You win some, you lose some

Ahhhh working internet! Bit of trouble finding working world wide web over here in La Rochelle but we've made it across the pond and are two days deep into the regatta. Let's get you up to speed...

After leaving USNA on Thursday we jumped on a plane to JFK in New York, eventually made it on to our Air France red eye and seven hours later we were on French soil! Quite the the long day of travel but very cool to be on such a whirlwind adventure.  After landing in Paris, we boarded our train and sped through the French countryside towards La Rochelle.  We arrived in La Rochelle, caught a ride down to race headquarters and we're brought to where we were staying. Team USA was under the impression that we would be staying at the university here in La Rochelle but turns out all of the SYWoC competitors were being put up in the La Rochelle Youth Hostel! Quite the surprise when six guys are sharing a room, especially when one of those guys is your coach.  The room is probably 15 by 20 with the tiniest shower you have ever seen. Look up the definition of "cramped" in Merriam-Webster and our pleasant little hostel room will be there.  A meet and greet with all the teams at race headquarters followed. Lots of great people from all over the world bringing traditional dishes and drinks. Pretty cool way to start off a regatta.

Saturday brought about lots of breeze and gray skies...unfortunately too much big breeze. We weren't allowed to sail because of gusts in the 40's and 25-30 kts sustained. Big disappointment to come all ready to sail and to have the rug yanked out from underneath you. However we did get some productive boatwork done and we're able to fix a lot of interesting problems we found with our "Grand Surprise." Kudos to Mary Cox and the crew for their good work.

Day 1 of racing brought solid breeze and a pretty good first day for Team USA.  After a brief dilemma in which the majority of the fleet ran aground in the mud on the way out of the harbor (led by the Irish), we got out to the race area and had about an hour to figure out a boat that none of us had ever spent a minute on while underway. Got the basic upwind, port tack, stbd tack, set, downwind, jibe, jibe, jib up, spin down warm up in before we went into sequence for our first race. Pretty good result in the Race 1 with a fifth behind the Candians, Irish, Defenders from France and Norway.  In Race 2 we suffered from a poor second row start and found ourselves footing off to the left in order to clear our air. A tenth in that race really left a bad taste in our mouth as we found ourselves fighting through messy air upwind on both legs.  The day finished off with a 16 mile distance race. Team USA set up for a port approach but had another tough start as we found ourselves set down onto the pin as the fleet sailed over top of us. After jibing back down below the line and heading out on port tack, we fought our way back up wind, maintained a decent position on the long downwind toward Isle de Aix and then faced the longest upwind leg of the race in front of us.  The breeze was forecasted to trend left in the afternoon so after hanging with the fleet who was tacking on each lift up the middle of the course, we decided to leverage ourselves out left and go for the calculated hail mary. And boy did it pay off. The Americans and Canadians who were the last two boats off the line at the start crushed the fleet by going left and were well ahead in the last few miles of the race, battling it out for the lead. Unfortunately the North American lumberjacks edged us our at the mark and were able to reach on in to the finish under spinnaker. Great first day overall and we put ourselves in a good position for day to ending up in fourth place with 17 points.

Day 2 was a different story. With breeze blowing 10-15 we did great in the first race with a well sailed fourth but then suffered a costly two turn penalty on the second upwind leg of the second race in a port-starboard situation with the Swiss. An ugly twelve was the result but luckily it will count as our drop. The day ended with a twelve mile distance race in which splitting from the fleet on the downwind leg in light air didn't quite pay off and the ole Stars and Stripes found themselves way back in the fleet at the second to last mark.  BUT, after great upwind number crunching by Ralph Duffett and Taylor Marton, we fought our way back to an 8th place.  Certainly a tough day for USA but we live to fight another day tomorrow.

Tomorrow brings two windward-leeward races and two distance races, one of which will be the infamous night race. Look for Navy Offshore Sailing to shine in the night race. Great moments are born  from great opportunity, right? Lots of opportunities out there tomorrow and Wednesday before the wind blows of the chain on Thursday and Friday.  Look out Canada, we're coming for ya, eh.

And They're Off!

Well, here we are. The day has arrived that the boys and girls from Annapolis board an airplane and head on  over to France. Pretty hard to believe its here but we're ready to go and can't wait to start competing.  Lots of different emotions pumping through the veins right now but most of all is excitement.  Thanks to everyone on VOST, in the office, Mr. Chet Gladchuck,  families, friends and especially our teammates. One team, one fight. Talk to you on the other side. Here goes nothin!

Crew of the Day, Pt. 7: Andrew Shea

Last, but most certainly not least, hailing from quite possibly the WASPY-est place in the continental United State, the one and only, sailing team captain and skipper of Team USA, the blonde hair, blue eyed beauty with a knack for charming the ladies, the man who turned down GQ, ANDREW BALDWIN SHEA! As a scientist of politics and international relations, Andrew takes immense pride in his ability to hold a substantially sophisticated political conversation and in his ability to converse in German with his vast knowledge and vocabulary of Deutschland.  Though hailing from all over the U.S., most recently from the quaint Barrington, Rhode Island, Andrew has now been declared a full time resident of Nimitz Library. Andrew grew up sailing with his family on his favorite boat of all, a Cape Dory Typhoon Sr. and has since been spotted on such crafts as a TP52, Navy 44, J122 and a rather sketchy Force 5. His best attribute? His patriotism and his hair, which is a close runner up to fellow team member Ralph Patrick Duffett's flowing locks. Andrew's best and bitterest moment in his sailing career was the time he lost NYYC Race Week by a mere 1/2 point, hence his constant motivation for always demanding more.  Andrew has been breaking in his Dubarry's for the past three years for this trip and can't wait to finally hit the water in La Rochelle and show the world what he and his crew are capable of!   -AMC

