2018 Florida Masters: Friday
The first day of the Florida Masters was a nice one with temps in the 70s, partly cloudy skies and 86 boats in two fleets. We sailed outside in the ocean. The wind started around 7 or 8 out of the WNW and shifted around to NNE and built to 11-13. We got in 3 races for both fleets with the radials starting under the prep flag and the standards starting under U-flag after general recalling twice each of the 3 races.
In the first race it was lighter and a little lumpier and I picked the wrong side of the course on the first beat and found myself pretty deep at the first mark. By the second leg the wind had shifted much more north making it a parade upwind and down. I topped it off by hitting the same leeward mark both times I went around it and settled for 21st place finish.
After moving the course west and orienting it with the wind out of the North we got our 2nd race started. I was mid-line and had a great start and legged out to the left. I got to the layline and sailed right in to the mark and found myself first around. I lost a couple boats on both downwind legs and settled for an 8.
For the 3rd race I started closer to the pin and had to pinch above a few boats barely laying it. I stayed to the left of the course and by now the wind was 11-13 – requiring some sitting out and occasional hiking. I was making the boat move well upwind and even started figuring out how to work the waves downwind so I didn’t loose boats. I finished 5th and after 3 races I’m first Apprentice Master and 14th overall in the Radial fleet.
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