French Olympic Week - One more step up the ladder

The French Olympic Week was a great training opportunity for most competitors.  We were fortunate enough to have a very windy event, which meant more practice for me in my weakest conditions.   The regatta was similar to the Worlds in Cadiz in which it was fantastically windy most of the event.  However, one more element made the event even more difficult:  crazy chop and big waves.

 For the first half of the regatta, the wind came from the famous northwest "Mistral" direction, which meant gusts of 30 knots and short, steep chop on starboard tack.  In the middle of the event, we had one day of more "normal" conditions  - 8 to 10 knots of southerly sea breeze.  The final days had an easterly "opposite" to the Mistral, with giant Mediterranean waves building across the open sea. 

I was able to work on technique over waves upwind, which isn't my strong suit, and dial in my big-wind settings.  Most importantly, after a month of very windy training, I've lost all caution in those conditions.  I'm having a blast going as fast as possible downwind and am attacking maneuvers aggressively.  I just have to improve more upwind!  On a very positive note for our one day of light wind, I had two top-10 finishes.  I am getting really fast in those conditions and I can still improve a lot more - I can't wait to see where those improvements take me before the Olympic Games.

I have a few more days of recovery here in France and then it's off to Weymouth, UK, to finish up the season training at the Olympic venue.  I'm really looking forward to starting up there.  I'd like to thank my supporters Compass Marketing, the St. Francis Sailing Foundation, the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation, the Olympic Sailing Association at New Orleans, and the Southport Sailing Foundation for all their help.  I am making major improvements and I hope to have a good result at Sail for Gold. 

The Road to the Olympics Went Through Cadiz, Spain

Last week at the RS:X World Championships in Cadiz, I qualified the USA for a spot at the 2012 Olympic Games. This was the last step for me in securing my Olympic qualification, and the United States now has a full Olympic sailing team.

The World Championships was just a little different from most of my other events. The 30-knot wind we had for two days pushed the limits of the race committee and all competitors. It was radically different from the conditions I trained in for a month prior to the championships - marginal daggerboard and light planing conditions. Although I had little practice in the survival conditions we saw during the event, I was surprised at how well I performed with the training I had. Everything was just a little bit easier using new technique, I was fit and strong, and I learned new settings to de-power the equipment. I think my job would have been much easier in raceable conditions, but the lessons from this regatta will make me much more confident in future events.

Even Gold Medalists and World Champions didn't escape without a swim

I felt that I met my goals for this event, and I'm glad the USA now has a full Olympic sailing team. The 2012 quad was significantly harder than 2008 in terms of qualifying, and the level of the fleet has gone up exponentially. Going to the Olympics this quad really means that I've found some success. I'm excited to be representing the USA at the Olympic Games and feel I have the chance to make a real impact in terms of results and garnering more support for Olympic boardsailing.

A Defining Moment

Race 4, getting a jump on the fleet at the start led to a top finish and a place in the Gold fleet...

and punched my ticket to the 2012 Olympic games!

Leading up to the Olympics, the most important factor in my campaign will be the effort made towards the continuation of support for my coaching program. I've had to fight other competitors and countries to keep my coach; uncertainty about the future is the worst enemy my program has. I'm confident that my program now is as good or better than any other competitor's, and it will be the most defining factor to my success.

coach Max telling me "you can do this, be a man!"

A special thanks to a new group of friends connected with the Rota Naval Base, and to the men and women serving our country in uniform, who made me feel at home and went out of their way to help me with whatever I needed. Max, my Polish coach commented several times how impressed he was by the support they gave us before, during and after the Championships. I specifically would like to thank David Hiipakka, Dale Thompson, Jan Hammond, and Liana.

David Hiipakka was the leader of my home team in Spain!

It's been a long four years, more hard work ahead

I'd like to thank all my sponsors for their support of my program and helping it to become as successful as it is today. I'd especially like to recognize Compass Marketing for their commitment, and a big thanks to the St. Francis Sailing Foundation, the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation, the Olympic Sailing Association at New Orleans, and the Southport Sailing Foundation. I'm now in France beginning preparations for the French Olympic Week and I'm looking forward to another great event.

Big Day on the Road to the Olympics

"Fire Hose Sailing"

photo by Dale Thompson

The last day of the qualifying series at the RS:X Worlds here in Cadiz was a big day for me on every level. I had a shaky start to my series, and I found myself right in the middle of the fight for the seven open spots to qualify for a place in the Olympics. After a day off due to 40-knot "Levante" wind, yesterday, our scheduled lay day, ended up being a one-race day that would determine the Gold and Silver fleets for the rest of the World Championships. If I could get in the Gold fleet then I would be virtual Olympic place holder. I needed a flawless performance to guarantee my spot in the Gold fleet.

