Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation: Sailor Stories

Charlie Welsh at the VX One Winger Series

Results

I recently concluded the inaugural Vx One Winter Series in Miami, and it was an incredible experience. The entire weekend was dedicated to sailing with Scott Rasmussen, which provided an invaluable learning opportunity and was simply a blast. Miami, as usual, delivered its signature 85-degree weather, making even challenging conditions an enjoyable experience on the water.

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the Newport Harbor Sailing Foundation for their unwavering support. Their contributions make opportunities like this possible, and I am incredibly grateful for their assistance. I eagerly anticipate returning to the water next month for Winter Series 2. The venue, fleet, coaching, and conditions create an elite environment that fosters the development of speed, teamwork, and race discipline.

Saturday commenced with a no-breeze day, resulting in the cancellation of racing after hours of glassy water. Instead of idling, we transformed the day into productive training. Around 4 o’clock, a light puff of wind finally arrived, prompting us to work on a focused practice session. Throughout the weekend, Greg Fisher provided invaluable coaching, and having that level of insight during challenging weather significantly impacted our approach to the limited racing opportunities.

Sunday brought a bit more wind, with the strongest gusts reaching only about 5 knots. However, it was accompanied by a six-hour postponement before we could set sail on the course. Despite the delays, the race committee managed to squeeze in two races within the final hour of the scheduled cutoff. While the compressed format limited the data points and scenarios we could analyze, these two races provided valuable insights into our performance and areas for improvement before next month.

We also utilized the Vakaros system for race tracking throughout the event. The data collected is already proving incredibly useful and will be a significant asset as we delve into the intricacies of speed, angles, positioning, and decision-making in ultra-light air.

Overall, despite the challenging conditions, the weekend provided valuable takeaways. We’ll apply these lessons in Winter Series 2, aiming to build momentum, improve execution, and maintain our winning streak. I feel energized, grateful, and eagerly anticipating our return to the water next month.

Thank you again for the support!