The very difficult conditions on the first day of qualifying saw 30 to 35 knots which really tested the skills of the crews, and how much training they have been doing in the breeze.
With the majority of the fleet deciding not to use spinnaker it was quite interesting two sail racing. We finished 7, 7, on this day.
The next day was a lot more pleasant with moderate winds. With many teams having to come back from not so good racing the day before, we finished with a 6 and 17.
I was recovering from a cold, which I caught before the regatta started and we had been very close to pulling out of the regatta. But pleased we did not.
The next day, last day of qualifying was very difficult, shifty light to moderate winds with choppy seas. We finished 13, 16. Going into the final group we were place in 16th.
Just not capitalising on many of the opportunities that we were doing in Palma. (The Belcher’s won the Palma regatta) But quite a respectable place. With our final placings being one of the best placing in the regatta it showed that we were able to pull our selves back from a difficult position into the top group again.
With a 2,4,11,17,2,23 moving us into the top 10. Finishing 7th.
Our second ever top 10 result. Both Dan and I have been very surprised with our performances through our first trip in Europe. Considering the level of improvement that we were able to achieve in such a short time throughout our training in Australia.
Thanks again to our Sponsors: Sunsail Yacht Charter, Ronstan, North Sails, Australian Yachting Federation, The Grand Apartments, Turtle Beach Resort and Rubber Jungle, Schenker Shipping and Goldwand Marketing.’
Two weeks ago in the Palma’s Princess Sophia regatta the Belcher’s won with the French team Benjamin and Romain Bonnaud, currently ranked 6th in the world third and Wilmot and Page 8th overall.
