4 races complete in 10-14k
Finishing better each race in mid fleet.
More updated tonight
Check www.formulswindsurfing.org for race results and photos
Steve
USA 4
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Formula euros day 2 morning update
Postponement flag up
Fleet is on shore waiting for breeze to build,
Currently 5-6 knots onshore light breeze
Steve
USA4
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Formula Windsurfing European Champiobnship, Leba Poland
The trip:
After a 14 hour drive from
So it started, before we even left when the trailer lights would not sync with my Renault espace. Well at least we were driving in the day light but for the first hour and a half we stopped at every service station looking for the transition piece allowing us to drive legally across
Training- Monday July 28:
Once we finally got our gear down the long road and across the beach to the event site, it was time to get out on the water to test the new fins I brought back from
Ive been having some trouble in the light wind so I though Id add some new fins into the quiver to see how they perform. First up was the new CRAD fin based from the former C3 design. My first impression is it really rails the board up nicely and once I lined up with a few people it was evident that it was going well – especially in the lighter stuff on my 11.8.
I also put in the new light-wind finworks fin which felt solid but not as quick upwind as the previous CRAD. Off the breeze it was flying very quickly.
Thanks to 'Coach deJong' for the photos
With 140 competitors rigging 2-3 rigs on the beach, the beach venue quickly filled up, especially with the crowds of Polish families making their summer vacations everywhere on the beach. As usual with the most European, we started off with the postponement flag barely flying off the flagpole on the beach. With updates every 30 minutes, the announcer was beginning to feel like a broken record….” Currently 5-6 knots but nothing more.” The fleet waited till 6 pm before we were set free for the day but the rest of the weeks forecast looks as dismal as today’s so its going to be a waiting game and trying to stay out of the intense Baltic sun.
Below are the hourly updates from the first day my send from my iphone via the wifi from the beach site:
5pm afternoon update
Still waiting for wind to develop but nothing significant above 5-6
knots. Class ruled call for 7 knots at start of race. Last possible
start 1 hour before sunset. Its going to be a long event with the rest
of the weeks forecast similar to today .
Day 1 morning update:
10 am skippers meeting... Still waiting for breeze to arrive!
129 board mens fleet
As always you can check the formula class web site for updated daily info
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
2008 SF Classic recap: Searching for the ‘Camels back’ in the Berkeley Flats!
With a smaller formula fleet than previous years, this year’s SF Classic was still an exceptional race for the 19 board windsurfing fleet and 17 man kite fleet and as usual experience pays off with fleet veterans Steve Sylvester and Mike Zajcek taking 2 out of the 3 top positions in the weekends’ race.
Conditions never ramped up like most expected for Saturday’s long distance race but that didn’t make it any less of a race for all those trying to get around the 40 mile + course taking competitors out the Golden Gate Bridge and down and across the San Francisco Bay to the Berkeley Pier and then back again.
Since it's start in 1979, the original Oneil/ Marui Classic was one of the premier windsurfing races in the world drawing 100+ competitors with the likes of Robby Naish, Ken Winner and the orginal windsurfer rocket. To give you a perspective, it was a tremendous feat even to get across the Bay in those days, nonetheless make it down to Berkeley on gear that looks similar to the original model T. In the early 80's, competitors were making throw-away daggerboards that they released at the top of the course before the headed downwind on the 30 mile + ride.
Now even with the some of the best modern gear and amzing fast speeds pushing 30 -35 knots, you cant get yourself around the course fast enough! That was the case, when I found myself in an early lead but ended up sailing towards the wrong mark early in the race and was never able to catch up after that.
With variable conditions near shore, most of the fleet got caught under-powered near the top half of the course-with just a few of the leaders getting away and off to a sustainable lead.
After rounding the first upwind mark behind Mike Zajcek, Sylvester and Percy we made our way back under the Golden Gate where this years ‘north tower buoy’ was set much deeper than previous years. With the ebb kicking in at 1k and the light breeze, it was a slow rounding if you gybed 5-10 seconds too early. That mistake cost me a good 30 seconds as I drifted downwind around the mark as the 3 leaders reached across the Bay towards the presidio shoal. Years ago, I would have been yelling profanities given the situation, but I have since realized the energy spend on anger is not worth the effort.
