christian downwind and I move forward in the lead pack to rounded the gate in 3rd. Unfortunately it was right behind Tracy Usher, the heavy air speedster who proceeded to drop me like a cheap date. Arnoud soon passed as well, being faster upwind. Christian was threatening to pass until he fouled a starboard tack boat and ended up doing penalty turns. On the final run I closed up to round the final mark on Arnoud's transom and that is how we finished.

Arnoud Hummel finished 2nd overall, one point ahead of me in 3rd place. I finished one point ahead of Christian Pedersen.

a coveted Laser Cube

I will do a wrap-up blog soon about my overall impression of these Laser Masters Worlds.

final results worlds website

2010 Laser Masters Worlds Day Six: The final podium spot to be decided tomorrow

2010-09-19T00:28:00.001-07:00

Michael McIntyre (Star Gold medalist), Wolfgang Gertz and I study the tides

Today Scott Ferguson put a lock on another Masters Worlds title. There is a three way battle for the final podium spot to be decided on the last day between myself, Christian Pedersen, (Denmark), and Al Clark (Canada).

Today was another day of fickle winds and building tides on the Hayling Bay. After a two hour delay and one abandon race, we were able to get in a race in a 5-6 knot westerly breeze. Al Clark was the runaway winner showing exceptional speed in the light wind.

Unlike the shore breeze from the previous two days, the wind for the second race was from the sea breeze direction. The days are getting colder and not warm enough for the seabreeze to fully develop. Being late in the day, it soon deteriorated into psychotic patterns. One minute we were fully hiking; the next virtually becalmed. Added to that mix was the Grand Masters fleet which the race committee in their ultimate wisdom started just as we approached the first leeward gate. It was frustrating to say the least having twice the number of boats (100) all drifting around with the tide, seeming to be going nowhere. I don't know why this race was not abandoned.

Last leeward mark rounding I past these three boat at the finish to preserve a 4th place

Tomorrow's forecast is for 15-18 knots from the southwest, similar to the first day of the regatta. It will be full-on in every sense of the word and really exciting racing.

2010 Laser Masters Worlds - Day Five

2010-09-17T16:43:00.001-07:00

The forecast for shifty tricky northwesterly winds lived up to its billing. The story today was of two winds - 20 degrees left and 20 degrees right. There wasn't an in-between. The pressure was up and down as well, full hiking or sitting in. I handled the 8-12 knots and tricky shifts well and posted a 4th and a 1st in the two races.

Taking off too-warm gear and surveying the course

Both starts today favored a quick tack off the line (20 degrees left). About half way up the first leg the pressure would fade as the wind became unstable. The early leaders who started well (who tacked onto port early) and were now covering the center of the course while the not so good starters were pushed off to either the left or the right sides of the leg. It turned out being in the center was the black hole and one or the other side was going to be hugely favored.

In the first race I was with the two regatta leaders, Scott Ferguson and Arnoud Hummel when the middle started to fade. Scott tacked out early heading left while Arnoud and I continued on the favored tack to the mark. I remember thinking that was the last we were going to see him when the 20 degrees right shift came in. Well… good plan but we lost pressure and were sitting in while the left hand boats were fully hiked! Arnoud and I redeemed ourselves on the second beat while the fleet hit the left hard we went hard right and bingo, we met up with our 20 degrees right wind.

Race two was a carbon copy of race one except it was the right that paid off this time. I was positioned well to go to either side again and remembering what Scott did the first race, I was tempted to tack left when the wind faded. Ultimately I decided to gut it out and head right by letting a group of boats cross in front of me while I sailed the on the header. New pressure and more shift meant I and a few other boats were launched and I went on to an easy victory.

Rounding the leeward mark before the finish

I'm now sitting in 3rd place overall but 11 points back from first. The two leaders are Arnoud and Scott and are separated by only one point.

2010 Laser Masters Worlds - Day Four

2010-09-16T14:08:00.000-07:00

After two days of canceled racing, we finally got a break from the gale force winds to sail two races in an moderate 8-12 knot shifty, northwesterly wind. Today also marked the end of of the qualifying series for the Master division, which split the sailors into the Gold and Silver fleets. All the standard fleet leaders (Apprentice, Masters and Grand Masters) maintained their respective top spots, but none have more than a 3-point cushion at this point.

I had a very good day posting a 2-5, which jumped me ten places to take over 5th place. The on-course conditions were challenging from two perspectives. The wind pressure was up and down with big leftover chop from the past two stormy days, so maintaining boat speed (and keeping the cockpit from filling up) was a full-time job. There were massive wind shifts that could either make your day or make you wish you could have a do-over.

A quick fast start led to a second place finish in the first race today

Ari Barshi, a sailor from the Dominican Republic who owns and operates the Laser Center in Cabarete, and I were around each other most of the day. In the first race we both had awesome starts and were launched by the first windward mark which turned into a two boat battle for the win (Ari won). The second race saw us together again but this time deep in the fleet, in the high teens, after being on the wrong side of a 20 degree shift at the start. I was able to get a couple of critical boat lengths on him at the leeward gate, rounded inside a tightly bunched pack of boats, and was able to get away unencumbered on the lifted tack. I finished up 5th and he unfortunately found himself in rush hour traffic and posted a 20th. It was just one of those crazy days out there where being in the right place at the right time was a make or break proposition.

Tomorrow the stakes are raised with the top Master competitors all racing together in the Gold fleet, so it should be challenging and fun. The winds are forecast to be more of the same as today but a couple knots lighter. Saturday looks like it could be really light and the final day, Sunday, is predicted to be back to the Southwesterly sea breeze like we had on the first day of the championships.

results

2010 Laser Masters Worlds - Day Three (Groundhog Day)

2010-09-15T11:31:00.000-07:00

As predicted in yesterdays blog (sound familiar), today's racing was (again) canceled due to high winds and rough seas. Although not as severe as yesterday's conditions, the race committee determined after a two hour delay that it was too risky to send the fleet out in the prevailing 20-25 knots breeze and massive waves. Certainly a big consideration for them is the vast number of competitors (350) they have to manage and the wide variation of ability and fitness of the Masters competitors. While some outside the class may question why we didn't sail today, you won't find many here who don't think it was the right decision.

Another layday is another opportunity for my body to recover. I did get in a light gym workout and finished a very inspiring book that I recommend to anyone - "Born To Run," by Christopher McDougall.

Born To Run is self described as "full of incredible charters, amazing athletic achievements, cutting-edge science, and most of all, pure inspiration." The author, Christopher McDougall, sets out on a massive quest to answer one simple question: "Why does my foot hurt?" McDougall, who is six feet four inches tall and weighed 230 pounds, stopped playing pickup basketball and decided to turn himself into a marathoner. Turning 40, in five years of running he ripped his hamstring twice, strained his Achilles tendons repeatedly, sprained ankles, suffered aching arches and had to walk down stairs backwards because his heels were so sore.

What is intriguing about Born to Run is that it exposes the modern approach to running and high-tech shoes as the major culprits of most running injuries. McDougall states that 80% of all runners sustain injuries that are related to the stress induced by modern shoes and ignorance of natural, child-like running technique. He also gives an insiders look into the ultra running scene (50-100 miles races in mountain courses) and conveys the passion and dedication of these self-made athletes. Finally, the takeaway message is that our bodies are built as running machines and we need to get back to how we ran as children and to experience the same joy.

McDougall's message really resonated with my effort of getting back into shape to effectively sail the Laser, which has thus far been a two year journey. It involves working out regularly, on-the-water training with the top Laser sailors in the world, and improving my nutrition and overall health. My philosophy was to start out slow and my mantra at first was "less is more." It included walking on a treadmill and a basic weight routine. I had suffered an aggravated Achilles tendon over the past 20 years and was unable to do one of my most favorite exercises, running. I like running because of the physical benefits but more because of the mental boost it provides. Pounding out 3-5 miles thinking about racing to great victories used to be one of my favorite workouts, but I thought those days were long gone. I was very wrong.

My workouts are quite robust now and include lifting 4 days a week plus 6 days of cardio, either running or cycling and a lot of times both. With this increased intensity comes the inevitable injuries, soreness and pain. I have learned that those issues come with the territory given the intensity of my regimen and my "life experience" (i.e. age). It is frustrating being sidelined by a nagging injury and the thought that I can be hitting the road again in earnest is exciting.

I am looking forward to trying some of his concepts this fall and winter to see for myself if I can experience pain free running again.

2010 Laser Masters Worlds - Day Two

2010-09-14T13:31:00.000-07:00

As I predicted in yesterday's blog, today was a blow out with racing canceled. Gale force winds and big waves made conditions dangerous (especially for a bunch of old guys in little boats) and the race committee has been very cautious about safety. The waves were an impressive sight even in the early morning, breaking across the channel over the bar. As we arrived at the sailing club the Ap over A was already flying. It was not a hard decision to cancel because the winds were expected to increase throughout the day. Wednesday looks like there will be less wind but conditions may potentially be too strong and rough to sail.

