Friday was another big wind day and the boys looked like they worked hard. Three races were completed. The scores are okay and getting better. Drew and Cole are getting great experience in very difficult conditions which we don't usually see in the Great Lakes area. So far they had high, sustained winds (20-25kts), waves with power that can be surfed, a large fleet (there are over 45 boats in each start) and long courses (each race lasts over one hour.) Very different from high school sailing.
This is great experience for all of them - Cole, Drew, Alex Post (Loyola Academy), Tim Zacher (Cluver Academy) and Blair Listwan (Grosse Pointe North). This morning I spoke with Tim Zacher's father, also Tim: we both agreed that even though the scores don't show it, our guys are learning a tremendous amount of competitive LASER sailing and will be stronger for the effort. The toughest part of this kind of racing is determining the wind direction and shifts and getting into a good position with clear air. Each boy has talked about being on the wrong side of the starting line or course when the wind shifted the other way. It's all part of the learning curve.
Today is bright and sunny, cool (morning temps in the high 50's) and there's a lighter breeze: starting out E at 10-12 kts going S 5-10 by end of day. Our guys should do well today.
One thing we need to teach/ENFORCE on Midwest sailors coming to Florida in January is how to use SUNSCREEN! These guys are all burned!
More to come.
DS
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