Better to focus on getting past the next guy in front of you.
Luckily for me, Percy stopped at the shoal in a light spot and we were able to get going in the same puff and work our way up back upwind for the 2nd lap. I tacked early to take advantage of the ebb while Percy struggled to get through some San Francisco voodoo chop and went down hard. Rounding the top mark again, it was only Zajcek and Sylvester in front of me as we worked our way down in the light breeze. With a sail size bigger I was able to real them in and passed Sylvester and Mike Z at the gybe mark.
Unfortunately as soon as I found myself in the lead, it was over like that. The next mark, I thought was rounding the presidio shoal but actually it was deeper towards Anita rock. That mistake cost me losing the 3 guys I has just worked so hard to pass and then some as Wells and Eric went flying down the middle of the course with a decent puff. I was biting my tongue to stay cool.
Anita rock was another ‘cant get around this mark fast enough’ situations as I watched the 5 guys in front of me sail away as I drifted painfully around Anita rock in a light patch. Once reaching again, we were up to speed but the damage was done as the next hour of the race was simply spent following the leader which was Wells who was well powered downwind on his finworks fin.
I looked back and saw the rest of the 19 board formula fleet scattered across the top of the course struggling to get going. It could have been worse, I thought to myself as I enjoyed the rest of the underpowered but painless ride down on my north 10.0, ML7 and kashy 70 xs fin to Blossom, Blunt, R4, R2 and finally the Berkeley Pier to finish in 6th place. At least it was a beautiful day searching for the ‘camels back’ along the Berkeley flats!
For those who have raced the Classic before, the ‘camels back’ is a landmark on the distance shore you can line up the final mark of the race with. Once rounding the Berkeley Pier and heading towards Brooks Island, mark X magically be found after only sailing what seems like an eternity with out a soul in sight.
Back upwind for the UN ‘Challenge’, the key was to stay out of the building flood but in the wind. Zajcek was able to find the best route as he worked his way up the Angel Island coast and through the middle of the Bay to finish in 46 minutes and change. Fighting the traffic and flood coming up the city front was not the best idea despite what looked like better breeze.
Sunday’s course racing started with some tricky conditions as the unstable
wind, mixed current and weekend traffic made getting around the course a real struggle.
With John Craig moving the pin end back just 30 seconds before the 5 minute gun, starting on port was not an option despite the right side of the course being highly favored. A light patch hit the fleet in the final minute before the start and 4-5 guys including myself were ebbed up over the line and had to dip the line to get going again. After a slow restart, it was playing catch up again over the next 3 lap windward leeward course. I never really felt comfortable as the breeze was so puffy and shifty. I even backed down in the last upwind thinking I had weeds on my foil- but all to no avail.
Finally with the breeze increasing in the 2nd race, I started on port tack, just clearing the anchor line of the committee board to get to the right side of the course early. The port tack parade to the mark was painful in the building flood tide near shore but I was able to keep my lane up and round in 4th. On the final lap downwind, Al caught up with me to apply the final move just at the finish but the good news was we both passed Eric in the process.
The lesson I learned here was to use your advantage whenever possible. I was inside yet behind Al off the breeze- preventing him from making the last gybe. In this position, I was the controlling boat but didn’t seize the opportunity and instead let Al gybe first and followed.
Finally with the breeze up to the low 20’s I was told myself I had to pull it together and win the final race of the series to finish off on a strong note. I used the opportunity to switch down to a 68 kashy for better control. At the start, most of the fleet was on port tack and I stuck my nose between what seemed like a 1/2 board length hole between Percy to leeward and Sylvester to windward. Upwind on the first grind, I used every opportunity to climb with Percy pushing hard from below and ahead. Being the first to the layline is always tough as you have to make a good guess at the layline before anyone else. Fortunately I nailed it and extended my lead the rest of the race sailing conservatively but comfortable. That was enough to get me up to 3rd overall for the day in a very respectable group of sailors.
Its always fun to race with these guys as they have a wealth of experience. Brian McDonald send out an email yesterday with an article written by longtime SF windsurfer Paul Heineken on the first 10 years of the Classic- an interesting read with some of the early pioneers of the sport literally making history as they blazed their long boards across the San Francisco Bay.