I spent the day at the Southampton Boat Show and ran into many of the Masters competitors at the Rooster Sailing booth stocking up on some warm gear. Rooster Sailing was started and owned by Steve Cockerill, who won both Radial races yesterday, and is widely known as "the boat whisperer" the name of his world famous (in Laser circles) DVD. Although Rooster Sailing is not well known in the USA, the UK based clothing and equipment company caters primary to dinghy sailors and reflects Steve's British sailing roots in a creative way. This is especially seen in the innovation and quality of their cold-weather gear!

A Sail-World.com article on Steve described his business style perfectly: "Steve projects an individual style and has worked to develop and market fittings and clothing that improve on or fill a gap in the existing ranges available." What's even more impressive is that at this regatta, Steve is absolutely everywhere talking to people, making the rounds, is inundated with attention, and is still so focused that he is winning the Radial Masters Class.

Apart from hanging out at Rooster's boat show tent (where all the coolest old guys hang out), today was a much-needed day for recovery. I (and I think most of the fleet too) took a beating in the high wind and waves of yesterday's competition. I woke up in the middle of the night with the muscles of my left arm frozen. Although I did a serious cool down at the gym and stretched, it wasn't enough and I spent a chunk of the night icing it down. To top it off I got a cold too. Although I'm injured and sick, I'm definitely going to keep racing, because I am the toughest guy in the fleet. My best friend now is the "other blue pill," sales of which went up all over the island last night.

2010 Laser Masters Worlds - Day One

2010-09-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

I'm currently competing in the Laser Masters Worlds, which are being held in the UK at the Hayling Island Yacht Club at the eastern end of the Solent. It is an amazing place to sail with a huge dinghy club, exceptional organization and race committee, and world class sailing conditions. I've been here for the better part of a week training with a couple of former training partners from my Finn campaign, Wolfgang Gertz and Michael Nissen, both from Germany.

The most amazing thing about this area is the tide, which is enormous, and the powerful current. There are treacherous shelves and bars underneath the high water, all of which are exposed when the water rushes out. Cruising sailboats and powerboats are moored all along the sides of the channels, and most are laying on the hard, totally stranded and dry in the thick mud, when the water leaves. Locals here are extremely cautious about navigating the harbor, and very respectful of the tide! Most of our training was based on when we could go out with the tide and return in the coming ebb. This meant most days we couldn't/didn't sail until late in the day, usually returning at sunset. The tide was also accentuated by the new moon a few days ago. The tides this week are not as big as last week, so we can get to the course and back in reasonably favorable current.

high tide: no bars exposed

low tide (that's me down by the water's edge)

Today was on the windy side with the breeze starting out strong and increasing during the two races. The building ebb tide made for powerful, full ocean-like conditions. Upwind was full on power hiking with cockpit-filling square waves. The runs were epic with many options on how to: 1) best surf the monster waves; 2) avoid becoming a submariner at the bottom of the bigger sets; 3) stay upright. The best approach on a day like today is to "go for it" on the runs. Having the confidence to do it is a big factor. Otherwise backing off means over trimming to prevent a death roll, meaning you will likely end up "chicken winged" and at some point, either spinning out or capsizing to leeward and/or burying the bow and filling the cockpit, which compounds all of the above.

www.laserworlds2010.co.uk

Epic conditions and confusion around the leeward gate

I was happy with my speed today but suffered from being rusty from not being in the Laser over the past six months. The first race I was fighting it out with Scott Ferguson, last year's Masters world champion, for third place, when I capsized at the jibe mark and lost three places to finish seventh. My second race start was really bad and sailing throughout the fleet to finish inside the top ten was a good result.

Arnoud Hummel from the Netherlands busted out two bullets today to take the early lead over Scott Ferguson. see results.

Tomorrow forecast is for 20-30 knots and if it holds racing may be postponed due to the massive seas that will likely accompany the high winds.

Kinball Livingston's Interview

2010-08-30T23:12:00.000-07:00

The Torture Rack of Glory

By kimball | Published: August 26, 2010

It’s not just a full circle, it’s a rich full circle to see John Bertrand on San Francisco Bay, returning as a coach to the waters where, as a youth, he separated himself from the pack and then went on to win back-to-back Laser world championships, the Finn Gold Cup and an Olympic silver medal. One day after his protégé, Luke Lawrence, won the Finn junior world championship—and looking toward the Finn Gold Cup racing that opened Monday on the Berkeley Circle—we sat down to talk about the art and science of coaching, his decision to return to the Laser in masters competition, what an Olympic class should be, and his love affair with a certain “torture rack” also known as a Finn class dinghy.

Here is John Bertrand in coaching mode, with Gloria Lawrence (aka Luke’s mom) filming a start of the junior worlds . . .

Photo KL

So we begin.

I’m curious about your top picks for a 96-boat fleet in the 2010 Gold Cup, but first, what makes a winner in the Finn class today?

What I’ve learned over the last year, in the Laser and Finn both, is that world championships are being won downwind. You cannot be slow off the breeze. The Berkeley Circle is a well-known track. For this regatta you’re anticipating big wind and big waves, and I don’t expect any surprises on where you need to go. You need to start well, and the top guys are going to pop out. Upwind, they’ll all be competitive, and then it opens up going downwind.

And just what is it that “opens up?”

I used to finesse my way downwind, but with the new unlimited-pumping rule [in winds above 12 knots], it’s all power-based. It’s about technique, and it’s about how strong you are, and how hard you can rock and how long you can keep it up. These guys are standing up downwind. They’ll heel the boat to windward and go by the lee, then stand on the leeward side and pump, then lean on the weather side again. You can’t physically pump the whole leg, so the guys who pump longer do better. I’ve never seen Ben Ainslie sail [the triple Olympic gold and silver medalist is not entered in the 2010 Gold Cup], but my understanding is that he can do that and not lose his technique. He must have taken it to the next level.

So who are your picks for the Gold Cup?

Ed Wright is a powerful sailor. He’s due. He came out here and won the North Americans, but there are a number of other players. Rafa [Rafael Trujillo of Madrid, Spain, ESP 100] is physically the biggest. He should be competitive. Ivan from Croatia [Ivan Kljakovic Gaspic, CRO 524] is another. I’ve been impressed by how well he sails; he makes very few mistakes. And Zach Railey [USA 4] has it all. Upwind speed, power, and he’s very fast downwind. I’ve seen him pass tons of boats.

I confess, honorable reader, yr humble servant neglected to ask about the defending Gold Cup champion from Denmark, Jonas Hoegh-Christense. Instead we moved on to – John, what was it like, as a back-to-back Laser world champion, to transfer to the Finn?

The Finn is a very physical boat. It puts different stresses on the body. Once I got over that shock, it was in some ways easy because we were introducing Laser techniques to a class where they weren’t in use yet. The other John Bertrand, the Australian one, along with Peter Barrett and some other North Sails guys, got together with the Harken brothers and made the Vanguard Finn, which was a huge leap forward. It was so nice coming to a new thing, not saddled with a need to solve equipment issues. And it took a long time for the Europeans to catch on. They still had wood decks and the like. I don’t know if that was pride, or what, but it wasn’t until about 1984 that everybody switched over.

For your masters sailing, you’ve chosen the Laser.

The Laser is a more enjoyable boat. The Finn is hard work. It’s a job. The last time I actually set foot in a Finn was the final race of the 1984 Olympics. I viewed it as a kind of torture rack.

It was in the Finn class that Paul Elvstrom introduced the concept of the sailor as athlete.

Frankly, that’s the reason I got into the Finn. I’m not built for it, but I was able to wear water jackets and bring my weight up by 44 pounds. I could make the weight I needed. But I always assumed that the class builds mental toughness, and it’s tactically good. On technique and equipment you need to be really good, so it addressed all the things I wanted to accomplish. And the Finn has a macho caché, even more so now. I have no illusions that I could be competitive in a Finn today. A good friend of mine who’s won the masters worlds twice dropped out of the class when they disallowed weight jackets, and he’s bigger than I am.

How does Olympic status affect the class?

You could flip that and ask, What would the Olympics be without the Finn? To me, Olympic sailing is the Finn. It embodies everything Olympian. It’s our marathon, our triathlon. Olympic competition is about the effort that goes into it. The athleticism, the competitiveness, the nationalism. The Finn is even more fitting with the class so vital and thriving and the youth side growing.

In your youth you had a powerful, longterm relationship with your coach, Bill Monte. How does that inform your work as a coach now?

It’s huge. Everything I learned I’m trying to pass on. First and foremost it’s about trust, and what I try to impart—with Luke, with the Olympians [including Anna Tunnicliffe] that I coached for 2008, was confidence. The belief that you can succeed. The next step is to give them some ways to succeed; set them on a path. Coming full circle, Bill Monte mapped out my route; I just executed the plan. We would meet once a year for eight hours and map out the whole year to come. We’d determine which regattas I was going to, and there would be a different set of objectives for each. Sometimes it had to do with results. At other times it was not about results, it was about performance, getting good starts, nailing the tactics, something.

