light wind training

There was a fickle southwest breeze on Sunday- just enough to take advantage of with a formula sail and big sail. Shawn captured some good photos of me from the beach. More importantly, he captured a critical moment in mid pump. The photo above shows how essential it is to hang your weight from your booms and unweight the board to get going. Notice too, how my feet arn't on the rail yet. To get going in the light stuff you need to get the leach moving and air flow attached with some big solid pumps first then gradually taper them off once you get planning. Check out the rest of the photos sequence here at Shawn Davis's site

Winter training: paddleboarding SF Bay

Another windless Sunday in San Francisco but never an excuse not to train. This time Jean and I paddled up to the warming hut pier to watch the Queen Mary 2 arrive in San Francisco. Jean brought his camera to document the action. With all the spectator boats on the Bay- it was extremly choppy and balancing on the 24"wide Kona long board proved more difficult that we both imagined. Nontheless good training- both of us came in and our thighs were shaking from the hour paddle and balancing act- kind of reminded me of the way my legs feel after a San Francisco downwind classic


more paddle boarding photos from sunday's session at http://picasaweb.google.com/bodnersp/PaddleboardingSFBay


A late- arrival- but this just send in by Steve Waterhouse- from his North Beach apartment last night. What a viewof the Queen Mary at night! Click to enlarge.

Fins for the L7

Every so often I get emails asking for advice on what equipment to use-
Thought I'd share this one. If you found the answer, please leave a comment below.

Hi Steve,My name is Antonio. I've just receved my new L7. Would like some hints about fins to use on. Unfortunatelly Kashy are not availabe for a long time.Wich Deboichet do you think would It fit better? I mean size and rake.Thanks

Hey Antonio-
I think the question about what fin to use on the L7 is still up in the air .We will know at the middle of the end of the season what really works! But by then its too late.
Obvioulsy the Kashy fins seems to be hands down faster in most conditions we've tested.
In lighter winds a softer 67-70 fin , I think will work well as the L7 has a wider tail and will accomodate a softer bigger fin.As the wind increases I think you would be better off for control to move down to a 63-65cm range- not as soft.
Finally when you are really pushing the control in steap chop and 20-30k, you would be better off on a 61-63 cm fin
In regards to rake- a more forward rake will give you better angle- esp in lighter winds but less control.
A more swept back fin- like the c3 or select might give you a bit more control.
It's a question of balance and trade offs- also what you can get!
In regards to the deboichet- perhaps a r17 or 19 soft to extra soft with a good amount of rake (+7) might be a good choice for light to med breeze and then go to a R13 regular rake for more control and options as it gets breezier.
Alot has to do with your sailing style, stance, built and finesse. As you get to know your fins- you can adapt to their strengths and weaknesses. I'd encourage you to test them out yourself and get to know the limits of each particular fin- how far you can push it before it stalls, can you grind off the line or do you need a clear lane off the start. These things are important to know as you build up a fin quiver. It's all about the details! So get out there and test away.
Best of luck,
Steve

Racing videos

Just found this video from the 2005 Formula South Americans in Fernando de Noronha, Brazil that I attended. Some really good formula racing and beautiful marine environment shots.
Check out the video and regatta report at here

Also posted the slalom racing shot by Berkeley's own- Brian McDonald form the 2005 US Windsurfing Nationals in the Gorge- oh yea, it was windy. Check out the video and regatta report from the Nationals here

Finally some great slalom racing from Maui's north shore a the 2006 US Windsurfing Nationals :
day 1 here
day 2 here
day 4 here

Alex Cavigila Regatta Report Miami, Fl.

Under Finned and Under Attack by 40’ Yachts in Miami, Fl. Alex Cavigila Regatta Report

The 2007 Windsurfing season started off with a perfect start at this years’ inaugural Alex Cavigila Regatta in Miami, Fl. From January 12-14, over 100 windsurfers gathered at the Shake Leg Sailing Center in Key Biscayne in Miami Florida to pay tribute to one of windsurfing finest watermen, who passed away a few years ago. No tears where shed but rather statements like “The best run windsurfing regatta in a very long time” from Formula class winner Micah Buzianis.

Conditions could not have been better with a steady 15-20k breeze for all 3 days of the event. 4 windsurfing classes were represented giving the dedicated amateur racer; the serious Olympic campaigners; and the w-end warrior all a chance to compete. Several PWA racers and legend Robert Teritehau also showed to race up making it known that windsurfing is not dead or dying in the US. This was the North American RSX Champs as well as the 2nd stop on the F2 Florida Formula windsurfing series- a strong show for the middle of winter!

