A big hello from San Francisco...and can I have mustard on that?
 
At the 8.30 am Coaches meeting this morning,  the Race Director said he hoped our sailors had got over the first day nerves. Some of our Team did, some didn't.
Keith, Trent, Taylor and Liam were all in the 1st flight, leaving Ryan all alone in the 2nd. Early start 11.am today, grey skies and the famous 'Finger of Fog' still hanging over the Golden Gate Bridge and the race area but lighter winds supposedly, leaving the girls to start at 3pm. The launching ramp was a well oiled machine and all sailors got away with minimum of fuss.

 
Taylor , Keith and Trent were towards the front of the pack at the early stages of the lst race, Keith stayed there to finish 10th, Trent 24th and Taylor and Liam trading places until the finish, Taylor 35, Liam 42nd.  Both boys expressing some frustration at reading the currents and place on the start line .
The currents run both ways, Slack water means that the currents are equal, coming in and going out...the water close to the shore is different to what is 20 meters out further. Flood or Ebb means more current going in or out ...same deal but more...
 
Ryan had a better race finishing 21st in his flight.
The second race saw three Kiwis in the top ten, Trent 4th Keith 7th and Taylor 9th,  great excitement as they were 2nd, 3rd and 4th with inches between them on the last downwind and looking good for a Kiwi sweep but as the breeze stiffened on the final beat upwind several of the big boys clawed back and claimed those spots. Liam not too far behind at 25th. Ryan scored a 23rd in the second flight, looking for improvement but at least was consistent.
 
The 'Drop' kicked in after the 4th race so the overall scores changed a little. Taylor thought he was OCS but the Spaniard next to him suffered the penalty, Taylor was clear.
 
Overall our Team as are follows, Keith 7th, Trent 23rd, Taylor 48th, Ryan 51st and Liam 53rd.
The Spanish have 1, 2 and 4. Japan 3rd, Demark 5th and Brazil 6th in the Boys Championships.
 
'Beach Talk' it may be, but the consensus is that many of the competitors are Radial or Full rig sailors who have jumped back into the 4.7 (smaller sail for a lighter sailor) to take advantage of the strong winds....as long as they meet the entry criteria.....
 
The big Aquapro kept 'Rocks', the Indian coach, and I, warmish and dry, we even picked up a German dad for a spin round the course.
 
As always, a huge thank you to all our supporters and well wishers.
Happy sailing
Rob Burn