ELVSTROM ZELLERBACH REGATTA DAY 2

With a slightly downgraded forecast from Saturday, it looked like the first decision of the day would be what rig for Sunday's 4 course races on the infamous SF city front.
I stood at the sea wall with 20 minutes before the 1st start with both 10.7 and 10.0 rigs ready to go. Without looking at what the rest of the fleet was doing (mistake 1), I choose the 10.0 (mistake 2)- thinking the breeze would be up sooner than later. But as always, you need to choose for whats happening now!
For the 1st 3 races I was really underpowered on the 10.0 in the critical spots and couldnt quite get that extra boost of speed or power when I really needed it but as soon as the breeze came up for the 4th race- I had everything dialed in!
Sunday's first race caught a few of the formula fleet by surprise as the boards were the first to start @ 12:30 and a few were late for the start. I had a few dramas of my own- just getting to the starting line as my upahaul came untied on the way down the the course. A few moments in the water, tying things back together and I finally found myself getting to the line with the sequence already started.
Not realizing the extent of the flood tide, I lined up for a normal run at the line but realized I could only make the pin end. I was doomed from the start as everything was looking the same as yesterday with the boards winning the boat end getting the jump from the start and the inside lift at the seawall after the first tack.
More often the none, the opening moves of the game, play a huge part in winning or loosing a race. Preparation is key. Had I gotten on the water earlier with the proper equipment, these 2 negatives could have been easily turned into something positive. Instead I found myself underpowered and behind a the start. A difficult scenario to overcome- especially having to sail in the leaders bad air the next 2 upwind legs. I tried some more high risk moves towards the end of the race to get a bigger reward but instead almost lost 4th place as Jean was motoring well from behind. CRad withdrew himself as he failed to round the offset mark after getting dunked on his rounding. In situations like this, you take any points you can get! Happy to salvage 4th.
In front, Xavier scored another bullet with Soheil and Al following closely behind.

The next 2 race saw similar conditions on the course with a variable 14-18k and strong flood tide. The 4 other dinghy fleets were now, at any point scattered around the course, making laylines, finding clear air and mark roundings- a more difficult challenge. On top of it all, there were plenty of weeds around the course making the decision to back down and clear your foils another variable in the game.
In general, sticking to shore and out of the stronger flood tide was the way to go upwind (as all the dinghies were tacking at the tide line and working their way up the city front) but as always the formula boards are better off banging a corner to keep their VMG to a maximum. Banging the left corner was not an option with the shore limited things. As it turned out, you had to almost bang the right side in order not to get to the shore too early and miss the port layline. A few people found this out the hard way and some big gains could be made on the final approach at the top of the triangle.
With his 11.0, Eric was able to close the gap on me with securing 2 more 2nds and by the last race we were tied. Xavier again took the bullets in race 6 and 7.

With the wind now in the md 20's and gusting up to 30, it was a different story.
Mental block off.
Everything was set up to work perfecly for the 10.0.
Getting the inside lift off the wall wasn't as critical as lining yourself up for a long port tack beat up the course. I got my lane and was off with CRad and the fleet just behind and to windward.
As we approached the middle of the Bay, and the chop became a more significant factor, I felt myself pulling away with better speed. I was able to keep the hammer down for longer and grunt my way to the windward mark just behind Xavier.
Control was the name of the game here with some wicked swell, voodoo chop, SF ferry traffic, the dinghy fleets and some rec sailors cruising back and forth. I pushed it hard in the double chicken strap matching Xavier line and gybed on his line to the bottom mark. At this point, things were so chaotic, I found myself in far leeward strap- straddling the board with a 4' wide stance going deep right towards the mark.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Xavier go down hard.
I rounded the bottom gate and made my way toward the wall and it wasn't before I tacked till the next boards went around the gate.
I had established myself a good lead and now just needed to protect it.
Upwind things were really hairy in the chop with the gust in the high 20's. I kept things managed well and began the last downwind with still a good lead.
That was until I pearled the front of my board into the back of some wicked chop.
I quickly recovered and was uphauling but again my uphaul knot slipped from the boom and I was back in the water- trying to tie the thing back on. What seemed like eternity, was enough to let Xavier, Chris and Al all pass me until I managed to salvage 4th just in front of Eric and secure 2nd place for the series.
Lucky to say the least but some great lessons learned in this race.
Always protect your lead even if it means sailing more conservatively.
Nothing counts until you cross the finish line!
Not having my equipment prepared is something totally preventable.
Next time, that uphaul is going to be secured with a square knot with 2 stoppers at the end.
Enough said...