Getting ready to launch at the start

photo by Dale Thompson

I have been working really hard since November to lift all areas of my game, and strong wind was a high priority. Unbelievably, over the past five months, and specifically here in Cadiz, I've only had a handful of heavy air training days. With everything on the line, I went for it at the start and started clear of the field at full speed. I had a clear lane to the favored left side. I sailed the best I ever have in those strong winds and maintained good speed and pointing. At the top mark I was with the lead group rounding fifth. For the rest of the race it was back and forth with Vicki Chan from Hong Kong and Charline Picon from France. In the final slalom, I was trailing HKG, and missed a jibe. Bryony Shaw from GBR and Charline snuck past me one jibe away from the finish, leaving me in 7th place.

Perfectly timed start at the favored leeward end

photo by Dale Thompson

I did it! I ended up having one of the best races of my life at a Worlds, and finished 7th. Everything just came together perfectly. I'm now positioned in the front half of the fleet out of our qualifying round, which means I'm racing in the Gold fleet for the rest of the event and also means I qualified for a spot at the Olympics! I am relieved to have accomplished this with a breakout performance and I'm inspired to see how far I can go in the Gold fleet.

I want to thank my sponsors Compass Marketing, St. Francis Yacht Club, Annapolis Yacht Club, the Olympic Sailing Association at New Orleans, and the Southport Sailing Foundation for making my preparation for this event as good as it gets. I'm looking forward to representing you at the Olympic Games.

Trip to Naval Station Rota - a great experience!

On Friday I was honored to have the chance to visit the US Naval Station at Rota, Spain. Rota is a strategically located base and is considered the "Gateway to the Mediterranean." It is a short eight-hour flight from the USA, and is often a stopping point for supplies on their way to other destinations. 4,000 Americans are associated with the base, and its facilities include a port and an airfield. I was really interested in meeting our servicemen stationed at Rota, and seeing first-hand what they do. I also wanted to find a way to give back something to their community and express my appreciation for the service of our military. I had a whirlwind tour lined up: a meet-and-greet at the galley, a tour of the Seabees' facility, a speech to the National Junior Honor Society, and a radio interview - all in one afternoon!

What struck me as I first drove through the naval station was how American it looked despite being in the middle of Spain. A new friend said the area reminded him of 1950s SoCal, and I could see the resemblance, especially on base. The base was clean and well cared for, with wide streets open space, official buildings, and homes reminiscent of a Florida neighborhood.

After lunch in the galley, I was escorted to the facilities of the Seabees, the US Navy's Construction Battalion. The Seabees are engineers who design, plan, and execute all kinds of construction projects from recreational and base maintenance to actually constructing bases, airstrips, housing, and other necessities for our military. They are known for their good attitude, humor, and teamwork. Their motto is, appropriately, "Can Do!"

I was pretty impressed with the size of the machinery there and a couple bad-ass looking sheet metal garages that were probably constructed in the 1950s. What was equally impressive was how much planning goes into their projects, and the lots with organized rows of heavy machinery. I was pretty excited when they said I could drive one of the tractors. They showed me how to use a little bobcat (I probably would have done some damage in a big one) and at the end of a few minutes, I figured out the different speeds, how to spin around, and how to move some dirt! Since both arms and legs had different controls, I felt like I was operating some machine out of Star Wars. I can only imagine what driving a big front loader or backhoe would feel like.

Cool. (Photo: Dale Thompson)

After the Seabees visit, I was shuttled to the next stop, which was a speaking opportunity at David Glasgow Farragut MHS, the military school at Rota. High-achieving students were being inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, and I was honored to have the chance to speak to the students and parents about how the values of the NJHS, including academics, scholarship, leadership, character, and service, apply to real life. I felt refreshed being in the academic environment and talking to the students, and I enjoyed watching the induction ceremony. It was reassuringly American, and it was a treat to get away from the daily routine and visit such a nice community. I also got to autograph a lot of different objects including bark, a soda can, a fork, and a yo-yo. If anyone sees these items on E-Bay, let me know!

Another really new experience for me was a radio interview. I spoke with radio DJ Josiah Wilson from AFN Rota and toured the studio, which was in an old naval control building next to the port. The studio is one of the oldest buildings on the base, and it was really interesting to check out all the equipment and CD library!

Finally......I got to meet the high school softball team, who were just finishing up their tryouts. It was cool to see the athletes cheering each other on and feel the familiar energy of high school sports, which is, after all, where I started out!

I really appreciate the opportunity to see into the lives of our servicemen and their families stationed at Rota! I was really impressed with the attractive base and how close the community is, and I hope I have another chance to see everyone again.

Check out this video of my trip.

Inside a C-5...lucky me!! (Dale Thompson)

I'd like to thank my sponsors, including Compass Marketing, the St. Francis Yacht Club Foundation, the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation, the Olympic Sailing Association at New Orleans, and the Southport Sailing Association, for giving me the opportunity to make a great showing for the USA at the Carnaval Regatta, and giving me the best of chances to qualify the USA for an Olympic slot at the RS:X World Championships.