Crew of the Day, Pt. 6: Ralph "Pat" Duffett

Duffett...Ralph Patrick Duffet is Team USA's man on the pointy end is certainly not lacking in looks, hair or talent.  Ralph, or Pat as his Naval Academy buddies call him, comes from the little paradise of Grosse Isle, Michigan right up on the Canadian border. Pretty cool, eh? Pat "studies" aerospace engineering, will take anyone to town in a game of bowling and loves living life with a "hakuna matata" mentality. Having skippered and subsequently broken the previous elapsed time record in  Navy's TP 52 last summer in the Newport-Bermuda race, Pat excels both on the bow and in the back of the boat.  Pat's hair favors the starboard tack both on an off the water and loves pushing it to its limits.  Ralph and his ridiculously good looks can't wait to quietly go about his duties on the bow of the Grand Surprise and get back to his bed and sleep every night in La Rochelle. Watch out world!

Crew of the Day, Pt. 5: Taylor Marton

The boat mom...whether you agree or not, every successful boat needs one. On Team USA, Taylor Marton of Chicago, Illinois excels in that role.  Whether it's a freshly made sandwich when the tummy starts to grumble,  words of reassurance when your down in the dumps or a expertly tailed halyard in the pit, Tay-Tay is there for us.  This political science major enjoys solving the worlds problems, as well as those of her crew and loves the color of the water when she is hundreds of miles offshore.  Following her career in the Navy, Taylor plans on whipping people into shape as a personal trainer and will take anyone to town when it's time for an ab workout.  But don't let her cherry stem tying talents and warm smile fool, this member of the "bow team" means business and is ready to hike her way to a world championship. But don't worry, Taylor will always have a tissue to wipe your runny nose or a pack of ice when the boom gives you a good wake up call.  Thanks mom!

This is Taylor and her boyfriend. He defuses bombs for a living, just sayin...

Crew of the Day, Pt. 4: A. Mary Cox

 Team USA would like to introduce its resident southern belle, Annis Mary Cox! Hailing from Columbus, M-i-s-s-i-s-s-i-p-p-i, Mary is the Executive Officer, Crew Boss, boat work magician, Ops Officer, Skipper's keeper and Main Trimmer aboard.  Mary specializes in living on island time, chasin' hurricanes around the Carribean and zoo keeping the antlered animals of Bermuda.  Mar' has a passion for the sea and loves watching the land disappear off her stern as she sails of into the sunset, whether it be a Bermuda race or a Transpac, on a variety of sailboats, including Sunfish, J 105's, Melges 24's, a windsurfer, TP 52's and one particular Santa Cruz 50.  While not sailing Mary can be found partaking in her favorite pastimes of boat work and National Geographic quality photography. Mary's most admirable quality is her dedication to and love for USNA, evidenced by passing on a full ride to the University of Hawaii...'merica.  Annis can't wait to show off her French linguistic skills in La Rochelle and get her hands and splicing kit on Team USA's Grand Surprise. Live slow, Mar', live slow.

Crew of the Day, Pt. 3: Neil McMillan

Now batting, number fourteen, your friendly neighborhood driver, Neil McMillan! Born and raised in Larchmont, New York, Neil is quick to point out that his hometown is right next door to New Rochelle, which just so happens to be named after La Rochelle...sick. We'll take that as a good omen and move on. This proud New Yorker studies Naval Architecture at USNA and can typically be spotted on any tent party dance floor featuring a live band with his partner in crime, Dave Medina.  In his first trip across the pond, Neil can't wait to try new things at least once, miss a week of class and share his world famous "Mom's Birthday Bash" playlist.  Watch out world, he's bringing his talents to a leeward mark and  dance floor near you! 

Chickity China, the Chinese chicken...

7 days til Team USA heads to the land of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity!

Crew of the Day, Pt. 2: Phil Reynolds

Ladies and Gentlemen! Hailing from Island Heights, New Jersey, the Navy Sailing Team would like to present the Phillionaire himself, the Sultan of Spin, Phil "The Rhino" Reynolds! Known for his superior intellect and flawless dimples, Phil brings seventeen years of sailing experience on board Optis, 420's, E-Scows, a RP-66, a TP 52 and a first in class in the 2012 Newport-Bermuda Race to the crew.  On the boat, The Rhino's positions include spinnaker trimmer, bullpen tactician and kicker.  When not on the water, he enjoys skiing at his local ski slope, playing 9 to 13 holes with his buddies and other fun-loving activities.  Unlike the rest of the crew, Phil brings loads of personality to the boat and can't wait to show the world his smile in La Rochelle. Sail on, Phillionaire, sail on.

Crew of the Day, Pt.1: David Medina

David "B.M." Medina hails from the great nation of America. The son of a U.S. Marine, Dave has lived all over the country and the world, including 6 months in Rome and 3 years in Germany. As an Information Technology major currently residing in Fredericksburg, Virginia he enjoys spending time on the beach (..but not long walks) and anything in nature because he finds it "neat."  His best attribute is that he has too many to count but if he had to name one it would be is impeccable ability to dance..."hard" . On the boat, Dave is part of the self-proclaimed "speed team"  and trims the jib upwind and spinnaker guy downwind.  Dave can't wait to get to France and show the world what he brings to the table.

Hello My Name Is...

You've found the spot where the U.S. Naval Academy's Offshore Sailing Team representing the Nifty Fifty as Team USA will check in and report back on the goings on at the Student Yachting World Cup (SYWoC) in La Rochelle, France from October 27th to November 3rd.  Seven midshipman and one coach will be headed across the pond to race against some great sailing talent from all over the world. We're chomping at the bit to get going. Feel free to come along for the ride! It'll be here before we know it. Bonne nuit!

Meet the gang...