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I have a lot of free time to help my dad call tactics and this has kept me sharp through the Laser off season. Some things that stayed with me this regatta was that you should cover cover cover, even when it means sailing a knock. I also spent most my time sailing with the fleet and not separating as much as I use to. This gives ample opportunity to pass when mistakes are made. No reason trying for that lucky shift when you can hang out cause you got the speed and take the opportunity when presented to you.

I was very pleased that I led 5 out of 7 races. I felt like I finally had it together. Now just because I led those races doesnt mean I won them. The second race in fact had me leading up until the last upwind leg and last 1/3 part of the beat. I told myself the last downwind leg to sail my own race as if no boats were around the last leg. The wheels fell off the bus as I sailed to the left, right into a mirage of huge wind when a huge righty came in with breeze allowing 5 boats to pass. Ouch. This was my turning point where I decided to go forward with just staying with the fleet.

I also decided that since I had no problems with speed and height and getting to the first mark in the top three I would forget about pushing the start so hard. I had one race I was frightened that I never went back and was worried about being OCS. It turns out I wasn't so instead of having to worry about that all day I had more conservative starts.

This was the first regatta I have ever won sailing Laser. Lets see if I have speed, height, and tactics in phase in Austin. Last year I was winning the Centerboard Regatta on Saturday but Sunday sailed horrible letting two boats pass me in the process. My new motto is be a bit more conservative and let others make the mistakes.

Here is one of my starts where I started on starboard at the pin as the wind was bending left. I love it when these happen...




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Saturday had us racing in next to no wind. The afternoon brought better light to moderate wind conditions. At this point I am down to 212 pounds from 250 in last years' regattas. I could definately feel a difference in the responsiveness of the boat. The only problem was going the wrong direction. I cussed myself a few times with dumb moves like parking in a hole when I know better.

Sunday brought breeze and I was smiling ear to ear because I know that boat handling was going to be key. I picked up three places with the breeze. I ended up 11th out of 40 boats overall. Very satisfied with this as last year I was 15th. My goal was really top ten.



Notes from this:

-Stay with the fleet, dont go off by yourself. Most this time this results in parking in a hole and everyone sailing around you. Be patient people will make mistakes and give you opportunity to pass.

-Too much vang for me in the breeze results in hard to take tacks. I got stuck in irons twice, I felt like an idiot but it did blow 28...

-Be careful in the real windy shifty conditions. I rounded the leeward mark in great shape took a big downer and tacked over to only get a huge lefty which resulted into an auto-tack-capsize... Lost 8 boats.

What a fun regatta.]]> http://www.jamesfreedman.org/index.php?entry=entry071127-120710
When it came to light air sailing before, I had this big mental block because I weigh (240 lbs.). I was defeated before I ever left the dock. I read some articles about not letting light air beat you on shore when you weigh more and I changed my entire attitude about this condition I use to love when 14 years old and 125 lbs. Another thing I learned for light air sailing is that I was always using way more outhaul than was needed. I am now carrying about 5 to 6 inches from boom to deapest area of the foot. This has made me just as quick as the lightweights. Another thing I have found is that I can drift very quick in no-air conditions. I have finally moved past this thinking of 20 knots is my air mentality.

The second focal point of 2007 was my downwind boat speed. This has improved dramtically. Because of an article on the Laser forum and an open mind, I have as much speed as the little guy in any condition downwind. What I found is that I was never carrying enough vang. It was suggested that with the boat on shore and all control lines loose I should grab the end of the boom and pull down 6 inches and have that as my maximum loose vang setting. At first it seemed really tight to me. After six months of sailing this way I have concluded that this has improved my downwind boat speed amazingly. I now have a black mark on my vang that marks this. The original suggestion was to tie a knot and I found that I like the ability to keep the vang all the way off when launching/unlaunching and when luffing between races.

Overall 2007 was a great learning year for me. This winter I plan to stay fresh sailing Laser and J80's with my dad to improve my tactics for 2008. My main focus will be tactics in 2008. Going the right way even when it means losing a few boats, staying with the fleet, and other areas I fight myself.]]> http://www.jamesfreedman.org/index.php?entry=entry070518-152720 http://www.jamesfreedman.org/index.php?entry=entry060520-024850


The tint cant get any darker on my car. Also I still get 29 MPG with my civic. Everything stores nicely in the trunk too. I roll my sail and fold it in half, then place it in the trunk.

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