The RS:X Pre-Worlds Regatta

Beautiful new headquarters of the Andalucian Sailing Federation

For the past two weeks I've been training in El Puerto de Santa Maria (Cadiz), Spain, the site of the 2012 RS:X World Championships. Coach Max is here with me, and together we've been making some big improvements to my sailing (I know saying this makes me sound like a broken record, but it's very true). A big fleet of international sailors are here, from youth to gold medalists all eager to train and race together.

Yesterday, I finished in eighth place at the Carnaval Regatta, a major Spanish event and the pre-Worlds warm-up for most competitors. All the women sailors training here competed, and together with the youth girls and boys, we had a really strong fleet. Light wind was the dominant condition, and we had a good range of directions and wave conditions, from offshore, shifty, and flat, to a clean sea breeze with choppy swell. We've also been lucky to have sunshine every day so far, which is great because it can be pretty rainy and cold in Spain this time of year.

Results from the Carnaval Regatta

I shaped up well against the other girls in the light wind conditions, and with the addition of new speed, the pieces of the racing puzzle started to fit together. My starts were great, and I was making good decisions tactically. The light wind made for a grueling event, but I really enjoy that toughest kind of sailing and putting my endurance to the test.

Competitors heading out in light wind

Another benefit of the Carnaval Regatta was that I had the opportunity to meet a contact from the joint Spanish - US naval base at Rota, Spain, which is just down the road from where we are racing. I'm finalizing plans for a goodwill visit to show my support, and I'm really looking forward to meeting some sailors and officers.


Starting tomorrow, I have 20 days of training until the Worlds. Now that I'm making solid progress in light to moderate conditions, I'm hoping that we will see breezier conditions to bring my planing up to speed. I'd like to thank my sponsors, including Compass Marketing, the St. Francis Yacht Club Foundation, the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation, the Olympic Sailing Association at New Orleans, and the Southport Sailing Association, for giving me the opportunity to make a great showing for the USA at the Carnaval Regatta, and giving me the best of chances to qualify the USA for an Olympic slot at the RS:X World Championships.

Silver Medal at the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta

Daniel Forster/Rolex

Yesterday I finished my 8th Miami OCR. Every year, I expect the same thing from the event: that it will be a great warm-up for the season, it will be great light wind training, and it will be an opportunity to practice the latest techniques I've learned. Each year, competitors experience the same type of conditions - mostly light and marginal wind, pumping conditions, one or two planing races, sunshine, and seagrass hazards floating around the course.

Mick Anderson/SailingPIX.dk

Looking back through the years, my regatta experience here has been a reflection of the progress of all aspects of my Olympic campaign. In particular, the development of my coaching program has influenced the 2011 and 2012 event in a really positive way. At the end of 2010, I was still struggling with many light-wind technique issues. Putting together and implementing a good program over the course of a year made an impact on the scoreboard during both of these events. In each case, confidence in my new abilities and support during the regattas gave me a mental edge and ability to use my fitness properly.

Mick Anderson/SailingPIX.dk

Last week during the racing, opportunities abounded to put together new technique, tactics, and fitness to create a strategic and powerful event for me. The regatta was mostly light wind, with shifty tactical days, and days where speed was more critical. Our fleet was mostly Americans from all continents - North, South, and Central, and many of us were matched well for speed and abilities. Because I was one of the strongest sailors, I could take creative control of my racing. I could start wherever I wanted to, make my own decisions on the course, and still be able to recover after a mistake. Most importantly, I could clearly see which decision-making processes were working, and which ones needed to be revised, clarified, or added to my master list.

I still have a week of training here in Miami, and I'm excited about the opportunity to keep working on these skills. I'm really happy with my progress so far and am looking forward to further developing my program. None of this would be possible without the help of my great sponsors and supporting foundations. Many thanks to Compass Marketing, the St. Francis Yacht Club Foundation, the Annapolis Yacht Club Foundation, the Olympic Sailing Association of New Orleans, and the Southport Sailing Foundation (Clever Pig).

Top of the Leader Board after Day One at Rolex Miami OCR

The past three months of intense training with my coach Max Wojcik have been paying off. I have gotten a lot faster in every condition and my board handling and mark rounding have improved greatly. Today it was really nice to see how it can all come together with a 2nd and 1st place in the two races today, to be scored as the overnight leader. Tomorrow I will be wearing the yellow jersey!

After spending two months training and racing in Perth, Australia, I took a few weeks off to spend Christmas with my family and friends. After New Year's Day, I went straight to Miami where I again met up with Max. One of the best benefits of working with Max is that he is a top international RSX sailor in the Men's class. Having him to sail against means he can easily demonstrate proper technique and is constantly pushing me to go faster. Additionally, we decided it would be good to have a fast woman RSX sailor to train against, so Max could spend some time in the coach boat. We flew in Malgorzata Bialecka from Poland to train with me and compete in the regatta.

As Max says, "let's not get too excited," but for sure progress is being made. I still have a long way to go but I know that getting better is a matter of time. There are 185 days to the start of the Olympics and I plan to make every day count towards a top result.

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