Congratulations are in order, too. I figure you share some part of Luke Lawrence’s win in the Silver Cup, the junior Finn worlds. That’s one somebody who will never forget was he was doing on his twentieth birthday, as in placing third in the final race, which is exactly what he had to do to take the title. So what’s involved in your next step, taking our no-longer-quite-a-teenager from the 15-boat junior fleet to the 96-boat Gold Cup fleet starting Monday?

Luke is actually very capable in large fleets, and a small fleet is sometimes harder. His goal was the Silver Cup, and he accomplished that. Now I’m anxious to meet with him to set objectives for each race next week. We’ll adjust if we need to, but it’s more about performance than scoring. We’re trying to build a foundation. You have to go through the whole alphabet before you can spell. I’m sure his mast/sail combination is not what it ought to be, but it’s good enough. He’s only been in the Finn since January, so at a technical level he still needs to learn how to sail the boat. It can be exciting to think about his potential, because he wasn’t the fastest out there in the Silver Cup.

In September you’re off to the Laser masters worlds in the UK. What’s your mindset on that kind of competition? It can’t be the same as chasing an Olympic medal.

I’m a little anxious about going to the worlds and not being where I want to be—I would have liked more practice, instead I’ve been coaching—but maybe that’s what masters sailing is all about. It’s a great scene. It was one of my fears, having been so competitive as a youth, with such high expectations, that getting back into the Laser I’d feel like a failure, but it’s not like that. I’m probably as fit as when I was younger, just not as flexible. Laser sailors today are more physical, and they’re faster. I’m kind of at the same level as when I was a youth, but the standard has moved up, in masters sailing too, so the challenge is still there.

So you wouldn’t mind winning, but that’s not the reason to go.

Correct. Otherwise I would have approached it a lot differently. Next year may be another story.

The St. Francis Yacht Club is running the 2010 Gold Cup for the Finn Class. Racing will be in the East Bay, with shoreside staging out of Marina Bay, Richmond, so that weary sailors are spared a five mile beat back to the St. Francis docks. The competition runs Monday through Saturday. Feel the burn.

Luke Lawrence Grabs the Finn Youth World Championships by Winning the Silver Cup Regatta

2010-08-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

The ninth and final race of the Silver Cup was a nail biter. Going into the final and deciding race, Luke Lawrence held only a one point lead over the two-time youth Finn European Champion Ioannis Mitakis, and a two-point lead over his US teammate Caleb Paine.

After a three hour delay onshore, the fleet was called to the start area a half hour before the 3:30pm cutoff time. The normally reliable strong seabreeze was muted to a soft, hot, unstable 8 knot westerly caused by a rare heatwave that had arrived in San Francisco overnight. The strong ebb tide that was running against the wind added a few tactical considerations for the competitors. Namely, it would want to push the fleet over the start line early, and make the windward legs relatively short with tight laylines. The foul tide made the downwind legs much longer and more tactically important.

Luke's game plan was simple. Don't be over early at the start, because restarting would be a big penalty against the tide. Knowing the fleet would compress at the windward mark meant the regatta was likely going to be won on the downwind legs and there would be opportunities to make up any deficit at the first windward mark. Luke explained, "For the start I made sure I was set up behind the entire fleet to eliminate the threat of being forced over early and I would use the current on my final approach. My conservative start and upwind tactic of shadowing my main rivals meant I just missed out on a big left hand puff that launched Caleb and the bulk of the fleet. I made sure I didn't overstand with the current and was able to overtake Ioannis but I still rounded in 11th just on the tail end of the tightly packed fleet."

The bulk of the fleet gybed at the weather mark looking for stronger wind in the middle of the bay while four boats which included Luke and Ioannis Mitakis headed for the shore and relief from the current. For a short time it looked like the lead pack was gaining, but faced with having to cross the main shipping channel twice with the underdeveloped seabreeze, Luke and the other three competitors slowly and consistently overtook the fleet halfway down the run.

Luke said, "When I saw Caleb jibe at the mark and Ioannis was 8 boat lengths behind me, I knew I was in great shape to take the title. The only wild card was that the wind was much lighter on the shore so I couldn't risk getting stuck in another hole, so I hung offshore in a little more current to make sure I didn't stall out." Luke rounded the bottom mark in second place and with the ebb tide quickly carrying him to the windward mark, he opened up a commanding lead over his Silver Cup rivals.

The best part for me was seeing Luke cross the line and then moments later witnessing the very emotional embrace between he and his mother Gloria Lawrence. I can attest to the fact that Luke was slightly nervous during the final few days of the event while he was wearing the leader's "yellow jersey." But unlike the US Sailing's youth championships, or the ISAF youth world championships where he finished second, he came home the champion. Did I mention that Luke has only been sailing the Finn for eight months? Impressive.

St. Francis Luncheon Presentation

2010-08-27T04:16:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, I made a luncheon presentation at St. Francis Yacht Club. In conjunction with the Finn Gold and Silver Cup regattas, the presentation detailed the full circle of my beginnings at St. Francis to its present, dedicated level of Olympic support. I also spoke about my coaching efforts with Luke Lawrence, and about the strengths and weaknesses of the current US Sailing Olympic program. After the talk, reporter and blogger Kimball Livingston interviewed me and wrote a nice article on his Blue Planet Times, which I wanted to share.

More on Luke at the Finn Silver Cup tomorrow!

Luke Lawrence in the Finn Silver Cup

2010-08-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Luke Lawrence and I are entering the third day of the Finn Silver Cup regatta, held at the St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco. I grew up here and have a lot of local knowledge to impart to Luke, and we are taking a tactical focus for the regatta. I have been making my own tide charts daily and briefing him every morning before racing.

Yesterday the International Finn Association published a press release about Luke's regatta, which I wanted to share below. You can see more about the regatta at www.finngoldcup.com.

Apart from coaching Luke, I have been keeping busy. Last month I was tactician on Scout, a Sydney 41, competing in the Chicago Yacht Club Race to Mackinac. I've also been doing some Laser training in preparation for the Laser Master's World Championships, held at Hayling Island, UK. This includes physical training, and last week I did my first ever century bike ride, the Marin Century Ride. I've got a lot to say about all of this, and I will be writing a couple more blogs to make up for my absence.

International Finn Association Press Release

Perfect day for Luke Lawrence!

After two victories in the second day of racing, Miami sailor Luke Lawrence takes the lead of the Finn Silver Cup. Josip Olujic (CRO) conserves his second place while Australian sailor Oliver Tweddell gains two places to third overall.

Despite saying on the first day to prefer light conditions, Luke Lawrence mastered the increasing breeze and the current to win both races today. "I had a good start from the pin end and managed to have a clear path to the left of the course with more current to lift me tothe top mark. I am not fast upwind but could keep good position on the course." With 93 kg (205 lb) Lawrence is one of the fleet's lightest. The breeze increasing from 13 knots in the first race to 20 in the second provided for athletic sailing. "I was fast on the run but often just in control!" Oliver Twiddell (AUS) and Jorge Zarif (BRA) finished in second and third place.

With increasing wind, the triangle course was set for the second race. Yesterday leader Caleb Paine (USA) rounded the top mark in top position after racing up the right side with Ioannis Mitakis (GRE). Coming from the left side, Josip Olujic (CRO) rounded in third.

Luke Lawrence (USA) was not in good shape to win his second race after a bad start and in seventh place at the top mark. "My first beat was not good. I was undecided and stayed too long in the middle where the island of Alcatraz stopped the current from pushing me towards the top mark. I had to make a decision and pick a side! Fortunately, I was able to gain some ground and a couple of places on the run." Lawrence won the race in front of Josip Olujic and Ioannis Mitakis.

At the end of the second day, Olujic is only three points from the lead. "I have very regular results. Before coming, Bambi (Ivan Gaspic, European champion and world #1) told me the key was to be consistent!" On the first race today I took a very good start but I got a penalty for rocking upwind and lost lots of places. I am fast downwind so I managed to pass a couple of boats on each run. Fourth is not bad for a race with a penalty!"

Regatta leader Luke Lawrence admitted that having John Bertrand's (USA) help was a real advantage. "John has sailed here all his life and knows the Bay like the back of his hand! It does help me build my confidence when I make a tactical choice on the water. He has a good perspective of my sailing and helps me go fast. We have worked together since May and already thanks to his help I was top three junior at the Finn Europeans." With Olympic selection in his mind, Lawrence knows he has to keep working hard. "There are good Finn sailors in the US. Zach Railey of course, but also Brian Boyd and Caleb Paine. Hopefully we will push each other to the top!"

Racing will continue on Sunday with races 5 and 6. The forecast is for building winds reaching 25 knots and stronger current which will provide for interesting racing.

