I need a lot of work.

[bamamick]

It's been eleven months since we actually sailed Stars, and you can tell by our performance today.

First time in this boat, against a small but high quality fleet, and we stank up the joint. Wasn't the boat's fault. Our boatspeed, especially upwind, was fine. Not too great downwind but that was my fault, not the boat's.

The thing about it is the starts. I was over early in both starts today. My timing is terrible right now and both of our races were over before we even got started. It was pretty amazing that we caught anyone, but the fact that we did I suppose means that the boat has a lot of potential.

Right this second I don't want to look at another boat for awhile, but I know that the only way to put this rough stretch behind me is to get out there and do it. I never in my wildest dreams thought that I would sail my Finn better than I do the Star, but as of right now it looks like that's the way it is. Unacceptable. I have got to practice and get better. I have spent too long in these boats to turn around and look like I just got started.

A lot of work ahead for us in the Star. Districts in six weeks and we will have fifteen boats. I refuse to spend that weekend the way that I spent today (chasing everyone).

Mickey Lake

[S/V Laura Ellen]

The answer is to get time on the water, lots of it. We should all be that lucky.:)

[Wild Wassa]

Mickey, one thing that disturbs my racing is changing boats and changing Classes. When I'm in different boats even within the same class, I lose the edge crewing because each boat is so different. It can be losing a couple of seconds here and there, you know what that is like, a couple of seconds here or a second there. It might be a cleat in a different location or the stiffness of string that makes a huge difference to my initial reaction. It can catch me out when a cleat doesn't release according to my muscle memory, that I gained in the last boat, has me reacting.

During the last race, my Skipper said to me, "we are not moving as one this race, you are one second too slow coming across." In reference to me shifting my weight during a tack. He was right. We had had a layoff of 4 weeks and lost our rythme between the Summer series and the Frostbite series.

I need to be as well tuned as the boat I'm in. Each Class requires a different style of moving around and timing, I find. I'm not the type of sailor who effortlessly transitions between the boats. I doubt whether anyone actually does.

Put the hours in to the Star ... and it is the crew who wins the race. Without hot crew, no Skipper can blame him or herself for an ordinary performance. Those who makes the fewest mistakes during the race win.

When I was racing three times a week last season, everything was working with the timing ... now we are only having one race a fortnight in the winter series ... nothing is working well. I've been training with others during the week. I'm getting out on the water still but not with my Skipper ... and nothing feels right. We are still sailing but that is all it is. Coming fourth last race, said it all.

Warren.

[Ocean Spray]

Mickey, just curious, have you ever sailed your Star up here in New England? Boston Harbor? Rockport? Lake Sunapee? Milford? My club has sponsored the North American's two or three times over the past twelve years or so. Wondering if we ever crossed paths?

[bamamick]

My Star sailing has been confined to the Gulf Coast and through Florida. I have never had a 'travel' boat before (a boat good enough to take to those kinds of events), or the time to do it.

For example, our 'road trip' in the Stars for this year will be to Houston for the NOOD regatta. Houston has re-established their Star fleet and they are in our district. We need to support them, so three or four of us will make the trip in September. My Dragon trip will also be in September when I go to Cleveland for the Great Lakes championships, and my Finn trip was to West Palm Beach this past February. Other than that it's just stuff here locally and over in New Orleans, which is a two hour drive.

Just had two members of our Star fleet return from Annapolis. We do have a couple of fleet members who travel all over for events, but sadly I have not been able to do much of that.

Mickey Lake

[Ocean Spray]

Star, Dragon, Finn and schooner? You are one busy man! I own an old one-design called a Raven, 24'4", center board, 1000lbs, planning hull. I re-use two year old Star main sails, I have them recut, take off about 12" off the luff, I'm about 15" longer on the foot but I don't mind since I'm over powered anyway.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Official comment from a member of the peanut gallery:

This is the same guy that wondered if he was too old to race boats like this, and now is pissed that he ain't winning. Attaboy Mickey:D