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On the Podium at the Rolex PDF  | Print |  E-mail

Shoreacres, Texas
November 18, 2007

We surprised outselves a little bit by finishing third and making it to the podium at US Sailing’s Rolex International Women's Keelboat Championship here today at the Houston Yacht Club.

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Spinnaker Takedown - - - Photo: Dan Nerney/Rolex

We had a cloudy overcast start to the day but got a race off in the morning in five to seven knots from the southeast. We had good start at the boat end while most of the fleet went for the pin. We were doing OK until the left came in strong and we found ourselves somewhere around tenth place at the top mark. Over the subsequent legs we improved on that to finish seventh.

We weren’t really focusing on the second and third overall boats because they were so far ahead of us on points. In the last race, we went for the pin end and got a great start right at go and got out ahead and rounded the weather mark in second place and stayed there the whole race.

It wasn’t until after we finished that we started counting boats and comparing scores and began to realize we might be third. We didn’t confirm it until we got ashore and saw the results. Our whole team was excited because it was our goal to finish in the top three and we’d pulled it off.

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Top three teams - - - Photo: Dan Nerney/Rolex

We came a long way this week with our sailing technique and teamwork. Sailing a Laser Radial you have only yourself to answer to and you can always gain a place or two by using sheer muscle-power to sail the boat harder. In a four-person boat it’s more about tactics and teamwork. Besides, in our crew we’re all dinghy sailors and we were up against some great sailors who spend a lot of time in J/22s and keelboats.

We had all kinds of conditions this week and it was fun. There weren’t any big waves, mostly a short chop, so we didn’t get to do any super surfing. The race committee did an excellent job on getting races off on fair courses. And the social schedule for the event was absolutely amazing. It was wonderful.

You can find Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Results here. As always, a big thanks to my sponsors Carmeuse and K-Swiss for their continued support.

Sail hard,
Anna
 

Team Member