The biggest compliment doesn’t go to any particular racer but the Shake a Leg organization who threw their first windsurfing regatta but also set the new standard for what we should expect for a w-end of fun and racing. The Shake a Leg Foundation is a non-profit sailing center that helps disabled sailors enjoy sailing on the Biscayne Bay. They have a fleet of tradition Sonars- that allows disabled sailors to race comfortably and safe in the sometimes challenging Biscayne Bay. More importantly, they have an army of volunteers who made the event run seamlessly. From helpers at the launch making sure the flow of 100+ sailors got off, to boats on the course- giving out water and lunch! - this event was one to be remembered- not to mention to great parties they threw in the converted Coast Guard Airplane Hanger just 100’ from the waters edge.

Friday- Day 1: 2 pm first start with a 15-20k breeze from the east and flat water. The RS-X class was up first with a full mix of international sailors and several US sailors. I was excited to watch these guys as I had spend a lot of last year campaigning in this class and know a lot of the fleet. It’s a true mix of athleticism and sailing tactics as these full time young sailors are trying to gain the experience to represent their country at the 2008 Olympics. This was a warm up event for next week’s Miami Olympic Class Regatta-which will draw close to 1000 sailors in all 11 Olympic classes, as well as the north american qualifier for the 2007 ISAF Combined World Championship in Portugal later this year. That event will qualify you for the '08 Games. With 1 minute to go, most of the fleet is one the line, holding their positions; 30- seconds- the jockeying continues; 10 seconds- the mad pumping frenzy begins and doesn’t let up to the finish of the race. Half the fleet gets off strong to the left side, with the other half left in their wake and bad air on the 2^nd row, trying to tack off for clear air. The women’s’ RSX fleet starts next with just as impressive start. The formula and new Kona fleet are left waiting as the RC is learning its first lesson of race management but will soon learn from their mistakes and get the courses and fleets in order to have everybody racing at once.Finally the Formula fleet starts and I get off the line in the middle with a decent lane. Immediately I find out my upwind isn’t up to par as I have trouble holding angle despite hiking my 6’-4” frame out to windward. This years new formula boards all have wider tales and demand a bigger and more powerful fin than last years boards to get the most angle upwind. Most of the fleet is on the new F2 board as well as a few L6’s and L7’s in the fleet. It almost looks like a north sails one design event with most of the fleet on the 2006 and some lucky ones on the 2007 north warps. One thing's for sure- everybody who wants to be competitive has a Kashy fin. I soon find out that a 65 cm Kashy isn’t quite enough and need at least a 67 or preferably a 70 to stay in the top 3 or 4 positions. Otherwise it was damage control for as I wasn’t able to optimize my strongest asset- leverage to windward. Jimmy Diaz leads the fleet around to take the first bullet with a noticeable absent Buzianis – missing the first start. I round the top mark 5^th and watch BRA- 5 go down hard on the first downwind as he catches some of the notorious Biscayne Bay weed on his fin. I hold onto 4^th Behind Steve Sylvester with 15 year old Brazilian prodigy Gabriel Browne, BRA 50- finishing 2^nd.

Race 2- Breeze is still up with some hints of right shifts coming down the course. Micah leads off the line with amazing speed and dominates around the course. Jimmy is in safe 2^nd with BRA 50 pushing hard in 3^rd. A bit further back finds Sylvester, BRA-5 and myself battling it out around the leeward mark and close on the 2^nd upwind. Sylvester was able to climb on us using his dialed in 2006 set up- consisting of a ML6, 67 cm Kashy fin and 9.9 slalom sail. I find myself with plenty of power with a north warp 11.0 but am under-finned with a 65 and L7 board. Upwind BRA-5 and I go back and forth dodging the weeds but he shuts the door on me on the last reach to the finish. Sylvester over-stands the bottom mark- following the RSX fleet to the outside leeward mark. I’m still searching for the sweet spot on my set up but realize I need a bit more wind to fully take advantage of my setup.Saturday Day 2: 11 am first start with 4 races today and lunch served on ‘ a barrier island located a few feet above the tide line ½ mile off shore from the sailing center. Winds are steady 15-20k but die later in the afternoon to 12-14k- still perfect for formula sailing. The left side is still favored and it is a parade to the port lay line. I try starting at the pin as to not have anyone to leeward so I can go for speed and not get crushed on angle upwind. It works as I round in the top 5 but need to wait for someone to make a mistake to gain. The L7 feels great off the breeze- going deep in the puffs while remaining in full control with use of the new double chicken strap. Micah still is able to walk away from the fleet with some amazing speed with an 11.9. Jimmy is bit closer today as he switches to Kashy blade from his Deb. Unfortunately the Kashy fin is a lethal weapon and sends Jimmy to the hospital with a cut foot. Note to self- don’t clear weeds on fin with foot! I manage 2 decent races with a 4, 5 finish and 2 throw- outs- 7, 9 as I struggle off the line and fins some major weeds on the course. The fleet is getting more aggressive on the starting line going for the favored pin end start.

