Robert Davis Sailing

Training videos from summer 2011

2012-02-05T17:47:00.002-05:00

A few videos of training in Kingston summer 2011.

Miami OCR

2012-01-19T21:46:00.010-05:00

I am in Miami for the Olympic Classes Regatta. Racing runs January 23-28.

Follow results here.

read more...Thursday, January 19
Today was my first day back on the water since NQRs in October. It was good to get back on the water, but I was a little rusty in spots. I sailed with the Canadian Team, as well as sailors from the US, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and South America. I will train for the next few days, and then take Sunday off before racing starts on Monday.

Friday, January 20
Today we had another 3 hour session in a medium easterly with chop. There were big variations in pressure and direction, making for some very tricky sailing. I started to get the feel for the timing on the start line back today, and was really happy with my ability to hold marginal lanes in the sloppy conditions. Training continues tomorrow.

Saturday, January 21
This morning we showed up at the sailing centre early to get used to the regatta schedule, but the wind did not cooperate. Finally around 2:30 the wind filled in, and I had a short session working on light air boat handling. Tomorrow is registration and I will make sure all my gear is ready to go. Racing begins on Monday.

Monday, January 23
Today was the first day of racing. In the first race I did a nice job of creating a hole below me on the line, and had a solid start. After a few minutes, I lost my lane and tacked out, ducking many boats that held on starboard. I sailed into the middle of the course, and came back across on starboard in a nice lane and pressure, and crossed everyone on the left. I rounded the weather mark 1st, but quickly lost three boats with a big chunk of weeds on my rudder. I rounded the leeward mark 5, passed one boat on the next beat, and lost a couple more to finish 6. In the second race I approached the line too late and did not find a good spot. I was able to get clear to the right hand side of the course, and rounded the weather mark around 15. I had a good first run, passing boats, and gaining on the boats ahead. I rounded the second weather mark 9, but lost a couple on the last run to finish 11. After two races I am in 14th. Racing continues tomorrow with another 2 races scheduled.
Weather: 6-12 knots, SE, 26 degrees, sunny, short chop

Tuesday, January 24
Today we had similar conditions to yesterday, but with slightly less wind. In the first race I was near the front of the fleet for most of the first beat, but made a mistake going left at the top, and fell out of the pressure. I rounded in the mid twenties, and was unable to make any gains. In the second race I did not have a good start. I made some gains on the first beat, and sailed a good first run, but was not able to connect it to a good second beat, and finished 23.

Wednesday, January 25
Today's conditions were quite similar to Monday's conditions. In the first race I had a decent start, but was only in the teens at the first mark. I lost a bit on the second run and finished 17. In the last race I had a better start, and was able to get clear to the right side on the first beat and was near the front for the whole race, finishing 8th. After 6 races I am in 33, good enough to qualify for gold fleet.

Thursday, January 26
Today was the first day of gold fleet. Today the wind was slightly more southerly (around 150), 10-13 knots. In the first race I had a good start, but tacked a few too many times and rounded the weather mark around 30. I had a good first run, but did not go the right way on the second beat and lost a few boats to finish 23. In the second race I had another good start, but again fell back a bit on the first beat and rounded the weather mark in the deep teens. I lost a few boats throughout to finish 24. Tomorrow is the last day of fleet racing, with medal races on Saturday.

Friday, January 27
Today was the last day of fleet racing. When we first got out it was a light SW which quickly went left and built, peaking near 18 knots by the time we finished our second race. In the first race I had a decent start, but played up the wrong side of the first beat and rounded near 20. I had a good run relative to the boats around me, but there was more pressure on the other side of the run and I lost a few boats overall. I was slow out of the bottom mark, and had a tough time getting anything back and finished 31. In the second race I had a good start, but tacked a couple too many times on the first beat, and got stuck out above the port tack layline and rounded the top mark near the back. I had a good first run and connected it into a decent lane from the leeward mark and passed boats throughout the race to finish 23.

I finished 29th overall in the event. It wasn't a great result, but at the same time I am not too disappointed since I hadn't sailed since October. I was a little off the pace a few times, but overall I am happy with how I sailed, particularly with my starting towards the end of the week. I am looking forward to heading back down to Florida for the Midwinters in Clearwater at the end of February.

National Qualifying Regatta

2011-09-26T08:33:00.006-04:00

I am in Halifax, Nova Scotia for the National Qualifying Regatta - the qualifier for the Canadian Sailing Team.

Final results here

Click "read more" for daily reports.
read more...
Wednesday, September 28
Today was the first day of racing at the NQRs. In the first race I had a decent start and was at the front of the fleet early. I got stuck a bit in the middle halfway up on the beat and lost out to boats on either side and rounded around 10. I gained a few throughout to finish 6th (became 3rd after 3 boats ahead were OCS). In the second and third races I did not get off the line well and rounded the first weather mark around 14 in both races. I made some gains in each race to finish 9 and 10. After the first day of racing I am in 5th.

Thursday, September 29
Today was the second day of racing. With bad weather forecast for tomorrow, the race committee was keen to get in 4 races. I was a bit timid on the line today, but was able to make good calls and had solid downwind speed. The first three races were quite similar with pressure on the left side of the course. I was able to string together 3 good races scoring a 3,4,6. In the last race of the day I started near the boat and the wind went hard left, leaving me behind the lead group. I rounded the first leeward mark around 10. On the second beat I did a good job of spotting the new pressure and sailed the lifted tack to the right side of the course and came back in good pressure to round the weather mark 4. I passed another boat on the run to finish 3. I dropped one spot to 6th overall today, but was able to open up a nice gap to the boats behind.

Friday, September 30
Today we had a very similar breeze to yesterday with an 8-15 knot southerly. I was able to identify the similarities to yesterday and was able to put together a solid, consistent day, posting a 4,5,5. I had good speed on the downwinds again, but was often near the front at the first mark which made things a little easier for me. After 10 races I am in 6th overall. Only one race is scheduled for tomorrow. I can finish as high as third, but no lower than 6th.

Saturday, October 1
Today was the last day of racing, with only one race left to complete the series. Before the start the wind was quite unstable, ranging from 180 to 230. I decided I wanted to win the pin and hit the left. I had a great start, winning the pin and had a clear lane to left. I tacked back to the right a bit early and lost a few boats who went further left and rounded the first mark 3rd. I had a good run and rounded the bottom 2nd, lost one on the beat and finished 3rd. The boat who won the race was OCS, moving me up to 2nd in the race. I finished 5th overall and was 3rd Canadian.

Fall CORK

2011-09-26T08:26:00.005-04:00

Fall CORK was held in Kingston last weekend. The regatta came down to the last race, and I was just able to do enough to win the event. Results at cork.org

I am also currently leading the North American Grand Prix - Standings

CORK OCR

2011-08-20T19:58:00.008-04:00

I am sailing in the CORK OCR regatta in Kingston.
Racing runs August 20-24. Follow results at cork.org

Click on read more for daily reports.
Read more...
Saturday, August 20
Today was the first day of racing. In the first race I got a bit rafted up at the start, and was late getting off the line. I made a nice move to the left side of the course at the top of the beat and rounded the weather mark around 10. I was quick on the run and passed 5 boats on the run to round 5 at the bottom. I lost one boat on the next beat and finished 6. In the second race I had a good start, but the boat above me had a great start. I rolled the two boats below, but got rolled myself. I was forced to tack out, but I was able to find some space eventually. Again I rounded around 10, but was quick on the run and rounded the bottom 6 and held to the finish. In the last race of the day I won the pin end start and was leading after the gun. I closed out to the left side, but the first 4 boats came from the right. I was 6 at the bottom, passed one on the beat and lost two on the last run to finish 7.

Sunday, August 21
After a delay on shore for wind, we were sent out to the race course, only to sent in again 5 minutes into our first race. With thunderstorms in the area and a big storm approaching, racing was cancelled for the day.

Monday, August 22
Today we sailed in a tricky northwesterly. In the first race I was on the wrong side of the course on the first beat and found myself deep at the first mark. I sailed a quick race throughout and was able to get back to 7. In the second race I made some good moves at the top of the beat to round 5. I was 4 at the bottom, but sailed a terrible second beat and lost 4 boats. I gained distance on the boats ahead on the last run, but was not able to pass anyone and finished 8. In the third race we had a big right shift as a storm cloud went through. I rounded the weather mark 3, but the race was abandoned, and we were sent in for the day.

Tuesday, August 23
In the first race I got stuck at the pin, and was late starting. I went low out to the left, but wind filled from the right and went right on the first beat. I was near the back of the fleet at the first mark. I passed 10 boats on the first run, but got stuck in traffic at the bottom of the second beat. I was not able to make more gains and finished 27. In the second race I got out nicely to the right side of the course and made a good move back across the course to round the top 2nd. I was second at the bottom, passed one boat and lost two on the beat to finish 3. In the third race I didn't have a great start, but was quick enough on the first run to make some gains. I was quick at the bottom of the second beat, and finished 6. In the last race I didn't have a great start but was again able to get clear quickly. I made a mistake near the top of the beat and had to do a couple of crash tacks and rounded the weather mark around 8. I was quick on the run and rounded the bottom 2nd. I was a bit early in coming back across to the right on the second beat and lost a couple of boats to finish 4. I am currently in 6th overall, with 7 points separating 3-6. Tomorrow is the last day of racing.

Wednesday, August 24
This morning we had winds ranging from 16 to 21 knots, and unfortunately the PRO decided it was not safe to send the sailors out. We went out regardless and had a great training session. I finished the regatta 6th overall, tied on points with the sailor in 5th.

Opti Coaching

2011-08-20T19:54:00.003-04:00

I coached Opti sailor Campbell Patton from Bermuda at the CORK International regatta. Campbell finished 1st in his age group and 25th overall in the 86 boat fleet. The Kingston Whig has an article on Campbell's sailing: http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3264593

US National Championships

2011-08-03T13:59:00.009-04:00

I am in California for the US National Championships.
Follow results at http://www.calyachtclub.com/

read more...
Tuesday, August 2
I went for a sail today with Alex Heinzemann, Charlie Buckingham and Chris Barnard. We did some speed work and medium length racing. We had 5-10 knots, but with big waves which made the upwinds quite tricky when the wind was at the lighter end of the range. I am training again tomorrow. Racing starts Thursday.

Wednesday, August 3
Today was another gorgeous day, with 8-12 knots and big waves. I sailed with the same group as yesterday and did some more speed work and short course work. Racing begins tomorrow with the first race scheduled for 12:30.

Thursday, August 4
Today was the first day of racing. When we first got out, the fog was too thick and we were forced to wait for an hour before the first race got underway. I won the start at the pin end, but as soon as we started the fog rolled back in. I sailed by my watch since we could not see the weather mark. I found the weather mark, but as I approached the mark an RC boat told us the race had been abandoned and we were sent back down to the start line. On the restart I had another good start. I was in good position up the first beat, but made one small step to the left and missed out on some pressure that rolled in from the right, and I rounded the first weather mark around 20. I was quick on the last run and finished 11. In the second race I had a good start in the middle of the line and was able to tack and cross the pack above within a minute. I rounded the weather mark 5, passed a couple of boats throughout and finished 3. I am currently in 5th overall. Racing continues tomorrow with 4 races scheduled.
Weather: Sunny, 26 degrees, 5-8 knots.

Friday, August 5
Today racing got underway on schedule. Racing started out in about 5 knots and slowly built throughout the day to 6-10. In the first race I had a good start and positioned myself well up the first beat and rounded the weather mark second. I passed the boat ahead on the reach and extended on the first run and was able to hang on throughout to finish 1st. In the second race I fell back a bit on the first beat, but was able to come in late on the port layline and tacked under a big group of boats that had overstood the layline and roundedthe mark 4th, and stayed there for the rest of the race. In the third race I was 2nd to the weather mark and held throughout to finish 2. In the last race I had a good start in the middle but ended up with no pressure in the middle as both sides came in ahead. I rounded the weather mark around 18, and was able to make gains throughout to finish 9. After 6 races, I am in 4th overall, 9 points off the lead.

