2010 Laser Masters US Championships - Day 1 - 13th Place

A beautiful spring day in Charleston, SC, 90 Laser sailors enjoying a beautiful day with breezes from the south in the 10-15 knots range with some higher puffs. The first three races saw a strong ebb current, which indicated that the right side should be favored. I started race one a little way down from the boat, but definitely on the right side of the line. The current was sweeping from right to left along the starting line. I was able to get out quickly to the right in clear air. Ali Meller led out to the right side, and hit the corner hard and was first at the windward mark. I worked a few shifts on the right side and rounded in the top 20. Downwind I went to the right side (course side) and allowed the current to sweep me down to the leeward gate. This was quick and I had good downwind speed and passed a few boats. I followed the same pattern for the remaining upwind and downwind legs, and was able to finish in 15th, a nice solid finish. The next two races saw very similar conditions, and I followed the same pattern on starts and upwind and downwind legs. I finished 16th in race 2, and 11th in race 3. I was feeling good and while preparing for the last start of the day, I noticed that the signal boat was now sitting on the wind and not the current, indicating fairly slack current. I knew the pin was favored, but stayed away in the first three races to work the right side. Unfortunately I didn't settle on a strategy and ended up starting in the middle of the line and working the shifts right to middle. Left paid off big, and even right was better than the middle. Ended up very deep, but still worked the right middle on the last upwind and didn't make any gains finishing 45. This put me in 13th place overall, even carrying the 45. Hope is that 45 will be a drop race for me.

Conditions tomorrow look similar with a little less wind. Current will hold an hour later, so should not see anything but an ebb during racing tomorrow. Right side should once again be favored, both up and down, so that is my strategy. Let's see how it works out. Solid finishes in the top 20 will see me well in this 10 race regatta.

Check back tomorrow night for more updates. Cheers for now.