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Palma de Mallorca, Spain
March 16, 2008

Greetings from Spain’s Mediterranean island of Palma de Mallorca, where we’ve just finished the first day of racing at the the 39th Trofeo S.A. R. Princesa Sofia Regatta and posted finishes of tenth and first.

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Leading the fleet - - - Photo: Mark Ivey

Our arrival here at this beautiful island was a bit rushed because our boat was on a long freighter voyage from Miami and the Worlds. It was supposed to arrive on March 6 but didn’t get into Barcelona until the tenth and then we had to wait another two days before it offloaded and cleared customs. We were at the dock gates to greet it and our tender, and load two cars and trailers ready to board the overnight vehicle ferry from Barcelona to Palma.

We finally got to Palma on Thursday morning for a Sunday regatta. Whew!! This one is always a tough turnaround and with the timing of the Worlds, it was even closer. But we had help from US Sailing’s High Performance Director Gary Body and Arrantza at Schenker Logistics, plus assistance from our Spanish friend and fellow competitor Monica Azon. Armed with Monica’s second car and trailer, plus her directions to a car rental outfit, plus safe spots to store everything for two days in Barcelona, we were able to make it all happen

After the push to get to Palma, rigging the boat, setting it up and tuning it was almost an anticlimax and we got through it all without incident. For the beginning of competition today we were blessed with lovely blue skies and eight to 12-knot breezes. The first race we were rusty and it was noticeable. We finished 10th, knowing we could have done better.

We hit the line for the second race determined to do better and had a decent start that let us fight for a clear lane of air. That allowed us to clear away early from the main pack and make up distance to the leaders, rounding the first windward mark in seventh. Around the mark, we jibed early and made up more ground and just managed to gain an overlap on the Finnish boat ahead of us. Looking forward we found ourselves freed up on the right in a great breeze and powered past the German boat that was leading. The rest of the race was ours, with a few fun gambling and covering calls while we worked to extend our lead.

After today, we’re really psyched for tomorrow’s competition. Palma feels like home after training here for almost two months last year and we have none of the distractions of a new destination to distract us as we focus on the days ahead.

For detailed results, go to Princesa Sofia Scores.

Carrie Howe
   for Team Seven Sailing -
   - Sally Barkow, Debbie Capozzi, Carrie Howe