February 16, 2006

Subject: Strong Start to 2006!

Hello hello!

Well, this e-mail is a little past its due after the Women's North American Championships.

As mentioned in my last e-mail, the two positions for the Worlds this year were on the line there. I am happy to report that with my 4th place finish, I managed to clench the second spot for North America at the Radial Worlds this year. The regatta was very interesting with some tight scores going into the last day. The winds were not too strong and there were waves for most of the days, but on the final day it was very light coming offshore and it was flat water and very shifty winds. Going into the last day, I was tied with Jen Spalding and very close behind (2points I think) was Lisa Ross. All fighting for the top spot to qualify for the worlds. After Jen won the first race, things were looking only mediocre for the rest of us, but then I managed to pull off a second place in the next race, which brought things closer again. So it came down to the last race of the regatta. It was very tricky, and it went from Jen having the worlds birth, to Lisa and jen being tied and me being totally out of the picture. Of course the big lesson I've learned recently is that "it ain't over 'till its over". Coming up the last leg of the race, I saw that the breeze was dying out on the right for everyone and all day there had been some great pressure and lifts out of the left of the course. So I headed to where I saw the wind coming from next and it paid off big. I went from 9th at the leeward mark to 3rd at the finish and I managed to earn the birth at the worlds!

I am very happy with my fourth Place finish at this regatta. Paige Railey sailed a solid event and finished first with Anna Tunniclife and Laura Baldwin tied for the second and third position. With Paige earning an automatic birth at the Worlds as she is the reigning world Champion and Laura Baldwin being from the UK and not eligible for a North American birth, the two positions went to Anna and myself.

After those two major events at the very beginning of the season, a new World Ranking came out. I am pleased to say that I've managed to crack the top 10 in the ISAF World Rankings once again. I am sitting in 10th at the moment which also qualified me to be invited to the ISAF World Sailing Games to be held in Austria in May this year!

After the North Americans in Ft. Lauderdale I scooted across the state to hit Clearwater where I've been training with Paige, Laura and Jen. Its been pretty good and I'm looking forward to the next event which is Laser Midwinters East. This event starts on the 23rd and ends on the 27th. Regatta info and results can be found at www.clwyc.org

Again, I hope all is well with all of you and I am looking forward to hearing back from you!
Cheers
~~Keamia~~