Today was another light wind affair. Actually lighter than yesterday.

Kevin and I were first off the ramp and ventured out of the harbor in about 3 knots of breeze. I decided to take a short cut between 2 Islands and realized I was in trouble when I saw birds standing were I was wanting to sail. We kicked up our rudder and CB and just made it across the Sandbar and into Open Water. Very Exciting.

NO wind out on the race course though, and we sat around until about 1 pm when we got a little wind to race with. The Finns are also sailing on our course and they got the privilege of starting first today.

We started after the Finns, and I had a bad pre-race game plan - started at the wrong end of the line and were immediately 10 boat lengths behind. Kevin grumbled a little, but we got it going and were doing pretty well 3/4 the way up the first beat but missed the last lefty because we got tacked on and were forced right. We had a pretty good run, but it was tough staying in clear air. We managed to round the bottom mark in 6th. We rounded the right mark and continued that way because we were on a lift. Speed was good and we rounded the next mark in 4th. We battled down the last run and finally passed the next boat to move into third at the finish. Steve and mike Won though so it put us further behind them.

In the next race, we decided to start and stay with the fleet. Wind was the same. We started near the middle of the line and were able to hold our lane. We were playing the left middle and doing okay even though the right was paying a bit more. But we snagged a crab pot which just about stopped us. Well you are probably wondering what are these guys doing, can't they see. But the buoy was actually below the surface of the water and we did not know anything until we were being thrown forward. One quick CB up and we were off again, but it took a while to regain our speed in the light air.

It was crowded at the weather mark, but a hole opened up just in time for us as we came in on port and rounded about fifth. We found some clear air and played the right side of the run. We had good speed and rounded the leeward mark in third. We moved into second up the next beat but got passed again near the weather mark.

We set to the reach and our spin sheet had a knot in it which caused us to loose a little distance. The next run we caught back up and moved into second only to loose it again due to Finn traffic near the mark. The last reach to the finish turned into a very light run and were just able to squeeze pass the boat ahead for a second.

So, it is a very tight regatta now. The top 4 boats are all within 4 points of each other with us in 3rd.

Good racing.
Tomorrow a norther is due to come through, but still very light wind. We will keep you posted.

Paul and Kevin Miami, Florida
1 February 2003
(Last Day of Miami ROLEX Olympic Classes Regatta)
Well, we finally got a little wind today. The long awaited norther came in with wind from 3-15 knots. The 3 meant there were a lot of holes. We were tied for second after yesterday and 6 points out of first. Race 1
We messed with Steve and Mike a little before the start, trying to give them a bad start, but it ended up that another boat messed up their start, forcing them to tack to the right. We had a good start in the middle of the line and went to the first puff on the left, while the right side of the course was a big vacuum. We rounded the top mark in third with Mark Ivey, the guy we were tied for second with, leading. Steve Hunt and Mike Miller were way back, having gotten stuck in the black hole. We moved into second on the run and caught up to Ivey a little bit. The next beat we got on the inside of a big right shift and moved into first. We played the puffy, shifty conditions well to the finish and won. Mark Ivey was 4th, and Steve and Mike were 6th. This put us one point out of first place and three points ahead of third. Race 2
We circled again with Steve and Mike for a little, and then we both went toward the pin to start. We found a good hole to start in, and they had to battle through some traffic but still managed to luff up and win the pin. We both drag raced to the right. They could not get far enough ahead to cross, and we were able to tack on them at the lay line. It was still shifty and puffy, so we had to be very careful to stay on them. We rounded first with them about three boat lengths behind. They ended up jibing to the first puff, but we stayed and waited for the left puff. Our puff was bigger, and they ended up getting caught in another vacuum, and we took off to a huge lead. We rounded the bottom mark way ahead, and they had fallen back to 6th. The next beat we again played the left to get farther ahead, then road a great puff down the reach and to the finish to take the race and the regatta. Wow, What a finish--just like sailing on the lakes in Texas! We just packed up the boat, and it will head to Barcelona, Spain, at the end of February. We plan on doing eight regattas in Europe to get ready for the Olympic Trials in November. Well, that's it from here. Sure has been nice enjoying warm Miami, but now it's back to our day jobs. Thanks for tuning in. Paul and Kevin