A huge congrats to Xavier Ferlet GBR- 451 for taking 6/7 bullets and challenging our fleet.
Its always a real benefit to sail with someone faster than you- keeping you on your toes and making you question everything. Without a doubt, we'll be faster next time!
Also a big shout out to the St. Francis YC and their 20+ volunteers for managing the 65 boat circle with out any incidents.
The best race management out there- thank you
Photos Credit: Eric Simpson
Results
Waterhound Report

ELVSTROM ZELLERBACH REGATTA DAY 1

Day 1 of the Elevstrom /Zellerbach regatta at the St Francis saw the formula fleet waiting ashore as the dinghies made their way around the double windward leeward course in the light breeze. Finally at 1 pm with the breeze up to 10-15k and most of the fleet on their 10.0's in expectation of the building breeze, race 1 started with Xavier Felet taking the lead after the first tack. I managed to keep in tow until we got too far to the right and into the flood. I noticed Eric had tacked back early and was working the shore where the flood tide was less brutal. I tacked but Xavier was quick to follow and soon overtook me with just a bit better speed. As it happen, we both got the advantage over Eric as his port tack approach to the windward mark left him just shy of the mark and he had to double tack. Xavier took a commanding lead and never looked back despite some pressure and local tactics from me.
Race 2 saw similar conditions with Xavier in front and me just behind leading the rest of the pack. Off the breeze, we both overstood the bottom mark and let the fleet catch up. This time I didnt let the pressure off and waited for Xavier to make any mistake so that I could capitalize on it. On the final downwind run, it looked like Xavier was overstanding the bottom mark again so this time, I gybed for the finish with my line just barely making the finish boat. I stayed out of the harness, digging deep and pumping the sail to go as deep as I could and managed to get the bullet!
That's more like it!
Race 3 saw the breeze up to 18-22k with building chop. I made my approach to the starting line making sure I had speed but this time pulled the trigger a few seconds early and was OSC. I quickly gybed around and restarted on port tack committing myself right side while the rest of the fleet- except for Soheil made the way to the shore. I rounded just behind the pack with the Xavier, Soheil, Al. Tom and Chris all getting the jump downwind. Slowly over the next 3 legs I was able to pick all but 2 of them off with some better tactics around the course. Downwind, I picked up 1 board by calling a better layline. Upwind, I got another by heading the right side with more pressure and hiking hard and gaining on the boards to leeward. Finally at the windward mark, I was able to play my cards just right and squeeze off Eric with a fast rounding as he tacked at the mark while my port tack approach got me out of there quickly. With 1 last leg to go, I knew I had better speed and was catching up with Al but didn't quite have enough time to move into 2nd.
So it stands after 3 races, Xavier sits in front with 4 points, myself in 3nd with 6 points and Eric closely behind with 10.
Sundays breeze looks lighter and hopefully a chance to mix it up again.
Full Results
Waterhound Report
Thanks to Eric Simpson for the photos- check out his gallery @ pressure-drop.us

Friday Night racing @StFYC

Round 2 of the Friday night series @ the St Francis Yacht Club kicked off with a solid 20-30k.
After 5 days of not sailing, it was a viscous welcome back with a steep ebb tide and strong fleet. With almost a 3 year hiatus from formula windsurfing, now SF local, Seth Besse managed a perfect night with 5 bullets while I held onto 2nd just in front of Al Mirel.

Friday Night Formula Windsurfing at the St FYC 4-30-2010 from David Wells on Vimeo.

