Because the F16's were thrown in with the little league on the (frustratingly ?) short course, the F16 skippers decided that on sunday they would sail the longer course (big boats) while the others still sailed the shorter course. This is of course a sure way to stuff up your result. Despite that, they were scored as if sailing the shorter course and came out at the placings they have. I think Matt called it a day before the last race, realizing that he had no chance of moving past a shared 2nd spot (together with Team Mack Attack) especially while sailing the longer course. He also could not drop a placing as none of the other sailors in the fleet were close enough in points. The race had been run, no need for the last heat to fix the outcome. At least that is the way it appears to me. I'm sure they had some teething problems here and there but I have no information that material failure was the cause of them pulling out off the last race on Sunday.

Maybe we should remember that Matt and Gina made a series of long nights leading up to Tradewinds to get everyhing ready and to get to the tradewinds site. They were probably running on adrenaline during the last stretch. This kind of drive has a neck of collapsing right after the absolute need to "get on" has passed (saterday?). Then it was their first time ever on the boat while coming off a Hobie 16. I think Gina was completely new to the spinnaker as well. At one point the bottom just drops out. I have great respect for her, not many sailors learn how to handle a spi in a blow and challenging chop. I don't know what the real reason is, though I'm sure time will tell.

I don't know wether Team Mack attack (Taipan 4.9 spi) had flipped in the last race or wether the sailing of the longer course caused their long elapsed time result. I do known the Blade crew never flipped.

Wouter