Saturday evening finds most competitors tired from 2 days of racing but the Shake Leg Foundation throws another great party with a live reggae band, great food and plenty of beer to forget about the days mistakes.

Sunday- Day 3: Forecast looks lighter but breeze is still holding in the mid teens. In addition to more chop there are holiday w-end cigarette boats (think Miami Vice re-runs) and more recreation power-boaters running around the Biscayne Bay. In race 1, an obnoxious 40’ yacht plows directly over our beat to windward- surprising us from windward and behind. Sylvester just barley escapes footing across the bow and nearly getting himself killed. I throw the brakes on just 20’ away and stop. Fernando isn’t so lucky as the boat slows for Steve but accelerates again just in front of him and causes him to crash in an 8’ wake. I settle for a 5^th again and watch a close battle on the last leg between Steve Sylvester and BRA-5. With Jimmy, TKO, BRA 50-Gabriel Browne pushed Micah but experience won with Buzianis claiming his 8^th bullet. In the last race, I switch boards to with another racer so I can try the new F2 but more importantly I wanted to confirm it was the lack of fin holding me back and not anything else. Sure enough with a 70 cm Kashy fin, I am able to hold my lane off the starting line with Fernando just below me and Steve to windward of me. I hike and climb to windward- good show and I round in 3^rd just behind Steve. The Brazilians struggle off the line but BRA 50 catches me off the wind as the board I’m using has no chicken strap and I’m fighting the 70 cm fin in the gust and chop. Back upwind, I hold my own but manage to wrap myself around the windward mark hoping to pinch around it with no luck.

Overall- a really good impression of the F2 board, as it’s more in control from last year’s board and has some great speed with the wider nose. I was more impressed with the bigger Kashy fin but couldn’t quite optimize without a chicken strap in the building breeze and chop.

What’s really impressive is the results in the formula class- Micah comes out in first with 8 bullets but behind him was 15 year old Gabriel Brown from Brazil and almost 4x his age- Steve Sylvester in 3^rd place. I finished in a respectable 5th place but know theres room to dial in before the seaon gets underway. The Miami formula fleet has really improved with a bigger and more talented fleet as well their own race series. Check out their site at http://www.miamiwindsurfing.com/alex.html for full results

In the RSX class it was the Polish team taking the honors in the men’s and women’s class. US Sailors Ben Barger finshed strong behind Canadian Zak Plavsic just outside the top 10.

In the new recreational Kona class- long-boarding and simplicity ruled with a dedicated group of older sailors having a lot of fun.

Steve Bodner

USA 4

--
www.stevebodner.com

buy steve's racing quiver

updated summer 2012
Sails

Light- medium wind formula rig
Perfect for formula racing or light air. Good range from 8k+
2010 Neil Pyrde evo2 10.7
530 100% carbon race mast 
HPL Boom
Streamlined base & uni
Reduced price for whole kit


2011 north warp 7.8 slalom sail
Perfect for 100-130l slalom boards
Good range from 12k+
requires a 460 mast


2010 north warp 7.0 slalom sail
Perfect for 90-120l slalom boards. Good range from 16k+
requires a 460 mast

I can package the 7.0, 7.8, 460, mast, boom and extension for a great medium to low end slalom kit. Reduced price for the whole kit


2007 north warp 6.3
Perfect for 90-100l slalom boards. Good range from 20k+
Requires a 430 mast




Booms
HPL carbon formula boom 225 cm- 310 cm with carbon wrapped head and new maui sails boom head-
I can sell the booms bare or race ready with adjustable harness lines & outhaul &; easy uphaul
HPL carbon slalom boom 180cm +
Can sell the booms bare or race ready with adjustable harness lines &; outhaul &; uphaul
 
Boards
ml slalom board 95l
Awesome high wind slalom board with 34 cm fin.
Works best in 5.8- 7.3 sail range.
25-1/2" width

Extensions 
stramlined 30cm & 48 cm us extensions with or without streamlined US pin universals

Fins 
Z slalom fin 45 cm- great light air flat water fin with super flexible tip 
67 kashy formula fin- great medium to high wind formula fin with great control & speed
 

