2010 T-Ten North American Championship

Day 3 Report by Nick Turney

Sailing with Jim Ward on Wine Squall

     Day 3 brought a moderate and very shifty 5-10 knots, with puffs reaching up to 15 at the end of the last race.   We sailed 3 races today.    Race 1, team Wine Squall started near the pin in great pressure.   We felt there was a little more pressure on the middle felt side of the course.   We ended up tacking and crossing the fleet to round first around the top mark.   We opted to gybe in chasing pressure, 217 sailed straight and used the current to pass us.   The finish ended up with 217 first and Wine Squall 2nd.    Race 2 saw lighter breeze and very unstable shifts.   It came down to finding the puffs and dealing with whatever the shift was.    Right side mostly paid as it was closer to land which generated a land effect shift.   Ted Pinkerton and team Perfect handled the shifts and took race 2.   The third race was more of the same crazy shifts and pressure differences.   We opted to start at the boat and tack out right away.   We rounded the top mark around 8th.   We sailed very smart down wind connecting the puffs, with a great 2nd beat we rounded the top mark in 4th and finished in 4th.   Team Demon Rum sailed very smart and took the win.

 

      Best advice I could give from today was patience and stay in the puffs.   Look ahead and figure out where the next puff is.   Connect the dots!

 

      Thanks Jim and Jamie ward and the rest of team Wine Squall for a fun week!   And George ward for the power boat ride in so I could make my flight!

 

Good luck to all tomorrow!

Thanks, Nick Turney