Hi my name is Porter Killian and with help from the BYC MSSF I attended a clinic hosted by Chris Barnard in preparation for the Laser North Americans this summer. The Chris Barnard clinic on the 21 and 22 of June helped me in many ways mainly because there were only six people attending, which meant a lot of one on one coaching. While the wind was light I learned the essential fundamentals of sailing a laser in the ocean through our chalk talks at the beginning and the end of the days.
The BYC MSSF also helped with my entry fee for the Laser North Americans held in Southern California. On the first day of racing the waves were huge and the wind was blowing in the 20’s with gusts to about 30 knots. Even though I am only 14 (185lbs), I decided to sail a full rig and it was my first time racing a Laser in the ocean. Clearly this was going to be a learning experience and I almost finished the first race, but after my 15th capsize I decided to call it a day. Once back in I de-rigged quickly, went home, collected myself and slept well. The next day I went out in my radial rig for fear of the same wind as the day before and sure enough the next three days proved to be windy and very trying. I am happy to say that I finished all of the other races in the regatta, raced with the best in the World and improved as a Laser sailor.
Thank you,
Porter Killian