2006 Olympic Pre-trials

Pretrials day 1"2 races in light to marginal conditions 7-10k, then dropping below 7. I was struggling upwind with my angle. Lighter guys are able to point a bit higher and maintain speed. Both races I was far back in 5th and it didn't merit even worth pumping.Up in front Ben in sailing away with Mark and Bob further back. Seth, in front of me in 4th. 4 women are competing to make the US RSX fleet at 9 boards total.
Pretrials day 2: Is there success through failure?
Sub marginal to marginal conditions today on the racecourse.3 races in diminishing conditions: choppy 7-11, then 7-8 the finally in race 3- under 6 knots. 5 men in the course in 2 lap windward leeward races. In first 2 races today Ben, Seth and I got off the line on port tack with track back planning conditions then the wind died and back to track forward displacement mode. In the last race, it was light- light and I was in there within striking distance for 4th. My back was in a lot of pain – upwind no pumping but downwind I was doing the butterfly pump at a good rate and caught Bob for 4th- otherwise 2other races today I was too far behind in 5th to even merit trying to pump to catch up. In the front of the fleet, Ben got 3 more bullets, Seth moved up to 2nd.Pretrials day 3:Somebody please put the wind back in Olympic windsurfing!
2 races in very light conditions in 3-5 knots of breeze. It was critical to maintain an upwind pump to get any angle at all- without it, I found my angle was way off and not in the game. For me this just isn't windsurfing – more like airs rowing with a giant paddle but these are the conditions similar to the next Olympics in China. This is one of the first times I'm ready to walk away from a challenge. My heart does not seem to be in the game nor am I interested in pumping the course and calling it windsurfing but my respect goes out Ben who is going for it all the way and walking away with 7 bullets so far. I think I've got a chance for 2nd or 3rd but at this point it's not worth it seeing the amount of time and effort required and the diminishing returns I am seeing. The other 3 guys have stepped it up a level but aren't yet close to Ben in first. I'm finding it hard to let go of this Olympic dream but sometimes better to do what your good at than what your not!
Pretrials day 4: The End is near
The light wind streak continues. I got out the racecourse for a 1 pm start only to find 3-5 knots on the course. Now instead of racing to the south of the harbor entrance like the previous 3 days, our course was position a ¼ mile in front of the entrance causing a lot of confused chop around the course. I got off to a decent start near the pin with Mark just on my hip to windward. I was able to hold him off by pumping just with my upper body but the whole motion just wasn't there, as I couldn't get by back to do what I wanted. Mark tacked off but soon it was apparent the right side was favored. So much for protecting the right side! I was in for a bit but soon enough got shot out the back door into 5th where it was apparent I wasn't going anywhere fast. Back up wind, Ben was leading the race for his 8th victory with out much challenge. The real battle was Seth trying to hold off Mark and Bob for 2nd place. Despite being a good 25 lbs heavier he's really working his ass off for 2nd place. Hopefully it will pay off for him the long run. As for me, all I needed was one race to know I was finished. I told the RC I was retiring and heading in.

Surfing the Kona on Anita’s Ghost Wave

Sunday 2pm January 21^st and Crissy Field is lighter than light. Both Jean Rathle and I missed the morning breeze, procrastinated and arrived to find the SF city front that's not even worthwhile of a 11.9 and a formula set up.
A quick call to Berkeley to see if the old men are out on the water today.
No answer on Sylvester and Percy’s cell: probably means they’re on the water now.
Damn!
Wait a bit more to see if the wind comes up….nothing.
Jean suggests breaking his Kona longboards out and go paddle boarding.
Well, I thought, at least it’s a way to get wet
We suit up and paddle out to find a swift 4-knot ebb on the inside of Anita Rock.
I lose my balance a few times and take a plunge.
The January San Francisco Bay water is colder than I remembered and I’m back up on the board quicker than I can say uncle!
Standing and paddling a 12”+ long board with a lightweight carbon paddle takes more coordination that I expect. My attention goes back and forth from paddling to balancing.
I find the rhythm of it and Jean and I racing against the outgoing ebb towards the B mark in front of St. Francis Yacht Club. My course is erratic veering to the right 30 degrees than off the left 30 degrees as I switch hands to paddle. Jean is able to keep his bow into the current and make a steady progress.
We finally turn around after getting around hearts racing at a good pace. Both of us agree this is more work than windsurfing!
Paddling with the 4k current is a breeze and we arrive back at Anita Rock in no time at all. To my surprise, its like a river flowing around Anita Rock and the ebb is throwing up a standing wave. I’ve seen this a few times on a big ebb day at the north tower. Some have compared it to a magic carpet ride. The experience is unbelievable as you can ride an overhead standing wave with out much effort and with out moving at all.
Despite the Anita ebb wave maxing out at 24”, it did provide several good minutes of stoke for both Jean and I as we both paddled and found the Anita ghost wave. If you got your bow outside the current line- you got shot out the side door and ended up 50’ downstream before you knew what was up. A quick paddle back to Anita and it was surfs up again.
The session ended with us paddling back to Crissy Field and practicing 360’s by sinking the tail paddling as fast as we could turn. This ultimately ended up with a few more dunkings but oh so worthwhile on a beautiful sunny San Francisco winter day.

2006 RSX World Champs- Lake Garda Italy

Saturday, September 16, 2006-
It's the middle of September already. Most of our racing has wound down with the exception of a few more races in the Bay but I find myself in the northern Italy getting ready for my biggest regatta of the year, the 2006 RSX world Championships.

