Looking For Wind? Image copyright Fried Elliott/www.friedbits.com June 2010.
by Anna Tunnicliffe
It was a long day today here at the Kiel Week Regatta. We went on the water around 1pm to get into our boats for sailing, started racing just after 2pm and racing was finally called for the day at 8pm. We got half way through the semi-finals and are currently 2-1 over Katie Spithill from Australia.
The day started with the final races of the gold fleet round. We were again unsuccessful with our races and finished the round 0-6. However, all that meant was that we were paired up with the #3 seed going into the quarter finals and that was Katie.
The first race against Katie was close up the first beat, but we sailed very well around the course and took our first win in two days, which felt quite good. After a big wind shift, our next race started in shifty and puffy conditions. We managed to force her over the line early in the pre-start, and sailed the shifts well to extend our lead to win the race and lead the series 2-0. Our final race of the day started very similar for us. We had a couple of boat length lead by the top mark, but then the wind died, and got very, very patchy. Katie passed us downwind by separating from us. Upwind, we managed to catch back up to round about a boat length behind her, and then at the finish line we lost the race by half a boat length. It was a close, and at times, frustrating race, but we used it to work on our patience and light air tactics.
Tomorrow, the plan is to finish the quarters, and then finish the semi's and finals. The forecast is very similar to today's, which was great until the end, and we are looking forward to a lot of good racing tomorrow.
Team Tunnicliffe
Kieler Woche
