| The West Coast Optimist Sailing Team, We/COST, travelled to Coconut Grove Florida for the McLaughlin Optimist/Optisailors.com Christmast Clinic and the 2005 CRYC Orange Bowl Regatta. The clinic was held December 20th thru the 23rd and the Orange Bowl from December 27th thru the 30th.
Click Here for Final Orange Bowl Results
Want to see a video how the optis are launched at the Orange Bowl?: Click here for the video
Recalls sailed under Black flags were abundant, and with only one throw out, they took their toll on the fleet. Here is the Racing Summary:
Tuesday 12/27. Light winds. Only one race was sailed by the purple and green flights. The red and blue flights races were started but abandoned.
Wednesday 12/28. Light winds again. The red and blue flights got two races in and the purple and green got two more races in. A total of 2 races were scored for all competitors by the end of Wednesday.
Thursday 12/29. The wind freshened overnight and was blowing 15kts by the 9AM harbor start. It blew 15 to 20 kts all day and 5 more races were sailed. The shallow racing area along with the stiff breeze served up a heavy chop which made upwind sailing and bailing a critical skill. A total of seven races were scored through the end of racing on Thursday.
Friday 12/30. All racing was abandoned for the day by 11AM and all boats returned to the Yacht Club. The wind picked up by noon and the second best day of wind in two weeks continued on through the afternoon.A total of seven races were scored for the Orange Bowl. Two races were sailed in very light drifting conditions and five were sailed in 15 to 20 kts and heavy chop.
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