So an opportunity came up, the Harken #2 regatta at SFYC. I decided to try the hardest I could on starting first row (meaning with no one in front of me), and on the favoured side of the line. When I started for the first race, I was on the favoured side and started with a perfect start. The whole regatta went on the same way except one race, which was the one with the most wind (20+ knots steady). I sadly started second row, so I had boats in front of me. This did not bring me down, I tacked and sailed to a puff. Later on I found my self in second place, and the first place sailor tacked but the wind was so strong he almost flipped, so I was then in first. I stretched my lead on the upwind and the reach, then when I started to go downwind, my team mate started to catch up to me, and then the fleet did too. At the bottom gate I was barely ahead, the whole last upwind leg, my team mate was getting further and further away from me. At the end, I won the race. Overall at the regatta across 8 races in 2 days, I finished 5th out of 41 champion fleet sailors, which I am happy with, given that there were two members of the USA National Team and one member of the Development Team. My little 9 years old brother Yann who has recently joined the champion fleet finished every race in conditions going from 5-23 knots, which is awesome.
Workouts wise, I have been working out every single day, and plan to continue on. I have been doing some running, biking, and leg workouts. I plan on continuing so except during my Spring Break vacation, when I will be sailing to practice my boat speed.
I have also been doing some mindfulness, which helps me when I am in a tough situation, like a bad start, a bad race. Mindfulness was introduced to me by my Dad a little less than a year ago. I have been using different apps on my phone, and the one I prefer is called "Breathe". This app gives me suggestions on what kind of sessions I should do based on how I am feeling. I believe this has helped me in sailing but also in life, from dealing with a bad start to a class mate lying about my subject.
Here is a picture of the award ceremony, second in Red fleet (my age group):
Here is a picture of my teammates and I rounding the top mark (photo credit Jack Boeger):