You can find the article here and full results at:
http://www.calcupevents.com/Results/2008/Classic.shtml
Special thanks to the St. Francis Yacht Club and their professional race crew and volunteers as well as the locals like Wells, Soheil and McGrath for lending me some equipment to make it possible to race here!
Conditions never ramped up like most expected for Saturday’s long distance race but that didn’t make it any less of a race for all those trying to get around the 40 mile + course taking competitors out the Golden Gate Bridge and down and across the San Francisco Bay to the Berkeley Pier and then back again.
Since it's start in 1979, the original Oneil/ Marui Classic was one of the premier windsurfing races in the world drawing 100+ competitors with the likes of Robby Naish, Ken Winner and the orginal windsurfer rocket. To give you a perspective, it was a tremendous feat even to get across the Bay in those days, nonetheless make it down to Berkeley on gear that looks similar to the original model T. In the early 80's, competitors were making throw-away daggerboards that they released at the top of the course before the headed downwind on the 30 mile + ride.
Now even with the some of the best modern gear and amzing fast speeds pushing 30 -35 knots, you cant get yourself around the course fast enough! That was the case, when I found myself in an early lead but ended up sailing towards the wrong mark early in the race and was never able to catch up after that.With variable conditions near shore, most of the fleet got caught under-powered near the top half of the course-with just a few of the leaders getting away and off to a sustainable lead.
After rounding the first upwind mark behind Mike Zajcek, Sylvester and Percy we made our way back under the Golden Gate where this years ‘north tower buoy’ was set much deeper than previous years. With the ebb kicking in at 1k and the light breeze, it was a slow rounding if you gybed 5-10 seconds too early. That mistake cost me a good 30 seconds as I drifted downwind around the mark as the 3 leaders reached across the Bay towards the presidio shoal. Years ago, I would have been yelling profanities given the situation, but I have since realized the energy spend on anger is not worth the effort.
Better to focus on getting past the next guy in front of you.
Luckily for me, Percy stopped at the shoal in a light spot and we were able to get going in the same puff and work our way up back upwind for the 2nd lap. I tacked early to take advantage of the ebb while Percy struggled to get through some San Francisco voodoo chop and went down hard. Rounding the top mark again, it was only Zajcek and Sylvester in front of me as we worked our way down in the light breeze. With a sail size bigger I was able to real them in and passed Sylvester and Mike Z at the gybe mark.
Unfortunately as soon as I found myself in the lead, it was over like that. The next mark, I thought was rounding the presidio shoal but actually it was deeper towards Anita rock. That mistake cost me losing the 3 guys I has just worked so hard to pass and then some as Wells and Eric went flying down the middle of the course with a decent puff. I was biting my tongue to stay cool.
Anita rock was another ‘cant get around this mark fast enough’ situations as I watched the 5 guys in front of me sail away as I drifted painfully around Anita rock in a light patch. Once reaching again, we were up to speed but the damage was done as the next hour of the race was simply spent following the leader which was Wells who was well powered downwind on his finworks fin.
I looked back and saw the rest of the 19 board formula fleet scattered across the top of the course struggling to get going. It could have been worse, I thought to myself as I enjoyed the rest of the underpowered but painless ride down on my north 10.0, ML7 and kashy 70 xs fin to Blossom, Blunt, R4, R2 and finally the Berkeley Pier to finish in 6th place. At least it was a beautiful day searching for the ‘camels back’ along the Berkeley flats!
For those who have raced the Classic before, the ‘camels back’ is a landmark on the distance shore you can line up the final mark of the race with. Once rounding the Berkeley Pier and heading towards Brooks Island, mark X magically be found after only sailing what seems like an eternity with out a soul in sight.
Back upwind for the UN ‘Challenge’, the key was to stay out of the building flood but in the wind. Zajcek was able to find the best route as he worked his way up the Angel Island coast and through the middle of the Bay to finish in 46 minutes and change. Fighting the traffic and flood coming up the city front was not the best idea despite what looked like better breeze.Sunday’s course racing started with some tricky conditions as the unstable
wind, mixed current and weekend traffic made getting around the course a real struggle.