Saturday, August 6
Today we had 8-10 knots when we first got out and raced in 8-12 all day. In the first race I rounded around 5, dropped a couple on the first reach but had a good run to round the bottom 2nd, and held for the rest of the race. In the second race I had a great start and was punched out at the start and leading partway up the first beat. I was not aggressive enough in claiming a side and a few boats came in from either side at the top. I wasn't quick enough on the downwinds and finished 5. In the third race I had a decent start but fell out of the pressure a bit and rounded the weather mark around 12 and dropped a couple to round the bottom closer to 15. I made a good move at the last leeward mark and had a quick reach to finish 7. I was scored 9 so I will need to look into that tomorrow. In the last race I won the start at the pin and led the race from start to end. I am in 3rd overall, with two races remaining tomorrow.

Sunday, August 7
Today was the final day of racing, with two races scheduled. We had similar conditions to the previous days - 6 to 10 knots with swell. In the first race I had a solid start at the pin and got out nicely to round the weather mark 3rd. I passed one boat on the second beat and held onto 2nd. In the second race I lost my spot on the line just before go and was forced to bail. I started on port, but was able to quickly get into the front row again. I made a mistake towards the top of the beat and rounded the weather mark 8th. Alex Heinzemann rounded the weather mark 1st with a solid gap. With Heinzemann 4 points behind me going into the last race, I needed to catch up to 5th in order to stay ahead of him in the regatta. I passed two boats on the first run, and caught up to the boat ahead on the second beat, only to have us both passed by a boat who hit the corner on the beat. I was able to pass two boats again on the run, and rounded the leeward 5th. I passed one boat on the final beat to finish 4th, good enough to finish 3rd overall in the regatta. I will now do some training and coaching at home before CORK at the end of August.

Laser North Americans

2011-07-10T16:52:00.006-04:00

I am in Brant Beach, New Jersey for the Laser North American Championships. Racing runs July 12-15. Results can be found at http://www.bbyc.net/LaserNAC/

Click on read more for daily reports.

read more...

Sunday, July 10
Today was my first day of sailing in Brant Beach. I did a 2 hour session to check all my gear and to get a feel for the sailing conditions here. It was quite hot, and there was lots of seaweed. I have a little bit of boatwork to do, but other than that I am ready to go for racing on Tuesday.

Monday, July 11
Day off

Tuesday, July 12
Today was the first day of racing. We had an offshore westerly which made for very tricky racing with big differences in pressure and big shifts. In the first race I had a good start near the middle of the line, but with the pin end being favoured, some of the boats were able to tack out and cross. I was forced to work my way back to the top of the fleet. I rounded the weather mark around 10, passed 4 boats on the reach, a couple on the run and another two on the last beat to finish 3. In the second race I had a nice start at the leeward end and was up on the main pack on the left. A big right shift came through and never came back and I rounded 20ish. I made a couple of gains on the first reach and run, but went the wrong way on the second beat and lost a few again. I passed a couple of boats and got back to 16. In the last race I again started near the middle of the line, and again some boats were able to tack and cross from the leeward end. I rounded around 15, passed boats on the first run and played the second beat nicely and was 4th to the second weather mark. I passed one boat on the last beat to finish 3. After 3 races I am in 3rd.

Wednesday, July 13
Today was a very tricky day on the water. With light and variable winds it was very difficult to to figure out what part of the course was favoured. I had a tough time, and managed to combine not sailing too well with getting unlucky a couple of times. I sailed an 18,23,31.

Thursday, July 14
Today we had a strong northeasterly breeze in the morning. In the first race I had a decent start and picked the last two shifts on the first beat nicely to round the weather mark first. I lost a couple of boats on the run but held on to third place. In the second race I had a poor start, but was able to quickly get back towards the top of the fleet. I made the wrong gate call at the bottom and was stuck behind a pack of boats at the bottom of the second beat. I was quick on the run and passed a couple of boats to finish 7th. For the last race the wind had gone to the east. The race committee did not adjust the course enough which made for a very skewed start line and first beat. I was able to get out and rounded the weather mark around 10. I made a good move on the second beat, but tried to take my gain and bank it to the right where the wind had been coming from, but I got out of phase and lost a few of the boats I had passed. I was quick on the last run and finished 7th. Tomorrow is the last day of racing. Two more races are scheduled, and with one more race we will get a second drop.

Sail for Gold Regatta

2011-06-07T04:39:00.005-04:00

I am back in Weymouth, England for the Sail for Gold Regatta.
Results can be found here.

Click here for daily reports...

Monday, June6
Today was the first day of racing. After a long wait onshore for wind the Laser fleets were sent out. We sailed one race in medium wind, with a strong current against the wind. The current made the start quite tricky, and I misjudged the line and was forced to tack out right away. I sailed a poor first beat and rounded near the back. I had a solid first run, passing 10 boats, passed a few more on the next beat, and had another good run and was able to come back to the middle of the fleet and finish 31. Racing continues tomorrow with 3 races scheduled to make up for the lost race and 16-20 knots.

Tuesday, June 7
In the first race I was a bit late on the start but was able to get clear immediately. I played up the right side of the course, but the leaders all came from the left and I rounded the first weather mark around 30. I stayed relatively even to finish 32. In the second race I had a great start near the boat end and held to near the port tack layline with the rest of the fleet. I rounded the first weather mark around 20. I lost a few boats throughout to finish 25. In the third race I again had a solid start at the boat end, but didn't identify the bias in the line. The boats from the leeward end had a jump, and when the wind went left they were considerably ahead. I rounded the first weather mark around 25. My rudder downhaul line loosened and my rudder kicked up a bit, causing me to spin out several times on the first run, and I found myself at the back of the fleet and finished 49. Racing continues tomorrow with the final two qualifying races scheduled.

Wednesday, June 8
Today was the last day of qualifying races. In the first race I quickly got a lane out to the right hand side of the course. I had decent pace and rounded 20ish and stayed relatively even throughout to finish 24. In the second race I did not have a good start, but played the first beat well and rounded in near 20 again. I sailed well on the second beat but made a mental error at the top and misjudged the layline. I did a double tack and capsized, dropping about 8 boats, and finished 32. Despite the error, my scores on the day were just good enough to move me up from 66 to 61, qualifying me for the gold fleet.

Thursday, June 9
Today it was slightly lighter than the previous days. In the first race I did not have a good start, but was able to make some moves up to first beat to round around 35. I fell out of the pressure on the run and lost some boats and was caught on the outside of a pinwheel at the bottom gate. I was not able to catch up much, and finished 52. In the second race I was late at the pin, but held out to the left and played the left side well to round the weather mark around 15. I was able to hook into pressure on the run when the leaders fell into a lull, and I was able to sail around the majority of the pack and rounded the bottom in 3rd. I dropped a few boats on the next beat and 5 on the last run when I fell out of pressure and finished 12. I am in 55th overall with the final two races scheduled for tomorrow.

Delta Lloyd Regatta

2011-05-25T01:55:00.009-04:00

I am in Medemblik, Netherlands for the Delta Lloyd Regatta.
Follow results at http://www.deltalloydregatta.org/
Click on read more for daily reports.

read more...

Tuesday, May 24
Today was the first day of racing. We sailed in an offshore wind of 17-22 with short chop which was a bit difficult to handle. In the first race I did not have a good enough start, but was able to get some shifts up the first beat to round in the top half. I spun out a few times on both runs and missed a big shift on the second beat and finished near the back. In the second race my start was not better, but I was able to hitch out and quickly get in phase and I was near the front up the beat. I rounded the first mark in the top 20 and lost a few throughout to finish 24. Racing continues tomorrow.

Wednesday, May 25
After a delay on the water for wind, racing got underway in an unstable easterly. The first attempt at a race was abandoned when the wind went 45 degrees right. With the course reset racing got underway. I had a good start, but mistimed my first tack and was forced to tack back and I lost the advantage I had on the boats above me. I played up close to the front on the left side, but the right was heavily favoured, and I rounded the weather mark around 30. I had a good first run and stayed relatively even to finish 28. In the second race I found a late gap at the boat end, and had a jump on the boats on the right side of the course. I led the right side, but the first 12 boats came from the left side of the course. I lost a couple of boats on the first run, a couple more on the next beat, but had a good last run to get back to 13. The qualifying series concludes tomorrow with strong winds forecast.

Thursday, May 26
When we first hit the water there was 15 knots, and by the time the first race started it had built to 20. I fell back after the start but was able to hook into the first shift and played the rest of the beat well to round the first weather mark around 15. I lost a couple of boats on the first run, but gave up a lot of distance to the boats ahead. By the time we got to the second weather mark the wind was up to 28. I swam 3 times on the last run and fell back to 35. We were sent ashore after we finished - an hour upwind in 30 knots. After 5 races I am in 51st, good enough to qualify for the gold fleet final series, which begins tomorrow.

Friday, May 27
Today was the first day of finals racing. The forecast was for 17-22 knots at the start of the day with gusts in the high 20s, and for the wind to decrease to 16-18 in the afternoon with gusts in the low 20s. In the first race I did not have a good start, and bailed out to the right side. The left side came in and I rounded the first weather mark with 5 boats behind me. I was not able to make any gains, and finished 57. In the second race I headed right to a big cloud, and hit pressure, and rounded the weather mark around 8. I dropped a couple of boats on each run, and gained a couple on the second beat to finish 11. I am in 47th overall. Racing continues tomorrow with strong winds forecast again.

Saturday, May 28
Today again saw a strong forecast, but it was not quite as windy when we first got out. In the first race I sailed a nice first beat and rounded 10, dropped a few on the first run and passed one back on the second beat to round around 12. By this point the wind had picked up considerably. Again I lacked the control downwind and swam several times, and finished 49. By the start of the second race it was blowing 30. I had a solid start but rounded the weather mark in the deep 20s. I swam 4 times on the first run and was almost last around the leeward mark. I completed the race in 53, with several boats retiring due to breakages. There is one final race scheduled for tomorrow and again strong winds are forecast.

Sunday, May 29
Today was the last day of racing, with one race scheduled. It was again quite windy. I had a good start, and was up near the front halfway up the first beat, but made some poor moves near the weather mark and rounded around 20. My boathandling issues downwind in the big breeze continued and after a couple of swims I was near the back. I finished the race in 39th, putting me in 55th overall. Next stop is Weymouth for the Sail for Gold regatta.

Weymouth Training

2011-05-16T06:41:00.003-04:00

I am currently training at the Olympic Venue in Weymouth, England with the Canadian Team. I am here until the 20th, when I head to the Netherlands for the Delta Lloyd Regatta.
read more...
More updates to come.

Laser ACCs

2011-04-30T21:25:00.014-04:00

I am in Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina for the Laser ACCs and a training camp with the Ontario Sailing Team. Event results can be found here.

Video from training:
Read more...

Saturday, April 29
Today was the first day of racing. We had 8-12 knots from 075* at the start of the day going to 125* at the end of the day, with solid swell. In the first race I had a nice start near the middle of the line, and got out clearly with options, but with a slow right winder I was a bit back of the first group at the weather mark. I was able to pick off 5 boats on the first run and another on the last run to finish 7th. In the second race I had a good start at the boat end, headed right and led at the weather mark. I lost a boat on the run, rounded the second weather 1st, and lost a boat again on the next run to finish 2nd. In the third race I didn't have a good start, and got caught in traffic on the starboard layline to the first weather mark and rounded around 20. I passed boats throughout the race to finish 5th. In the last race I was able to get out cleanly from the boat again and led the fleet out to the right. I rounded the weather mark 3rd, was 1st at the bottom and held to take the last race of the day. After 4 races I am in 3rd. Racing continues tomorrow with 3 races scheduled.

Sunday, May 1
Today started off with around 14 knots and big swell. The wind decreased to about 8 over the course of the day, but the waves stayed the same, making for tricky downwind sailing. In the first race I didn't have a great start, and was forced to tack out. The group on the left came out ahead so I found myself back a bit around the first weather mark. I had a good final run to finish 5th. In the second race I had a good start at the pin, but got out of phase and spent too much time in a spot with less pressure and lost out to the boats on the edges. I had a decent second beat and finished 6th. In the third race I had a great start at the boat and was cleanly ahead of the group of boats around me, but made a series of poor choices coming into the windward mark and was around 8 at the top. I didn't sail well downwind and held 8th to the finish. Despite the poor sailing today I was able to move up to 2nd in the event.

Monday, May 2
Today we had a 3 hour session. 25 degrees, 8-12 knots, decent sized swell.

Tuesday, May 3
3.5 hour session. 28 degrees, 8-15 knots, big waves.

