Last day la ventana classic

Last day la ventana classic brought more course racing. We nearly missed the 1st race as we
went whale shark diving in morning.
Luckily we got back in time for the 5 min gun and I helped the rest our crew get out on the water while the wind build and the windsurfers started later. 

I rigged 7.8 and f4 48 cm fin vs Lyn on 10.0 formula for 5 quick 4 min races.
All in all- the slalom board puts up a good fight vs the formula board in quick racing
My best races finishes were just behind top kiters in 5th place overall in the mixed fleet racing
In my worst races I understood too mark and needed to double tack - DFL!
I switched to Lyns 9.0- super comfortable as wind got lighter later in day!
It powers up sooner and better through lulls than 7.8
I'm learning to play downhaul strap much more to induce more power to lower 1/3 of sail + moving boom height up as wind lowers.
All in all a super regatta!
Muchos garcias to the race organizers and volunteers.

Day 6 la ventana classic

We had a 7 am boat ride across the La Ventana bay with 98 other wind enthusiast for the long distance crossing. As usual we sat around and waited for the wind to fill in....
By 2pm we were fully lit in 15-20k on a 20 min beam/broad reach across the channel between La Ventana Island- by the way- its for sale!- back to mainland baja California Mexico.
I started low with the rest of the windsurfing fleet and getting some local knowledge to make a big arch across the bay I account for the wind shift as you crossed the channel. Tyson broke out from the pack as Bryan myself an Wyat all took the low route. Meanwhile the kiters took the high route keeping it lot up. Despite giving it everything I had I just couldn't match match their speed. I never felt lit powered like I do in a formula board. A good effort bit I felt out matched. I rounded the first mark in 5th behind Tyson on a jp and np 7.8, Johnny on a 11m kite, Wyatt on 7.8 &; Bryan on a 7.0. The next leg was a deep reach so 6 more kiters caught up as they can go way deeper. Just at the last mark before the finsih we all came together and I edged in 9 or 10th place out of a fleet of 99.
I ran a 39cm fin with the warp 7.8 and ml 100l 60cm wide course slalom board.
The 460 mast is working better in the sail with less downhaul and more tack strap but it's doesn't quite have the 5th gear I was looking for like the 6.3 I had the breeze yesterday.
In the marginal winds the 44cm or 48 cm fin might be a better choice.
I'm hoping we get some more lit up conditions but it looks like the forecast is lighter for the next few days.
Maybe a good time to learn how to fly a kite!

Baja road trip

Day 5: We packed up & left Los Barrriles en route to La Ventana. The van was packed with 5 racers and their gear.

We arrived and set up camp on the beach and finally hit the water for the 1st lit up session in what seemed like months. The board felt great but 34cm fin may be too small as I seemed to be spinning out some going into the gybes. 

I tried putting my back foot back further on the board to carve but it may be better with 39cm for lit up conditions and 44 for regular conditions

So far- the quiver is getting dialed in 

6.3m 34cm fin 25k +

7.0m 39cm fin 18-25

7.8 44cm fin in 15-22k

48cm for course Racing

Day. 4 final showdown

The only thing left was the Lord of the winds showdown long distance race
With only 12-14k it was no match against the kiters on the upwind course.
Johnny Pacifico Heineken took the line honors.
I vowed to either to return next year with a formula board or kite.

Day 3 report lord of the winds

It was hurry up and wait today as the northerly breeze failed to come in strong like the previous 2 days.
The kite racing on the course gear have a lower wind minimum than the slalom windsurfers so they started and finished the day with 2 races while the slalom windsurfers only got 1 race in.
I was well prepared being the only one starting on starboard as I came ripping in only to be calledOCS while the rest of the fleet sat parked at the other end. The big lesson I learned was in a situation line that it's better to be a few seconds late than early. Nonetheless I think the horn was 2-3 seconds late.
No big deal I rallied back as much as I could to 3rd in a light 14-16k but havnt quite found the grove on the course slalom gear. I tried a 490 mast but the 7.8 sail really needs the tack strap yanked to get any power out of it.
A few more knot of breeze would have been nice but then again it's January and I'm sailing in baja. So far I'm sitting in 3rd place in course slalom behind Tyson & Bryan.

Day 2 LOW- baja

Day 2 report: Lord f the Winds showdown

1 slalom windsurf heat & 3 kite slalom heats followed by 3 course races. 