With John Craig moving the pin end back just 30 seconds before the 5 minute gun, starting on port was not an option despite the right side of the course being highly favored. A light patch hit the fleet in the final minute before the start and 4-5 guys including myself were ebbed up over the line and had to dip the line to get going again. After a slow restart, it was playing catch up again over the next 3 lap windward leeward course. I never really felt comfortable as the breeze was so puffy and shifty. I even backed down in the last upwind thinking I had weeds on my foil- but all to no avail.
Finally with the breeze increasing in the 2nd race, I started on port tack, just clearing the anchor line of the committee board to get to the right side of the course early. The port tack parade to the mark was painful in the building flood tide near shore but I was able to keep my lane up and round in 4th. On the final lap downwind, Al caught up with me to apply the final move just at the finish but the good news was we both passed Eric in the process.
The lesson I learned here was to use your advantage whenever possible. I was inside yet behind Al off the breeze- preventing him from making the last gybe. In this position, I was the controlling boat but didn’t seize the opportunity and instead let Al gybe first and followed.
Finally with the breeze up to the low 20’s I was told myself I had to pull it together and win the final race of the series to finish off on a strong note. I used the opportunity to switch down to a 68 kashy for better control. At the start, most of the fleet was on port tack and I stuck my nose between what seemed like a 1/2 board length hole between Percy to leeward and Sylvester to windward. Upwind on the first grind, I used every opportunity to climb with Percy pushing hard from below and ahead. Being the first to the layline is always tough as you have to make a good guess at the layline before anyone else. Fortunately I nailed it and extended my lead the rest of the race sailing conservatively but comfortable. That was enough to get me up to 3rd overall for the day in a very respectable group of sailors.
Its always fun to race with these guys as they have a wealth of experience. Brian McDonald send out an email yesterday with an article written by longtime SF windsurfer Paul Heineken on the first 10 years of the Classic- an interesting read with some of the early pioneers of the sport literally making history as they blazed their long boards across the San Francisco Bay.
You can find the article here and full results at:
http://www.calcupevents.com/Results/2008/Classic.shtml
Special thanks to the St. Francis Yacht Club and their professional race crew and volunteers as well as the locals like Wells, Soheil and McGrath for lending me some equipment to make it possible to race here!
Monday, June 30, 2008
voodoo chop
It wouldn't be summer in San Francisco if there wasn't a stiff breeze and a dense shroud of fog making its way through the golden gate. For the last 2 weeks, the sea breeze has been firing almost everyday making sunset slalom and formula training the call!
Ive been lucky enough to get by with a little help from my friends here- lending me a ML7 and north 10.0 while Im back for a few weeks. Thanks guys!
The fleet here has been training for the upcoming SF Classic- billed as the longest running windsurfing long distance race in the world. In the past few years, the kites have joined the formula boards for the full tour of the Bay. So, in preparation, I've been doing some deep long runs and reaching across the Bay- lit up with a 70 cm fin. From the first few sessions of testing, it appears the Finworks PRO formula fins is going quite well both upwind and downwind when lining up against the kashy fins.
It also wouldn't be a summer in San Francisco with out the infamous voodoo chop on the SF Bay. Turbulence (like the south tower of the Golden Gate bridge) or converging tide lines combine to create an amazing array of standing chop, boiling with fury. Getting through this mess is only possible with the help of the chicken and super chicken straps on the Mike's Lab formula boards. It took me a week or so to get back into the groove but once here, sailing in the steep ebb tide and chop feels comfortable again. Of course, just when you get comfortable, windsurfing finds a way to humble you again.
Yesterday evening, I was running the top half of the Classic course coming down from the north tower to the Presidio shoal buoy- sheeting in as much as I could through the boiling water below to keep my speed up. One second lapse in my concentration was all it took to chuck me off and land upside down, hooked in ontop of my rig.
Dazed and confused, I picked myself up and kept going.
Upwind, I've been picking up somethings again I seem to have forgotten while sailing in the relative non tidal lakes and seas of Europe. You've really got to pay attention to where the current is relative to your bow. You can either pinch or have to foot. Figure this out and your upwinds could be reduced significantly as you make your way around the course.
Ive been lucky enough to get by with a little help from my friends here- lending me a ML7 and north 10.0 while Im back for a few weeks. Thanks guys!
