For this years team trials, I had high expectations and set three goals. On the first two days, the goal was to make gold fleet (top 70) and for the second two days my goals were to qualify for the National Team(top 40), and to make an IODA regatta, preferably NAMS(North American Championships) in Puerto Rico. On the first day, I was in the last fleet to start, away from any of my teammates, so although sad it allowed me to focus on just my races and not ask about theirs. I struggled immensely in the first race, although an amazing start had given me the opportunity to do great, the wind came in and I was not mentally prepared for it. I tried to leave it behind me for the next two races. After the first day I was in the 60s, and although not too bad I knew I had room for improvement and wanted to really secure being in gold fleet. By the second day I made gold fleet, but I wasn’t quite making the National Team or NAMS, so I had room to improve. After the third day, I had jumped up to the 40’s, so I was barely making the National Team but still not making NAMS, so on the last day I had high hopes for improving even more.
The first race was really light wind, and light wind is definitely my strong suit because I somehow placed 4th in that race. In the second race the wind picked up and I returned to my normal top twenty fives. My goal for the last race was to just get a top 30 at least, and then I’d be done with team trials, and with the points all of my goals guaranteed. Of course, this last race did not go as planned because about five minutes after go, I was yellow flagged by a judge meaning I had to do two spins. With this major setback, I wasn’t doing great but it also wasn’t the worst I could be doing. The whole race I was making gains and climbing up into a slightly better spot and as I approached the finish line, I fell out of my boat. I’m really happy because at least I was in a drysuit, but it didn’t help my cause of having a decent race. I just laughed it off, hoping for the best and discovered I ended 34th overall and 9th for the girls.
Although this was definitely making the National Team, it wasn’t a lock if I was if I was going to make NAMS or not. But once they started giving out invitations I had my choice of NAMS, SAMS and Asians.
Overall this was a great event with amazing winds and I had a lot of fun doing it, so thank you for funding me to have a good team trials!