Tyson continuing to dominate the fleet with another day of bullets. 

I tried the mast track a bit more forward to 65-75% and it worked better coming out of the gybes.

In race1 slalom, I managed another 3rd behind Tyson & Bryan and still holding into 3rd with Casey's 2 dnfs from yesterday. 

The kites did 3 rounds of final slalom with the best of the fleets qualifying to the final rounds The twin tips just beat out the course boards running smaller 30 fins. 

By 1 we moved into course racing. 

I want able to get any angle the whole race. I felt I was way underpowered with my 460 mast in my 7.8. The luff curve is set up for the 490 bend & I'm really loosing out in the low end w/ no upwind angle with flat draft. I knew I should have packed the 9.5!!

After 2 races the RC said they were done & I derigged only to have the next men's windsurfing start in 30 min later- doh...

I watched the remaining kite course slalom from shore as the California crew cleaned up.  

It's super sandy rigging on the beach with not much protection from the elements.
A tarp is a must have in travelling quiver. 

Day 1 lord of the winds showdown, Los barres baja

We ran 40 slalom heats  on day 1 + big air comp for kiters. 

Despite being at site for almost 6 hours I raced a total of 16 min. 

In the 4 slalom heats for expert men. I finished  4, 3 dfl and 2.

The wind was 16-22k with rolling swell. 

The slalom course had 10 gybe marks and almost 1/2 mile downwind. 

Race 1 started with me not pulling the trigger thinking there was another 1 min to go.
From there it was playing catch up and trying to pass on anybody making a bad rounding in front of me. 

Race 2 started better as I rounded the top mark in 1st but started for the low mark 4 instead of 2 and getting passed I kept 2nd until the 7th mark where I fell on a gybe and got DFL

I'm not coming out of the gybe marks with speed. 

Race 3 good speed and rounding only to get passed on the inside at mark rounding on last mark to get 3rd.

Race 4 I arrived 2nd into 1st mark behind Tyson and kept my position the whole race. Good gybes with clean air. No problems. 

I used 7.8 north warp with 44 cm Crad fin and mast base at mid. Ill try the mast forward at 60-70% to get going out of gybed better.  Not sure yet about why leach is so loose. Maybe less downhaul tomorrow...

2011 by the numbers- a windsurfing junkies recap of useless data

2011 was a good year when I look at the numbers:

I had a total of 131 sessions this year-averaging a session every 3.5 days or 10 sessions a month.

April & May had the most sessions with 38 for 2 months- averaging a session every 1.5 days. In contrast, when looking at the 1st 2 months and last 2 months of the year- I only got 19 days out of a possible 120- averaging 1 session every 6.3 days.
 
I sailed at just 4 locations. 
87% of my sessions were at Crissy Field- 114 sessions,
Berkeley- 8 sessions,
San Juan PR- 8 sessions
and 1 session at Pinole Shores.

 
I sailed 84 formula sessions-64% of all sessions.   
I used my 12.0 6 times,
my 10.7 28 times,
& my 9.5 50 times- 60% of all formula sessions were used on this sail!

 
47 slalom sessions-36% of all sessions.
All of my slalom sessions were sailed in just 1 location- Crissy Field.
I used my 7.0 27 times,
my 6.3 13 times,
my 7.8 6 times,
and my 5.8 just 1 time.

I competed in14 total regattas.
64% of which were sailed at The St. Francis Y.C- 9 total,
4 at Berkeley
& 1 in Puerto Rico!

 

I spent a total of 24 days racing in 3 or more races a day.

Throughout the season, I used a total of 7 sails and 4 boards.
12,0- 6 sessions
10.7 - 28 sessions
9.5 - 50 sessions - 38% of all sessions
7.8 - 6 sessions
7.0 - 27 sessions
6.3 13 sessions
& 5.8- 1 session

While I didn't track what slalom board I was riding each slalom session, I  rode 4 boards this season:
ML10 Formula- 82 out of a possible 84 formula sessions or 97%
JP 101 slalom,
ML slalom,
&; ML freeride
 
And finally, at the time of this writing on Dec 30th, it's been approximately 9 days, 6 hours & 23 minutes since my last session.  Through out this year, there were 4 periods of time where there were 10 or more days between sessions with the longest being between 8/31 to 9/18 with 17 consecutive days off the water. 