The fleet here has been training for the upcoming SF Classic- billed as the longest running windsurfing long distance race in the world. In the past few years, the kites have joined the formula boards for the full tour of the Bay. So, in preparation, I've been doing some deep long runs and reaching across the Bay- lit up with a 70 cm fin. From the first few sessions of testing, it appears the Finworks PRO formula fins is going quite well both upwind and downwind when lining up against the kashy fins.
It also wouldn't be a summer in San Francisco with out the infamous voodoo chop on the SF Bay. Turbulence (like the south tower of the Golden Gate bridge) or converging tide lines combine to create an amazing array of standing chop, boiling with fury. Getting through this mess is only possible with the help of the chicken and super chicken straps on the Mike's Lab formula boards. It took me a week or so to get back into the groove but once here, sailing in the steep ebb tide and chop feels comfortable again. Of course, just when you get comfortable, windsurfing finds a way to humble you again.
Yesterday evening, I was running the top half of the Classic course coming down from the north tower to the Presidio shoal buoy- sheeting in as much as I could through the boiling water below to keep my speed up. One second lapse in my concentration was all it took to chuck me off and land upside down, hooked in ontop of my rig.
Dazed and confused, I picked myself up and kept going.
Upwind, I've been picking up somethings again I seem to have forgotten while sailing in the relative non tidal lakes and seas of Europe. You've really got to pay attention to where the current is relative to your bow. You can either pinch or have to foot. Figure this out and your upwinds could be reduced significantly as you make your way around the course.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
San Francisco Breeze.....sort of!
The last week has been busy with work and travel back to San Francisco for my quarterly trip back for work. Of course, this time, it was planned around the windy season in SF!
I arrived back to San Francisco last week and within a few hours after the 12 hours flight I found myself under the Golden Gate bridge riding the pacific swell once again.
The winds were strong in the middle of the Bay but getting there was the problem.
Nonetheless, I shlogged out to the windline and got a great session at the bridge with my 6.3 and ml slalom board with the SF kite crew who had their racing canceled that evening.
Ahh it was good to be back!
Friday was much the same as we prepared for a Friday night race at the St. Francis.
The formula crew here was kind enough to lend me some equipment leftover from last season!
But alas, even a 12.0 wasnt enough to get around the course for the twilight series so we headed up top to the bridge where the breeze was- catching some good rides at fort point in 12-18k and a wicked ebb tide.
Saturday brought the CalCup where again, we struggled to get to the course- set just upwind of his Lordships in Berkeley. Once there, however the breeze kicked in good for 4 wound up races. I borrowed a 10.0 Hansen sail form Percy and wow, what a handful! The sail had plenty of power in the breeze despite being pretty flat below the boom. I struggled to find my form again in the breeze but a few races in and I was sparring around the course with the leaders.
Mike Percy managed to sail away with 4 bullets in his home waters, showing good form and tactics in the breeze.
C-Rad was showing some amazing potential with his new line of formula fins.
The local boys have created an evolution of the C3 D series, making the foil softer and more responsive. I was pretty impressed with the angle and speed he was getting with a 68 cm fin in 18-25k. As usual there are a few suspects in the local fleet with some great form and speed.
On Sunday, with the skies ablaze from the recent wildfires, Crissy went off again for another sunset slalom session.
The breeze still had some south in in which made for a bouncy ride on port tack going straight into the chop upwind. Once over on starboard tack though, I had some of the fastest runs all season thinking I couldn't go any faster until I sheeted in, bore off and accelerated even more.
Fear was the only thing stopping me form going faster.
The trend continued into the week and by Wednesday evening I was out for the 5th time in 6 days. Quite a contract from the fickle dutch summer breeze!
I got a chance to try out the new finworks PRO fin this week- the one Fernando used to clean up at the US Nationals 2 weeks ago. My first impression without lining up against anybody was wow- quite a ride off the breeze! Very slippery.
Im anxious to try it out against the fleet here in the next 2-3 weeks while Im back in SF.
Up next, the nose will be against the grindstone for work but hopefully getting out on the water a few days a week after work for some training sessions and then on the 12 and 13th of July is the famed- SF Classic!
