420 winters and Optimist end of seasons.

420 Winter Championships:

Me and Molly on Sunday.

Starting off the winter sailing I competed in the 420 Winters with Molly. Saturday was a light wind day. We hadn't sailed together since the nationals so it was good that it was light so we could get back to grips with the boat again. After an hours postponement we were finally afloat. It felt so good being back in the 420 racing again, going out to learn and have fun, as we knew we weren't going to do well as it was a ranking and we're less experienced than everyone else. We got a 26th, 26th and a 23rd, nice and consistent.

Breeze on baby! Sunday was so windy. At no point did it drop below 20knts, all day it stayed round about 25-29knts. Super fun but scary. Today our goal was to keep the boat flat, find out what we need to work on in heavy breeze and just enjoy it. We weren't too fussed about where we finished, as it was so windy, we just wanted to survive the day. 

It was crazy, one of the best days sailing we've both ever had. The first race was really good, no capsizing or major muck ups and finished in 27th. Already we were so drained, sailing a 420 in heavy winds is so physical and uses lots of energy. The next race involved lots of swimming. A big gust hit and unfortunately we capsized. After a while (which felt like a life time swimming) we figured out both of us just don't weigh enough to get the boat up right. It was taking so long to get it up and we were freezing cold in the water, in order to get help we had to retire, but it was ok as we knew we wouldn't catch up with everyone else even if we did get the boat up on our own. Races 2 and 3 were really tiring. Me or Molly have never experienced racing in these conditions in the 420 before so we weren't used to using so much energy and muscles. No more capsizing though or big mistakes in either of these races, which was good and finished 27th in both races.

After being worn out from a good solid weekend of racing we were on our way home. It was so much fun experiencing those conditions for the first time in the 420 and we can't wait to race again!

Oppie End Of Seasons:
It was the final ranking event of the year. It was a very important event for me as it determined whether I would be staying in Optimists or not. If  I didn't make National squad then I might be out of oppies, so it could be my last event. Going into the event I was doing well enough in the rankings to just make national squad but it was close between the girls. 

Saturday was a very wet, light wind day. Rain all day and a max wind of 10knts, very challenging and frustrating conditions. The first race was a bit of a shambles (black flag start). I got caught out holding my lane off the start and finished 33rd unfortunately. The wind for the 2nd race had dropped and got a bit more choppy. i finished much better in the next two  races and got two 13th's.

Collecting my 3rd girl trophy.

Sunday's wind was very different. We had a bit of a postponement to start with because it was too windy. The forecast was for 25knts gusting 29 and due to pick up to 33knts. 

After a bit of a wait we the wind dropped a little allowing us to go out and race. It was quite challenging out there but really fun. There were big gusts and lots of shifts making the racing difficult. Unfortunately I got caught out at the start and rounded the windward mark in the late 20's but thankfully gained it back up to an 11th! By the time it was the 2nd race the wind had picked up to 35knts and we had to go in but as the first race of the day was a good result it was hopefully enough to make national squad. Overall in I finished 21st and 3rd girl. 

With no racing at the Inland Championships, the ranking and national squad place came down to just two events, the Late Summers and End of Seasons. Coming 15th at the Late Summers and coming 21st at the End of Seasons was enough to get me into National squad! I'm so happy I made it and can't wait to get in good winter training from it. My final rank was 12th overall and 2nd girl, which I am very pleased about after all the hard work. Here is a link to the 2019/20 rankings:

https://www.kbsuk.com/data/optimistiocaevents/data/results/2019/ranking/2020rankingos.html
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