It was a rollercoaster of a Championship for us. We stood everywhere from 17th to 2nd in the standings throughout the week, and we were in 5th with a chance at a silver going into the Medal Race. For the next six months, until the next World Championship is held, our sail number will be USA 9! With our stated goals going into the event to win our trials, qualify the US for the Olympics, and to finish top ten, it was an all around success.

The Medal Race was the best sailing, conditions-wise, of the entire week. The famed “Fremantle Doctor” sea breeze finally filled in with peaks up to 17 knots. For us to win a silver medal, we had to beat the three boats immediately ahead of us by 7, 6, and 4 places respectively from 2nd down to 4th. Obviously, that is far too much for us to be able to control outside of putting ourselves as far ahead in the race as possible; so that is what we did. We started on port tack, ducking the boats on starboard. We sailed to the right side, beating out the boats around us on pure boat speed, and rounded the windward mark in first place. We led all the way around the course for 4.5 out of 6 laps. Then disaster struck. Our rudder pin sheared off at the base, leaving us capsized with no hope to finish the race. At the time of the incident, we would have finished 4th overall in the Championship. We were certainly disappointed, but at the same time we know we sailed a fantastic event.


Leading the fleet around the gate towards the grandstands! Fried Elliott photo

We are about to head home for some much-needed family time. The next time we sail together will be in 2012, in our new and probable Olympic boat. We are now Olympians, and we have a huge amount of confidence in our ability to win a medal at the Games. Our performance here in Perth, while far from being a perfect event for us, proved this to ourselves and to everyone in the fleet.

We need to thank everyone at home who sent us such overwhelming support and accolades throughout this week of competition. Everyday brought more congratulations, good luck, and well wishes from so many of our friends and family. We sincerely appreciate being in your thoughts, and please know that you are always in ours. Your contributions, both financial and emotional, will sustain us on our final push to bring home the Gold this summer. Please see our website, here, for details on sponsorship and donations.

We would like to thank of our supporters and sponsors, including Sperry Top-Sider. Thanks also to the sponsors and supporters of the US Sailing Team AlphaGraphics especially our title sponsor AlphaGraphics and Gold Partners Atlantis and Rolex.

Erik

Storck Moore Sailing