I arrived back to San Francisco last week and within a few hours after the 12 hours flight I found myself under the Golden Gate bridge riding the pacific swell once again.
The winds were strong in the middle of the Bay but getting there was the problem.
Nonetheless, I shlogged out to the windline and got a great session at the bridge with my 6.3 and ml slalom board with the SF kite crew who had their racing canceled that evening.
Ahh it was good to be back!
Friday was much the same as we prepared for a Friday night race at the St. Francis.The formula crew here was kind enough to lend me some equipment leftover from last season!
But alas, even a 12.0 wasnt enough to get around the course for the twilight series so we headed up top to the bridge where the breeze was- catching some good rides at fort point in 12-18k and a wicked ebb tide.
Saturday brought the CalCup where again, we struggled to get to the course- set just upwind of his Lordships in Berkeley. Once there, however the breeze kicked in good for 4 wound up races. I borrowed a 10.0 Hansen sail form Percy and wow, what a handful! The sail had plenty of power in the breeze despite being pretty flat below the boom. I struggled to find my form again in the breeze but a few races in and I was sparring around the course with the leaders.
Mike Percy managed to sail away with 4 bullets in his home waters, showing good form and tactics in the breeze.
C-Rad was showing some amazing potential with his new line of formula fins.
The local boys have created an evolution of the C3 D series, making the foil softer and more responsive. I was pretty impressed with the angle and speed he was getting with a 68 cm fin in 18-25k. As usual there are a few suspects in the local fleet with some great form and speed.
On Sunday, with the skies ablaze from the recent wildfires, Crissy went off again for another sunset slalom session.
The breeze still had some south in in which made for a bouncy ride on port tack going straight into the chop upwind. Once over on starboard tack though, I had some of the fastest runs all season thinking I couldn't go any faster until I sheeted in, bore off and accelerated even more.
Fear was the only thing stopping me form going faster.
The trend continued into the week and by Wednesday evening I was out for the 5th time in 6 days. Quite a contract from the fickle dutch summer breeze!
I got a chance to try out the new finworks PRO fin this week- the one Fernando used to clean up at the US Nationals 2 weeks ago. My first impression without lining up against anybody was wow- quite a ride off the breeze! Very slippery.
Im anxious to try it out against the fleet here in the next 2-3 weeks while Im back in SF.
Up next, the nose will be against the grindstone for work but hopefully getting out on the water a few days a week after work for some training sessions and then on the 12 and 13th of July is the famed- SF Classic!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Regio Cup
The latest edition of the Dutch Regio Cup series went down in Tjeukemeer in the north of Holland last Sunday. With a fleet of 27 formula boards and just enough wind to get going...for a while and then stop...and then get going...and then, well you get the picture....classic lake conditions.
The wind was a side shore 8-10k breeze and with the flat water, it was perfect conditions for the north 11.8 and lightiwind IFJU fin. Unfortunately a lot of 2-3 knot holes as well and like always when you are racing next to a shore line, there is normally a shift off the land.
I was finally able to get a clean lane off the starting line and climb well in the first race of the day. The guys on the inside were gaining some on the lift but at the top mark I rounded 3rd and was flying off the breeze. At the leeward mark, the RC called the fleet back to restart as half of the fleet was stuck in a hole near the shore. Good practice nonetheless.
We repeated the scenario several times without much luck at completing a race and finally with a break ashore, the RC decided to run a fun race instead.
Although racing in these conditions is a lottery of sort, it takes a lot of skill to work each puff and climb your way back through the fleet if you get hosed.
Its really important to keep your head looking around in these conditions and stay in the breeze.
In most of the abandoned races, the lead changed several times but consistently the leaders took advantage of every opportunity. You can never count yourself out as usually there is always another chance to gain a position in the fleet.
Enjoy the photos:
The wind was a side shore 8-10k breeze and with the flat water, it was perfect conditions for the north 11.8 and lightiwind IFJU fin. Unfortunately a lot of 2-3 knot holes as well and like always when you are racing next to a shore line, there is normally a shift off the land.I was finally able to get a clean lane off the starting line and climb well in the first race of the day. The guys on the inside were gaining some on the lift but at the top mark I rounded 3rd and was flying off the breeze. At the leeward mark, the RC called the fleet back to restart as half of the fleet was stuck in a hole near the shore. Good practice nonetheless.