For more information, contact Corrinne Mckenzie: corinne.mckenzie@orange.fr

Results, videos, and more pictures on: www. finngoldcup.com

Coaching on the Finn Circuit

2010-07-17T10:56:00.000-07:00

These past couple of months have been spent in Europe coaching Luke Lawrence in the Finn. We started with the Finn European championships in Croatia, followed by the Delta Lloyd regatta in Holland, a week of tuning with the Polish Finn team in Gdansk, Poland; and finished up at Kiel Week in Germany. It's been great being involved again in the class where I spent many years campaigning for the Olympics, and traveling the world in pursuit of world and continental titles.

this could be the first Finn ever built

Watching Luke start out in the Finn is like deja vu. Coming into the Finn class from the Laser in 1978, I experienced the same issues he is going through this season. Coming from the Laser into the Finn means learning new and different sailing techniques and dealing with a more complex sail and mast set up. The Finn is more of a "boat" due to it's heavy weight, (almost twice as heavy as the sailor) and less than a dinghy like the Laser, which is 75 percent the weight of the sailor. The harder you hike in the Laser, the faster you go. With the Finn, if the set up is not right, sometimes the harder you hike the slower you go! Learning to effectively sail any new boat requires going through a certain process. It takes patience, persistence and the ability to integrate and implement new concepts and techniques. I am working with Luke to shorten his learning process and give him the confidence that he is on track and headed in the right direction.

My mantra to Luke, which I repeat to him regularly, is that you have to go through the alphabet from A to Z before you can begin to spell. It is by making mistakes or having bad races where you actually learn the most. Over these past three European events, we have laid down a solid foundation from which he can build on. The exciting part of this process is in seeing Luke's ability to quickly integrate and apply new lesson and concepts.

we are doing a lot of mast bend analysis looking for the perfect mast sail combination

The highlight of our European swing was the final day of racing in Kiel Week, our last event. Luke had the second best score for the day! He showed good speed, sailed smart tactical races, and made great decisions to grab two top ten finishes.

The next stop for Luke and I are the Silver and Gold Cups ( Finn junior and senior World Championships) in my hometown San Francisco. These will be hotly contested world titles. Some of the top sailors are already training in the bay a month and a half before the championships.

The Silver Cup (junior Finn World Championship) will be sailed on the San Francisco city front just off the Saint Francis Yacht Club. It will be a challenge for the sailors dealing with the strong currents, the flow under the Golden Gate Bridge, and the strong puffy winds that are generated by the fog that rolls into the bay.

The Gold Cup (senior Finn world championships) will be held on the Berkeley Circle race course which is another 4-5 miles down the bay and is known for its big winds and steep chop. The big news is the final "medal race," where only the top ten competitors sail off in a single short race to determine the world champion, will be held right in front of the Saint Francis Yacht Club.

I'm currently in San Francisco for the next couple of months getting some needed Laser training in preparation for the Laser Master World Championships this September, and coaching Luke and a couple other European Finn sailors in the Finn world championships. The only exception is a quick trip to Chicago to sail onboard Scout in the Chicago to Mackinac Island Race, where we hope to duplicate our class win of a couple of years ago. I'm looking forward to these events and also to my own training. It's great to be home!

Finn Coaching - Luke Lawrence Takes Silver at the Finn Junior European Championship

2010-05-20T09:11:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity this past week to coach a promising young American Finn sailor, Luke Lawrence, to a Silver medal performance at the Finn senior and junior European Championships in Split, Croatia. For me, it was a walk down memory lane in more ways than one. First, it provided me with a chance to check in with the class in which I spent many years training and campaigning for the Olympics. It was also an opportunity to help out someone who is walking in the same footsteps I did when I began Finn sailing.

Luke, who is from Martin County, Florida, made a last minute decision on the eve of the Rolex Miami OCR this past January to switch from the Laser to the Finn. It was based on the realization that at 19 years old, he was already fifteen pounds to heavy to be competitive in the Laser. With only one and a half hour practice, he surprised himself and many others by finishing a credible 17th place. As a member of US Sailing's AlphaGraphics youth development team, Luke was able to send his newly acquired used boat to Europe to compete against the best sailors in the world this season.

After Luke's two frustrating World Cup regattas in Spain and France, I was brought in to provide coaching support for him at the Finn European Championships. As is the case with any new Finn sailor, getting up to speed is challenging and time consuming. It's not just learning the proper sailing technique in all conditions, for you also have to develop the physical strength and stamina that is required. In addition, getting the equipment sorted out is paramount, especially the sail and mast combination.

Not surprisingly, Luke is quickly picking up the different sailing techniques needed to make the boat sail fast. He has a naturally aggressive sailing style that is well suited for the Finn. Physically he is well built to pack on the muscle strength and extra pounds he will need to compete with the top Finn sailors.

Besides time in the boat, Luke's biggest challenge is developing his sail/mast combination to find the proper set up to match his weight and sailing style. It is not uncommon for sailors and their national teams to test dozens of masts and sails before settling on a fast combination. Ioannis Mitakis, the two-time Finn junior European gold medallist from Greece, is reported to have tested dozens of masts and sails. Most impressive was his 12th place overall finish in the senior championships on the way to the junior title.

Luke's major goal this year is to place well at the Finn Silver and Gold Cups (Junior and Senior World Championships) that are being held in San Francisco this coming August. He will continue to train and race in Europe through early summer and then take a break from the Finn to crew for Augie Diaz at the 505 World Championship in Denmark before preparing for the Finn World Championships.

I look forward to working with Luke at the next two World Cup regattas in the Netherlands and Germany, and helping him prepare for the Finn Silver and Gold Cups being held in my home waters of San Francisco.

My own Laser campaign continues towards the 2010 Master's World Championships at Hayling Island, UK this September. This includes competing in the August Pre-Olympic regatta, Sail for Gold, in Weymouth, UK. In July, I will also be racing onboard Dorsey Ruley's "Scout" in the 2010 Chicago to Mackinac Island race attempting to recreate our class victory two years ago.

International Sailing Academy Training Camp

2010-04-30T19:13:00.001-07:00

I just finished a week of training at the International Sailing Academy in La Cruz, Mexico with some of our top North American Laser sailors. It was an incredible experience and the most productive training camp I've ever attended. The same sentiment was voiced by all the participants.

The camp was thrown together at the last minute by Clay Johnson, Rob Crane and Chris Dold after the flight disruptions to Europe caused all of us to miss the French Olympic Week in Hyeres. Clay sent out an email to the group that said "why don't we get together in Mexico for training as an alternative to Hyeres." Less than 24 hours later, everyone confirmed to meet in Mexico in two days!

The plan was irresistible. It involved a group of highly motivated top Laser sailors, one of the world's best Laser coaches, Luther Carpenter, and an all-inclusive price including boat, lodging, food, and coaching. Not to mention, the promise of spectacular sailing conditions.

The International Sailing Academy is owned and operated by a couple of top Canadian Laser sailors, Chris Dold and Vaughn Harrison. The facilities and venue are world class and offer a unique experience. It is based out of the newly built Riviera Nayarita Marina in the town of La Cruz, that just hosted two major regattas, 2010 Mexorc and Regata Copa de Mexico. It is a twenty five minute cab ride from the Puerto Vallarta international airport with easy and affordable service from all major North American airports. They have 10 new Lasers that we ramp launched from the marina, and from there it is a quick two-minute sail into the Banderas Bay.

One of the best features is the consistent wind. Early in the morning the winds are light and from the south. By eleven o'clock it starts to build as it swings to the west, and in the afternoon we saw a steady 15-18 knots. It was easy to tailor our training program based on this consistent wind pattern.

Another great feature was the food. Our meals were prepared by Leah Danielson and served at her home, which also houses the North Sails loft and overlooks the Marina and Bay. She has worked in the catering business both on yachts and in restaurants and is a fantastic cook. The food was fresh, local, healthy and delicious. She catered to our individuals needs and requests. It was convenient and really nice not having the hassle of eating out every night. The option to eat at the local restaurants is also quite easy, because the town is just on the other side of the marina.

Leah Danielson's meals are fresh, healthy and delicious

Because this was an elite group of Laser sailors, we would launch at 12:30 to take advantage of the building sea breeze to work on fitness and speed testing. To get the blood flowing, we would begin the day doing laps around a very short windward-leeward course for a half hour. Afterwards we would do up to 2 hours of upwind "speed sprints" followed by a series of speed runs back to outer harbor. We would finish the day with a series of short sprint races. One day we launched early to tow up the coast and spent four hours just working on downwind technique and drills. After quickly unrigging in the protected harbor, we went up to the the house/sail loft for a quick stretch and filling meal. The video debrief was held the following morning at the villa before breakfast.