I got out for my 2nd time on Lake Garda today after a week of site- seeing with my family around the area. All I can say, is that it's an unbelievable place to sail…the steep mountains surrounding the lake, the picturesque villages on the shore and on the cliffs surrounding the lake and what makes this place really unique is all the windsurfers here, as well as other high performance sailing crafts. It is literally the sailing capital of Europe. Most importantly, a dependable breeze arrives every afternoon like clockwork as the land around the lake heats up causing a thermal breeze and funnels the wind through the steep mountains at the end of the lake crating a windsurfing paradise!
There are several windsurfing schools on the northern shore as well as several places to launch from around Torbole where the regatta will be run. Last week when I arrived there were literally hundreds of windsurfers on lake in a 15-20k breeze as well as some really cool skiffs with 6 guys on the trap; a fleet of A and C class catamarans racing; and some Moth class dinghies- all of which would give formula sailors a good run for their money!
Most of the windsurfers were Europeans on vacation here with gear ranging from vintage short boards to modern slalom set-ups. It is like turning the pages of windsurfing history here with everything represented.
they usually do as well as put a damp spirit on everything with a San Francisco- like fog and drissle. Nonetheless that doesn't stop the Olympic class windsurfers from getting out andI decided to charter my board to make traveling here easier so I picked up my RSX from the local shop last week and got set up with a place to stay in nearby Riva Del Garda- 1 mile down the shore from the regatta site. After a few days of relaxing and site seeing with wife and her family I got on the water for the first time. Unfortunately, a big low-pressure system is sitting over most of Italy at the moment and is causing the normal thermal winds not to develop as practicing. There are probably 40-50 sailors here already getting ready for the regatta a week before it begins. Most of the Olympic class sailors are campaigning full time so getting a top result at this regatta means funding for the next year as well as the first chance to qualify their countries for the 2008 Olympic regatta. It is also the 1st World Championship for the new Olympic class board so a lot attention is being given to the event.
With just under a week before the event begins, I hope to get a few more days on the water to tune up and let the normal weather pattern finally fill in. Ill send some more reports as the racing goes on but you can find results as well as coverage on the ISAF website at www.sailing.org

Sept 21-Its 3 days before the 1st RS-X World Championship in Torbole on Lake Garda, Italy and already close than 300 competitors have arrived. The beach in front of the Circole Surf Torbole is full of international competitors getting ready to secure a chance for their country at the 2008 Olympic regatta in China. This year’s world championship is an open entry – an opportunity to try to grow the new Olympic boardsailing class here in Europe- and by the looks of it, there is a lot of interest with lots of young sailors from Poland, France and Italy.

There is a new generation of sailors here as well as many seasoned veterans vying to compete in the 1st of many world Championships. After last months’ light wind Olympic test event in China, many sailors, including myself are looking forward to the predicable Lake Garda ‘Ora’ every afternoon. The US is represented by 4 sailors: Ben Barger, of St. Petes, FL ; Steve Bodner, of San Francisco, CA ; Karen Marriott, of Colorado, and Farrah Hall , of Tampa, FL.
Updates will be available on the new RS-X class website at www.rsxclass.com

