GBR Match Race Girls

The final Women’s National Match Racing Ranker took place the weekend just gone. With three other teams competing, helmed by Katie Archer, Charlotte Lawrence and Sarah Ayton, I had a bit of a change for the weekend and teamed up with Bird Watson and my younger sister Kate.

Saturday saw the breeze drop from 8 to 5 knots throughout the day but it was plenty to get in the double round robin which we were pleased to sail through without loosing a single race. With the other three teams close on points, we ended up racing Charlotte Lawrence in the first to 3 point semi finals. With strong starts and good pace particularly up wind we held the advantage for the afternoon finishing the day 2-0 ahead in the series but close racing in the other semi lead to them finish drawn at 1a piece overnight.

The forecast for Sunday was not particularly good with what little wind there was forecast to drop to nothing and swing 180 degrees so the race committee were keen to get out early. In our first race, despite have a strong position with 15 seconds to go, we spent the next 10 going sideways and started on the back foot against Charlotte but a slip up by her gave us a clear lane of breeze up the first beat and put us in a strong position to overtake downwind…3-0 and through to the finals! In the other semi final racing remained close with Archer just taking the win to put her 2-1 ahead. Although another start took place for them the harbour soon turned glassy and it was back to shore to wait for wind. At 1.15 the other Olympic Classes were cancelled for the day but our Race Officers were determined and sent us back out to try again by 1.30. Because they were running out of time they decided to abort the semi final between Archer and Ayton where it was, putting Archer through to the finals with us. With very fickle shifty breeze we were able to start racing and we were pleased to sail well to comfortably win three races on the trot and win the weekend having not lost a single race! In the petite final although Ayton’s team looked strong at 2-0 ahead, Lawrence came back strong and won the next three races to claim the third spot overall.

Thanks to Bird and Kate for sailing with me for the weekend, they were fantastic and I find it really useful to sail with different people on occasions because I never know what I might learn!

Having had the last two days off from sailing (just doing all the paperwork that goes with the sailing!), it is back to Weymouth tomorrow to train for the rest of the week through to Tuesday next week. Next we will then be heading off to Korea for their second ever Women’s Grade 1 Match Racing event, the Busan Women’s Match.

After Korea I’m going straight to Nice, where I’m excited to say I’ll be an on-board observer as part of the Umpire team at the Louis Vuitton Series (in other words hanging on to the back of the America’s Cup Yachts for dear life!). This will be an fantastic experience and a great opportunity to see many of the world’s best sailors at this pinnacle of professional Match Racing.

Thanks again to all our supporters including Jenkins Marine, Quay Sails, Morris Lane and Spinnaker Yachts.

Yes it’s getting cold, but… keep sailing!

Lucy x

Tags: 2009, Elliott 6M, RYA Qualifier, Weymouth

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