Wednesday, May 4
3.5 hour session. 20 degrees, 8-16 knots offshore

Thursday, May 5
3.5 hour session. 22 degrees, 5-14 knots, decent sized swell

Friday, May 6
Today we had a slightly shorter session before packing up and heading out. 2.5 hours, 22 degrees, 8-12 knots, decent sized swell

Laser Midwinter's East

2011-02-25T20:18:00.008-05:00

I am in Clearwater, Florida for the Laser Midwinter's East regatta. The event is an ISAF Grade 1 event.

Update: I finished 6th. See results and daily reports below.

Results
read more...

Thursday, February 24
Today was the first day of racing. The first race was sailed in a light offshore wind. I had a good start near the middle of the line, and held out to the left side of the course. There was pressure at the left layline, and I came in to the weather mark 8th at the back of the front back, with a big gap back to the next group. I passed one boat downwind and had a nice second beat to round the 2nd weather mark 3rd, which I held to the finish. For the second race, the wind had swung to the right with the sea-breeze. I started at the boat and flipped out to the right, but the wind filled from the left. I rounded the weather mark with about 12 boats behind me. I was able to pick off boats throughout to come back to 8th.

Friday, February 25
In the first race I was lined up for a pin end start. The wind went 10 degrees left in the last minute, and I was not able to make the pin end. I had to scramble off the line, but found a clear lane on the left. The wind filled from the left, and I rounded the weather mark 2nd. I lost one boat downwind, but held 3rd to the finish. In the second race I had a good start in the middle of the line, but didn't realize when I had weeds on my boards and spent too much of the beat going slowly. I had a good first run and continued to pick off boats throughout to finish 9th. In the last race I had another good start in the middle of the line. I held out to the left side of the course and rounded the weather mark around 8. I stayed even throughout and finished 8th.

Saturday, February 26
After a long wait ashore, we headed out to the course in a light southerly. I had a good start near the middle of the line and worked the left side nicely to round the weather mark in 4th. I dropped a couple of boats throughout, including a pack of 3 on the last beat to finish 9th. The race was sailed in near drifting conditions at times, which made it quite tricky.

Sunday, February 27
Today was the last day of racing. After an hour of waiting on the water for breeze, a light seabreeze filled in. In the first race I started one up from the pin. I got pinched off, but decided to go low and try to get out to the pressure on the left. There was not enough pressure, and I rounded the first weather mark deep. I sailed a good first run, lost a bit on the next beat, and gained a bit back on the final run to finish 16. In the last race I had an okay start near the middle of the line and decided to tack out. The wind was quite unstable, having increased and then decreased again, with 20 degree shifts. Most of the fleet headed out to the left where the pressure had been all week. I stayed out to the right and found good pressure and rounded the weather mark 3rd. I passed one boat on the run, and split gates with the leader a the bottom. I headed out to the left side of the course, went to the layline, and tacked back in good pressure, 15 lengths ahead of the boat that had been leading. I held my lead throughout and won the race. I dropped my first race today, and counted a 9 and a 1 to move up to 6th overall in the event.

Miami OCR

2011-01-23T19:49:00.007-05:00

I am in Miami, Florida for the Rolex Miami OCR. The event is a Grade 1 ISAF event and a World Cup event.

Follow results at: http://rmocr.ussailing.org/2011/Results.htm
read more...
Sunday, January 23
Today I did a check over my boat and a quick sail to ensure my gear is ready to go. Racing begins tomorrow.

Monday, January 24
Today was the first day of racing. We had a 10-15 knot easterly with long oscillations and pretty choppy waves. In the first race I did not have a good start and rounded the first weather mark around 25. I sailed a good first run and second beat to get up to 15 but made a big mistake and sailed out of the pressure on the last run. A group of 10 boats passed on the inside and I finished 25. In the second race I had a better start and sailed a solid first beat to round 6th. I lost a few boats on the reach and the run, and finished 12. Qualifying racing continues tomorrow.

Tuesday, January 25
Today the wind was a bit further south, and around 14-16 knots. In the first race I had what looked to be an okay start, but I wasn't able to get past a slow boat to leeward and went high and slow for too long off the line. I had an uphill battle throughout and finished 24. In the second race I was to leeward of a pack of boats who were scored OCS at the start, and had to tack out. I did a nice job getting the last shift up to the weather mark and had a good run to round the bottom around 20, just behind a pack of boats, but did not have a good exit from the mark and was unable to convert on my gain. I lost a bit at the bottom of the beat, but gained it back again to finish 20th. After 4 races I am in 39th.

Wednesday, January 26
Today was the last day of qualifying. I did not do a good job on the start line today and suffered as a result. I had a few good moments, but was indecisive on my second beats and tacked too much and stayed in the middle of the course. In the first race I finished 29th and in the second race I was 27th. Despite the poor performance today, I have qualified for the gold fleet. Final series racing runs tomorrow and Friday.

Thursday, January 27
As a result of a fighting gradient and sea breeze the wind did not settle and we did not have any racing today.

Friday, January 28
Due to the lack of racing yesterday, today;s schedule was changed to allow for 3 races to be run. In the first race I had an okay start near the boat, and was able to hip up into pressure. The right side was favoured and I rounded in the top 15. I made a costly mistake on the second beat and lost 5 boats to finish 20. In the second race I had another solid start and was able to play the first beat well to round the weather mark 7th. I got a bit run over on the first run and missed out on pressure on the second beat and dropped to 28. In the last race I had a clear start near the middle of the line. The wind went a little wild, and the left side came in big, with boats that had gone right left far behind. I rounded in the middle of the pack, but did not sail a good second beat and dropped some boats to finish 36, putting me in 42nd overall for the event.

Laser World Championships

2010-08-23T10:57:00.008-04:00

I am in Hayling Island, UK for the Laser World Championships.
The Canadian Team is training here August 20-29 and the Worlds run August 30th - September 5th.
Click on read more for daily reports.
Read more...

Monday, August 30
Today was the first day of racing. We had a medium offshore wind with significant pressure and direction changes making the racing quite tricky. In the first race I had a good start and was able to get myself cleanly out to the first puff on the left. I hitched back out left near the top of the beat and missed out on some pressure and lost to a pack on the right. I had a good first run and second beat, and passed 3 boats on the last beat to finish 20th. In the second race I did not do a good job of identifying the favoured end and started in the middle of the line, and was significantly behind the group of boats that started near the pin. I did not have a good first run and leeward mark rounding, but was able to make gains on the final half of the course to finish 33. Racing continues tomorrow with another 2 qualifying races scheduled.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 18 degrees, 5-10 knots

Tuesday, August 31
Today was a tough day at the office for me. The wind was quite light and we had a strong current making the racing very tricky. I did not account for the current well on the starts and did not get off the line well. In the first race I came out in okay shape but went up the wrong side of the course and lost out when the wind went right. In the second race I did not have a good start but was able to get clear quickly. I missed a few pressure lines near the top of the first beat and faded throughout the race. I posted a 48,46 today dropping me to 124.
Weather: Sunny, 20 degrees, 5 knots

Wednesday, September 1
Today we had a nice gradient wind with decent sized waves. In the first race I got a clear lane to the right and came back nicely with pressure to round the top mark in the top 20. I did not have a good reach, but made up 10 boats on the second beat and finished 18. In the second race I got out nicely again and rounded in the top 20, but did not have good pace on the reach. I lost out a bit on the second beat, but was able to make some gains on the final beat to finish 27th.
Weather: Sunny, 20 degrees, 12 knots

Thursday, September 2
Today I had to sail a solid day in order to remain in the silver fleet. I started well today and rounded the weather mark in good position but got run over on the first reach. In the first race I was able to make some gains on the second run and finished 24. In the second race I was higher up to begin and dropped a few throughout to finish 22.
Weather: Sunny, 20 degrees, 12 knots

Friday, September 3
Today's conditions were quite similar to Wednesday's, but with the current a bigger factor many boats were black flagged (a total of 39 BFDs in the senior fleet today), including myself in the first race. In the second race I had a clean start at the boat end. I didn't play the first beat as well as I had hoped, but rounded the weather mark in the top 20. I did not go the right way on the run and found myself back in the pack at the bottom, but was able to make some gains to finish 28 in the race. Two days of racing remain.
Weather: Sunny, 20 degrees, 12 knots

------- Training -----

Saturday, August 21
After sorting out my charter equipment I sailed out and joined the training group for a short session. I did a few races with a large group before heading back in.
Weather: 20 degrees, partly cloudy, 15 knots

Sunday, August 22
Today the wind was lighter with some swell left over from the day before. We ran through some practice starts and races and had a good downwind back against the current.
Weather: 22 degrees, cloudy, 5-10 knots

Monday, August 23
Day off

Tuesday, August 24
Today it was quite windy with winds in the 30-35 range and big waves. We did several races and I spent a fair amount of time swimming but it was good to get some practice in this amount of wind and some good pointers on what I was doing wrong.
Weather: 22 degrees, partly cloudy, 30-35 knots

Wednesday, August 25
When we first got out today it was quite light so we got some practice in light air. The wind picked up throughout the session and by the end we had nice hiking conditions.
Weather: 17 degrees, cloudy, 5 knots increasing to 18

Thursday, August 26
It was quite windy this morning with big waves, but by the time we got out the wind had come down to around 18 with the big waves left over. Again we ran some practice races.
Weather: 17 degrees, partly cloudy, 18 decreasing to 8
Friday, August 27
Day off

Sail for Gold

2010-08-08T09:09:00.008-04:00

I am in Weymouth, England for the Sail for Gold regatta. The venue will be used for the sailing competition in the 2012 Olympic Games.
Racing runs August 9-14. Results can be found here.
Click read more for daily reports.
Read more...
Saturday, August 7
Today was my first day back on the water after two weeks off because of a foot injury. I was a bit slow in my maneuvers but hiking was not an issue. It was good to get back in the boat again.
Weather: 21 degrees, cloudy, 12 knots

Sunday, August 8
I spent the day organizing my spare gear and making sure everything is ready to go for tomorrow. Racing begins at 10am with 2 races scheduled.

Monday, August 9
Today was the first day of racing. We waited for an hour and a half for the wind to settle in before the first race got underway. I did not have a very good start, and when I tacked out I got tacked on and had to immediately tack back. With all the lanes to the right gone, I was forced to go hitch up on the left of the fleet. The right side faded and I found myself in the top 20 around the weather mark. I lost a couple of boats on each of the next legs, but had a good last run, passing a group of boats to finish 15. In the second race I had a good start, but got out of phase and was left back of the leaders. I did not have a good top reach and lost a couple of boats and a lot of distance and finished 33rd. Qualifying continues tomorrow with two more races scheduled and a forecast of more wind.
Weather: Cloudy, 18 degrees, 10-14 knots.

Tuesday, August 10
After waiting around for a couple of hours for the radials to get underway we got started. It was windier today, with the wind ranging 14-20 and a big swell. In the first race I bailed a bit too early after the start and had to fight to get back. I didn't have great downhills but sailed okay upwind and finished 32. In the second race I made some gains on the oscillations on the beat and made a good move upwind to get into the top 20 at the first leeward. I wasn't as quick on the second run and lost a few to finish 21. After 4 races I am in 80. Qualifying races continue tomorrow with less wind forecasted.
Weather: Cloudy, 16 degrees, 14-22 knots

Wednesday, August 11
Today the wind was from the northwest and ranging from 8-14. In the first race I had a good start relative to the closest boats but there was some localized pressure and I was back from the front row. I did not do a good job of staying in phase on the beat and rounded near the back but was able to make some small gains to come back to 40th. In the second race I had a good clear start and held out to the first leftie and tacked back with a group of boats, well up on the rest of the pack that had started higher and flipped earlier. I played the beat well until the last 50 yards when the wind went wonky and rounded around 20. I made a poor move at the start of the run and was out of the pressure and lost a few boats and a lot of distance. I had a good top reach and put 5 lengths on the boats behind, but again I forced a move downwind and fell out of the pressure to loose 10+ boats and finished 40th. I am in 94 after the qualifying series, putting me in silver fleet for the remaining two days of racing.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 17 degrees, 8-14 knots

Thursday, August 12
Today the wind was offshore which caused very unstable winds. In the first race I was able to sail relatively well after a poor start to come back to a mid fleet finish. In the second race I did not have a good start and after sailing into a hole I was left too far back to make any gains and finished near the back of the fleet. Racing continues tomorrow.
Weather: Cloudy, 17 degrees, 5-12 knots
Friday, August 13
Today was the last day of racing. Again the wind was offshore which meant some tricky sailing with winds ranging from 4-14 knots and 50 degree shifts. In the first race I did not get out great, but had a good first run and played the second beat well to come back to 32. In the second race I had a great start and was back and forth at the front of the fleet throughout and finished 13.

