Day 1 goes to plan in Hyeres « GBR Match Race Girls - Women's Match Racing Olympic Campaign

Day 1 goes to plan in Hyeres

Sunday 25th April, 2010

Despite most of the fleets not getting any racing in today due to a lack of wind, the match racing course managed to keep to schedule with a course close into the marina entrance. For the first round of racing we are in group B so we had a relaxed morning then swapped into the boats on the fourth flight of the day to complete our groups first four flights.

With the two Chinese teams unable to make it because of the travel disruptions, our group only has seven teams in so we had a bye to begin with, and a chance to settle into the boat and watch our competitors racing. By the time of our first race the breeze was still light but starting to clock round to the right. With port entries all day and less than 5 knots for each one, our timing was crucial from the warning signal in case we never got round from the left hand side.

In our first race against the Swedish team we crossed low on entry and as the faster boat, were in control in pre start which led to a great start and being eight lengths ahead by the windward mark, a lead which we maintained throughout the race to take our first win.

Our second race of the day started in the sea breeze direction but was still maximum 6 knots throughout. Lining up against the other British team we were being controlled until about 2 minutes to go then both ended up at the start line very early and over the line by the time the gun went. A race back behind the line saw us come out slightly bow forward and to leeward, a position we were able to squeeze them off from. The two of us ‘bounced’ off each other up the first beat and it ended up with us ducking them at the windward mark and just finding space between them and the mark to slide round ahead and extend down the run. The breeze was still very fickle but we were able to extend our lead and take another win.

For our final race of the day we were against one of the four French teams entered in the event. Our entry was once again strong and after crossing and a circle to set-up, we were able to create a port, starboard situation from which they received a penalty. With a good start to back that up, we had a fairly low stress race to finish the day with 3 wins out of 3 and glad to have got some racing in!

Tomorrow our group will sail first to finish the final three races in the round robin. Still left to race we have a French, American and Australian team. Hoping to make the top two… we’ll let you know hoe it goes!

Lucy x