As the winds tapered off, it looked like things might get easier but random puffs and 30 degree shifts kept everyone on their toes until the final 5th race.
Normally I like to get my kit dialed in before I start to race it but I made the decision to run the new north 10.0 with only 1 day of training on it. I wasnt quite able to find the speed off the line as the juniors made a habit of parking right in front of me with 10 seconds to go. Sometimes racing is more about getting out of your own way than getting around in front of others. Nonetheless, I had to dig deep to claw my way back through the fleet and salvage the night.
Race 1 say Seth and I battle it it till the last tack and cross the finish within a board length of each other. In short sprint like races, like the Friday night series, every little thing counts...speed, angle, laylines. No room for any mistakes!
Race 2 and 3 saw similar conditions but Soheil got the jump and pressured Seth till the finish while I made some comeback moves to cross just in front of Al for 3rd in both races.
As the wind decreased in strength, it became apparent that a good lane off the line was essential but I still managed to find room for operator error and didn't quite pull the trigger in time. Somehow, despite double tacking the windward mark, I still managed a 3rd with some smart sailing and good tactics. Still in front Seth scored another bullet with Al in tow for 2nd.

Thanks to Arnaud for the video
In the 5th and final race, things lightened up significantly to where there where holes all around the course with the random puff pushing or pulling sailors from the lead to DFL in the course of 1 leg. I didnt quite get my head wrapped around things and used the final race for my throwout to finish the evening in 2nd.
Overall- consistent but room for improvement as I made some critical mistakes at the starts that set me back significantly.
Results

1st CalCup of 2010

Things looked sour from the beginning with a 5-15k forecast.
We met at Crissy Field Saturday morning hoping to sail down to Berkeley for the Calcup but with the wind not even filled in, we hopped back in our vans and made the trip over the Bay Bridge just in time for the skippers meeting.
More waiting at "pebble beach" untill the wind finally came down the Bay and filled in the Berkeley circle.

Thanks to waterhound for the photo

Next challenge was the launch.
With an unusually low tide, and 70 cm fins, we had to carry our gear through the muddy flats out a few hundred meters past the dock to get into waist deep water.
I took a few practice runs with Mike Z to get a feel for my speed and angle as I hadnt lined up with him since last season.
Angle- good
Speed- good
Lets get racing!
With a double windward leeward course set in 1o-15k, it looked like it would be a battle for clear air. I choose to start at mid to pin end of the line for clear air as I knew this would be a parade with not many tactical options with the Berkeley pier on the right hand side of the course limiting the right side upwind. I got off the line clean and managed to get out to the port layline but a few guys including Mike Z, Soheil and Sylvester all got a nice lift under me on port tack and rounded in front. Off the wind, it was a race to the pier- literally seeing who could get the closest to gybe and still make it out alive with an array of angry fishermen and their cast lines cursing at us.
I dug extra deep and stayed out of the harness in order to round the leeward mark in 1 gybe while a few others had to make a double gybe as things got light at the bottom end of the course.
Back upwind for lap 2.
With a required pass through the finish gate, I was able to call the layline before Mike Z and Soheil and jumped into the lead although overstanding the top mark I let Soheil briefly back into the hunt. As we both came into the windward mark on starboard for a starboard tack rounding and Soheil just a head and to leeward, I called for room knowing that if he'd tack right at the mark, he would leave me with no options. Gracefully, Soheil obliged and left room for me to tack.
Downwind for another leg- this time not getting to close to the pier and the angry fisherman. I rounded the leeward mark in 1st but had Soheil hunting me down with some really good angle. As I tacked for the final beat to the finish I saw Soheil go down in a tack and crossed the line, taking the first bullet of the series with Mike Z, Sylvester and Soheil rounding out the top 4.
Race 2 saw similar conditions with the same scenario.
This time it was Eric in front with with a great start at the boat and Mike Z and newcomer Xavier from GBR trailing behind.
I made the same option to go as deep as I could on the downwind to the pier and caught Mike Z on the 2nd lap but Xavier put the kabosh on any tactical rounding at the leeward mark by shutting the door completely. I tried to foot for speed below him but not enough time to get by him before the finish.
Race 3 started but ended quickly as the wind died and left us all spewed across the course. I knew things were bad when I led Mike Z and Xavier to the left corner and the guys who we squeezed off right at the start came blazing back from the right side. I was running out of options on lap 1 and decided to take a gybe away from the fleet to try to gain anything. Sometimes when you're deep it pays to take risk. This time I ended up in the same spot I started- right behind Mike Z. Slowly on the next upwind I was able to get some leverage and climb on him in the light air but at the top mark we all stopped planning and the RC put up the abandoned race flag.
Game over.
With a 1-3, it was enough to take the first Calcup but more importantly- give me some extra confidence knowing Ive got the right gear. The NP 10.7 is working very well with the ML 10 and Z fin. Ive finally got upwind angle this year and speed at the starts to give me more options.