Semptember 23rd- first day of racing:
I woke up this morning thinking the overcast skies might bring a lack of wind but was pleasantly surprised by 12 pm when the 'Ora' kicked in to a solid 12-18k knots. The anticipation of waiting for the regatta to begin finally ended as the postponement flag went down and the 244 sailors headed towards the water in a mass exodus. The men's fleet was divided into 4 fleets of 41 sailors each while the women's fleet was divided in 2 for 40 sailors in each fleet. causing some yelling a screaming by both fleets. The RC was quick to realize this and put up the postponement flag for our fleet. The women's fleet who started second also caused some disruption as the rounded their inside leeward mark set just in froThe men's andnt of the starting line. So despite going out at 1pm, my first race didn't start till close to 2pm. It was evident from sailing the course before, as well as watching the 2 fleets that going right would pay off. On the west side of the lake there is a sheer cliff several hundred meters tall making the wind overstood some knowing there would be a big parade as I got closer to the windward mark. I rounded in the middle of the fleet with the top group punching out in front and a big number of sailors around me. Downwind there was lot of pumping despite full on planning. This was the world championship with the best sailors pushing each other as hard as they could. I got around the bottom women's fleet raced on 2 different courses both sailing a trapezoid course.I was in the red fleet-which raced after 2 other fleets started on the Torbole course close to shore. It seemed like a lot of waiting around as only 2 fleets could race on the course at one time. This became evident after the first fleet rounded the outside bottom mark and headed back upwind through the starting line- mark and headed right again but didn't reach the wall as I would have overstood the outside top mark. I lost a few boards here as I caught more weeds and had to back down to clear my fin. It was a close race from then on as I battled a few sailors around me going back and forth. It really seems like and international competition with sailors from around the world pushing you as much as you can. I rounded the last windward mark with 2 sailors right on my tail. As I pumped downwind, I separated a few meters from then and then on the last gybe I go accelerate a few knots faster than the middle of the course. I started near the boat and immediately tacked off to get to the right side. Despite being gassed early, I got some clear air but managed to rake up a few weeds in the many patches circulating around the course. As I approached the cliff on the right side, the wind increased giving me a bit of a lift as well. It my foot stuck in the strap and dropped my rig and let the 2 guys who I was beating pass me to the finish. I knew points in a competition like this are super valuable with everything doubled at the end of the day due to the 4 fleets competing. I finished 26th in a fleet of 41- plenty of room to improve especially in conditions that favor me.
In the second race, conditions backed down a bit as well as a lot more chop on the course with lots of recreational sailors reaching back and forth. The Italian police was chasing a few of them down- really funny to hear a police siren on the water and police boat chasing you - telling you to leave the area. Only if we had this pleasure with the SF ferries! I tried to get off the line again but got hosed on the start forcing me to go right again despite wanting to head left as there was a bit more breeze in the middle of the lake. I rounded deep and dug my way back to 26th again. Well at least that's consistent. At the end of the day I stand in 103rd with 2 26th places. I need to step it up a bit and get better starts in order to make the top half of the fleet, which is my goal for the regatta. There is a lot of really good racers here who have devoted the better half or most of their lives to their Olympic campaigns. It is a real passion amoung the sailors here and the professionalism shows. I am learning lot by sailing my 5th world championship.

Sept 24th- 2nd day of racing:
It looked like another light wind day as the morning breeze failed to materialize but just like magic (and as soon as I ordered my lunch at the café above the sailing club) the north wind came down the lake and the postponement flags came down the pole. The 6 fleets headed out to the Torbole and Trentino courses set just in front of Riva Del Garda and up the lake where there was more wind. Luckily today I was in the Torbole course with a bit more breeze so I was excited- just my conditions!
Race 1 started with most of the fleet starting on port heading to the right side of the wall. I knew this was the way to go but was quite surprised when the fleet was already lined up at the pin. I had missed the gun in my rush to get out to the course and was not positioned well. I started deep and footed to the right and tacked at the wall but got trapped on the way back by a few guys above me. I knew I wanted to go back right but despite going a bit faster and higher I couldn't get the room to tack back and went back to the middle of the course. I could see the guys on the right gaining but nothing I could do. Sometimes its best to slow down and tack to get back to the correct side- a good lesson learned! Finally in the breeze I was feeling good with my speed passing a few boards each leg but was still deep clawing my way back through the fleet. It was a good 15knots on the course yet a lot of pumping all through out the fleet- especially off the wind where you need to be super efficient. I was going back and forth with a few sailors- especially the lighter ones who would gain downwind with better pumping but then upwind I would get them back, This type of back and forth sailing makes fleet sailing very competitive. Unfortunately for me we had a downwind finish and I thought I had enough of a lead over the small sailor from Hong Kong to keep him back but just as I gybed around the last leeward mark he sneaked inside of me and kept the lead the nest 100 meters to the finish. Good lesson learned- always close the door on the sailors behind you! Another finish around 22'nd- this is getting consistent- a bit better but consistent!
The second race started in a decent 14-16knots. I knew I had to get a good start. That was my goals for this one. I watched the first fleet all start on port and get off well. As I lined up with 40 seconds to go, I blasted down the line finding a hole and stalled a bit not to be over early as the one minute flag was up . 5- 4-3-2- 1. The fleet was off and I had clear air with a lane off the line. I held my own getting my head and shoulders out to windward as much as possible to keep climbing. I was looking good as I got to the wall and tacked and was on the layline already in really good position! I rounded the top mark in 7th and held my own down the top reach. The breeze was a bit lighter on the far side so most of the fleet gybed immediate. The first fleet was mixed up with us here so a lot of action at this mark and the bottom mark as we rounded together. I felt a bit outpaced here as the lighter sailors were very efficient in their pumping and I fell back in the fleet. As I rounded the leeward mark I had a sloppy rounding and fell back even further as it was a drag race to the right side as well as a bit of a header going there. Well I was in better position than normal- just had to keep the pace up. 3 more laps upwind and same scenario- really good upwind when I found my lane but losing boards downwind due to not pumping enough. This class is a lot of work. I need o spend more time on the rowing machine to get my cardio up to speed with the other Olympic hopefuls. After all, its not just hook in and hold on- This is Olympic class sailing- part sailing- part pumping your sail as hard and as long as you can!
As I made my way back up the final upwind leg, the wind really got lighter and I had to get my centerboard down to get around the top mark. A few guys who overstood came flying in with the track back and boards up. Down wind I struggle din the light stuff to get planning but finally managed to get going and off again. I was working hard but the lighter sailors really went pasted me like I was standing still. Despite the great start and good upwind sailing, I still finished in the mid 20's. Well it a start, one thing at a time! I'm still trying to put all the pieces together but its coming together slowly. Today was better than yesterday- always a good thing!