Laser North Americans

2010-06-22T18:35:00.007-04:00

The 2010 Laser North American Championships are being held at Texas Corinthian Yacht Club in on Galveston Bay, June 24-27.

Follow results here.

Click here to read daily reports.

Tuesday, June 22
I arrived in Texas today and picked up my charter boat. I went for a quick sail not wanting to stay out too long in the heat - it was 40 degrees today, sunny, and the water is 32.
I am doing another training session tomorrow. Racing begins on Thursday.

Wednesday, June 23
After registering today I went for a 1.5 hour sail. We had similar conditions to yesterday - 6-12 with small waves, but it was overcast and not as hot, making the sailing more bearable. Racing begins at noon tomorrow.

Thursday, June 24
No racing today - no wind.

Friday, June 25
In the first race I had a great start at the pin end, sailed into the first patch of pressure and tacked onto port. I led the fleet to the first weather mark, but lost one boat on the run. I was able to pass the boat back early on the second beat, but lost Evert McLaughlin who hipped up on me and got some more pressure. I sailed a poor run and lost a couple of boats to finish 5th. In the second race I had a poor start near the boat end, but was able to tack out and get clear quickly. I sailed fast to the right hand side and came in to the weather mark in the top 8. I passed boats on the run and finished 6th. In the last race I again had a great start at the pin, but it turned out I was black flagged. I sailed a great race, leading throughout, going fast. With the disqualification I am currently in 19th in the fleet of 68. Odds are we will only get one race Sunday, if any, so the racing tomorrow will be crucial in trying to make up some distance to the leaders.
Weather: 6-10, ESE, 40 degrees, partly cloudy

Saturday, June 26
In the first race I had a good start at the pin end, and won the left side. The boats on the right came in ahead at the weather mark and I rounded around 10th. I made some gains on the first run but lost going left again on the second beat and finished 9th. In the second race I had a poor start near the boat end and was forced to tack out early. I had to foot out to get my own lane, but was eventually able to get clear. I positioned myself well coming into the weather mark and made some gains to round in the top 15. I lost a couple of boats on the second run but was able to make a couple back to finish 13th. In the last race I had an okay start near the pin end, but lost my lane after a couple of minutes. I played the shifts well, and came out of the left in okay shape, rounding around 10. I was quick on the reach and was able to escape to the inside on the first run with pressure and took off on the pack behind to round 4th at the bottom. I passed another boat on the second beat and held to finish 3rd. With scores of 5,6,BFD,9,13,3 I am in 5th place. Only 9 points separate 4th and 8th.
Weather: 6-14, ESE, 40 degrees, sunny

Sunday, June 27
In the first race I had a poor start towards the pin, but was able to get clear eventually and rounded the weather mark around 20. I passed 4 boats on each of the downwinds and made gains upwind to finish 11. In the second race I had an awful start and found myself well back. I was able to make some gains on the first run but lost again on the second beat. I passed a couple of boats on the last beat and finished 20. In the last race I started at the pin and was able to get a clear lane quickly and go fast. I rounded the weather mark second, lost one boat and distance on the reach, but was quick downwind and rounded the bottom 3rd with a gap behind. I was 2nd to the next weather mark but lost one boat on the run and another 2 on the final reach to finish 5th in the race and 5th overall in the regatta.
Weather: 6-14, ESE, 40 degrees, sunny

Delta Lloyd Regatta

2010-05-25T14:39:00.004-04:00

I am in Medemblik, Netherlands for the Delta Lloyd Regatta - an ISAF World Cup event. Racing runs May 26-30. Results can be found here. Click on read more for daily reports.
read more...
Tuesday, May 25
I got my boat this morning and went for a quick sail to make sure all my gear is in order for tomorrow. Racing begins at 14:00 for the Lasers, with 3 races scheduled.

Wednesday, May 26
Today was the first day of racing. The wind was up and down from 6-14 knots throughout the day, with significant shifts. I generally sailed quick, but would make small gains up the middle on small shifts and lose to the boats on the side in the bigger shifts. In the first race I had a poor start, but made good gains on the first run. I made some more boats on the second beat, but could not gain enough ground and finished 28th. In the second race I lost my lane off the start but quickly tacked out and had a clear lane and good speed. I was going well relative to the boats on my side, but the wind went 15 degrees left and I was behind the pack on the left. I had a good first run, passing 10 boats, but sailed some extra distance on the last run and lost several boats to finish 28th. In the last race I got pinged around after the start and was left a bit back. The wind was up a bit and I was going well, but I again seemed to try to make the middle of the course work and lost out to the boats on the sides. After the first day of racing I am in 56th with straight 28s.

Thursday, May 27
Racing has been postponed for 2 hours, and will now begin at 3pm local.

May Training

2010-05-02T22:30:00.003-04:00

I am currently training at the National Sailing Sport Center Ontario (NSSCO) in Toronto. I will be training in Toronto for the first 3 weeks of May before I go to Holland for the Delta Lloyd Regatta.

Results from the RCYC HPT Regatta can be found here.

Miami OCR

2010-01-23T23:12:00.010-05:00

I am in Miami for the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, an ISAF World Cup event. Racing runs Monday through Friday, with a medal race Saturday. Follow the regatta website here.

Click read more for daily reports. read more...
Saturday, January 23
I arrived in Miami this morning. I went for a short sail today, joining up with US sailor Kyle Rogachenko for a quick upwind and a long downwind back to the regatta centre. Registration is tomorrow and racing begins Monday.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 28 degrees, NE, 8-12

Sunday, January 24
I took today off. Racing begins tomorrow with two races scheduled

Monday, January 25
After a long delay on shore waiting for a cold front to pass through, the fleet was finally sent out at 3. After more delays on the water we finally got underway at 4. I didn't have a great start, but was able to get clear air out to the left side and came back on some nice pressure and rounded the weather mark in 8th. I lost 1 boat on the first run, one more on the next beat and two on the final run to finish 12th. Racing continues tomorrow.
Weather: 26 degrees, cloudy, NW,12 knots dying to 6

Tuesday, Janaury 26
After a short race committee delay racing got underway in a northerly with big velocity changes and 15 degree shifts. In the first race I had a poor start and had a tough time on the first beat. I passed a few boats on the reach, 5 more on the run, 10 on the second beat and finished 16th. In the second race I had a better start, but again lost my lane. I picked a good lane upwind and came into the weather mark in good position. I lost two boats on the last run and finished 14th. In the last race I had a better start, but lost the lane again after a few minutes. I rounded the weather mark around 30th. I passed a few boats on the run, but lost a big group of boats on the last run and finished 39th. After 4 races I am in 39th overall. Tomorrow is the last day of qualifying races with two races scheduled.
Weather: 24 degrees, sunny, N, 6-14 knots

Wednesday, January 27
Today we had a similar wind direction with big changes in velocity and direction, but a lower average wind. I had trouble with my starts in both races today, but was quick downwind. I need to work on my positioning relative to other boats in the pre start and my ability to hold my spot. I am going too slow and am therefore unable to have a proper acceleration. I scored a 29 and a 30 today and just managed to qualify for gold fleet racing. There are two races scheduled for tomorrow.
Weather: 25 degrees, sunny, N, 4-10 knots

Thursday, January 28
Today we had an easterly wind with big changes in both velocity and direction. I did a better job today of getting a clear spot on the line, but was still a bit late pulling the trigger and lost my lanes a few minutes after the start. In the first race I had a poor first beat and rounded deep around the first weather mark. I was quick on both runs and was able to make gains around the track to finish 34th. In the second race I got clear out to the left hand side of the course and rode a nice leftie back across. I rounded the weather mark in the top 20, gained distance on the first run, lost a few on the second beat, and then gained a couple back on the last run to finish 18th. Tomorrow is the last day of finals racing with two races scheduled.
Weather: 26 degrees, partly cloudy, E, 6-12 knots

Friday, January 29
Today was the last day of finals racing. We sailed in a moderate southeasterly wind with slow wind shifts. My starting was better today, but I did not always put the boat in the right place on the course to take advantage of the wind shifts. In the first race I had an okay start, but missed out on a few shifts on the first beat and found myself near the back of the pack. I sailed a quick first run, passing some boats and gaining distance to the group ahead. I was quick again on the following run and caught up to a big group of boats. I managed to escape low on the final reach and hooked into coach boat wake, passing 15 boats to finish 21. In the second race I had a better start and played up the left hand side of the course. The first beat ended with a slow right hand winder and I did not manage to come back from the left side. I had a below par first run and was left too far back to make any gains and finished with a 44.
I finished 43rd overall in the event. Next up is the Laser Midwinter's Regattain Clearwater, Florida in two weeks.

Miami Training

2010-01-07T22:35:00.005-05:00

I have spent 3 weeks over the Christmas break training in Miami. After a few days training on my own I raced in the Senior Orange Bowl. I placed 2nd in the event after losing the tie-break to American Kyle Rogachenko. Full results. Click read more below for some pictures from the event.
In the new year I have been training with a very good group of sailors including Canadian Team, Ontario Team, and international sailors.
I will return to Miami the third week of January to race in the Miami OCR.

read more...

National Qualifying Regatta

2009-09-29T18:46:00.007-04:00

I am in Victoria for the National Qualifying Regatta. This regatta will qualify sailors to the Canadian National Team. Follow results here. Click read more for daily reports.

read more...

Sunday, September 27
I sailed the second day of the Fall Dinghy Championships at Royal Victoria Yacht Club today. It was very valuable to get some actual racing experience here before the NQRs. I was able to sort out starting in the current and I got a good look at racing here in a northerly wind. It is a very tricky place to sail so any extra time I have here before the event is valuable.
Weather: 16 degrees, sunny, 5-10 knots, N

Monday, September 28
Today was our first day of structured training. Rob Fox led the training, assisted by Tommy Wharton. Today it was a westerly wind, which swung southward towards the end of the session. Evan Lewis and I did some splits to try to figure out what was favoured on the course. It seemed like the wind was the deciding factor, but the current also had a noticeable effect.
Weather: 12 degrees, cloudy, 6-14 knots, W

Tuesday, September 29
I decided to take today off to make sure I'll be fully rested and healthy before racing starts on Thursday. I will do a short session tomorrow to make sure everything is in order with my boat.

Wednesday, September 30
Today I sailed for an hour and a half to do a little more start practice in the current and to make sure all my gear was ready to go. Racing begins at noon tomorrow.
Weather: 15 degrees, sunny, 6, S

Thursday, October 1
Today was the first day of racing. In the first race I was near the pin end but bailed at the last minute when it looked like the boats ahead of me were going to be over. I stalled and started on port behind several boats, but was able to get a clear lane to the left, and came back on port tack in a clear lane the whole way to the mark and rounded around 8. I passed one boat downwind and another 3 on the second beat to finish 4th. In the second race I started late at the boat but was able to use my speed to round the weather mark around 8th. I passed boats on the first run but lost a couple of boats on the second beat and two more on the last run to finish 9th. In the last race I had an okay start down towards the pin and stayed patient in a marginal lane. I rounded the weather mark around 8 again, but made a good move on the first run and rounded ahead of a big pack of boats. I had hooked into current course left on the run, so I headed right on the next beat to get out of the current. This payed off, and the boats that went left into the current lost big. I lost two boats on the last run and finished 7th. After three races I'm in 3rd, but that picture will change with drops. I am happy with sailing three counters today, but I should have been able to have a few less points in the 2nd and 3rd race.
Weather: 12 degrees, cloudy, 4-8 knots, SE-SW

Friday, October 2
The fleets were sent out today after a 3 hour postponement due to a lack of wind. We raced in very light wind and a very tricky current situation. I had a poor start, and was not able to flip onto port in the front line, and was forced to duck some sterns off the start. I ended up fighting the current up the left side of the course hoping for more pressure, but it never came. I found myself well back in the fleet at the first weather mark and did not manage to make any ground throughout the race and finished 20th. Racing continues tomorrow with more wind in the forecast.
Weather: 14 degrees, partly cloudy, 3-5 knots, SW

World Championships

2009-08-17T19:51:00.010-04:00

I am in St.Margaret's bay, Nova Scotia for the Laser World Championships. Racing runs August 20-26. Follow results on the event website here.