Thanks to Mike Percy and his crew for running a great series- more @ calcupevents.com
Always great to see new juniors involved- especially with the calcup lending library.
If you want to race but dont have gear- check the lending library out!

Season opener

The 2010 Racing season opened up last night with the first Friday Night Series at the St. Francis Yacht Club. The fleet of 13 local sailors only had the chance to sail 2 races in the dying breeze before the 3rd race was abandoned.
The RC kept the racers on their toes with the first start being recalled as most of the fleet was over early with the ebb tide. After a quick turnaround, we started again.
This time, I went for the breeze- shooting down the line and out at the pin with speed. I got a good jump on the fleet and was first to call the layline at the top mark. Eric tacked below me, taking advantage of the ebb and squeezing in at Anita just behind me. We gybed and headed outside to the breeze. Thinking I had the layline for the leeward mark I gybed again but really had to work deep to get to the mark while Eric came in a little hotter with better angle. Knowing my rounding would be weak at best, I tried to close the door on Eric behind me but he found a hole and we both began to grind upwind on the last leg to the finish.
I had the better angle and was able to squeeze him out and forced him to tack. Meanwhile Soheil sneaked up into 2nd while I got the bullet in race 1 and Eric taking 3rd.
Just behind the top pack was the rest of the feet fighting it out with the likes of Al Mirel, Tom Purcell and Marion Lepart trying for the top 5.
Thanks to Arnaud for the video
Race 2 saw similar conditions with a 10-15k SW breeze. The puffs were coming down randomly on the inside and incredibly shifty. I opted again for a mid line to pin start to get clear air. I was the first to tack and had Soheil to battle with as we worked our way towards Anita Rock. Luckily with some new technique Ive been using, Ive found some better angle in critical situations like this. By holding the uphaul with your front hand, you can effectively stand the rig up and add more power and increase your upwind angle. Its a hard technique to master (with only 1 hand on the boom)but once you get the hang of it, changing your angle of attack with the leading edge of the sail becomes a lot easier.
As we worked our way downwind, I made sure not to repeat the same mistake that caused me a slow rounding at the leeward mark. This time, I let Soheil gybe first and I came in hot with better speed and sailed below and past him to take control of the last leg. As we made our way towards the seawall we got knocked and knocked again on the new tack. Thinking I only had Soheil to cover to the finish, Eric was able to one tack it up to the finish (in a completely different breeze) to take the bullet. The lesson here is to always keep your eyes on your opponents. Had I known Eric had even a remote chance of squeezing in, I would have pushed harder to make the finish in 1 tack but sometimes being in the right place at the right time is all you need- as was the case for Eric.
Race 3 started with hardly enough breeze to make it across the line and only the top 3 sailors escaping. I had to tack back to starboard and was well behind at this point. I opted to take a bigger risk and sail well beyond the layline as things looked really light up at Anita. Eric rounded in front with Al and Chris just ahead of me. As we worked our way downwind, I slowly began reeling in Al and Chris but the race got abandoned and we all headed in.
With a 1-2 for the evening, I took the first race of the series with Eric and Soheil pushing hard in the top 3. It looks like the NP sails have a bit of a early advantage this year but the north guys havnt got their new sails in yet. I was happily surprised with the performance of the NP 10.7 and even more surprised how Soheil (on the same set up) improved his standings from mid fleet to pushing the top. Most of the fleet is already on their L10s with a few guys still waiting and riding their L8s. The Z fin I was using had great speed and even better angle- something I'm hoping to improve on this season.
Results
Photos from Shawn Davis
Waterhound report

Mid week special

It was the midweek special at Ft Point yesterday.