Radial sailor Tania Elisa leads the group home after a long day of training

I continue to be impressed by the current group of aspiring Olympic sailors. They are smart, clever, motivated, and focused. Instead of accepting the setback of missing a major international regatta, they found a way to turn it into a huge positive. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't admit that we were all quietly pleased that the French regatta was a virtual washout with little to no breeze.

highlight reel

Canadian Laser Sailor David Wright Finds and Rescues Lost Kiteboarder in the Middle of the Night

2010-04-25T17:40:00.000-07:00

Miracle Rescue in Mexico

David Wright, a top Canadian Laser sailor, who is training at the International Sailing Academy in La Cruz, Mexico, rescued a downed kiteboarder at 2:30 am today after a three and a half hour water search in Academy's coach boat. The kiteboarder had been in the water for seven hours when David found him.

Like all of us, David is only here in Mexico this week because the of the air travel shambles resulting from Iceland’s runaway Eyjafjallajokull volcano. He’s part of a group of top North American competitors who couldn't get flights to the French Olympic Regatta in Hyeres

David Wright Canadian Laser Olympic hopeful

Those of us who know David know he is one of the most determined and focused individuals you will ever meet. He just never gives up. Whether it's during an upwind heavy air grind and he is tight on your hip, or if it is a sail back to the harbor after a long day on the water, he will always be sailing his hardest. After training with him on and off for the last five months, I found out he purposely puts himself in the most disadvantage position in our speed tests and drills just to test his abilities to their fullest. It's that tenacity and his Merchant Marine training that combined to save a life last night.

At 10:30 pm yesterday, David along with Rob Crane and Clay Johnson, were awakened by frantic knocking on the door of their villa. A man wearing a kiteboarding harness, board shorts and a rash guard excitedly told David that his friend was lost out in the bay. He knew there was a powerboat at the villa. Could they help go search for him. The man had been kiteboarding with his friend after the wind died in Banderas Bay. He lost sight of his friend and decided to swim for shore. The guys jumped to action. While David tried to ascertain exactly what the situation was, Rob immediately went to the other villa to get the keys to the coach boat. Within minutes David and the kiteboarder were headed out in the 25-hp 14' RIB to search for the lost sailor.

Dave recounts the events of the rescue: "I didn't know what to make of this guy pounding on the door so late at night. Once I determined there was a legitimate emergency we immediately acted." The kiteboarder who had made a swim for it was picked up by local fisherman. They ignored his plea to go search for his buddy and was brought to the Riviera Nayarit Marina. The guy had passed out from exhaustion and shock after being picked up by the fisherman but had recovered enough by the time they docked to go find help for his friend.

Dave was formulating a plan on how to find the lost sailor from the get-go. His training as a graduate from Kings Point Merchant Marine Academy and as a 3rd Class Merchant Marine officer was put to good use. Dave goes on: "The first thing we needed was the key to the boat and to get an idea what the current was doing over the past three to four hours this guy was in the water." Dave was in the inflatable within minutes with the exhausted kiteboarder heading out into Banderas Bay, the second largest bay in North America, on a search and rescue mission.

Dave continued: "We first motored fives miles up the beach to where they launched, to make sure their car was still there. I brought him (the kiteboarder who was rescued by the fisherman) in close and he waded ashore to check the car. He flagged down a police officer and gave him a report on his missing friend. After that we motored to the last spot he saw his friend out in the bay. That's the spot where I started to run a search grid."

Because the 3/4 moon provided better visibility looking back into shore and based on the prevailing winds, Dave motored southwest offshore for another five miles and started his grid search first heading southeast. This was based on his best estimate of current and drift of the stricken sailor. As it turns out it was a smart move. "I motored as far out as I felt comfortable for my own safety in such a small boat and then started the grid pattern. I planned on running a five-mile square grid. I motored for two minutes at a time and then turned off the engine to listen and look. We had a big flashlight and it was amazing how much marine life was out there. I saw dolphins and all sorts of fish and you could hear the whales spouting. I didn't see any sharks but you know they were somewhere out there."

It was on his second pass that Dave found the lost sailor. "He was laying on his sail which has an inflatable section that kept him afloat, but he was mostly submerged." "We got him and his board and sail in the boat and put a jacket on him. He was pretty cold at that point." Dave arrived safely back at the marina at 3:00 am with the two kiteboarders.

On reflection Dave had this to say: "It was neat how all my Merchant Marine training was so naturally retrieved. There was good visibility because of the clear skies and good moonlight, and relatively smooth seas. I was supposed to be in France this week racing but because of the volcano, I ended up in Mexico instead."

I happen to agree with his next statement. "I think the guy is extremely lucky."

Dave training a few hours after rescuing a kiteboarder

Laser Midwinters West Final Day

2010-03-29T04:42:00.000-07:00

The final day of the Laser Midwinters West ended on a high note for all the competitors. As was the case in the first two days of racing, the westerly sea breeze came in late in the day. With a three o'clock cutoff time for the last race, we only sailed one final race in the strong 18-20 knot breeze.

The ebb tide again made it difficult to judge the line, and the Radial fleet, who started first, had a number of attempted black flag starts that were postponed as the final seconds counted down. There were only a handful of boats behind the line within the final seconds. The race committee was smart to go to the AP flag instead of penalizing the fleet in extremely difficult conditions. These "practice starts" gave the Radials an opportunity to better judge the current and finally on their third attempt, they had a clean start. We also were able to judge the current by observing the Radials, and our first attempted start was all clear.

The breeze for the first beat and run was a little unstable. Even though it was windy, there were "holes" in the breeze. Upwind, if you dropped into a hole, the boats just to windward would gain by being in five knots more pressure. There was a very distinctive line of wind on the edge of the hole. Dropping into a hole downwind was more dramatic because the big waves meant the boats with pressure would gain great distance surfing the big waves by not having to struggle to catch them.

After a good midline start I suffered on the first beat along with others by dropping into a hole while the boats to the right hand side gained. I was able to minimize the loss at the top of the beat with some good old fashioned straight leg hiking to round just on the heels of the leading four boats. Down the run, the fleet spread out with some boats going low sailing by the lee while others sailed high in the surfing conditions. I decided to take the middle road on the downwind, which took a lot of hard work and patience.

In typical Laser fashion, everyone was doing their own thing downwind. The sailors were sailing drastically different angles, everyone rolling wildly, and surfing the short steep waves to the best of their abilities. With the holes still present groups of boats would stall out only to catch back up in the next gust. As the leaders converged on the leeward gate, I was able to catch a "big set" of waves at the last moment and gained just enough to break an inside overlap of 3-4 boats to round in second place.

For the next beat and the remainder of the race it was full on power sailing. The wind stabilized and increased slightly to a solid and consistent 20 knots. The top reach and final run in these conditions is what makes racing on the Berkeley circle so much fun. The reach was non-stop "fire hose" planing, followed by a downwind leg where you have no option but to go for it on the edge of capsizing the whole time. If you sail conservatively, you'll end up submerging by burying the bow and filling the cockpit with water (making the boat even more unstable), or possibly pitch poling, death rolling, or capsizing to leeward. There were more then a few boats upside down on this run.

Being extremely comfortable in these conditions, I closed in on the leader as we arrived at the leeward mark. I could have pushed for an inside overlap and most likely have gotten it, but it would have been really dicey with the potential for disaster being high. Making two jibes and a really hard rounding was not worth it. On the final short beat to the finish there was no opportunity to gain. I crossed the line in second place feeling satisfied with a hard fought race.

Sean Kelly, an intercollegiate sailor from Cal Maritime, finished two boats back in fourth place and sealed the regatta victory. I end up scoring fourth place in the overall standing.

Left toRight Sean Kelly (1st), Peter Vessella (8th), Tracy Usher (7th), Ian Elliott (6th), Alex Heinzemann (5th), John Bertrand (4th), Kevin Taugher (2nd)

To celebrate I plan to do a ten mile run to the top of Mt. Tamalpais in the morning.

Results

Laser Midwinters West Day 2 - Fits and Starts

2010-03-28T07:37:00.000-07:00

Day 2 of the Laser Midwinters West produced three races, two races were sailed in a very light and dying northerly wind, but the third race was in a strong 15 knot westerly.

The first two race starts were complicated by an ebb tide, pushing the fleet over the line prematurely. After the first recall, the committee went to the black flag. It did not help that the leeward end was heavily favored. A number of boats were caught out on the next attempted start. I decided to make sure I wasn't one of them so my strategy was to start on port tack ducking boats on the line looking for a clear opening. Good for not getting black flagged, but not great having a good start. I spent the first two races working my way through the fleet. It was a good challenge, especially because the courses were only one lap around the trapezoid.

When the wind completely died and I thought we would be heading in, the westerly came roaring in with full force. It happened in less then two minutes. I have seen this many times before. It was fun hearing one sailor rave about how great it was and how he had never seen anything like it before. He couldn't stop talking about how great it was to have it go from a flat calm to perfect racing conditions in lees then five minutes. And he was right! It is like some turned on a fan and completely transform the day in an instant.

The final race was a classic Berkeley circle racing. We sailed a full course for a change, having an extra run and beat to sort out the fleet. The top of the leader board has not changed with Sean Kelly putting on a commanding performance and holding a seven point lead going into the last day.

