Anderson-Mitterling & Hughes

DECEMBER UPDATE

Hello!

It's been a terrifically busy Fall, so we'll recap some of the highlights in this update. Keep in touch as we gear up for a big 2006...

Mikee has been working hard on his double major at USC. He's toughing out a large workload this Fall so the team can focus on the European 470 circuit in the Spring. Dave visited China with fellow 470 sailor Amanda Clark and US Sailing President Janet Baxter. The trio did a media event in Shanghai before heading to Qingdao to gather intelligence on the 2008 Olympic sailing venue. The trip was more beneficial than we could have imagined, as it gave Dave a chance to visualize the future venue, make connections, and take notes. Thank you to Nautica, our sponsor for the trip and an overall US Sailing Team sponsor.

ST. FRANCIS YC FALL DINGHY REGATTA & US TEAM QUALIFIER:
In October, We raced in the first of three 2006 US Sailing Team qualifiers. This one was held October 29-30 at the St. Francis YC on San Francisco Bay. Dave drove the boat up from San Diego early on Wednesday. After rigging, he went out for a practice with some of the 49er fleet. This was Dave's first-ever sail in the 49er and it couldn't have been in better conditions for a first try -- sunny, warm, and moderate breeze. Mikee, busy with school, had to fly in Friday afternoon -- the day before the regatta. Friday was our first practice sail wince Worlds in August and we had to make it count. Most of our competitors for the regatta had put in at least a few days of training (if not a full week) before we arrived. It was good to get back in the boat. We soon remembered how much fun we have together in the boat.

We opened the regatta with a 1st. Good speed. Good City Front tactics. In Race #2, we found ourselves dug into the right side when a lefty came through. Uggh. We rounded the first weather mark deep, but ground back to a 3rd. Race #3 proved to be more of a battle with various boats. We hovered in the 1-2 and 2-3 position with the 2nd place men's team leading, but they took us into a dog fight that resulted in a loss for both teams and we ended up 4th by a foot. That race became our drop.

On Sunday, we came out of the blocks with speed and took the win and a tie for the series lead with Erin Maxwell and Alice Manard. With the regatta on the line we raced a solid 5th and final race. No more races would be held. By the last windward mark we lead the fleet and the regatta. Rounding second was the second-place men's team and in third, some 30 yards back, was Erin/Alice. Erin immediately gybed at the mark and headed out, far out. We keep on starboard for a little bit and then gybed to stay in phase with Erin and keep the other teams (who've all rounded by now) in check. Good move, but not good enough!! Erin caught some extra breeze and favorable tanker waves on the far right and passed us at the finish by a boat length and a half. We took the 2nd and lost the overall win by one point.

In hindsight, we should have gybed for Erin earlier; however, we felt we were far enough ahead of that we couldn't step up to her breeze and not risk loosing the rest of the pack. Erin's move seemed risky -- and it was -- but it paid off. The regatta ended with the following: Erin/Alice -1st place, Mikee/Dave -- 2nd place, Amanda Clark/Sarah Mergenthaler -- 3rd place. The next US men's team finished 4th, so we won the US Sailing Team Men's qualifier and put a couple of points on them. Congratulations to Erin and Alice and to Amanda and Sarah. Special thanks to Russ Silvestri and family for all their hospitality.

PHOTOS
Check out the recently updated www.teamusa1734.org. It now contains a photo gallery which allows the user to sort by regattas, etc. We'll continue to add to this library in the near future.

THANK YOU
Thank you to all our supporters. You've been our champions this Fall in ways we didn't even know about. Our support group has been in full force. Our email subscribers list has almost doubled in the last three months!! And, of course, thank you to our sponsors, without whom this campaign wouldn't be possible: Orbitz.com, Kokatat, Auto Europe, Harken, North Sails, Anderson-Mitterling, KINeSYS Sunscreen, and Kaenon Polarized.

UPCOMING -- LOTS OF FLORIDA TRAINING & RACING
Dave is now in Key Largo, FLA preparing for the Melges 24 Worlds, which start this Sunday. Mikee is heading into finals week at USC. The duo will meet in Miami at the US Sailing Center for a week of training, December 17-23. After a brief rest back home in San Diego, Mikee and Dave will return to Miami for the 470 North Americans, January 13-15, and the Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, January 23-27.

LAPTOP NEEDED
Team USA 1734 is in need of a laptop they can take with them to regattas and dedicate to photos, website updates, emails, etc. Some form of wireless is key. Let us know if you or your business has a laptop you'd be willing to donate to the campaign. Email .

Mikee & Dave

12/16/05