Between the sideways sets of rain, the sky opened up for some great sunshine and breeze in the late afternoon. Just as everyone was packing up, I hit the water with the 10.7/Ml-10 in a building 10-15k gusty breeze.

A few laps between Anita and StFYC to get everything adjusted and then up to Ft Point.

As I worked my way upwind, the gusts were much strong coming off the Presidio: 20k+ but the swell was pumping through the slot and drawing me closer.

I lowered my boom another 1" for more control

1 tack under the mid span and I had my first run in from the red nun.

The ebb was like a river of current 4-5k rushing outbound beneath my board

The swell quickly jacked up and I found myself riding the biggest swell I had ever caught.

I looked over my shoulder to see a 15-20' face breaking next to me as I accelerate down the swells' face, rushing through the gate.

As my back foot pushed deeper into the chicken strap, the 100cm wide board drove deeper down the face. The 10.7 was fully lit propelling me forward as the ebb tide pulled me out.

One gybe was all I had before I had to bail as the wave continued into the leeward shadow of Ft. Point- a definite no go zone with race gear!

I managed a few more rides that day but heeded caution and didn't error on the side of greed- after all its still early in the season and my gear is still in 1 piece

0_O

2010 Formula Worlds..it's on!

Some preliminary reports form the first day of racing at the formula windsurfing world championships in Mendoza, Argentina.
Sadly watching the event from afar this year but with interest.
With less than 6 months from last years worlds in Spain, there are no less than 10 new boards and 4-5 sail brands with updated rigs. Micah and Antoine are back in the mix with most of the pros in attendance, a strong south american contingent and several french and dutch sailors.
Internet connection looks to be very limited on site but here are several links:

Official site:http://www.formulawindsurfing.org

USA34 http://twitter.com/micahbuzianis
USA3 http://farrahhall.blogspot.com/
NED13: http://www.dennislittel.com/
BEL29 http://surfforum.be/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=51130&start=90
French updates: http://www.teamfunboard.com/
http://twitter.com/teamfunboard
FRA730 http://www.yoannfleury.com/

Day 1's results are mixed as the wind looked very unstable with sailors desperately changing between their biggest (12m) and smallest rigs (10m) to save face.
Paulo BRA3333 looks in control in the breeze while it may be anyone's game in the light stuff.
Last years champ, Steve Allen is sailing consistent with a 1,3 and sitting atop after day 1.

the voodoo chop test

Yesterdays session was one of those rare winter delights where wind, water, sun and moon all combined for a long overdue mid winter session. As I rigged my 10.0 and ML10, I saw the wind was already up to the upper teens and building + the flood was coming in strong.

Anybody who's ever sailed in the San Francisco Bay knows about the converging currents. Sometimes the transition from the incoming ebb and outgoing flood is subtle. Other times, its a washing machine of furious boiling water- otherwise known as voodoo chop.

This session would be all about how the new board handled in big voodoo chop.
I had a few worries as the board is much bigger this year compared to any earlier ML formula board. The ML10 measures 85 cm wide 1' foot off the tail.
I lined up to go through the incoming flood tide- a vicious wall of water with square chop 2-3' high. Both upwind and downwind, the ML10 performed really well- spinning out just once.
The chicken and double strap are lifesavers for taking the pressure off the fin while still driving the board deep downwind.
Upwind, if you can keep everything locked down and the board driving and just flies right over the chop.
I never felt too overpowered with the 67 kashy fin and base set at 45" with the gust @22-25k
I did move the booms down later in the session for a bit more control- which helped in the bigger stuff.
Overall- very comfortable ride- even in the roughest of conditions the SF Bay had to offer.


