Day 6

Day 6 is the last day of the regatta. Results are very close, leaving Team USA on the outside looking in. We knew that we had moves to make, and wanted to leave everything on the race course. With 2 W/L races, we had the opportunity to move up the rankings.

Race 14 started in a light easterly. We started three boats from the pin, back from the line, but with speed. We held our lane to the left, tacking out in a slight left shift. We were tacked on by the Czechs, forcing us back out to the left. We tacked on port layline, in pressure and with pace. We rounded the windward mark in 6th, behind the Czechs, Irish (Cork), France (Audencia), but beating the Swiss. We held on starboard before being the first to gybe out on a nice right shift in pressure. The pressure across the course was dying, and we did an incredible job of staying in pressure and keeping boatspeed, allowing us to sail into third place just before the leeward mark. The race committee shortened the course to finish at the leeward mark. We kept pace on, while the Italians and the French Audencia team, in a gybing duel, parked up before the finish, allowing us to pass them and finish first. Audencia finished 2nd, and the Italians 3rd.

Race Committee hoisted the AP flag at 11am, and said they would send us in at noon if the breeze did not fill. When 12pm rolled around, the Bay of Marseille was still glass, and we were sent in, ending the Student Yachting World Cup 2009.

We were pleased with our performance this week. There will always be second guessing about where we could've pick up a point or two, but that is always the case with any event. We left everything on the race course, especially with the bullet in the last race.

Team URI/USA would like to thank everyone who made this event possible for us. Everyone who supported our campaign, in any manner large or small, had an impact, and helped us to our 4th place finish.

Student Yachting World Cup 2009, Final Results (14 races scored)

1. Italy -- 24 pts
2. Czech Republic -- 45 pts
3. France (Audencia) -- 48 pts
4. USA -- 49 pts
5. Ireland (Cork) -- 49 pts
6. Switzerland -- 52 pts
7. England -- 69 pts
   
8. Scotland -- 83 pts
   
9. Wales -- 89 pts
   
10. Ireland (Limerick) -- 108 pts
    
11. France (Ecole Polytechnique) -- 108 pts
    
12. Japan -- 120pts

Thanks again from Team URI/USA, and look for us to qualify again for the Student Yachting World Cup at the Kennedy Cup this coming weekend in Annapolis, Maryland.