Day 17 August 7 NAC Final Day

Ouch!

Little tougher day for us today is certainly an understatement. Shifty offshore breeze that was a little overpowering along with some chop and bad decisions and that is all she wrote.

It was a little aggravating that the breeze picked up a little before the first race and lightened up on the sail back to the club after the second race but that’s sailing. It is unrealistic to expect to do well at these type of events if you can only go good in light air.

I could never get going in either race on port tack, and don't know why. I also chose the left side for flatter water and that’s where the puffs came but to no avail. The right side was lumpier and had more breeze but we were overpowered so we wanted know more breeze so to me the left was really the only option.

Our score in the second race was pretty surprising; I thought we would be mid pack. All in all finishing 11 was pretty good for us and matches our finish in the 2007 NAC in Fishing Bay. If someone had said we would finish 11 before we left FL I would say "I'll take it" but having the day we had is certainly disappointing considering our chances to do better were so good.

On the bright side we decided to stay another day before beginning the trip home. Tonite we are going to a "fish boil" which is a local thing. It sounds a little iffy to me but the locals say it is good, so we will give it a shot. After that we are heading to a little party at Mike and Amy Millers rented condo. The party has a limiric theme and Kim is loaded and ready to go what with all the free time we had drifting yesterday. She even made me another "Piggy To Do" list. I just finished the last one!

PS This was the best run and organized regatta I have ever attended and nothing else has come close!