*individual data recorded from  @USA 4  twitter feed  and graphs created with DAYTUM.

How I almost got ran over by a train while windsurfing.

I scoped the beach out the weekend before meeting Zaijeck to pick up my new slalom board.  The launch looked sketchy. The hike down, the gate, the train track.

I wrote it off.

Honestly, I had more on my mind- with the excitement of a brand new lightweight slalom board!

But the next weekend came and the the SF Bay was still plagued by NE winds.

Crissy would be amok with kook kiters form 3rd ave all looking for on onshore wind.

Granted, Wednesday and Thursday were epic in terms of sailing in some solid breeze again. I saw some gust above 30 and was well powered on my slalom 6.3 and 85l board.

I knew I should have gone early when on Saturday at 10 am it was a solid 20-25k but dying. I thought, maybe just maybe I'd get an early session in.

The lesson I continue to learn-in the off season- the early bird gets the worm.

If its blowing at 10am on a Saturday morning- go for it.

The thermals will not be there to back you up come mid afternoon after a few hours of procrastination. 

From march through October this strategy works oh so well.

You can procrastinate ( I mean get other work done) and get to the beach by 5 and still get a solid session in.

I decided to wait and meet some buddies to sail up at Pinole shores - which has been reliable on a NE breeze. After all- we had a score to settle.

Kiters vs windsurfers. The battle never ends.

I made the trek to the north bay against my better judgement- leaving a good wind at crissy for an unknown wind 45 min away and breaking the cardinal rule of windsurfing: Never leave wind for wind!

Upon arrival I checked out the scene.

The wind was dying. 20k+ on the outside but a shlog to get there.

I hedged my bets and made the trek in with 4 kiters to Zaijeck beach.

The sign at the trail head should have been the first warning but went right on by.

A 10 min hike in down an access trail, down a dirt trail, through a locked gate. across the railroad tracks, back up the hill & finally down the bluff to the beach.

At least I had my flip flops!

My gear fit nicely in a board bag that I carried over my shoulder.

Its all about the journey I thought to myself.

I got there and immediately knew I made the wrong choice with my 7.8 rig.

I should have packed the 9.5!

It was low tide and the beach was super clean extending out a few more feet from my previous visit.

What I wasn't accounting for was the walk out in the mud till I could get to thigh deep water and keep my 39 cm fin from from hitting the bottom.

The  shlog out to the wind line was like a graph of diminishing returns.

The further I got from shore, the further the wind line receded.

The kiters on their race boards and 11m kites were wizzing past me and I could hardy break onto a plane in 8-10k.

If there was any way to covert me to kiting, this was probably it.

I got going a few times only to have the wind die even more. I decided to pack it up and head back before loosing any further ground as the wind was switch more east. I knew I would be downwind of the launch but there was no real good exit from water.

The low tide exposed some nasty rip rap with exposed rebar, razor sharp shells and oh, I forgot the 10 min minute walk up to the beach in the calf deep mud- sinking with every step

All I could think of was climbing out of a power deep day at Tahoe but this was no powder- just mud and I had no epic runs, Just a shlog.

With the gear above my head I began my exit from the water's edge up the rocks.

The balancing attempt was not working.

I disconnected the rig from the board and made my was up and down the rocks 2 more times.

It looked to be about a 1/4 mike walk back along the train tracks.

I tidied up rig into a manageable package rolling up my mast in the sail and tying it into the boom with the uphaul and outhaul,

The extension fit nicely in the boom head and the harness around the short end of the boom.

Did I mention my feet were already cut up from the climb up and down the rocks.

Now the only way back was along  train tracks.

If you've ever walked along the train tracks you know those rocks arnt the smooth polished ones you find at the ocean.

No- they are jagged crushed rock that bruise the soles of your feet with every step.

There had to be a better way.

I looked around- a path of thorny bushes and poison oak to the right or the train tracks.

I opted for the latter and was actually enjoying the trek getting a nice soft massage on my feet with every step on the wooden planks of the rail track.

That was until I head the train whistle from behind  and looked back to see an Amtrak train coming around the bend at full speed.

My first reaction was to drop the gear and jump out of the way.

A split second went by and I imagined my new board, carbon mast and boom all getting run over my the train.

