I'm kicking myself because I'm late for the first start-there's a lot of current for 5 knots of breeze, and my timing to the line is way off. I'm last across the starting line. I'm "Deep 6."
But this is three-versus-three-team racing, so I'm not alone. Ahead, my teammates are scheming how to advance me to the front. They round the first windward mark in second and third. They've done their job well, and my crewmates and I claw our way forward. Having practiced how to convert this losing combination, they immediately slow the pace of the race and consolidate against our opponents' 4-5 positions as we round mark two of the box-shaped racecourse and turn downwind.
If you're unfamiliar with "3v3" team racing, pay attention because there's a lot going on as this plays out: Because I am in sixth and last place, I'm in better proximity to cover my opponents, but the real gain will be made at mark three. My teammate Ashley Love and her crew are in second place, known as "the 2" in team racing. Meanwhile, once inside the two-boat length zone (two is standard for team racing), our teammate Janel Zarkowskey and her crew obstruct the opposing team's 4-5 combination without losing control of either boat. The inside opponent is forced to slow and honor Zarkowskey's mark-room. The other boat must avoid Zarkowskey and sail extra distance around the outside. The extra maneuvers slow my opponents while I sail past the mark with speed. We are now in a stable winning 2-3-4 combination and notch our first race win-and impressive "double passback"-in the 12-minute race.
After the race, I apologize to Zarkowskey for the hiccup in our start. "This is why we race as a team," she replies.
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Esta historia es de la edición Fall 2023 de Sailing World.
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