My mistakes

Saturday I had bad starts every race. Sunday I had two good starts. My average finish went up 3 places between Sat & Sun, which was due to many things but starts was a lot of that.

I overstood the weather mark too many times.

Saturday, downwind, I was overturning in the light air, hunting for waves too much. That was losing me more distance than I was gaining in speed.

Sunday, downwind, I was pulling my glasses down to see the waves. That helped a huge amount. I’m going check into contact lenses. I think it is a long-term health hazard not to wear sunglasses as the UV will damage your eyes. If anyone knows a materials scientist, please ask them about creating a substance from which lenses can be made that is also a “Teflon for salt.”

I sailed in gas on the windy beats too many times, although it is a nice rest from hiking hard ☺

I had some atrocious leeward mark roundings. As in turn up, stop, sheet in, go. It might have been better to turn up slowly as the sail came in rather than trying to stay close to the leeward mark.

Saturday my hiking strap was slipping to a max ease position that was too loose, and I wasn’t locked into the boat. Felt like I was losing hiking power.

Sunday, I stayed way left of the fleet on the beats once it started going right, and I actually think that was better but it was lighter in there. The error was sailing with my boat too depowered in the lighter stuff. Should have powered way up again.

West Coast Sailing Grand Prix