Prof O'Connell Reports from the Final Day of the Melges US Nationals
Level on points, tied for first place, we headed into the final race of the US Nationals on Conor Clarke's "Embarr" knowing that we had to beat the overnight leader Bora Gulari on "New England Ropes / Air Force One" to win the regatta - or else keep him outside the top seven.
Well it was not to be. After a nail-biting, hence at at times frustrating race in very light air, they beat us on the line by one length and won the regatta by one point. We can have no complaints, we did not sail well enough today to win and that was that. We let them off the hook in the pre-start, gave up an opportunity to pass him on the first run and despite some brilliant upwind sailing where we passed them on the second beat and fought back from a poor start, we just didn't get there in the end.
The Irish at full tilt in Embarr. Photo: Becky Furry
A positive note was that we beat Brian Porter and Andy Burdick on "Full Throttle" who had beaten us in the Worlds in May. Brian and his team, are tough competitors and have won many many events in this class.
Embarr's has finished 3rd overall in the World Championships and 2nd in the US Nationals this year. Not a bad haul!
Hopefully we can go one better in January at Key West Race Week - "Embarr's" next event.
Thanks for all the messages of support folks.
