Miami, Florida
January 31, 2008

Today was my day of comebacks as we raced in a light and difficult southeasterly during Laser Radial competition at US Sailing’s 2008 Rolex Olympic Classes Regatta. However, I came from behind to good effect, with a 2-1-9 record in the three races sailed to claim the overall lead with a two-point margin.

Photo: Dan Nerney/Rolex

The conditions were tough today with the breeze proving to be very unpredictable. It was tricky for sure. I had a really good start in the first race but faded to the right side on the windward leg to round the top mark in 15th. I went to the wrong side on the second beat and was still around 13th at the second windward mark. However on the run I sailed fast by myself and picked up ten boats to be third at the lee mark. I couldn’t catch Lizzie Vickers from Great Britain who was in first but I managed to overtake Tuula Tenkanen from Finland on the last short windward leg to the finish.

I started well and sailed a nice conservative first beat to be fifth at the top mark in the second race of the day. I got past three boats on the run to be second and was trailing Paige Railey at the leeward mark. I got into a little tacking duel with her before we went our separate ways. I worked out to the left, got into some more pressure and was in front at the top mark and stayed there until the finish.

For the last race of the day I had a decent start at the pin and that proved to be the wrong place to be. Everyone to the right of us sailed into pressure and wound up inside us. I was a dismal 26th at the weather mark. However, I was fast downwind today and picked up ten boats on the run and continued to gain on my competition over the remaining legs to finish 9th.