Here is the story straight from the horses mouth.

Those who are interested should first be advised that Nicholas Perez, my 13 year old teammate, is a skilled Sabot racer and at the top of his peers in Santa Barbara. He dominated the sabot competition in his class at Santa Barbara during the weekend prior to our NA’s in Alameda. We had sailed together in Ventura 2 weeks prior to the NA’s and it was clear to me that Nick was a quick study and possessed of some strong tactical skills. I had a resolve to pay some attention to his tactical observations while racing in Alameda, and the following account will help tell the story of how race 15 on Friday was no accident. On Monday, it became clear to Nick and I that we were very weak at the start line, getting badly gassed both races. Our team resolve was to improve our starts every day, knowing that we had the boat-speed to roll upwards of 10 boats each race. Our starts improved over the course of the week and we made steady upward progress each day in the standings. One thing I asked Nick to do was come up with some suggestions for how we might improve. He has proven to be a person of few words, which always are to the point and useful. I believed personally that we needed to pay more attention to the favored side of the line each race, and Nick simply said: “We need to pay attention to the current”. Subsequently, we did this, more or less, during each race. Friday rolled around and we realized that to hold or improve our position would mean even better starts yet, as all the sailors in the competition seemed to be improving their performance and focus. It was clear that some were even having luck beating the leader. I knew that Nick’s parents, Dave and Katrina Perez, were coming that day to see their son in action. What I did not know (until Friday night) was that Nick had commented to them Friday morning that he ‘really wanted to beat the Australians’.
As we went out to the course, Nick and I talked little, and went to work as soon as we arrived circling the start line and observing the current. After the first start of the H20’s went off, we carefully checked the line and observed it to be unusually skewed port favored. Furthermore, the tide current was on a rip, quartering away to starboard behind the RC boat. The first 16 sequence began, and we made the mistake of laying back too far off the line and were late to the first start. A few minutes later, the race was abandoned as the wind died down to an unbearable drift. The unfavorable current made it seem as though we could never reach the windward mark, being gassed by so many boats that made the line on time. We were relieved when the chase boats signaled abandon race, and thanked the committee warmly as we passed. Still, I was sorry to see my friend Ken Nelson be deprived of a sure bullet as he was way out in front, his team having evidently pulled off a great port start.
Before the next sequence, the wind had come up considerably to possibly 8 knots, or so we guessed, and we again circled the line, checking the current and the status of the transit. The current was stronger than ever, and more so at the leeward pin. The line was skewed severely to port, and I said to Nick that because we were still weak at fighting the battle amongst the leaders for the leeward pin, the best hope we had for clear air was a port start, regardless of how many sterns we may have to duck. It was also evident that with the caliber of sailors fighting the battle to win the start at the leeward pin, they would have to lay back in order to clear the pin-boat, and avoid being as Nick said, ‘being blown into the pin by the current’. This meant that the odds favored some clear water between those boats and the pin-boat. So, the sequence began and we confirmed again the strong port favored line and proceeded over to the port end of the line, sailing about a minute past it and jibed with about 2 ½ minutes left in the sequence. The entire fleet at this point was only beginning to form over at the committee boat, and only one boat was with us approaching the pin-boat, our friends from Santa Cruz Johnny and Lori O’Leary. We exchanged knowing glances and a brief comment with them. Then, seeing that we could not get a good tight start on the pin-boat, we tacked over and sailed to port about 30 yards or so. Then jibing, we came up into a close reaching approach. This was with about 45 seconds to go, and the fleet was slowly crabbing down the line, passing the halfway point. When 25 seconds remained to go, and being perhaps 35 yards below and to port of the line, Nick and I pulled in the sheets and approached the line with speed. I could see perhaps 30 yards of sea between the pin-boat and Armando Noriega Jr’s boat, he fiercely guarding his position. The pack was moving very slowly. Having port started in Division 2 racing on many occasions, and having also seen it done so well by John Z and Rex Miller there, I have become pretty good at seeing a sure thing. I barked to Nick that ‘we have it’, seeing better than a sure thing, only sheeting out momentarily as an OCS was a risk at full speed. We pulled the sheets in hard right behind the line, when we heard the horn, and cleared the lead boats by about 10-15 yards. The all clear sounded. As Nick and I went out to port, I remembered a similar experience last year at the ’06 H17 NA’s, and when Nick said we should tack to cover, I agreed. Then, without reserve, I told Nick that he was now to call all tacks, jibes and lay-lines for this race, and I would concentrate on the boat-speed and transition issues. I’d like to continue, but suffice to say, Nick called a tactically perfect race, and our boat-speed was sufficient to hold off Mike Montague and Francisco Figueroa, sailors I respect and fear. Of course, after finishing, I went through a myriad of emotions, mostly elation and made quite a bit of noise. Nick was clearly pleased and remained calm. That moment can never happen again. I can see any such win in the future, no matter how long it takes to happen, as being business as usual.
It was truly unexpected. It was very timely, what with Nick’s Dad observing up close. I can only guess what was going through his mind. But, Nick got his wish, and we beat the Australians. Thank you kindly to all who cheered us on at the start, during the race, and long into that night. This is going to last a long time.