Click on read more to read daily reports.
read more...
Monday, August 17
I went for a solid two hour sail today. The conditions were very similar to what I saw when I was out here training in the middle of July. When I first got out there was a large group doing rabbit starts and a windward-leeward course. It was good to get back in the boat after a bit of time off after the Europeans. Everything seems fine with the charter boat. I'll go for another solid sail tomorrow and then maybe take Wednesday off before racing starts Thursday.
Weather: Sunny, 28 degrees, S, 10-14 kts

Tuesday, August 18
After measuring in I went for a 2.5 hour sail today. It was again a "Bay Day" with 14-16 knots and nice waves. I did a big downwind down to where the main group was and joined in for rabbit starts. I will take tomorrow off to give the legs a rest so I'll be ready to go when racing starts Thursday.
Weather: Sunny, 26 degrees, S, 14-16 kts

Wednesday, August 19
Today was a rest day. Racing begins tomorrow.

Thursday, August 20
Today was the first day of racing. I was in the yellow fleet, and had the first start and the outer loop course. After 3 general, racing got underway in about 12 knots. I had a good first start, but when I went to tack onto port and cross the group behind I dropped my sheet and was forced to crash-tack back and lost a lot of distance. I was forced to fight back, and I was able to pass boats around the whole course to finish 28. In the second race I had another good start in the middle of the line and had a massive lane back on port. I had good pace but lost a bit to the guys on the left when the wind went 10 degrees left. I stayed relatively even after my first mark rounding and finished 24. The race committee had scheduled 3 races for tomorrow in fear of the hurricane hitting on Sunday.
Weather: Sunny, 24 degrees, S, 12-16 kts

Friday, August 21
Today the race course was plagued by fog. After a long delay waiting for an opening in the fog we finally got going. On our second start 18 boats were black flagged - I was one of them. I was on the water for 7 hours today and didn't race.
Weather: 20 degrees, fog, S, 12-16 kts

Saturday, August 22
We were postponed on shore this morning because Friday's blue fleet had to re-sail their race from yesterday that got chucked. After a long fog delay we were finally sent out and around 3 we got our first race off. I had an issue with my cunningham cleat before the start and in trying to fix it I lost track of the time and was late on the trigger. I had to tack out right away and after a couple of tacks I found a clear lane. I had very good pace upwind and hit a couple of shifts right and rounded the weather mark in 9th. I didn't quite have the pace downwind and rounded the leeward in 10th. I went up the wrong side on the second beat and lost 10 boats when the wind came down on the right side. I lost another couple of boats on the last run and passed one on the last beat to finish 21. In the second race I didn't have a great start again, but was able to get clear. I sailed the beat in clear air, but was back of the lead group and had a tough time. I lost a bit on the second run and passed 3 boats on the last beat to finish 28. After 5 races I am in 90th. After racing today all the boats were packed away in the club houses in preparation for the approaching hurricane. There will be no racing tomorrow. Championship racing begins Monday and I will be in the silver fleet.
Weather: 20 degrees, Sunny (fog), 10-14 kts, S

Sunday, August 23
Racing was cancelled today due to the hurricane

Monday, August 24
Today we sat on the water for 6 hours waiting for wind but it never came and racing was abandoned for the day.

Tuesday, August 25
After a short postponement on shore this morning the fleet was sent out. At first we had a light south gradient with long ocean swell. In the first race I had a good start about midway down the line but eventually got pinched off and found myself a bit lost in traffic. I lost more on the second beat and finished 47th. In the next race I had a poor start but was able to get clear. I was a bit back of the leaders but was able to sail fast throughout the race to finish 23rd. In the last race of the day I had a good start again, but eventually lost my lane. I was about middle of the pack, but lost out big when pressure came from the right side on the second beat. I was able to pass 5 boats on the final beat to finish 41. The schedule has been amended and another 3 races are now scheduled for tomorrow, the final day of racing.
Weather: Cloudy, 20 degrees, 4-14 kts, S

Wednesday, August 26
It was foggy again this morning, but the race committee was able to find a clear spot on the far side of the bay to race us. In the first race I had a good clear start to leeward, but a big patch of weeds shortly after the start forced me to stop and I was left battling back on the wrong side of the beat. I had about 5 boats behind me at the weather mark, but made big gains on the second beat and finished 32. In the second race I had a poor start at the boat end but was able to tack out and get clear quickly and sail fast up the left/middle side to round in the top 15. I was very quick on the first run and rounded the bottom in 6 and sailed well on the second beat to round the windward in 4th. I lost 3 boats on the last run but passed on back on the final reach to finish 6th. This race moved me up to 31st in the silver fleet and 87 overall.
Weather: 22 degrees, sunny, 10-14 kts, SSW

Laser Youth Europeans

2009-08-01T12:14:00.011-04:00

I am competing in the Laser Youth European Championships in Landskrona, Sweden. Racing runs August 3-8. Check out results at the regatta website here. Click read more for daily reports.
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Saturday, August 1
Today was my first day of training in Landskrona, after driving down from Norway yesterday. I did a 2.5 hour session with some Norwegian, Swedish and Turkish sailors. Tomorrow there is a practice race and opening ceremonies. Racing starts Monday.
Weather: 22 degrees, partly cloudy, 5-10 knots, S

Sunday, August 2
Today the practice race was held. After a 25 minute delay the start got underway in a light southerly wind. The start was a bit of chaos as everyone started at around 20 seconds, and kept sailing when the general flag was put up. It was tough to guage how my start was, but I made distance the whole way up the first beat, and rounded in the top 15. I sailed a quick run, but most of the boats behind had started to head for the harbour. I rounded the first leeward mark on the outer loop and then sailed in. Racing starts tomorrow, with 2 races scheduled, starting at 11:00.
Weather: 25 degrees, sunny, S-SSE, 4-8 kts

Monday, August 3
Today was the first day of racing. There was no wind when we first arrived at the club today, but the race committee sent us out right away. After an hour delay on water the first race got underway in a light wind. I did not have a great start and when the fleet flopped to port I was forced to take many transoms. I rounded the first weather mark towards the back of the fleet, but was able to make big gains around the course to finish 21st. For the second race the wind and waves were up a bit. I had a good start, and was looking to be in the top 5 on the left side. I fell into a lull and the boats behind on the right passed me with the new pressure and I rounded somewhere in the 20s. I had a poor first run, and then made a few gains back again but lost a bit when the two fleets collided and finished 39.
Weather: 18 degrees, cloudy, N-NNW, 5-10 kts

Tuesday, August 4
Today was the second day of racing. Again it was quite light in the morning, but we were sent out right away. In the first race I started at the boat and tacked out to the right and held out to the right hand side. I should have taken a few steps up earlier, but gained when pressure came in from the right. I rounded in the top 15, lost a bit on the first run, and gained a bit on the next beat to finish 12. After several generals with blackflags the second race got underway in a bit more wind. I started at the boat again. I was fouled shortly after the start, and lost a bit, but was able to tack out and get clear. I gambled a bit on the right side of the course at the top, and lost a bit but rounded the weather mark in the top 15. Again I lost a little downwind when I didn't realize the course was skewed, but made some gains on the next beat and finished in the top 20.
Weather: 20 degrees, cloudy. NNW-NNE, 5-10 kts

Wednesday, August 5
This morning we sat on shore for 45 minutes waiting for wind. The first race started out in a light NW wind, much like the last couple of days. I had a bad start, but did a very good job of tacking out and finding a clear lane. I held out to the left side of the course, but kept hitching back to the right. I made gains the whole way up the first beat and rounded around 12. I sailed a very quick first run, passing 7 boats. I gambled a bit on the next beat and lost a couple of boats, and lost two more on the run and one on the final beat to finish 10. In the next race I again had a tough start, but was able to get clear and find a good lane. I made gains again the whole way up the beat and rounded in 8th. I sailed a very quick first run again and passed 6 boats, and held 2nd around the next weather mark. I went outside a bit on the run, the way I had gone when I had made gains earlier, and missed a puff and lost 3 boats. I lost another boat on the final beat and finished 6th. By the end of the second race the sea breeze had finally started to kick in and we sailed in to the harbour in 12-15 knots and nice waves...
Weather: Sunny, 25 degrees, 5-12 kts, NW

Thursday, August 6
We had light air again today, but from the southwest instead. In the first race I had a very good start in the middle of the line. I was slow on the bottom half of the fleet, and found myself in a tough spot, but was able to sail a very good second half of the beat and get up in the top 10ish. I misjudged my speed coming into the mark in the current and got hung up on the mark, and was forced to backwind my sail to get off it. This mistake cost me 20 boats. I lost a bit on the first run, but was quick on the second beat and was able to gain some boats back and finished around 30. In the second race I had a poor start, but was able to get clear, and had good air for most of the beat, and rounded the weather mark around 14. I was even on the first run, lost a couple of boats on the next beat, and then passed 3 boats on the final run. On the last beat I got stuck in a hole when the wind started to die, and lost those 3 boats again to finish 16. Finals series racing begins tomorrow.
Weather: 25 degrees, sunny, 4-6 kts, SW-W

Friday, August 7
Today was the first day of finals racing. The wind was from the SSW - offshore, puffy and shifty. This made for tricky racing and a lot of big scores. In the first race I had an okay start in the middle of the line, but the sides quickly got ahead as they were able to hit the shifts earlier. I sailed a very quick first run, but just got stuck in a big pack of boats at the bottom. I chose the wrong side on the next beat, but was able to pass some boats downhill and on the last beat to finish 29. In the second race I had a poor start in the middle, starting above a boat that was BFD, and was forced to fight back. I was very quick on the first run again, making big gains by staying with the puff. I sailed a very good first 3/4 of the second beat, gaining on every shift, but lost big when the wind died on the right, and a 15kt gust with a 30 degree leftie came in on the left. I passed 4 boats pack on the final beat to finish 29.
Weather: Sunny, 25 degrees, 8-12 kts, SSW, shifty/puffy

Saturday, August 8
Today was the last day of racing, and it started out the exact same as yesterday. I had a very good start in the middle of the line, but got a little unlucky and got tacked on a couple of times. Once I got clear I was able to sail very fast, and made a good move at the weather mark to round in the top 10. I was quick on the first run again and rounded the bottom in 4. I took a bit of a chance staying on the right hand side of the leaders on the second beat, but again the leftie was there at the top, and I rounded 6. I lost one boat and passed another on the run, and then passed two boats and lost two on the final beat when the wind went light and fluky to stay 6 in the race. The wind died completely after we finished the race, and after a couple of hours of waiting the rest of the day was called off. I finished 26 in the regatta. I was a little disappointed with this overall result, but happy about my speed and decision making and the improvement I made in my starts.
Weather: Sunny, 25 degrees, 8-12 kts, SSW, shifty/puffy

Laser Canadians

2009-07-04T23:57:00.005-04:00

I am in Vancouver this weekend for the Laser Canadian Championships. Results can be found here.