Sept 27th: Day 4
The day started with a bit of confusion by all: how to split the fleets. Either way, somebody would be at a disadvantage. The race committee finally decided to split the men’s fleet right down the middle with a 82 board gold fleet and an 82 board silver fleet. That means getting a bad score now counts potentially 2x as bad as it did in the qualifying rounds where we sailed in a fleet of 44 boards. Now the fun really begins!At the beginning of the day I stood in 104th 30 points out of 1st place in the sliver fleet- plenty of opportunity to move up if the conditions stayed as they did the previous 3 days.
In front of me in the gold fleet, is my fellow American Ben Barger who made the cut with a finial position of 70th as well as Canadians Alain Bouldoc and Zac Plavsic in mid fleet. Those guys would be racing in the top fleet while I battled it out with the other 82 sailors. The goal was to get a decent start and off to the correct side and take it from there.
The wind was slower to fill in and they finally sent the women’s fleet and well as the men’s gold fleet around 3pm for their first of 2 races. The intensity in the men’s fleet was intense with the top few positions really close and it was anybody’s race to be won or lost. Unfortunatly the race was well offshore so now chance off seeing the action. I can see why windsurfing isn’t much of a spectator’s sport now!
My fleet was off to their first start around 5pm and the light wind had filled in. It was another race to the cliff where we started track forward and centerboard down. As we approached the wind, everybody changed gears and went track back, centerboard up. Next as we approached the windward mark the wind died again so back to first and second gear! With this type of condition where one side is favored, it’s really a parade- making putting the tactics to a minimum and making board-speed the utmost important factor. This was the way the rest of the race played out for the next 2 laps of the windward leeward course. I had some promising moments rounding near the upper pack then fell back in the upwind light stuff as the flyweights planned away. I think I finished mid fleet but cant be sure…just hoping for some more planning conditions tomorrow to minimize the damage.

Day 5 report RSX World Championship, Lake Garda, Italy
The reality of light wind sailing finally kicked in today with the silver fleet racing at 4:30 and the wind doing a nose dive to the lower single digits. It was a painful experience that makes me count my blessing from all the planning conditions we had thus far.
As I reported the last few days, there are some amazing opportunities to gain or lose lots of boards in big fleets. I had the opportunity to do both today.
I got out to the course early to watch the 2nd race of the men’s gold fleet. It was obvious that banging the right corner near the cliff was the only way to go. Now implement that on a line with 80 boards! For the first race I lined up with a nice hole to leeward but above me there were guys pushing the line, below me guys pushing the line. I was stuck in the middle with no place to go. Finally I escaped and made it to the wall. There were still a lot of boards above me so I quickly made my way back right gaining a few more boards and over-standing the layline so I could come in with speed. I immedialty gybed and headed back to the velocity. I rounded the bottom mark just behind the front pack and pumped my way upwind a few board lengths to get a clear lane so I could head right again with clear air. This is how I made the most gains. The boards below me struggled with bad air and I tacked at the wall and had them beat. I was in decent position in the top 20 in a fleet of 80. 2 more laps holding my own to a decent finish. The fun was coming back
Next race the wind was dying in a big way. Most of the fleet struggled to get off the line including myself who struggled from that point on to catch up. Probably the most important lesson I have learned in light air sailing a in a big fleet is clear air and speed are king. I don’t know how many times I’ve learned that lesson but I still continue to learn it even today! The rest of the race was like beginning to learn to race for the first time. I struggled in the light breeze trying to find a way to make the board go fast. Needless to say from my result, I didn’t find a way to make it go. I was near the back of the fleet trying to find a reason to continue as I knew this race would be my throwout…Somehow I continued making my way to the finish just before the flag came down closing the finishing line.It’s days like this I wonder if its worth continuing but then I looked around at the beautiful surroundings and thought- things could be worse and sailed in with just a bit of a smile coming through despite the curse words fuming out of my mouth form my performance.

2006 Ronstan Bridge-to-Bridge Regatta Report

Take some of the fastest downwind sailing crafts on the planet; wind them up like match box cars and let them go! That was the theme for 8^th annual Ronstan Bridge to Bridge race in San Francisco, August 25, 2006 where 40 kite-boarders, windsurfers and skiffs raced between a starting line set outside the Golden Gate Bridge and a finish line set to the east of Treasure Island under the Bay bridge.

