I traveled to Hyere a week early to try and get some hours on the water training. I was there with out a coach so spent most of the time training with the foreigners racing. It was nice to get back into the swing of things and the weather was nearly perfect with a mixture of winds and bright sunshine I couldn’t have asked for much more.

With a 150 boats it was going to be a good test of were I was at after the long break. It had been a while away from the international scene and I was looking forward to the racing.
The first day of racing saw some shifty offshore conditions, I sailed well to come back in both races to get a couple of 4ths. Day 2 saw the breeze blow onshore up to 12 knots with some nice waves, after winning the first race comfortably I had quite a battle in the second race to come back from 30th to finish 6th and give me the overall regatta lead. Day 3 was just one of those days that are few and far between were every thing just seems easy comfortably winning both races and extending my overall lead.
With two days of finals racing before the medal race all looked in good shape. I didnt get everything my own way in the finals and had to fight for every place. After the final race I was left with a 10 point cushion over my nearest rival the Croatian before the final medal race.
The medal race saw the best conditions of the week with winds over 20 knots large seas and blazing sunshine PERFECT!
I won the starboard end of the line and lead to the left, as the Croatian sailed behind me I tacked to give a loose cover and lead him in to the mark. I rounded second behind the German Tobias who came out of the right hand side. As I bore away 3 boats were pulled out of the race for being over the line including the Croatian which meant I just needed to finish to take the win overall. I stayed in 2nd until 20 meters before the finish when Matius the Chilean pipped me over the line.
I finished the race in 3rd to give the the overall victory by 19 points.

For Resultshttp://sof.ffvoile.net/results/laser.htm

It was great to get back racing after such a long brake from International competition and reassuring that I can still do it!!! There still lots of sailing needed to get back to the same heights of last year but it was reassuring to see I could still win.

Im off to Lowestoft next weekend for the final spring Qualifier then its back to training in Weymouth again.