I was lucky enough to get a whole day with Robbie Daniel that I WON by purchasing a raffle ticket at a local race!

What a treat to have someone of that caliber tweaking your boat and sailing skills. (or lack of) I have always done reasonably well off the wind with my P19MX, but got chewed up going to weather. I had told Robbie that this was what I needed help with. Heck, Bob Curry and Randy Smyth seemed to be able to work to weather with their P19MXs. Yes, I didn't forget that they are BOB and Randy. Anyway, after a few trips to the beach to "adjust & tweak" we proceeded to check ourselves out against an I20 that was out that day. (I feel it is unfair to mention who they were). We were parked and slightly downwind when the I20 decided to drive over us. Robbie jumped out on the trap and set the jib while I helmed and sheeted the main. I then handed the mainsheet to Robbie. With his coaching with respect to my helmsmanship and his "playing a fiddle" with the main we pulled away from the I20 sailing a slightly lower course, but with some amazing boat speed. When we tacked over and crossed tacks with the I20, we were ahead. Robbie said "park it". When the I20 approached, we repeated what we had done before, with the same results.

So, what I got out of this was that "the boat" is very capable of being competitive. I just have to remember how to work the boat to weather. In addition to the many pointers I picked up that day, I found out why I couldn't go to weather well. I was (past tense) a footer who was too afraid that I may be pinching, and although I though I was oversheeting the main, I actually was not sheeting hard enough.

Just thought I'd share this with those of you that may have been in the same rut.

Thanks for listening.
Dave