We repeated the scenario several times without much luck at completing a race and finally with a break ashore, the RC decided to run a fun race instead.
Although racing in these conditions is a lottery of sort, it takes a lot of skill to work each puff and climb your way back through the fleet if you get hosed.
Its really important to keep your head looking around in these conditions and stay in the breeze.
In most of the abandoned races, the lead changed several times but consistently the leaders took advantage of every opportunity. You can never count yourself out as usually there is always another chance to gain a position in the fleet.
Enjoy the photos:
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Sopot Formula Grand Prix Day 4 evening update
With the seabreeze failing to arrive by the 5 pm deadline, the 2nd leg of the Formula Grand Prix Tour has ended. The fleet waited on the beach all day but the wind never got about 5-6 knots.
The rankings stand of the last race yesterday.
Racers are packing up now with some going home, other going to the next PWA event in Costa Brava but most will return next month for the Polish Championships and European Championships which are back to back.
Enjoy the photos from the last day.
The rankings stand of the last race yesterday.
Racers are packing up now with some going home, other going to the next PWA event in Costa Brava but most will return next month for the Polish Championships and European Championships which are back to back.
Enjoy the photos from the last day.
Sopot Formula Grand Prix Day 4 morning update
We finally hit the water for the first race on Friday at 4pm. The breeze was still a light 8-10knots with holes and big shifts around the course. The steep short waves sets were also making it really hard to keep going upwind. I found you needed a very powerful set up- booms high, tack strap pulled tight, and most importantly easing off on the downhaul by 1-2cm. None of this, though, helped me get off the starting line in either races today.
The key it seems - is to get a good running approach with no chance of even falling off a plane.
Seems obvious but trying to do that with 60 other boards in a marginal winds and chop is easier said than done. The guys in front are doing an amazing job to stay in clear air and keep their speed going.
In both races there were big shifts and major holes near the beach on the left side of the course. It made it a gamble either way and some sailors were left sanding for minutes without wind. No redress in the world would even help these sailors out!
The fleet was really spread out and by the time I got going off the line the first half of the fleet was gone. It was playing catch up from there and trying to pick off a few boards every leg.
I switched to the lightwind IFJU fin today with some good results upwind. In the clear breeze, I was able to climb well but when stuck rounding behind the parade at the leeward mark- no fin is going to help you out. I had to go for speed and footed with good speed to the corner.
We waited around after the 2nd race for another 20 minutes before the RC send the fleet back ashore around 6:00 pm.
Up in front it's s till Steve Allen, Gonzolo Costel Hovel and Jesper Vesterstrom fighting it out for the top positions.
Results here
Photos here
Today is the final day and the breeze is supposed to come- maybe not in time as the last possible start is at 5 pm. You can follow the live ticker at the formula class windsurfing web site
Friday, June 6, 2008
Sopot Formula Grand Prix Day 3
Currently we are on postponement as the seabreeze has failed to develop at 2pm.
Allision Shreeve gave a presentation on the new Formula Windsurfing One Design Format.
It's up to sailors now to convince the representatives to vote favorably at the ISAF November meeting.
As for me, I think the new class could fit in well in the existing Formula class but at the Olympics in 2012 do I want to be sailing on a rig that was designed 5 years ago?
Formula has worked so well because of the innovation and development in the class. Having Olympic class status is a doubled edged sword: you've got to abide by the ISAF regulations such as having one rig to work in 6-25 knots. Thats always proved to be a compromise compared to the Formula class where you can have up to 3 rigs that can match each sailors weight and wind range.
Allision Shreeve gave a presentation on the new Formula Windsurfing One Design Format.
It's up to sailors now to convince the representatives to vote favorably at the ISAF November meeting.
As for me, I think the new class could fit in well in the existing Formula class but at the Olympics in 2012 do I want to be sailing on a rig that was designed 5 years ago?
Formula has worked so well because of the innovation and development in the class. Having Olympic class status is a doubled edged sword: you've got to abide by the ISAF regulations such as having one rig to work in 6-25 knots. Thats always proved to be a compromise compared to the Formula class where you can have up to 3 rigs that can match each sailors weight and wind range.
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