Meanwhile up at Fort Point, at the mouth of the Bay, the sets were firing with the big swell that's been rolling in all winter.
Thanks to the horse's mouth for the surfing photo of the day

2010 equipment review...first glance

Hard to read much from this regatta given the circumstances but...
The JP/ML10 looks to need a bit of fine tuning to get up to speed. I was on the L8 for the race and seemed to have a slight edge on Ron on his new JP. Off the wind he was deeper. Micah had an (obvious) edge on both of us and at most times was pushing BRA999 and BRA3333 in front.
Fernando was on the on the north proto on day 3 going much faster than the 09 norths.
Both he and BRA3333 made the PD board look easy in the light stuff.
Paulo's 2010 north warps looked very powerful and lighter with one less batten in the formula sails this year and finally a roller cam for the bottom batten!
Micah's NP proto was a cross between the evo2 & gaastra instant clew- very clean trailing edge!
I sailed the NP 10.7 evo 2 on Day 1 when the breeze was up to the low-mid 20's with great results. Lots of range, easy to handle, great acceleration and speed. As the wind died in race 2 to under 12k, the 10.7 lacked the power of the 12.3 which I used for the remaining races- all under 14k
Most of the fleet are still using kashy and ifju fins with the wider cut down fins (75cm+) working best in the light breeze.
The new NP boom looks well refined with a full carbon head and wide tail.
2 guys on the *BD HWR stating much improvements from prev. editions and looked faster in the light breeze.

Update: Here's a video of the JP Formula Board in action:

JP Formula 100 Pro from Sebastian Kornum on Vimeo.

The ML10 has the same recessed deck at the mast foot and looks to be 1-1/2 kg lighter despite Mike Z using more glass in is boards vs the full carbon construction of the JP board.
The recessed deck looks to be great for pulling the board around with your front foot at a tack- as shown in the video above.
The double chicken strap should make going downwind in any breeze relatively easy to unload the fin.
I think the biggest variable will be with finding the right mast tract position in relation to your sail and fin size.

Jesper Vesterstrøm (DEN-111) has also put up a review of new starboard boards at carbonsugar.com
Keep an eye on the upcoming Oceanics and Midwinters for more info how the 2010 boards perform.

Caviliga Regatta Day 3

Things didn't look too promising on day 3 with the forecast for getting another race in and drop for the series but somehow a few sailors managed to make it around the course with out an abandonment flag by the RC.
Conditions were sketch at best with an offshore shifty and variable breeze. Just like Saturday we were overlapped with several other fleets running a course in the same waters on the Biscayne Bay. With the windward mark set close to shore, it was anybody's guess on how to best get there. The top boards planned off the line leaving the rest of the fleet parked.
Both left and right corners failed miserably and patience was the name of the game to get upwind with such wide upwind reaching angles. BRA3333 set the pace on his custom north 12.0 and new PD formula board with some blazing speed and angle keeping a commanding lead the entire race with local Fernando Martinez on north and PD board keeping pace just behind.
By the time I rounded the top mark I was deep and took off in the opposite corner as the fleet ahead and by the bottom mark was rounding comfortably in 3rd as the right side sat parked.
The lesson is never give up.
Soon enough on the 2nd upwind Micah was back and tacked in front of me at what was the port layline.
As another puff approached we split tacks and I headed even deep to the left corner, overstanding the top mark by miles and coming back to round planing as the USA34, BRA999 and K all sat parked on the right side.
I held on to 3rd but with Fernando finishing in 2nd he got the last laugh to get me by 1 point in the overall. Schurman and Micah both got their drops with the fifth and final race and closed out the top 3.Best performance goes toBRA3333 Paulo Des Reis with 3 bullets never out of the top 2.
Impressive. The new Norths looks like they've got lots of power again.
Also it was great to see a Micah back in the fleet with the new JP board and some innovative sail changes from NP.

As always, a huge thanks to the Shake A Leg Sailing Center in Miami and the Alex Caviliga Blue Water Foundation for a great regatta. It was great to see the other classes actively represented as well with a strong junior 293 , kona and rsx fleets.
Results can be found here