Practice was paramount to our success this week at the Star NAs. John von Schwarz and I had the opportunity to get almost a week of sailing together in San Diego before we headed to Newport Harbor for the Baxter Bowl for a tune regatta to the North American Championships.

We felt like we had consistently good boatspeed and in general made good decisions. I had a slight mishap in Race 4 with an OCS, and had we finished well in that race, as things were looking before we had to sail off the course, things might have gone differently. What is certain is that we probably got a little too conservative after the OCS hit the scoresheet. Our starts were less aggressive and our sailing style was much more of a ‘comeback mode’ as opposed to the aggressive mode we had been in earlier.

Regardless, we learned heaps about our boat and each other this week, and I think are well positioned to make a nice run at the District 5 Championships in San Diego in July and the World Championships in San Diego in September. Lots more racing to come, and the good news is: thanks to the result at the NAs, we’re qualified for the Worlds! That’s no easy task, and was certainly a major priority this week.

I want to commend the NHYC membership and staff for putting on a fantastic week of sailing. They were wonderful hosts and hopefully the Star Class comes back there soon! Our host family the Kelly’s pulled out all the stops for us and were as instrumental in our victory as anything! Thanks to them as well. Congrats to Brian and Gregg on a great regatta.

Results are below. I’ll get back with photos of the event if I can find some.

John von Schwarz and I benefitted from a good week of training off San Diego before we headed north to friendly Newport Harbor for the Baxter Bowl. NHYC hosted 28 teams for their annual star regatta that will play as a tune up for the North Americans which start Thursday.

Friday we lucked into a little “Basin Racing” with a few local teams before Saturday’s strange WSW breeze confused just about everybody except local hero Jim Buckingham sailing with Austin Sperry. John and I sailed quietly into a tie for 4th and floated under the radar until the breeze came up Sunday. June Gloom came in, right on schedule, and the southerly breeze picked up nicely. We squeezed a 1, 2 to finish the series, and with a throwout were able to leapfrog class legend Augie Diaz and Fritjof Kleen, as well as Jim and Austin, and win the 2013 Baxter Bowl.

Sailing this weekend was a great reminder as to how lucky we are to be able to race against great sailors and people in this class. San Diego Bay’s fleet is mourning the losses of George Szabo II and Lee Kellerhouse, and the class is still grieving Andrew Simpson. They were on the sailors minds this weekend and will continue to be while we are together for the North Americans.

Full results can be found at NHYC’s Website

Check out the new webpage unveiling information and dates for our Olympic Pathways and Youth Development program for the US Olympic Sailing Team.

Olympic Sailing Night Presentation Dates and Locations

The Olympic Sailing Committee and Olympic Pathways Subcommittee has published the Vision 2024 document outlining the action plan to revamp the Youth Development program and policy for the US Olympic Program. Check out the document to see what we’ve been working on:

VISION 2024 PLAN

There’s lots more to come and heaps going on behind the scenes. I’m really excited and humbled to be involved with shaping new policy and the youth development efforts as they progress.

Youth Development Director Leandro Spina will be in Newport, RI giving the latest Olympic Pathways Presentation at the Brooke Gonzalez Clinic next month.