Carson Crain reports from the 2013 Open Orange Bowl
RS:X Sailors at the 2013 Open Orange Bowl
After Steven Max’s perspective from the Techno fleet at the recent Open Orange Bowl in Miami (Dec 27-30, 2013), here’s a report from Carson Crain (US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider) who won the RS:X competition convincingly, and shares with us the details of how it all played out!
By Carson Crain – USA75
This year was the first time that the Open Orange Bowl Regatta featured an RSX fleet and Techno fleet. Coconut Grove Sailing Center put on a great a event that attracted sailors from all over the world. In the RSX and Techno fleet we had sailors from Mexico, Peru, USA, Sweden, and Canada. US Sailing Team Sperry Topsider Coach Leandro Spina did a fantastic job attracting all these sailors and organizing this great event. Many of the RSX sailors saw this event as an important tune up event for the US ISAF Youth Worlds Qualifier and ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami. With 12 races scheduled over 4 days the sailors were ready to work for every inch.
On the first day sailors were battered by several rain squalls and winds ranging from 7-14 knots. These conditions required the sailors to be very heads up with quick gains able to be made all over the course. I jumped out to the early lead on Day 1 with 3 straight bullets in the RSX fleet, while Mateo Salles-Ize took the lead in the Techno fleet with Steven Cramer and Maximo Nores right behind him. On day 2 the breeze increased to 15-18 knots, but the rain squalls continued to affect the racing. In the first race of the day Max Robinson passed me at the finish line to win the race. I was able to rebound to win the next two races and take a commanding lead. In the Techno fleet Mateo Salles-Ize won all three races to lead the Techno fleet after day 2. Day 3 was forecasted to be the windiest day, but once the competitors had made it out to the start line the breeze was only blowing 6-9 knots. This allowed some of the lighter competitors to show off their light wind skills. In the RS:X fleet I continued my dominant run winning all three races. Jonathan Rudich was one of the fastest guys out on the course finishing second in all three races, but only to be OCS in 2 of the races. In the Techno fleet Steven Cramer took advantage of the lighter conditions to win all three races, narrowing the gap between him and first place Mateo Salles-Ize. On day 4 the wind never filled in enough to complete any races so the leaders from day 3 held on for victory. In the Techno fleet there was Mateo Salles-Ize in 1st, Steven Cramer 2nd, and Steven Max 3rd. In the RS:X fleet I ended up in 1st after winning 8 of the 9 races, Gabriel Paquette in 2nd, and Raul Lopez in 3rd. The top RS:X 8.5 sailor and female was Nicole Level from Mexico.
Overall it was a great event with 3 perfect days of racing. Coconut Grove Sailing Center and Leandro Spina deserve a big thank you for organizing and running a great event.
Complete results here: http://bit.ly/JWONfk
Carson Crain (USA75) and Jonathan Rudich (USA528) at the finish line