Results

road trip

large group of Canadians competitors are here

Laser Midwinters West - Day 1

2010-03-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Laser Midwinters West regatta is hosted by Richmond Yacht Club with the race course on the famous Berkeley Circle. Famous for it's high winds, short steep chop, and the numerous World Championships, Olympic Trials and many national championship regattas held there over the years. It might be considered sailing's version of golf's National Augusta, where they hold the Master's tournament each year.

view of San Francisco and Berkeley Circle from Richmond Yacht Club

With 54 Lasers and 50 Radials registered, the regatta promised great competition.

I am fortunate to have grown up in the San Francisco bay area and spent many days sailing and training on the "circle". I've learned many lessons on this venue in my early years sailing the Laser. One such lesson was the fastest way to round the reach mark was to have a controlled capsize instead of "trying" to gybe. It was less stressful knowing exactly what the drill was, going into it, instead of the option of either pitch poling or death rolling, both leading to a "yard sale" where you end up swimming after the boat and gear (that was another lesson - how to swim after your boat). Fortunately I have a better handle on heavy air gybing, but I still have that option if ever needed! Even when it is not blowing the racing conditions are spectacular.

The Spring and Fall in San Francisco tend to be milder which was the case today. The racing started late in the day when the westerly finally settled in. We sailed three races around a trapezoid course in a steady 10-12 knot westerly. It was a great day of sailing!

My goal for this regatta is to work on my starts and get faster downwind. My three race score today is a direct indication to how I started. I had a 5th, 2nd, and 13th. The third race was going to be a great start but in the last 10 seconds another competitor was ducking into my leeward side and I became too distracted with him and lost track of the time and ended up starting late. It was a black flag start and I was being extra careful not to be early but I also ended up stalling and blades which put me back in the third row (I was the only one in the third row by the way). The good news was that I stayed patient, found clear air and the favored side of the course. I had good speed downwind and pulled back a lot of places. Much better then I thought I would, ten seconds after the start.

The fleet is very competitive. Sean Kelly, an intercollegiate sailor from Cal Maritime is leading followed closely by Greg Martinez, who is a Radial sailor sailing in his first standard regatta. I'm currently in 5th and hope to have more good starts over the next two days.

Results

Laser Midwinters Recap - Great Progress and More Work Needed

2010-02-23T08:11:00.001-08:00

The final day of the Laser Midwinters at Clearwater Beach saw us running two races in a light, southerly 5 knot breeze. The lighter conditions and bumpy sea state gave us a new challenge, and very different conditions from the northerly winds we raced in during the first three days. It reminded me of the typical conditions found in Newport Beach, California - underpowered and bumpy. Also, the north-flowing current added two challenges to the day. It reduced the wind pressure upwind, and it was swirling, producing "lanes" of stronger and weaker current. This played havoc with normal tactics and made it frustrating for the fleet.

I was challenged finding any decent speed upwind. The good sailors have developed a special feel for these conditions, and know how to set up the vang, outhaul, and mainsheet, and can sail high with good speed. Sailing low to gain speed wasn't an option because the boatspeed wasn't faster, and it ended up being just simply sailing lower with no significant gain. I spent more time focused on what the top guys were doing and trying to develop the proper feel. I ended up scoring in the 30's in the two races which were more points then I totaled for the first three days of racing- painful! This dropped me from 13th to 25th place in the final overall standings.

All in all, I felt it was an outstanding week for my Laser sailing. In the first three days of the four day event (with the exception of the first race), I rounded the top mark no worse than 6th and was leading in one of the races. My downwinds are improving and on my second upwind legs, I either gained on other boats or held my own. My upwind speed was good with the exception of the last day. Also, my Laser starting technique is still evolving and was an improvement from the last regatta. Most importantly, I have more confidence coming from this event and more resolve to improve in the areas where I have weaknesses.

To celebrate my successful regatta I went for an hour run after the awards presentation on Clearwater Beach, as the sun set.

Results

A Black Flag Day

2010-02-20T18:44:00.000-08:00

Race number six, the first Gold fleet race, produced 14 Black Flag starters. While the race committee flew the black flag after two general recalls, I was caught among this group of sailors and had to sit out the race for being called over the start line early. I had notable company, including Paul Goodison, who captured his second black flag for the regatta.

There are a number of strategies to choose from when approaching a Black Flag start. The safe approach is to place yourself in the middle of a group of boats and make sure the committee can't see you or your sail number. If you feel the fleet is holding back, then you can be more aggressive and push the line while others are afraid to (this is what caught out Goodison today). I decided to combine the two approaches. I made a late port tack approach and found a gap with 20 seconds to go into the middle of a grouping near the pin end. I got my bow lined up with my fellow competitors and pulled the trigger at the gun. Unfortunately the group I chose were all over the line when I cozied up to them with 20 seconds to the start.

The second race, a 16th place, was a solid performance that has kept me in 13th place overall, two points out of the top ten. Again, I was well placed at the first windward mark, just ducking behind Goodison to round in 6th. While I slid back on the run he charged to the front, eventually winning the race. The difference between his technique and mine is subtle but effective - something I need to build on.

more downwind work needed

Tomorrow is the final day and the forecast is for 10 knots of breeze from the east - perfect laser conditions.

Results

8th Place Overall and Top American Qualifier

2010-02-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

As forecasted, the winds were light for the second day of the Laser Midwinters in Clearwater, Florida. Temperatures are still a little chilly, but should be warming up for the weekend, which everyone is certainly ready for. The 90-boat fleet has completed five races, which marks the end of the qualifying series where the top half of the fleet race the final two days as the Gold fleet.

Did I mention it was cold in Clearwater

I'm really excited about how I've been sailing for the past two days! Today, another two finishes in the top ten (7th & 3rd) puts me in 8th place overall and the top American qualifier sailing in the Gold Fleet. I have found upwind speed in the light winds and the leftover choppy swell. I needed the speed to dig out of a poor start in the second race, in spite of which I had a great first beat. I benefitted from hooking into two shifts to round in 4th place right behind the current regatta leader and Swedish Olympian, Rasmus Myrgren.

Regatta Leader Rasmus Myrgren from Sweden
Photo by Chris Love (Sail Groove)

The Swedish are coming (or have arrived)! Three Swedes competed in the medal race (for the top 10 finishers) at the Rolex Miami OCR and currently, they have four sailors in the top ten here- this is no accident. They have been group training intensely since November, putting a lot of work in and pushing each other as a team. I've been fortunate enough to put in a lot of hours with their team as well, which has certainly improved my game.

Feeling connected to the Swedish team is only one experience from the past few days that brings me back to how I used to feel as a competitor years ago, training with the German and Polish teams in the Finn. Today was all about building on confidence, and physically experiencing entirely another mindset. You can see this happening with the other top sailors, and the last two days were one of the first times I was able to again experience this feeling of strong confidence racing the Laser. For me, it's all a process of re-learning lessons both physical and mental, and I'm excited that I have this potential.

Results

Two Top Finishes on Day 1 of Laser Midwinters

2010-02-18T18:54:00.000-08:00

We sailed three races today at the 2010 Laser Midwinters on the Gulf of Mexico off of Clearwater Beach, Florida. A chilly 15-knot northerly kicked up big swell and nasty chop. It was a long day, but the race committee ran three well-laid courses for the Laser, Laser Radial, and the Laser 4.7 classes. The fleets are split into blue and yellow groups for two days of the qualifying series, after which the top 50% are grouped into the Gold Fleet and the bottom half go into the Silver fleet.

2010 Laser Mid Winters Clearwater Beach Florida - day 1
Photo Credit Chris Love (SailGroove)

My score of 20, 3, 6 has me in 15th place and well positioned to qualify for the gold fleet. The highlight was my 3rd place in race two where I lead at the first windward mark. I was closely pursued by Clay Johnson and Nick Thompson, the runaway winner of the Rolex Miami OCR. On the first run they passed but for the next three legs I was able to maintain the same distance to them and kept a comfortable gap to the pursuing pack. The key to my successful race was winning the leeward (pin) end start. With a foul current pushing us down into the leeward mark, I was able to squeeze by after dueling with Charlie Buckingham. Once clear of the line, I had the fleet tucked away, and four minutes later tacked and had the whole fleet in my window in a nice left hand lift.

Today was a big confidence builder. In the first race I was uncertain about my speed and took a bigger risk on the first beat looking for a big shift. After the first mark I saw that I was pacing well with the fleet and with the good sailors that were around me. In hindsight, I could have finished in the top ten if I played a more conservative beat. I'll keep this new lesson in mind for tomorrow's racing.

Cameron Cullman
Photo Credit Chris Love (SailGroove)

Tomorrow's forecast calls for less wind (6-8 knots) from the northeast, which should mean very challenging offshore conditions.

Results

Ramping up for the Laser Mid Winters East

2010-02-17T17:57:00.001-08:00

I spent the last week in chilly Clearwater, Florida training with some top US and international sailors, many who also competed in the Rolex Miami OCR. The one notable exception is Paul Goodison from Great Britain, the 2008 Olympic gold medalist and 2009 Laser World and European Championships (he's actually won 5 European Championships in a row). He didn't compete in the RMOCR, but he is coming back from a well-deserved break, and with his coach is now preparing for the 2010 European season.