I hobbled down the bank with about 10 seconds to spare- rig and board balancing between my arms.

The rush of wind in front of the train nearly knocked me over.

I could see the conductors face looking down at my nearly 2 stories above on the double decker train wondering who in the world is walking on the train tacks in a wetsuit carrying what looks like a surf board and a rolled up sail.

The again, This was Pinole. Stranger things have happened.

I made the rest of the walk back avoiding 2 more trains as the whipped by but by this time I figured out the system.

The tracks start to vibrate and make a high pitched noise about 20-30 seconds before the train arrives so I had plenty of time to jump to the side and wait for the trains to pass before continuing on .

Still some strange looks on those train conductors' faces

Zaijeck  met me about 3/4 of the way back and helped me carry my board back while I handled the rig.

We laughed and decided maybe this wasn't the best launch on a dying breeze.

As I waited for the rest of our group to derig and drink an few beers on the deserted beach, I thought - it probably could have gone a whole lot worse.

Cut up and bruised feet sure beat a pile of carbon and styrofoam splinters along the edge of the train tracks.

Ill check that beach off the list of places Ive sailed but probably wont be making the trek back anytime soon. 

.

Friday night fog

The fog was as thick as mud.
The tide- like a bed sheet pulled tight with its corners tucked- was running flat and sticky.
There was no escape.

I tacked on what I thought was normally the layline- but then again- I had no idea.
There was no reference of land. No sun. Only a white abyss and my starting watch telling me Id been sailing upwind on port tack for just over 2 minutes.
It took me 4 more tacks to get around that windward mark on what normally takes one.

Its a surreal experience, windsurfing in the fog on the San Francisco Bay.
At times, you cant see a single thing.
Just the fog and the sound of your board slapping against the water.


The long drawn out drawl of the fog horns on the golden gate bridge are the only reference to where you are and where you're going.
The south tower has its own pitch- loud and deep.
Almost enough to knock you off your board if your close and not expecting it.
The mid span has another pitch- higher and closer in frequency.
The north tower fog horn has its own horn- set at different timing than the other 2.

I made the last minute decision to run the NP10.7 vs the 9.5 it was really starting to lighten up before the first start.  I'm glad I did as that made all the difference in getting around the course quickly and efficiently.
In all but 1 race, I lead around the course- getting in and out of the marks without much hassle as others had to double tack and piled on top of each other at the roundings.
A lot of light wind racing is won before the start of the race.
Getting yourself into the right position in the per-start is essential to getting a good start.
With the flood running hard, you had to position yourself to windward of the starting line with 1 minute to go and drift down so that you had speed and angle in the opposite direction at the gun. Easier said that done.
The one time in race 3  I didn't do that I got stuffed on the start and was ducking sterns to get clear air.
Al got the inside puff and climbed while Tom, Marion and Soheil all got the jump in front of me.
Soheil had tacked immediately after the leeward mark and was going for the bigger breeze outside
Just a few seconds later, Tom and Marion went down in a close rounding as I zipped by going to the inside.
As I tacked back I had Soheil and tacked just in front of him on the layline.
What I ddint account for was the flood pushing me down in my tack when my vmg wasn't high.
That was just enough for him to get me as I had to sail a longer distance to get across the finish line while Soheil shot the line at the pin end to grab 2nd. 
With the wind dying at Anita mark, the RC changed things up a bit and ran a course with the windward mark at the H beam.
It really didnt matter as you still had to sail to Anita to get to the layline.

After the wind died even more at the top of the course, the RC decided to really invert things.
A downwind start to X- back to A and B. Down to X and back upwind to finish.

The juniors were holding up well with Marion and Jack getting some consistent finishes amongst the fleet.
Marion was even leading one race as she got up onto a plane sooner than me and reached right underneath me on the reach to B.
Luckily for me a puff filled back in on the run to the leeward mark and I was able to regain the lead and stay in front to the finish.

On the last race of the evening, the fog came in thick.
Im not sure you could even see the windward mark until you stumbled upon it.
We all tacked at the same time hoping we were in the vicinity.
I held onto the lead rounding the leeward mark but wasnt sure that if I finished at the pin end, the RC would be able to see me.
I reached down the line out of the fog just in front of Al who had sailed up the shore and was coming on strong.
Then again- close only count sin horse shoes and hand grenades.