Coaches Update from the day -

A very interesting day on the water. Wind started of as a patchy 3-5 kts with around 15 degree shifts. It stayed like this for the first 3 races. For the fourth, it filled in, swung a little right and became more of  8-10 knot breeze with more consistent pressure but slightly larger shifts. Waves were fairly consistent all day, with about a 1 ft chop, which was messy in places!

The priorities throughout the day generally shifted as the conditions changed. In races 1-3 a clear start was critical so that you could get to the pressure you needed, a poor start or slow accleration made it extremely difficult to get where you wanted without someone tacking on you and dictating your tactics! After the start heading to the pressure became critical. Easier said than done though, as there were many tricky decisions about when or when not to go for a smaller gust, or maybe take a short header to get to the pressure!

There were also some interesting learning points around tactics on the run, and which gybe you want to be on! There are a lot of very quick downwind sailors here, so it made it downwind tactics more obvious and important than normal! Similarly there were some interesting decisions on when, or when not to open up a gap (leverage) on the fleet so that you could gain from a gust or shift!

By race 4 the wind had become more even across the course, and as a result the new priority was being on the right shift! In the last two minutes before the start the wind went about 15 degrees right. Those that noticed this, and then got on to port (the lifted tack) quickly after the start ended up significantly ahead of those that didn't when the wind then went back to the right halfway up the beat.

All in all a very very useful experience so far given the new and challenging conditions and the whole experience of travelling, chartering, the heat, working and living as a team racing in a very competitive and quick fleet! A good number of positives from today which we have discussed and hope to continue or improve further and also some key learning points, or areas to improve for everyone.

Onwards and upwards (hopefully) tomorrow!

Tim