San Diego, Calif.
October 13, 2007

When racing started today at the U.S. Sailing Olympic Trials for the Tornado Class, Johnny Lovell and I needed to win the remaining four races to earn the right to represent the USA at the Olympics for a fourth time. With two bullets today, we’re halfway to the 2008 Summer Games in China. Now we need a repeat performance tomorrow.

Mark rounding in company with Daniel/Stunzi USA 804 - - - Photo: Mark Butler

We woke this morning to rain – rain in Southern California! The forecast was for breeze. We were really excited when we got down to the boat because the committee was talking about taking advantage of the windy conditions and doing a three-race day. When we got out on the course it was still cold and raining and blowing 15 to 17 knots with big waves plus a chop. We couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect.

As luck would have it, the breeze faded and we started the first race in about 10-12 knots. We slipped into our now-normal pre-start match race routine with Robbie and we thought we put him away pretty good. He was head to wind and luffing back in the third row at the gun as we won the start and jumped off the line. But, we couldn’t get clear of another boat and he got a break and was ahead of us at the first cross. We climbed back ahead before the weather mark and were still just ahead at the bottom mark. From there we extended to a two minute lead and won comfortably.

The breeze continued to fade to around 6-8 knots as we set the boat up for the lighter wind and the remaining waves and chop. We dominated the start again and got out to an early lead. Robbie closed at the top mark just behind us but we extended on the first run. Somewhere on that run we tore our spinnaker. From there on, we were nervously watching a hole about the size of a dinner plate and willing it not to rip or explode. Fortunately the wind continued to die until we finished the last run in a three-knot drifter, coasting to another win of about two minutes.