Click on read more for daily reports.
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Thursday, July 2
Today I went for a short sail to make sure all my equipment was in order. Racing starts tomorrow. Five races are scheduled per day, with three days of racing.
Weather: Sunny, 25 degrees, west, 15 kts

Friday, July 3
Today was the first day of racing. Racing started out in a medium westerly, with barely hiking conditions. In the first race I had a poor start and was back of the leaders. I was fouled at the first windward mark and got hung up on the weather mark. I got fouled again at the second weather mark and was unable to catch up and finished 11th. In the second race I had a good start and sailed a solid race to finished 2nd. In the third race I again had a tough start and found myself back of the pack. There was not many passing lanes with the left side of the course so favoured and I was not able to come back more than to 11th. Racing continues tomorrow. In the last race the wind went light and shifty. I did not have a great start, but a group of boats near the committee boat were going quite slowly off the start so I found myself in good shape and rounded the windward in 5th. I passed a couple of boats and lost a couple throughout the race to finish 5th.
Weather: Sunny, 25 degrees, W-NW, 5-10 kts

Saturday, July 4
Today we were racing close to shore and hitting the left side upwind became crucial in order to get out of the current. If you did not have a good start and were forced to tack out you were bleeding distance. In the first race I had a good start and sailed a good second beat to finish 2nd. In the second race I lost my lane off the start but was able to come back a bit and finished 6th. In the third race I had an okay start, but came back from the left hand side too early and found myself well behind of the leaders and finished a disappointing 9th. In the next race I had a good start and good pace, rolling 3 boats holding my lane the whole way out on starboard. I called the layline correctly, passing some boats who overstood. I sailed quickly throughout the race and finished 2nd. In the last race I again lost my lane off the start, but some of the faster boats also did not have great starts. Again I called the layline correctly and gained on the boats ahead, rounding the weather mark 2nd. I sailed a quick run and rounded the bottom 1st, and extended on the second beat. I lost one boat on the final run to finish 2nd. I am currently in 3rd overall. Racing continues tomorrow, with a second drop coming into effect.
Weather: sunny, 26 degrees, W-NW, 8-16 kts

Sunday, July 5

Today was the last day of racing. Racing started out in a medium northwesterly with lots of chop. In the first race I didn't have a great start, but found a lane quickly. I tacked a little too late on to port at the top of the course, and did not have clean air, costing me a lot of distance to the leaders. I found myself trying to catch up, but was only able to get back to 12th. In the second race I again lost my lane off the start and found myself trying to catch up. The leaders were too far sprung and I could only get back to??. In the third race I started further down the line to try to get out to the left side of the course first, but lost out on a slow right hand winder, and was again behind at the first windward. I made gains on the second beat but only got back to 9th. In the last race I had a good start, but again did not have a great lane back on port at the top of the course and rounded the weather mark in 8th. Before we could get to the leeward mark the wind spun 180 and the race committee shortened the course.I was able to pass a couple of boats to finish 6th. I finished 5th overal in the 51 boat fleet. I was disappointed to have lost two spots on the last day, but I simply did not sail well enough. Now I am back in Kingston for a couple of days of down time before I go to St. Margaret's Bay for a training camp.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 22 degrees, NW, 8kts

2009 Laser North Americans

2009-06-25T21:26:00.007-04:00

The 2009 Laser North American Championships are being held at Buffalo Canoe Club June 25-28. Results can be found here. Click on read more for daily reports.

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Thursday, June 25
Today was the first day of racing. We had a late first start and did not hit the water until 12:30. The wind was out of the northwest but with thunderstorms approaching the fleet was sent in. After delaying onshore until 4 the fleet was sent back out in a southerly breeze. The race committee tried to start races, but the wind did not cooperate and racing was abandoned for the day. The first start tomorrow has been pushed up from 11:00 to 9:30.
Weather: Stormy, 25 degrees

Friday, June 26
Today started out in a light southwesterly breeze. The wind came and went with some increases in velocity, and some big pulls to the right. In the first race I had a good start but was a bit back from the leading pack. I sailed an okay race and finished 9th. In the second race I had a good start but was on the wrong side of the course when the gradient came back in. When a big thundercloud rolled through the wind shifted drastically and I was able to take advantage and came back to 4th. In the third race I had a weak start but was able to get clear to the left side of the course and was able to make some gains on the first beat. I stayed even and finished 7th. In the last race of the day the wind was up nicely. I had a good start at the boat and after letting one boat tack I had a clear lane. I lost a bit to the boats around on the first beat but gained it back on positioning coming into the windward mark and rounded around 4. I was slow on the first run and lost 4 boats. I was quick on the next run and caught up to the boats ahead, but it was not enough to pass and I finished 8th. After 4 races I am in 11th. Racing continues tomorrow with the fleet split into gold and silver.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 25 degrees, 5-12 knots

Saturday, June 27
Racing started out today in a light northerly wind with bands of pressure. In the first race I had a poor start and found myself on the wrong side of the course at the top and rounded the windward near the back. I was able to stay focused and passed boats throughout the race to finish in 19th. The wind swung around to the SW before the race committee could start the next race. Again I had a poor start but was able to get a clear lane and made some smart moves up the first beat to round the windward in 2nd, but I hit the mark and fell back to near 10th and stayed even to finish 10th. In the third race I got out okay but made a few mistake and finished 14th. In the last race I played a good first beat and rounded the first windward in the top 10 and had a good first run to round the bottom in 5th. I played the wrong side up the second beat and lost 10 boats when the pressure came in on the left. I managed to pass a couple of boats and finished 14th. Tomorrow is the last day of racing.
Weather: Sunny, 26 degrees, 5-14 knots

Sunday, June 28
Today started out with a light southwesterly wind, but before we could get a start in the wind swung to the south and picked up. In the first race I lost my feel of the line and had a terrible start and rounded the first mark in the 40s. I was unable to make up much ground and finished 26th. In the next race I had a great start near the boat and held my lane nicely. I lost out a bit when the left side came in at the top and rounded around 10. I was quick on the first run, passing a couple of boats and making gains. I had a good second beat extending on the boats behind. On the final run we ran into the silver radial fleet and I was stuck going slow and lost two boats to finish 10th. I finished 12th overall in the event.
Weather: Cloudy, 20 degrees, 6-12 knots

Laser ACCs

2009-05-04T21:45:00.000-04:00

This weekend I competed in the Laser Atlantic Coast Championships held at Severn Sailing Association in Annapolis, Maryland. I finished 5th in the 83 boat fleet.
Results can be found here

Laser Midwinter's East

2009-02-16T22:19:00.014-05:00

I am in Clearwater for the ISAF Grade 1 Laser Midwinter's East Regatta. The regatta doesn't start until Thursday so I am training with other Canadian sailors for the first part of the week. Results can be found here.
read more...

February 19, 2009
Today we had strong wind from the north, and big waves combining with yesterday's swell. In the first race I had a good start about 2/3 down the line on a pin favoured start, and had a clear lane on port on the first shift. I missed out on a shift to hitch back to the left and was back from the leading group. I brushed the windward mark as well and had to do a 360. I sailed a good second beat and passed another boat on the final beat to finish 13. In the second race I had a great start in the middle of the line and held my lane nicely out to the left side and played the shifts well to round the windward in 3rd. I lost one boat and distance on the first run, but sailed quickly again on the second beat and rounded 3rd. I extended on the last run and stayed ahead on the final beat to finish 3rd. In the last race I was a bit late on the trigger at the start, but was still able to get a good lane. I tacked out on the first shift, but came back a bit early and the boats I was with on the right came back ahead of me. I sailed quickly again on the second beat and moved up to 6th. I passed one boat on the final reach and finished 5th. I am now in 8th overall.
Weather: Sunny, 16 degrees, 15-20 knots, N

February 19, 2009
Today was the first day of racing. When I first got out the wind was south-south west at about 15 knots. We raced the first race in this wind, but it came down slightly throughout the race. I had a good clear start and held my lane well out to the left side. I missed out on a couple of shifts and rounded the first windward in 10th. I went to the wrong gate mark and my vang key popped out at the bottom so I lost a chunk of distance, but was able to make it back on the second half of the beat. I lost one boat on the final run, but passed it back on the reach and got another on the final beat to finish 10. For the second race the wind had come down to about 8-10 knots and gone to around 300*. When we finally got going after several generals I had a poor start, but found a lane out to the left and sailed quickly. I made a good move at the top undertacking a group of boats that had overstood. I had a tough time getting going downwind and lost 4 boats. I sailed quickly on the second beat, passing 6 boats, but lost 3 again on the run. I almost passed a boat on the final beat but I needed a bit more and finished 12. After two races I am in 10th overall.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 18 degrees, 8-15 knots, SW-NW

February 18, 2009
Today I went out for a shorter session, with about an hour of sailing out on the gulf. Only Evan Lewis, Lee Parkhill and I decided to go out. We did a short upwind followed by some boat handling work. The regatta starts tomorrow with the first race at 11.
Weather: Sunny, 24 degrees, 16-20 knots, S

February 17, 2009
Today we had wind from further east, starting around 14 knots, and decreasing slightly throughout the day. We had a good group, joining up with some international sailors as well as CST. We ran a couple of drills focusing on the top of the beat, some starting practice, and finished the day off with some racing. I'll have a shorter session tomorrow before the regatta starts Thursday.
Weather: Sunny, 20 degrees, 8-14 knots, E

February 16, 2009
Today was the first day out on the water after the Miami OCR. We had good wind from the north with big waves today. We ran some boat handling drills and did some open speed work. I had good pace both upwind and downwind. The forecast for tomorrow is for less wind so I should be able to work on my starting which I saw was a big weakness in Miami.
Weather: Sunny, 22 degrees, 15 knots, N

Miami OCR

2009-01-24T20:50:00.011-05:00

I am back in Miami to compete in the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta. It is an ISAF Grade 1 event and part of the World Cup circuit. Racing runs Monday January 26th to Friday the 30th with the medal race on the 31st. Results are available here

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January 30, 2009
Today was the last day of series racing. With a cold front forecasted to hit in the afternoon the wind was shifty, but persistently going right. I had a poor start, but quickly found a lane and was looking good up the middle of the course. At the top, both sides came in and I rounded in the mid 20s. I lost distance to the leaders, but not many boats when the wind went right on the second beat. I sailed a quick run and passed some boats to finish 25. I finished 29th overall in the regatta. I would have liked to have been higher, but I did not sail well enough on the lighter days, and I had problems getting off the line well. I am down to Clearwater in two weeks for the Laser Midwinter's East regatta.
Weather: 20 degrees, cloudy, SW-W, 8-14 knots

January 29, 2009
Today we sailed in a light wind from the southeast. I had trouble getting off the line the whole day. There were not many passing lanes in the light air and I had a tough time coming back. In the first race I finished 46. In the second race the wind was up a bit. I had a slightly better start, but lost my lane soon and was behind at the first windward. I sailed a good run, but had a poor leeward rounding and was behind again. I passed a couple of boats on the final run but it was only enough for a 37.
Weather: 28 degrees, sunny, SE, 4-8 knots

January 28, 2009
When we first got out on the water today there was a decent breeze, but it came down quickly. I had a poor start in the first race and played the wrong side on the first beat and was well behind the leaders. The wind died down completely on the downwind, and by 5 minutes into the second beat the race was called. After waiting for half an hour, new wind came in and another race was started. I had a better start but got bounced around badly in traffic and was again behind after the first beat. I was able to pass a few boats throughout the race, but it was still only enough to finish 38. I am now in 23rd overall. Racing continues tomorrow, and the RC can now give us 3 races to make up for the lost races today.
Weather: 28 degrees, sunny, SE, 4-6 knots

January 27, 2009
Today was the second day of racing. In the first race I had a poor start, but was able to get clear. I had a similar situation at the windward mark as in the first race yesterday and lost some boats and rounded around 20. I passed boats on the first run, but made some stupid mistakes and finished 22. In the second race I was again forced to tack out after start, but again found a clear lane. I sailed quickly downwind and finished 20. In the final race of the day I had a poor start and never got a good lane. I wasn't as quick as I would have liked downwind and finished 30th. Three races are scheduled for tomorrow.
Weather: 26 degrees, sunny, ESE, 8-14 knots

January 26, 2009
Today was the first day of racing. In the first race I had a good start and held a clear lane out to the left side and hooked into pressure. I missed the last shift coming into the mark, and was low on the layline so I lost a lot of boats. I managed to hit the mark as well, and was forced low to spin and lost more on the reach. I stayed even on the run, but sailed a great second beat and finished 19th. In the second race I didn't have a great start but was able to tack and get a clear lane quickly. I rounded the first windward in the top 20, and sailed a pretty good run. Again I had a quick second beat passing several boats. I passed another couple of boats downwind and finished 7th. After two races I am in 11th overall.
Weather: 26 degrees, sunny, E, 8-12 knots

January 25, 2009
I only went out for a 30 minute session today to do a couple of tacks and to make sure everything was in order. Racing starts with two races scheduled for tomorrow.
Weather: 25 degrees, sunny, E, 5 knots

January 24, 2009
Today started off with short races off rabbit starts. The group got bigger and bigger as other international sailors joined. I had good speed, particularly downwind. When the group got too big the Ontario and Nova Scotia sailors broke off. We did some starting practice and another couple of races. Tomorrow I will have a shorter session.
Weather: 24 degrees, sunny, E, 6 knots

January 23, 2009
Today was my first day back in Miami after the training over Christmas. I only had time for a short sail, but it was good to get back in the boat.
Weather: 22 degrees, sunny, NE, 6-8 knots

Orange Bowl

2008-12-27T22:42:00.007-05:00

The Orange Bowl regatta runs from December 27th to December 30th. Click "read more..." for daily reports. Results are available here.

