I didn't have a chance to get online yesterday, so I'll briefly write about both yesterday and today. We had an unfortunate start to our day of practicing yesterday. We raised our brand new sails three separate times in the process of realizing our tiller and tiller extension were missing (probably slipped out of our boat during a windy, slightly chaotic derigging in 4 feet of water) and borrowing a tiller and rudder that fit. So, once we finally had a new tiller, we started to sail away only to hit a big rock under the water about 30-40 feet from the launch ramp! The rock put a few big gouges in the leading edge of our dagger board and the back of our dagger board trunk. We were feeling frustrated with our bad luck but sailing made us feel better because our new sails looked great and made sailing so much easier in the heavy air. The shape of our leaches matched and we were no longer over powered with the correct tension, rake, and flatter sails (all controls were cranked on, jib leads back to 90", and traveller eased a bit, of course). Leandro took video and photos that made us feel much better about our potential to sail well in heavy air.
Later that afternoon my mom picked up Rusty and the boys while Christin, Doogie, and I got our Snipe measured. Measuring was a very lengthy process (over 2 hours), but sails, boat, and equipment passed easily with only darker lines needed on the dagger board and mast. Our boat was only 2 kg over minimum and the moment of inertia was perfect--that was interesting to see done with all equipment removed, garage doors closed to block wind, and the boat rocking back and forth to see if it balanced.
When I returned to the condo, the boys and Rusty greeted me at the door, and we all gave each other big hugs. I think Barrett was actually a little frightened at first to see me after being away from me for a week, but within a few minutes, he was cuddling in my lap wanting me to read him a book. He was especially excited to show me his classroom bear that he was asked to bring and take pictures of during the trip. Both boys also showed me their new DS's that Rusty had just given them on the long flight to Buenos Aires. He said the boys were excellent travellers and he only had to move to sit between them once. They didn't leave the airport in New York because it was already dark (and cold) at 4:45 when they boarded the train to ride around the airport, so we'll have to sightsee in NY another time together.
Today Rusty and the boys slept in, took it easy, and played on the beach with new boogie boards from the grocery store here while I sailed the practice race. We had very light wind during most of our team practice before the practice race began, and it was a challenge for everyone to decide whether to loosen rigs with forecast saying winds would strengthen. We don't have "Staymaster" to easily tighten the shrouds on the water, and it was very hard to get our shrouds to 21 to 23 (on Loos gauge), so we left ours and focused on keeping everything else loose and ourselves cool. I jumped in the cold water and eventually handed off my wetsuit, but wished I had it later when the wind did come up to about 15 knots for the practice race. We had 2 general recalls and they let the last start go even though most of the fleet was over. I was warned that the fleet would be very aggressive at the starts but today gave me a taste of what is to come. Many boats set up near the line between 1 min. 30 sec. and 2 min., and after that, it was hard to find a good spot in the favored port half of the line. We could see boats getting lifted up the left shore during practice, so we knew we wanted to go left. I didn't have our bow punched out as far as the boats immediately to windward and leeward of us, so we started in 2nd row and got shot out the back. After that it was a struggle to get clear air and not fall back further, so we rounded the marks in the last 3rd of the fleet I think. No one finished and just sailed in after the first windward-leeward-windward. Later, our team debriefing focused on the need to be extra smart and aggressive at the start and how the left side along closer to shore (NE breeze) had more consistent pressure and bigger lifts as you approached the mark.
After our team meeting, we all went to the opening ceremony in our tan, navy, and white team outfits. We were greeted by a huge band on the lawn and 14 yr. old Raoul (current Optimist Dinghy world champion and Ernesto's crew for the regatta) was chosen to raise our country's flag when the national anthem was played. The other countries' flags were raised and speeches were given by the commodores of the club and SCIRA and event organizers. We took many pictures and got a few with Christin and then with Rusty and the boys, too. There was a great dinner of several small courses and socializing in the club afterward.
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