Paul Goodison 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist - Laser

The US team has had a dedicated coach for the past week as do the Canadian, Swedish, British and Austrian sailors. In all there are about thirty sailors working with coaches. The coaches work out a daily plan based on what the sailors need/want to accomplish given the conditions. They typically spend the first hour working separately with their designated sailors, warming up with boat handling drills around a windward-leeward course. Next, they'll do an hour of speed testing. Finally, all the teams meet for an hour of short races. Not having a coach or being on the national team, I have been adopted by all the teams and been allowed to play along. Being "adopted" has taken the span of a few training camps to accomplish, and came as my abilities and confidence grew.

When I first got to Florida in November, I joined the US Sailing Team Laser training camp in Clearwater. At that time I felt more like a speed bump while I learned the drills. At my second training camp in Miami, I became less of an obstacle, but didn't finish well in most of the drills or practice races. Near the end of that camp I decided to upgrade to a new boat and magically, it brought me into the fray. I even won a few drills and practice races. It gave me more confidence, and at the same time, raised the level of the other sailors' respect for my ability.

The great thing about training and sailing with these young guns is how accepting they have been about having me train with them. Some of it may be that their coaches are closer to my era and have clued them in to my background. However, I'd like to think it is due to the respect and camaraderie I've earned by proving that I can hang with them on the water. Although I've come a long way, I still have a long way to go yet if I want to actually race head-to-head with these sailors.

We're expecting more chilly conditions for tomorrow's start and will post daily reports.
Entry List

Old Guys Rule-the 2010 Laser Masters Midwinters

2010-02-09T17:05:00.000-08:00

I had the pleasure of competing in the 2010 Laser Masters Midwinters at the Martin County US Sailing Center this past (three day) weekend. The racing for the 60-boat fleet was held on the Indian River Lagoon, which forms part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. We saw the full spectrum of conditions from 30 knots and square waves the first day, 15-18 knots the second day, and 5-6 knots the final day. Regardless of the strength and direction of the wind, you could count on massive and unpredictable shifts and gusts (or puffs) which made the racing extremely challenging.

I was eager to rejoin the Masters racing after spending the past couple of months sailing with the top Laser sailors and competing in the Rolex Miami OCR the week before. I knew the atmosphere would be more laid back but no less competitive, since the current Masters National Champion, Peter Vessella, would be attending, as was Brett Davis the 2009 Midwinter Champion.

The Masters regattas have the feel of a party; friends coming back together not just to enjoy the racing, but also each other's company. It is a welcoming group whether you are a veteran returning to the class or a newbie who never sailed a Laser before. The celebration is also about doing something we love at an age when we're expected to be winding down. The first day, without hesitation, the committee ran three races in 20-30 knot winds and big waves that rivaled the fiercest San Francisco Bay conditions. Nobody complained, and even with a fair number of swimmers (myself included), everyone survived and had many war stories to relive at that night's dinner and no doubt at future regattas.

The regatta turned into a three way battle between myself, Peter Vessella (both representing St Francis Yacht Club), and Peter Shope representing Sail Newport. Going into the last race in a dying breeze, I managed to eke out a 3-point lead. I was able to keep Peter behind me with a loose cover although my 9th place finish equaled my worst race throw out. This meant I came up one point short of victory.

The big lesson for the week was keeping better track of points. Specifically, I needed to be more aware of the throw-out situation going into the last race. Up the last beat, Peter trailed and sailed to the opposite side of the course from me. I had to decide if I should cover him or stick to sailing my race to finish well. I sailed a couple of headers to keep him in check and lost three boats approaching the finish line to a 15 degree shift. I should have recognized this sooner and focused on covering my closest competitors rather than trying to keep Peter back.

Peter Vessella 2010 Laser masters Midwinter Champion

The Principal Race Officer had the quote of the regatta. He said, "It was great not being considered "grandpa" by the competitors." My take on the difference between the The Rolex Miami OCR and the Laser Masters Mid Winters was - Old Guys Rule!

Full results: results

Lesson Learned 2010 Rolex Miami OCR

2010-02-01T05:54:00.001-08:00

After resting a bit after racing, I started thinking about how my result at the 2010 Rolex Miami OCR compares to my result at last year's regatta. The 104 Laser competitors were the overall largest fleet at the 2010 event. The fleet was 70% larger than the average of all the other Olympic class fleets, and was laced deep with talented sailors. On top of that, the wind shifts proved to be very difficult to master for all except Nick Thompson from Great Britain, who ran away with the series scoring six wins in ten races.

Paige Railey (USA Radial) and Nick Thompson (GBR Laser)
Olympic sailing power couple and RMORC winners

Clay Johnson, a strong contender to be the US Laser representative at the 2012 Olympics aptly describes what the on course conditions were like.

"In the first race, I had a great start near the pin and continued to the left. After a few minutes I got headed and took a good opportunity to tack and cross the fleet. I was in the top five group looking great as we crossed everyone from the right. As we continued across, the breeze lightened up a little and our angle began to cave. I looked over my shoulder and saw guys that I had crossed before looking great with pressure and a nice lift further left. So I hitched out to the left trying to get some of that. But things went downhill from there. When I got there the breeze was gone and then the right came in huge. I was left struggling to get back and ended up rounding the mark in the 30s. ........I tried to fight back throughout the race, but 12th to last place were so close that there wasn't much room on the course. I limped into the finish line in a miserable 40th place. ...It doesn't make things easier that every boat in the fleet is a rockstar, so any mistake you make will be jumped upon by others." http://www.claysails.com/

As I mentioned in my first post, my focus was on performance and not results. However, the results do show an improvement from last year where I finished in the 75th percentile (47th/63 boats) and this year finished in the 58th percentile (60th/104 boats).

As for my performance, I am quite satisfied and now have many things to work on to get to the next level. I can build on most aspects of my racing, including starts, speed, tactics, and fitness.

Starts: Good consistent starts make a huge difference, and this has not changed in 30 years. However, the technique has changed and the depth of excellent starters is bigger. I had one clean start leading to a 6th place finish. In the past, if I had more than one bad start at a regatta, it meant that I usually wasn't going to win. More than two bad starts lead to a really bad regatta.

Speed: My upwind speed in light to moderate wind was satisfactory. The feel is quickly coming back and every day I got more consistent and gained more confidence. Downwind was satisfactory at best and very inconsistent. I'm interested to see how long it takes to get my downwind speed up to world standard.

Fitness: I'll be back at the gym hitting it hard tomorrow. I saw a lot of sailors at the gym after racing each day either cooling down on the stationary bikes, stretching, or doing a weight workout. In a breeze I have some work to do to hang with these guys. It could be a long process but it will only happen in the gym, on the road bike and plenty of heavy air training.

Tactics: Only by improving in the above three areas will the tactics start to become a bigger factor. Most of this regatta I spent "back on my heels" and was left scrambling moments after the start trying to find a clean lane. It was hard to get into the flow and make the right decisions from playing catch up right from the start. The last two racing days in the Silver fleet I was able to focus more on the tactics and was getting back into the more subtle aspects of big fleet tactics.

After spending the day watching the medal races I celebrated a successful week with a 40 mile bike ride.

Laser Results http://www.ussailing.org/Rolex/2010/laser/laser.html

Redemption?

2010-01-28T17:07:00.000-08:00

Race 7 was about putting together a complete race from start to finish. After two general recalls and our second black flag I decided to start in the middle of the line because there is almost always a mid-line sag. I made sure I had a nice hole to the nearest leeward boat and pulled the trigger early to get my bow out in clean air. After a minute of sailing and concentrating on max boat speed, I saw I was even with the top boats who started at the leeward end and that I could cross all the boats that started at the weather end.

The first mark was 1.5 miles to windward and placed close to the windward shore of Key Biscayne Island. The wind was very unstable with puffs, lulls, and big shifts - very tricky. Today's conditions make the upwind tactics a lot like a rat maze. There are many potential paths to get to the weather mark but nothing is certain until you actually get to it. I decided to stay on starboard because I was going well and had good pressure, also to see if I could sniff out any sort of header. I soon tacked over onto a nice lift with solid pressure. At this point there were three groups of leaders - left side - middle (me) - and right side who were spread out over 1/2 mile of separation. As it turned out, the Dutch sailor Marc de Haas punched the left corner and had a huge lead of 45 seconds at the first mark, while the rest of us squeezed everything out of every shift and puff following the "maze" up the beat. I stayed in pressure and made some good decisions to round in 4th.

I held even downwind and put together another smart beat, while the conditions became more varied. Down the run I lost two boats to finish 6th, bow-to-stern with the 2nd to 5th place boats.