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December 27, 2008
Today was the first day of racing. I had good starts throughout the day and had good speed both upwind downwind. In the first race I had a good first beat and was in second, but lost one boat on the second beat. I was quick on the final run and passed the boat back again and finished 2nd. In the second race I led to the windward mark and the first leeward, but lost out on a shift on the second beat and rounded the second windward in 2nd. I caught up a lot on the final run, but it wasn't enough and I scored another 2nd. In the third race I lead after the first windward after an incident where Luke Lawrence (USA) did penalty turns at the windward mark. I stayed ahead and finished 1st. In the last race I had a good first beat and rounded in 2nd, but lost some distance on the second beat. I was able to hold off the third place boat on the final run and finished 2nd. After the first day I am in 2nd overall with 7 points.
Weather: Partly sunny, 26 degrees
Wind: East, 8-16

December 28, 2008
Today was the second day of racing. The wind started of at around 12 knots and went down throughout the day to 6. It was puffy and shifty which made for tricky conditions when combined with the steep, short chop. In the first race I lost out on pressure on the first beat. I was quick downwind and passed boats and finished 6th. In the second race I didn't have a great start and missed out on a couple of shifts and finished 10th. In the third race I had a great first run, and was 3rd around the bottom mark after rounding the windward around 10th. I held that position through the race. In the last race I was over early and was forced to go back. With no lanes available I had a tough time making any real gains and I finished 14th. Racing continues tomorrow with lighter winds in the forecast.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 28 degrees
Wind: East-Southeast, 6-12

December 29, 2008
There was no wind this morning, but the RC sent us out and postponed on water. We waited for 4 hours before a light sea breeze came in at 1 pm. At 1:15 racing got underway. I had a clear lane at the pin end of the line and hooked into a line of pressure allowing me to come across the race course ahead. I lead to the windward and stayed ahead until the finish. The last day of racing is tomorrow with a curfew at 1.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 28 degrees
Wind: Southeast, 3-5

December 30, 2008
Today started out with a light wind from the north west. The RC started us, but the wind faded and went right 45 degrees forcing them to abandon. The second race was started in a light north easterly. I had an okay start, and stuck out on the right hand side with Zeke, who I was 5 points ahead of. The left side came in, and we rounded around 12. I picked up a couple of boats on the next beat, but Zeke was ahead, keeping me from gaining any more. He finished 6th and I finished 9th, leaving me in 2nd place overall by 2 points.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 28 degrees
Wind: Northeast, 4-6

Miami Training

2008-12-16T17:17:00.009-05:00

After a long break from sailing after the NQRs in St.Margaret's Bay I am in Miami for a training camp, followed by the Orange Bowl Regatta.
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December 16th, 2008
Today was my first day back on the water after the NQRs. I am in Miami training with the Canadian National Team as well as Brad Funk(USA) and Nick Thompson(GBR).
Wind: East, 3-7, patchy
Weather: Partly cloudy, 26 degrees

December 17th, 2008
Today we had more wind, but it was still up and down. I had good pace downwind, but was lacking the punch of the line.
Wind: East-Northeast, 5-12
Weather: Partly cloudy, 27 degrees

December 18th, 2008
Today was similar conditions to yesterday, and we continued to work on drills that created tactical situations, closely simulating segments of a race.
Wind: Northeast, 8-12
Weather: Partly cloudy, 27 degrees

December 19th, 2008
Today the wind was lighter again. I am back up to pace again now and competitive in the drills.
Wind: Northeast, 3-6
Weather: Partly cloudy, 26 degrees

December 20th, 2008
There was no wind today.

December 21st, 2008
Today was the last day of training with the national team group. After waiting onshore for a couple of hours the sea breeze came in and we were able to get in a good session in a building sea breeze. This camp showed me a lot of tactical situations, particularly coming to a finish line or coming to a weather mark.
Wind: Southeast, 3-8
Weather: Sunny, 28 degrees

December 22nd, 2008
Today we had good breeze but no coach on the water. Evert Mclaughlin and I joined up with Kyle Rogachenko, David Hernandez and Andrew Fox (USA) and did some line ups. It was good to get a solid 2 hour session in with good hiking conditions.
Wind: North, 12-15
Weather: Cloudy, 26 degrees

December 23rd, 2008
Today I was sailing with the same group as yesterday. Paul Davis came out and dropped some marks so we could do some boathandling work in the breeze as well as some open upwinds. I had good speed up and downwind, but my boathandling was a bit rough at the start of the day.
Wind: Northeast 15-18
Weather: Cloudy, 25 degrees

National Qualifying Regatta

2008-10-02T12:19:00.004-04:00

The National Qualifying Regatta is being held at the St. Margaret's Sailing Club. Racing runs Friday Oct 3rd to Sunday Oct 5.
Results are available here.
Click read more for daily reports.
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Thursday, October 2
Over the last couple of days I have been training on the bay to prepare for the event. We had longer sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday and then a shorter session today. We had different conditions with winds from all angles, 0-18 knots and varying wave conditions. I have had good speed and feel like I am ready for the regatta. The forecast is for relatively strong winds for the event from the southwest which means big waves. Racing starts at 11 tomorrow morning.

CORK Fall Regatta

2008-09-23T19:08:00.000-04:00

I placed 3rd in the CORK Fall Regatta held at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour last weekend. The event was an ISAF Grade 2 event. Results can be found here.

My last regatta of the fall is the National Qualifying Regatta which will be held at the St.Margaret Sailing Club October 3-5. Follow the event website for results.

CORK

2008-08-25T18:26:00.002-04:00

I placed 6th in the CORK regatta held at the Portsmouth Olympic Harbour in Kingston last week. This result gave me 25 more points in the North American Laser Grand Prix. After missing regattas due to the Youth Worlds I have to make the most out of opportunities to gain points as these standings determine who qualifies for the 2009 Laser World Championships. Results available here.

Canadian Youth Sailing Chcampionships

2008-08-15T18:20:00.000-04:00

I won the Canadian Youth Championships held at the Royal Nova Scotia Yacht Squadron last week. The regatta saw light and inconsistent conditions making the racing quite difficult. Full results available here

2008 Volvo Youth Sailing ISAF World Championships

2008-07-11T15:00:00.011-04:00

I am competing in the World Youth Sailing Championships, held in Aarhus, Denmark. Follow results at http://www.youthworlds2008.org/Results/Results_YouthWorlds2008.aspx and follow the racing live through http://www.sportcasting.org/.
Click "Read more..." to read daily reports.
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Lead up
After Kiel Week I took some time off in Norway relaxing with family. I also got a chance to watch some of the 8 Metre Worlds. I had planned to sail a couple of days with Norway's laser rep Mathias Mollatt, but we were only able to get one day in because of bad weather.

Friday, July 11
I arrived in Aarhus Wednesday night, and received my boat yesterday. I was only able to sail for half an hour but everything seemed OK. Today was the practice race, with the start scheduled for 1. I went out a little early because of my lack of sailing yesterday. The clouds were causing the wind to jump around and the lasers did not get their start off before 2:3O. Despite a general recall, the fleet kept sailing. I had good pace and rounded the windward in 3rd, reached for a minute, sailed downwind for a couple of minutes, and then headed in as the rest of the fleet had already started heading for the harbour. Tomorrow is the first day of racing, with 3 races scheduled with the first gun scheduled for 12.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 16 degrees, 8-18 knots.

Saturday, July 12
Today was the first day of racing. The forecast was for strong winds, and then storms hitting with more wind and rain. In the first race I had a poor start. My original plan was to go to the right, but the entire fleet had tacked onto port and I was forced to take transoms out to the left to find a clear lane. I sailed very fast and passed all the boats on the left side I had ducked and rounded the windward in 8th. On the run I lost two boats but passed one, and then passed another boat on the last beat to finish 8th. In the second race I got too close to the boat to leeward of me and didn't have a good start, but I was able to tack and get a clear lane out to the right and sailed fast again. I took a couple of hitches up to reduce the leverage to the guys on the left, but they were too far ahead and I rounded the windward around 10th. I sailed a quick run passing a couple of boats. On the second beat the thunderstorms hit and a big squall came through with a large right component and winds measured at 38 knots at the windward mark and 30 knots at the coach boat below the course. I extended on the boats behind and finished 7th at the rear of the leading group with a big gap to the boats behind.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 17 degrees, 15-20 with heavy gusts.

Sunday, July 13
The second day of racing saw a forecast of less wind than yesterday. When I first got out it was quite light, but by 30 minutes before the start the wind had started to pick up, and by the start it was full out hiking. I had a great start with lots of room to leeward, but stuck to the left side when a 20 degree right shift came through, leaving me far behind. The laser from New Zealand and I stuck out on the left, but the wind never came back and we rounded the windward 34th and 35th. On the first run we passed a pack of 10 boats. On the next beat the wind was still right, but we picked the left gate and sailed on starboard below the fleet in clear air out to the left side and gained another 10 boats through pace and a slight left shift. On the last run we passed another 4 boats, and then another boat on the last reach to finish 6th and 7th. I am very happy with my pace as I was able to turn this race into a keeper from a dismal first rounding. In the second race I had another good start and stayed with the front pack and rounded the windward in 4th, and stayed even on the first run. I lost one boat on the next beat. On the final run I was again quick and caught a lot of distance on the Irish guy ahead, but I needed another 100 m to pass him, and I finished 5th. After 4 races I sit 6th, and I am very happy with my consistent series so far.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 18 degrees, 8-14 in the first race, 14-18 in the second.

Monday, July 14
The third day of racing saw an offshore breeze and big shifts. In the first race I identified the big line sag and had a great start in the middle of the line. Off the line we were on a big right shift so I hiked hard and tacked back on the leftie, and was looking great above the fleet with the Aussie and the sailor from Cyprus. I saw the boats to leeward tacking onto starboard so I tacked to lead back to the next shift, but the wind went way right and never came back. I was behind the leading back and rounded the first leeward in 14th. I had a great second beat, passing 5 boats by picking the shift, and passed another on the last run to finish 8th. In the last race I had an okay start, but the French guy above me had a great start and rolled me, and I was forced to tack a couple of times to find clear air. I was behind again, and rounded the leeward mark around 14th. Again I had a really quick second beat, passing 6 boats, but I couldn't get going on the downwind and lost 3 boats and finished 12th. After 6 races I sit in 7th. Tomorrow is the lay day - it will be nice with a rest for the legs after 3 days of hiking.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 18 degrees, 14-18.

Tuesday, July 15
Lay Day

Wednesday, July 16
Today was the fourth day of racing, with 3 races scheduled to make up for the lost race on the first day of racing. In the first race I had an okay start. When the boats on the left flopped in the first leftie, I was the leeward boat, and therefore footed off to get to the next shift first and to get over the boats on the right. I got past the boats on the right, but the wind never came back, so I lost some distance on the boats on the left. I made the mistake of going low on the last run when the course was skewed to the right, and I lost some boats to finish 11th. In the second race I had a poor start, but I knew I had to pick a side so I stuck it out, and let the boats ahead of me tack on the first shift. I waited for the next shift and tacked over and rounded the windward around 6th. I stayed even on the run, and then decided to go right up the next beat. I played the shifts well and took advantage of pressure on the right to round the windward in first, well ahead of the next boats. I rounded the reach mark in a big lull, and the boats behind caught up as the next puff rolled in. The New Zealand and US sailors passed me, but I was able tyo sail quickly at the bottom of the run, and won the race. Before the start of the last race the wind was down to 6 knots. I had a poor start at the boat end, but was on the right side of the course as a massive rain cloud came through bringing high winds and a big right shift. I rounded the windward around 10th, and then passed a couple of boats initially on the next beat, but with pressure on the left a group of 8 boats passed me. I sailed quickly on the reach and the run and caught up to the pack ahead, but just couldn't get overlap at the mark and I finished 12th. There are three races left in the regatta, with two races scheduled for tomorrow.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 18 degrees, very variable winds, extremes of 6 knots and 22 knots.

