Dear MSSF,
Thank you for your support of my crew Sammy Pickell and I in the 2016 Junior Women’s Double handed Championship for the Ida Lewis trophy. Among all other regatta’s I have been to, this by far is my favorite regatta to attend. Not only are there top-notch coaches from all across the country, but also friends and experiences we gain at this regatta are not comparable to any other.
This year Sammy and I saw many familiar faces amongst the coaches and the sailors. As always the clinic days were helpful and productive, helping us fine-tune our settings for the race days. We learned a lot in the starting drills and excelled in the leeward gate drills.
The hot and humid conditions made for long days on the racecourse, with many delays due to thunderstorms. As this was my first experience sailing in these conditions I learned lots of new information about how clouds and storms can manipulate the wind patterns. The conditions at the venue changed at a moment’s notice, making it challenging for the race committee to get off races. Although we spent hours on the racecourse for the last day of racing, 180-degree shifts and light conditions allowed for only one race to be completed.
Sammy and I’s top finishes were two thirds, but ultimately the conditions proved challenging for us and we ended up in 15th. Although this finish was not as good as previous years, the knowledge and experiences we gained more than made up for it. I look forward to sailing in my final Ida Lewis next year at Annapolis Yacht Club! Again I cannot thank the MSSF enough for the generous support.
Sincerely,
Kerri Luttrell