Isigungu Gybes to Good Results

The regular Isigungu team of Dominique Provoyeur, Penny Alison and Kim Rew are joined by Lara Dugas (nee Keytel) in their four-crew member J22 boat, as they compete in the 2007 Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship, in Shoreacres, Texas.

Team Isigungu’s skipper Dominique Provoyeur writes in about the team’s progress at the 2007 Rolex Woman’s International Keelboat Championships, in Houston, Texas: 

 With 3 good results yesterday (3rd, 2nd and 4th) at US Sailing’s Rolex International Women’s Keelboat Championship at the Houston Yacht Club, we have a good lead on the 7th placed team and are not far off 4th overall.

The wind was a bit lighter and trickier than yesterday but as it turned out we have more breeze than expected.  The first race started in about 8 – 10 knots from the SE and built to about 12 – 14 knots for race 2 and 3.

The first race was lead at the top mark by our Canadian Yngling Friends, but as more boats rounded the top mark it was clear that it was a gybe set, which allowed us to gain a few boats and Sally to take the lead, we had a super last beat and ended up piping the Canadians on the line to take 3rd.

Race two we had a start near the pin, which was won by Sally Barkow and Team. We rounded the top mark in second place and managed to stay there for the race, just covering the fleet below us.

For the last start of the day, we where more in the middle of the line and where fighting for every place. By the last run we were in 3rd position, with 4th right on our heals.  

The top 4 boats had a good lead on the pack, but we were getting bad air from Sally and Anna Tunnicliffe, so we tacked out leaving Derby Anderson on her own going up the right.  She managed to get better pressure and pulled into 2nd leaving us to fight with Anna, who kept her lead too.

We have 2 more races today, before the final Gala evening tonight, which should be just fabulous! We will all be home by the 19th November, so look forward to catching up with you in South Africa!!