Tomorrow is the final day of racing for all competitors except the top ten who will battle it out in the medal race on Saturday. Tomorrow's forecast is for east winds 9-13 knots, classic Biscayne Bay conditions.

No Meat, No Fish

2010-01-27T17:17:00.000-08:00

The Italians have a saying "no meat no fish." Translation: you don't have much going for you. The last two days on the Rolex Miami OCR Laser course, you had to be either aggressive and confident or smart and fast to do well. None of these things presently describe my sailing the last two days. I've mainly been reserved at the starts, shying away from either end by starting in the middle. I'm also not fast off the line (hence the "no meat no fish"). Therefore, getting the first couple of shifts correctly is difficult, if not impossible, and without anything special in the speed department taking risks becomes a default mode.

All is not lost because today I actually got two clean starts (an improvement) and my speed is decent at times if not a little inconsistent.

The star of the USA Laser team so far is Kyle Rogachenko, who is sitting in 11th place. Kyle attends Old Dominion University and has been on the US Sailing Youth Development Team since its inception three years ago. Kyle is followed by Rob Crane in 19th and Clay Johnson in 26th. These three among other development team members will be pushing each other in the next few years leading up to the Olympic selection trials. It will be exciting to watch.

Kyle Rogachenko and coach Ron Rosenberg at Rolex Miami OCR

Tomorrow the fleet is split into the Gold and Silver fleets. I'm in the Silver fleet and will try to be more aggressive and continue to work on consistent speed and the ever elusive downwind technique.

I'm thrilled that my performance is much better then it was last year. With the exception of a missing few, these are the best Laser sailors in the world. Every race I am learning new things and relearning old lessons. It is a great adventure.

Laser Starting 101

2010-01-26T18:53:00.000-08:00

It's time for me to go back to school on big fleet starting Laser style 2010. Today was all about getting off the line in good position, or in my case, looking for a quick escape from bad starts. The right side of the starting line and the wind shifts both heavily favored the right side of the course all day today. This made the committee boat and windward end of the line overly crowded at every start. If you elected to move down the line to a less crowded area, you would end up outside the big "righty" and not rounding in the top group at the first mark.

In a jam-packed rail to rail start, the objective is to stay parked head to wind for the final minute. It is extremely difficult to do with any sort of wind or chop like we had today. The boat wants to sail backwards at a high rate of speed. The way to counter this is by legal sculling (only to bear off without the tiller crossing the center line of the boat), constant mainsheet trimming and vang to control the bow, and using your body to pressure the center board.

At the golden moment to bear off and accelerate, you must scull like hell (6-8 times) down to a close hauled course, give a few body pumps (just enough not to get flagged by the judges), and hope you did a better job then your mates around you. Sometimes you are so close to the other sailors that your tiller is hitting the windward boat while the guy to leeward is hitting your boat with his tiller. Sounds easy? Miss a beat and you are squirted out the back and left in the dust looking for a quick escape and clear air.

Photo credit - Walter Cooper and US Sailing

This generation of sailors have come up through the Optimist class where I'm sure they have perfected this start technique. It's gonna take me a little more time before I can make this technique automatic. Overall, once I got clear air and a clean lane I was in the bottom half of the fleet scrambling to make something positive happen. I had my moments and happy about my overall speed.

Check out results and pictures here.

Rolex Miami OCR: A satisfying first day

2010-01-25T18:04:00.000-08:00

After spending the past twelve months thinking about this regatta and an intense two months training on the water, today dawned with a lot of anticipation. The forecast was classic South Florida pre-frontal with a strong 20 knot southerly blowing, and unsettled conditions brewing just to the west. My game has come back a lot these past two months but I know that I still lack speed in many conditions, especially in the breeze. Fortunately for me, the committee delayed our start and kept us on shore until 3 p.m. waiting for the front and heavy showers to blow through and for the wind shift to the west.

After numerous recalled starts from the "blue" Laser fleet it was past 5 P.M. by the time our "yellow" fleet got going. By then, the wind dropped to 12 knots! After a good midline start I was able to sail up the middle of the track on a port tack lift. The left hand boats got an early jump on the fleet. The top half of the beat saw boats starting to consolidate left but I continued to head right sailing a big lift. As I hit the right layline the wind went back right and all of a sudden I was looking at only a handful of boats who could cross. As I approached the mark I could have rounded 6th but decided not to push it and tacked and ducked a group of five boats that had overstood. I was thrilled to be in the top group but I couldn't relax because it was only one leg down and one lucky(?) shift. To my surprise and relief I held my own down wind. After trading tacks with Brad Funk, I only slid back a couple of boats up the second beat. The highlight of the race was the final run, where I gained 100 yards on my closest competitors and closed on the leaders. I finished a solid 13th in the fleet, and am happy with the result. I'm excited that I met my performance goals for the day. Tomorrow the committee will try for three races to make up for the missed race today. The forecast is for marginal wind from the northwest.

Check out results at the Miami OCR regatta website.

Returning to my Roots

2010-01-20T18:36:00.000-08:00

Twelve months ago, I raced at the Rolex Miami OCR in the 14-foot Laser class after a 30-year hiatus from top-level Laser competition. I did it as a reward to myself for getting back to my “Laser weight”, which is the equivalent of one’s “high school wrestling weight.” This is the weight you can brag you once were, even if it was only for a day. For me that meant being just under 180 lbs (81.5 kgs). The only problem was that I had only about an hour’s worth of practice to get reacquainted with the boat before the first day of the regatta.

Needless to say, the 2009 OCR regatta was a humbling experience but one that I wouldn’t trade. I thoroughly enjoyed it even though losing weight by going to the gym and eating right for six months does not make one fit enough to effectively sail a Laser by any stretch. However, it was good enough to allow me to show up every day sore but not broken. More than once people commented on my ear-to-ear smile between races or post-racing. It was thrilling to be competing again instead of occupying my normal position perched on the coach boat.

As a person who passed the half-century mark a few years ago, what compelled me to put myself back in a young man's class? I was inspired by two people in particular. Also, a specific circumstance conspired to push me in this direction.

Brad Funk, who I coached to a second place finish at the 2008 Olympic Trials in the Laser, and to a top ten finish in almost every ISAF Grade One event he entered, always said there is no reason why I couldn't or shouldn't be racing a Laser. Brad is one of the most talented natural sailors I have come across and is a free spirit. His enthusiasm is contagious (one of the reasons he is universally liked) and it motivated me to get back in the boat.

In 2008 I raced on Scout, an IMS 41 owned by Dorsey Ruley, who hails from Chicago. We won our division in the 100th anniversary Chicago to Mackinac Race, which for any racer, is a major achievement. Being a Chicago native and winning the 100^th Chi-Mac is indescribable, a life's dream come true. The most inspiring thing about Dorsey is not only has he competed in the race many times, he is also a quadriplegic. He was paralyzed from the neck down at a very young age and hasn’t let his disability slow him down in any way. He is in charge of the boat and involved in all tactical, navigational and sail decisions. When I was lacking motivation to hit the gym or in life I thought about his daily routine and would quickly snap out of any thought of slacking off.

The last reason I’m back in the Laser is that the economy has put the pinch of the number of pro sailing jobs available these days. This is an opportunity to refine my tactical skills during the slump we are experiencing.

Now, after a year, I am back at the Rolex Miami OCR looking for redemption. Over the past year I continued to work out. I’m still 180 lbs but more fit. I can hike hard for more than a minute at a time without resting. I sailed in four regattas with no or little practice, including the Laser Master's World Championship (placing 10th). In the past two months I have been training in Florida with some of the top sailors in the world. It has been a time of discovery and revelation about modern top-level Laser sailing, and about my own sailing.

Firstly, these sailors are in their 20s and incredibly fit (and most are tall). Upwind in a breeze not much has changed. It's all about power sailing and hiking hard. In light winds the roll tacks, roll jibes, and mark roundings (inter-collegiate style) play a bigger role in getting to the top of the fleet than they used to. These things I can relate to, and are automatic, stored in my muscle memory. However, the new downwind technique is completely foreign to me. Because of advances in the line systems, it is very easy to adjust the outhaul and vang to power up the sail. Therefore, downwind Laser sailing has dramatically changed. Sailing by the lee is the primary “powered up” mode and is easy in smooth water. It gets complicated when you throw in waves, especially in marginal planing conditions where the mode is all about “legal rocking” and surfing. Sailors will head up and bear off while trimming and easing the sheet, and a whole fleet will sail the run heading every which way doing their own thing. Try and sail a steady straight course and your hair will blow forward as the fleet flies past you.

As a second-time beginner to Laser sailing, I have to establish my own expectations. Like I tell the sailors I coach, I'm looking for performance and not results. I will expect to make good tactical decisions, look for opportunities to execute and gain from boat handling, positive speed line ups, and a positive starting ratio.

Did I mention there are 106 boats entered?

I'll attempt to write a nightly update to give you insight about how my day of racing went, and also give some news about U.S. and international sailors.

For information about the Rolex Miami OCR go to http://rmocr.ussailing.org/