Star Sailors League - Day 1 update from Cayard Sailing

by Cayard Sailing on 5 Dec 2013 Star Sailors League 2013 - Day 1 update from Cayard Sailing:

Perfect Star sailing conditions were delivered in Nassau today. 8-12 knots from the east and sunshine made the sailing spectacular for this elite fleet.

Four races were held on Montague Bay at the east end of Nassau, each about 40 minutes. With just 18 boats on the track, and all of them very good, the racing was very tight.

For Austin and me it went about as predicted. We struggled at the corners and shifting gears. We had some good starts and decent speed at times. But we aren't consistent yet. Often it is just a matter of inches at the top mark that separates fourth from 12th. Same as it ever was.

We are currently 16th and need to be in the top 10 after Friday's racing. No doubt we will get better each day as I scrape a little more rust off.

Robert Scheidt (BRA) and Bruno Prada were at the top of the field today and that is really no surprise. The Italians, Diego Negri sailed well to hold second overall and Mark Mendleblatt, the USA Star representative the London Olympics in 2012, sailed very consistently and is in third.

When we hit the dock, Robert Scheidt says to me, 'Four races was a bit too much, don't you think!' I said, 'Did you just say that to me?' For those who don't know, Robert is the epidomy of fitness and just won the laser worlds last week for the ninth time. Anyway, after a few minutes I decided it made me feel good to hear even Robert say that, it was a long day!

For complete results click here

To view a live stream of the races, click here

Forecast for tomorrow is 10-14 knots from the east.

Paul