day 4 fleet...and some IODA notes

Waiting to launch (sorry, followers, no US parent-fotogs on water today)

 3 races (9-11) today, in the strongest, most consistent, least shifty breeze (10-13kts) since we've been here. This was more like the breeze that knowledgeable locals have said is coming...for two weeks. But the story today, for the US, was in the current and the line: the former was strong, the latter was well abused, by others.

Tide was high at 1330 and breeze was right, so the first upwind was in strongest current, flowing up the course. US boys were generally cautious in R9 starts especially, to avoid OCS, but other, more aggressive sailors, challenging an RC that has not once gone beyond I flag and does not police its line, found places to hide and got off early without OCS calls; of many boats over, few were called. 

By R11, the current had reversed, especially along the second upwind to finish. Sailors who did not pick up the change added multiple tacks, especially approaching finish.

Still, Wade had a good day, with the best US finish (4 in 11c) and lowest total points for the day. Duncan and Harry were not far behind in total points, but Harry's 15 in 11c, which finally moved him into double digits in fleet, will soon be posted as a killer DNE (details on request).

Check official sites for latest results.

In other news, some highlights of US interest from today's IODA annual general meeting (AGM) here:
-Proposals by AHO (Netherlands Antilles) for a separate Girls World Champion, Girls NA Champion, and age out at 16th birthdate for continentals and Worlds were rejected.
-An AHO proposal to increase opposite gender participation on certain continental teams (team of 10/1 opposite; 11/2, 12/3, 13+/25%) was rejected; an IODA counter-proposal passed: team of 8/1 opposite, 9/1, 10/2, 11+/25%. For the large US NA and SA teams, this is effectively no change from the current 10+/25% (Euros are separate boy/girl fleets).
-A proposal by NZL (2011 Worlds) to increase the host Worlds team to 10 boats starting in 2011 was, after some discussion, rejected.

The final substantive vote is tomorrow: 2012 Worlds location. The front runners are DOMinican Republic and DENmark, with QATar rated a longshot.

On the water tomorrow: likely 3 races (12-14), with R12 enabling a second drop.