Thursday, July 17
The fifth day of racing saw similar conditions to the fourth day, but with more distance between the big puffs. In the first race I had a poor start near the pin, and was forced to stay in a bad lane out to the left. I picked up some boats, but I was too far behind and I finished 13th. In the second race I got rolled at the boat of the start, but was able to flop out and get a clear lane. A big puff with a rightie rolled down the right side of the course and I tacked below the group on the right. I footed off a bit to make sure I got past the boats on the left and to be in a safer position in case the wind went back. The wind stayed right, and I rounded the windward in 6th. I passed two boats on the reach, lost one on the run, and then passed everyone on the next beat. I let the Russian boat get bow forward on me to leeward coming into the windward mark and when the next puff came he was able to make the mark and he snuck around before me. I wasn't able to catch him on the run, but held onto the 2nd. Tomorrow there is one race scheduled. I sit in 5th, tied on points with the 6th place boat. I cannot move up, so I just have to cover the British boat behind me.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 18 degrees, very variable winds, extremes of 6 knots and 22

Friday, July 18
Today was the last day of racing. After a short delay on land, the fleets were sent out. There was a building breeze from the south, very similar to the wind on the first day of racing. I had a poor start, but remembering my first race of the regatta I decided to go left, and I got into good pressure and rounded the windward in 2nd. I played it safe on the run as I was well ahead of the British sailor so I dropped one boat. I lost one boat and passed another on the next beat to round the windward in 3rd. I once again played it safe on the final run. The Danish sailor came by me, but 1 minute after passing me he was flagged. I was well enough ahead of the next group and I finished 3rd.
Weather: Mostly sunny, 18 degrees, 12-16 knots

Although I did not meet my goal of a podium finish I am very happy with the way I sailed in such a challenging fleet. Over 12 races my worst finish was a 13th. Thank you to the Kingston Yacht Club, the Kingston Yacht Club Corinthian Fund, Ontario Sailing and the Canadian Yachting Association for their support. Also a big thank you to team leader Tine Moberg and Matt Dubreucq who made everything easy for me off the water.

Kiel Week

2008-06-25T13:09:00.014-04:00

I am competing in Kiel Week, an ISAF Grade 1 event held in Kiel, Germany. This event is a good lead up event before the Youth Worlds in Denmark, which start on July 10th.
Results: http://www.kielerwoche.de/eng/livecenter/olympic.php
Click "Read more..." to read daily reports.
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Wednesday, June 25
Today was the first day of sailing at Kiel Week. There are 156 boats sailing in the Laser fleet, so the fleet is split into three fleets for the two qualifying days. In the first race today I had a bad start, but was able to make up a lot on the first beat with good boat speed and rounded the first mark around 10-15th. I was a bit slow at the top of the run but gained back again on the second beat and finished 12th. In the second race I punched out well at the start, but got rolled and got bounced around before finding a good groove. I sailed quickly throughout the rest of the race and finished 16th. After one day of racing I am in 35th.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 18 degrees, 6-14 knots.

Thursday, June 26
The second day of racing saw stronger winds and big waves. In the first race I had a poor first beat but a great first run and a good second beat and finished in 17th. In the second race I had a poor start, and was very slow at the top of the first run and finished 23rd. In the last race of the day I had a poor start, tacked a couple too many times and didn't have great downwind speed and finished 29th. With one discard after the five qualifying races I sit in 57th, just outside of the gold fleet cutoff.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 20 degrees, 16-20 knots

Friday, June 27
Today started out with a light southerly wind that clocked and gradually increased throughout the day. In the first race I had an okay start, but got pinched off shortly after and then bounced around on the wrong side of the course. I had a quick run and top reach and finished 18th. In the second race I bailed on the boat end start too late and didn't find a hole on the line, leaving me second row. I picked the wrong side up the beat as well and was very deep around the windward and finished 48th. With forecast of a 90 degree wind shift and high winds racing was called off for the rest of the day. After 7 races I am 64th overall.
Weather: Rain, 16 degrees, 6-14 knots

Saturday, June 28
Today was another "typical Kiel day" with light rain, cold and wind. In the first race I had an okay start, but lost my lane. I still managed to sail a quick beat and picked off boats on each leg and finished 10th. In the second race I had a good start, but was caught on the wrong side up the first beat and rounded the windward mark around 30th. I sailed a great first run and passed 10-15 boats and passed another couple of boats upwind and three more downwind to finish 7th. In the last race I had my best start of the day, but couldn't tack so I was forced to sail through the first shift and had to try to catch up. I sailed a slow first run, but passed boats on the next beat and on the final beat to the finish line and finished 28th. Tomorrow is the last day of the regatta and there is one race scheduled. I am currently sitting in 62nd.
Weather: mostly cloudy, drizzle, 16 degrees, 15-23 knots

Sunday, June 29
Today was the last day of racing. My fleet had 3 general recalls before finally getting underway. With the confusion of the three generals I forgot that my watch was two seconds late and I was late pulling the trigger on the start. I was deep around the first windward mark, but passed 10 boats on the first run and another couple on the last beat and finished 9th. I finished 60th overall in the 156 boat fleet. Now I am heading back up to Norway to relax and train a bit before I head down to Aarhus for the Youth Worlds.
Weather: Mostly cloudy, 16 degrees, 12-18 knots.

Kingston Training Camp

2008-06-15T21:39:00.006-04:00

Over the last two weeks I have participated in a training camp held at the Kingston Yacht Club, run in association with Ontario Sailing.
Thanks to guest coaches Ken Dool and Connor Higgins, to KYC coach Vaughn Harrison, and Ontario Sailing High Performance Coordinator Matt Dubreucq.
Over the two weeks we saw all conditions, allowing me to work on all parts of my sailing. I am heading over to Europe on June 21st to compete in Kiel Week, before heading to the Youth Worlds in Denmark, held July 10-19.

Toronto Training Camp and Icebreaker OCR

2008-05-19T18:32:00.010-04:00

On May 14 and 15 TSCC held a training camp with Connor Higgins, Matt Dubreucq and Carol Luttmer as guest coaches. We had varying conditions allowing us to work on sailing in all conditions. With the help of video and some tips from Connor the camp was very useful.

On the weekend the Icebreaker regatta was held. On Saturday we had a big ground swell and wind ranging from 6-14 knots, making for some very tricky sailing when the wind died down. On Sunday we again had a big swell. With inconsistent winds and a drifting mark the race committee was forced to abandon two races, leaving only 1 race completed on the day. I won the regatta on the tiebreaker.
Results

Spring Training

2008-05-10T17:58:00.002-04:00

Last weekend I was in Toronto at the High Performance Training Regatta. Saturday saw light wind, but some good practise in concentration and boat handling. On Sunday it was windy and shifty making for some tricky upwind sailing and a couple of spills downwind.

Next week I will be training in Toronto, followed by the Icebreaker regatta on the weekend.

More pictures have also been added

First Day on the Water

2008-04-19T19:13:00.001-04:00

Today, April 19th, was the first day on the water in Kingston.

Quest for Gold

2008-04-14T17:51:00.002-04:00

I have been named a recipient of funding through the Quest for Gold Ontario Athlete Assistance Program for the 2008/2009 season.
Ontario Sailing article
Ministry of Health Promotion - Quest for Gold initiative

Laser Midwinter's East

2008-02-26T20:10:00.002-05:00

The Laser Midwinter's East were held at the Clearwater Yacht Club last weekend in Clearwater, Florida. It was an ISAF Grade 1 event. I finished 6th in the 50 boat fleet. Results can be found here, report to come.
As a result of my performances at the Miami OCR and the Laser Midwinter's, I have moved up to 80th on the Laser World Ranking.

Miami Olympic Classes Regatta

2008-02-05T17:23:00.000-05:00

I finished 8th in the Miami OCR, an ISAF Grade 1 event. Finishing in the top half of the fleet also completed the performance criteria of my Youth World Championship qualification. Results and report.
I will be competing in the Midwinter East Championship, another Grade 1 event, in two weeks in Clearwater, Florida.

Ontario Sailing Awards

2008-01-25T17:23:00.000-05:00

This year's Ontario Sailing Awards were held this past weekend. I received the Youth Sailor of the Year Award. My coach for this summer, Corey Lynam, received the Angus Roulstone Leadership Award for best coach.

I have also been named a finalist for the KIWANIS Kingston Amateur Athlete of the Year award, which will be selected at the end of February.

Training Camp

2008-01-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

Following the Orange Bowl regatta, a 5-day training camp was held at the US Sailing Center in Miami. Report from the training camp and Orange Bowl here. I am home now to finish up my first semester, but I'll be back in Miami at the end of January for the Miami OCR.

Orange Bowl International Youth Regatta and Training Camp

2008-01-01T15:01:00.000-05:00

The Orange Bowl regatta was held in Miami, Florida December 27 - 30. In the laser fleet there were 40 boats. The event was primarily a training event for me. It allowed me to identify what I need to work on in the upcoming camp, which starts on the 1st of January. I finished 7th overall. Results here. Report to come.

CYA and KYC Awards

2007-11-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

Robert was awarded the Bill Burk Memorial Youth Elite Award for top male youth sailor at the annual CYA Rolex Awards. Article here.
Robert was also awarded the Achievement and Leadership Award at the Kingston Yacht Club Awards Night.

National Qualifying Regatta

2007-10-01T15:12:00.000-04:00

The National Qualifying Regatta was held September 28-30 in Kingston. It was the second part of the qualification for the 2008 ISAF Youth World Championships, which are being held in Denmark. I finished 10th overall and was top youth, earning me the right to represent Canada again at next year's Youth Worlds. Results here. I have also moved up to 111th on the ISAF Laser rankings.

CORK

2007-08-23T15:16:00.000-04:00

The CORK regatta was held in Kingston August 18-22. I finished 17th in the 114 boat fleet and was Top Youth. Gold fleet results here.

Laser Canadians

2007-06-25T15:18:00.000-04:00

I finished 12th overall in the 57 boat Laser Canadian Championships held at Buffalo Canoe Club. Results and report. With my results in the spring and at the N.A.s and Canadians I jumped 90 spots on the ISAF Laser Ranking up to 164. I am sailing Gold Cup #3 this weekend in Sarnia. It is the last event before the Youth Worlds begin on July 12th.

Laser North Americans

2007-06-19T15:18:00.000-04:00

I had a tough time at the North American Laser Championships and finished 37th overall. Results can be found here.

Gold Cup #2

2007-06-07T15:21:00.000-04:00

This past weekend Robert won the 2nd Gold Cup event at Waterrats in Toronto. Only 2 races were held in light and variable conditions on Saturday, but more wind on Sunday allowed for 4 more races. Results can be found here (Excel file).

Gold Cup #1

2007-05-21T17:17:00.000-04:00

I finished 4th at the TSCC Icebreaker Regatta on the weekend. Only one race was held in the light breeze on Saturday, but on Sunday the wind kicked in and I won the last two races of the event.

Lilac Festival Regatta

2007-05-14T17:17:00.000-04:00

I finished 2nd in the Lilac Festival this past weekend, an ISAF Grade 3 event. Full results here. Next weekend I will compete in the Icebreaker at TSCC in Toronto, also a Grade 3 event and the first Ontario Gold Cup.

Quest For Gold Carding

2007-04-14T17:18:00.000-04:00

I have been awarded Ontario Card status under the Quest for Gold - Ontario Athlete Assistance Program (OAAP). Read the article here.

Ontario Sailing Awards

2007-01-28T17:19:00.000-05:00

I received the Ontario Sailing Hans Fogh Developing Sailor of the Year Award. The article is on the Ontario Sailing website here.

Winter Reports

2007-01-14T17:20:00.000-05:00

You can read My report from the Orangebowl Regatta and the training camp here. Pictures from the event are available here.

You can also read the report from the Miami OCR here.

Orange Bowl Regatta and OST Camp

2006-12-31T22:37:00.000-05:00

Robert just returned from two weeks of training in Miami, in preparation for the Miami OCR regatta. Robert participated in the Orange Bowl Youth Regatta and placed 6th out of a strong 40 boat fleet. The following week, Robert trained with other Ontario sailors out of the U.S. Sailing Centre.

National Qualifying Regatta

2006-10-13T22:39:00.000-04:00

Robert placed 10th overall and was top youth at the National Qualifying Regatta and will now be representing Canada in the Laser class in Kingston, Ontario next summer at the ISAF Youth World Championships.