Just got back from the trophy presentation, and what a week! I think Boat of the Week winner John Kilroy Jr. summed it up best when he thanked Quantum Sails for making this event happen. It is not a mystery to anybody that without Quantum’s support, the event would not have taken place. I know I speak for all competitors, amateurs, and professionals when I say THANK YOU! The week was one of the best of recent memory!
On the Division 1 racecourse today, we had another chamber of commerce day. A perfect easterly breeze was in store for two races. It was a funny day for us as we did not want to make any major gaffs on the course, but we also did not want to interfere with the battle for the next two spots on the podium. In the end, our strategy was fairly simple. Start conservatively and sail our races, don’t tack on anybody who was in a podium hunt, but also finish strong. As the day progressed the plan was working fairly nicely.
We were helped by the work that Doug, Don, and Jonesy were doing. The boat was going well, which allowed us to chip our way through the fleet. Nothing fancy, but a day of a pair of deuces was our day. I must say it was nice to come to work, and not feel a lot of pressure on the day. The winners on the day were Mayhem in race 1 and_ Bella Mente_ in race 2. Both of these teams sailed solid events, and it was great to see the tight level of racing that the TP 52s present in IRC.
Looking forward, I am back on a plane tomorrow to head back to Spain and get back into AC 45 sailing. This week in Key West has been spectacular. It has been great to see old friends and new. While the adventures of the America’s Cup are absolutely incredible, it has been a lot of fun to go upwind at 8.9, and remember patience and the subtleties of the Key West wind. Many thanks to the team on Quantum Racing for a super week, and many thanks to Quantum Sails for their support of our sport!
_ Access SW‘s complete coverage of Quantum Key West 2012. _