The only rule is to watch out for the skiffs and their 10’ carbon bow sprints- they don’t change course very easily and travel at speeds close to 30 knots. Other than that, it’s the first craft that crosses the finish line that wins!

This was my 3^rd or 4^th attempt at this race over the past few years. It’s a relatively easy course from point A to point B but the options are limitless in terms of tactics, strategy and survival. This year, there would be no records broken as the fleet was fighting a stiff ebb tide the whole way down the course, which made for a bumpy and slower ride than usual. Nonetheless, it was like riding a runaway coach down a mountain with a team of 100 horses in front of you for 20 minutes straight! “Control,” was the main thought going through my mind from start to finish.

As the fleets assembled outside the Golden Gate Bridge for a 5:30 start, I noticed one thing: an awesome display of sailing power in all 3 fleets. The formula class windsurfer is an evolution of the original windsurfer with a wide 100 cm hull, big fin and oversized 10m2 rig, capable of speeds up to 35 knots. Its advantage is that it is light, relatively quick and can stay powered up even in the lighter breezes. The Aussie 18 skiffs are a light weight open class sailing craft that carry a crew of 3 sailors trapezing off carbon fiber winds protruding from each side of an open hulled craft with a enormous rig and oversized asymmetrical chute. The class is known for constantly pushing the limits of design and control with amazing speeds and spectacular wipeouts. And last but certainly not least was the kite-boarders with 21 competitors on the starting line. The kiters are still the new kids on the block but are making the biggest gains each year in terms of speed and control. They can sail deep downwind with their oversized kites pulling just a few square feet of board through the water!

The starting line was set between the red nun outside the bridge and 2 rigid inflatable race committee boats holding their position in the strong ebb tide. The kiters would start at one end and the skiffs and windsurfers at the other. As the starting gun fired, it was apparent that most of the sailing craft were headed out to the middle of the bay with the stronger breeze. This was the most dangerous time of the race as the skiffs, windsurfers and kiters were all still crossing each other going downwind with relatively no concerns except to get to the finish line first!

I got off the line well with Mike Percy and Steve Sylvester, both on formula boards to each side of me. As we made our way downwind towards the St. Francis Yacht Club, the boards, kites and skiffs were all mixing it up. I could see one kiter out in front but meanwhile I was ducking skiffs and trading places with Mike and Steve near the top of the pack.

The most direct route was near the city front but that meant a lighter breeze so most of the fleet worked their way downwind gybing back and forth, fighting the ebb tide chop down wind. As we made our way around Alcatrez Island in the middle of the Bay, I could see one kiter clear ahead and one or 2 skiffs a good 15-20 seconds in front of the formula boards. Most of the boards gybed back below Alcatrez so that they could come into the finish line with speed. Jean Rathle, along with myself, both on formula boards kept a higher course hoping to get lucky puff coming off the city front. At this point, I thought the race was over as the fleet below was well powered racing towards the finish line. As anybody who’s ever raced before knows, you can never count yourself out!

As the guys who went low came in towards Treasure Island, they caught and unexpected lull as the wind lifted above the Treasure Island and left them short of breathe 200m before the finish line. Meanwhile coming under the Bay Bridge was a container ship that forced Jean and I to sail a bit longer than we expected, but gave us a good angle to come in with speed to the finish. Sylvester saw all this happening and was quick to gybe back and get over to the stronger breeze with Jean and I. I was the first to gybe back towards the finish line, around 5th overall with 2 kites already finishing and 2 skiffs just in front of us. I gybed back but lost control of my rig as it dropped into the water, letting the Yandoo skiff, Chip Wasson on his kite and Al Mirel on his formula board sneak in front of me. Never over-estimate the power of your finger tips for control, especially 50 m from the finish line!

Jean and Steve took themselves out by not finishing correctly as they mistook the press boat for the finish line. This gave me a 9^th overall- all and 2^nd windsurfer to finish.

Just on my heels were the rest of the boards, kites and skiffs coming down to the finish line. It was an amazing site to see as I caught my breath under the Bay Bridge.

I thing the biggest accomplishment has to go to the kiters who have made an enormous leap in progress with their abilities and kite designs over the past few years. It’s an honor to share the line with them as well as the skiffs in this amazing race. Special thanks goes out to the main sponsor, Ronstan and the St. Francis Yacht Club for running the race.

Results:

1. Kafka - kiteboarder
2. Anthony Chavez - kiteboarder
3. Pegasus White - Aussie 18 skiff - Hamlin, Martin, Barnabus
4. Pegasus Black - Aussie 18 skiff - Kahn, Allen, MacDonald
5. Boylington- kiteboader
6. Yandoo - Aussie 18 skiff –Winning, Hay, Bauchop
7. Wasson- kiteboarder
8. Mirel- Formula windsurfer
9. Bodner- Formula windsurfer
10. Sylvester- Formula windsurfer