"Windsurfing News"                                       2008 Calendar 

2008 CITGO US Wind & Water Open Presented by the Corpus Christi Caller Times May 9-11, 2008
Gonzalo ( ARG-3) is leading the first day of competion                        05-06-08

Final day...
13:41 so the top five here in Sines Formula: ARG 3; AUS0, DEN111, BRA999 (first light) POL16.. first master-ITA415; first youth GBR32
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13:24 that is thelast race for formula . one hour on the beach - then into slalom. Gonzalo Costa Hoevel (ARG3) wins the first world tour event ,here at the Sines-Portugal Grand Prix.

13:22 at the finish - BRA999,AUS0, ITA456, POL11, POL10... something happened to gonzalo!

13:18 at second windward -POL10,ARG3,AUS0,ITA456

09:12 after 1 lap- big lead for ARG3, ...AUS0, POL10, BRA999

13:09 atfirst windward -ARG3, POL10, DEN111,
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26 competitors have registered -from10 countries representing 3 continents.The fleet may not be big - but it is a quality fleet ; competition will be fierce to ensure a good start to this new world series.  9 of the current top ten tanked sailors are here .  here for today's results

Bringdal on the canal ?
 
Hot news just in and still to be confirmed in the next few months, that Swedish star Anders Bringdal could well feature as part of the next Masters of Speed 2008/2009 !!!
AndersBringdalcanal(1) A windsurfer who needs no introduction, Bringdal is one of the heavyweights of speed sailing along with Antoine Albeau, Finian Maynard and Bjorn Dunkerbeck and is a good contender for beating the 50 knot barrier...
S-10 has apparently already approached the organisers to understand how their competition functions, and there's no doubt at all that he would know how to tune and prepare his Naish Sails sails, seeing as he's already heavily involved in their development, along with their famous AB+ boards !         source :     windsurfjournal.com

WORTHINGTON, Minn. - Some famous windsurfers are expected to visit southwestern Minnesota this summer for the U.S. Windsurfing National Championships. Worthington will host the championships June 11-15. It will go along with the city's annual Windsurfing Regatta and Unvarnished Music Festival. Worthington also hosted the national championships in 2003. Regatta Race Director Jeff Hegwer says the event will be one of the biggest windsurfing events in the nation this year. In other years, Worthington has been part of the U.S. Windsurfing National Race Tour. Races are held on Lake Okabena.

Robert’s return

When you know a little about the man you can tell that Robert Teriitehau is starving for some action after 4 days on the car park at Gruissan during the Defi (no)Wind… Up for it and totally enthusiastic on his return to competition, F-2000 has actually been quite reticent regarding his proposed schedule "post-Gruissan". However, after a weekend spent on the phone and internet we can tell you exactly what he’s up to. Robert Teriitehau is likely part of the fun over in Ulsan, South Korea, from 12th to 17th May coming for the opening PWA slalom round of the year !!!

DefiWind1(1)    Some extra NeilPryde RS:Racing sails should be filling up his quiver in the next few days and, if all goes to plan, he’ll be there on the slalom start line on the 12th… Let’s hope he doesn’t get a last minute better offer from www.windsurfjournal.com

Windsurfing has been an Olympic sport since the LA games in 1984 when Stephan Van Den Bergh won the Gold medal on a Windglider.
At that time the participants were not allowed to use a harness or to pump the rig. Since then things have changed step by step and Olympic windsurfing is catching up with the sport of windsurfing.  here for more

Wed. Nite  April 30th Movie Star debuts as Rig Caddy! Fernando has a kid!!!
That’s right, besides good racing again in full planning conditions, the excitement of the evening was The Movie Star debuting as Jim DeSilva’s Rig Caddy! Jim, out on his new F2 FXVI had the benefit of the    here for more
Charles Ivey is again teaming up with the Abilene Sailing Association this weekend, May 3-4, to put on the 2008 Abilene Festival Races. As is tradition, sailors of all disciplines have been invited to compete on Lake Fort Phantom. West Texas winds are predicted to be in the teens where top Texas sailors will be arriving Friday with their Formula gear. Local talent will include Pieter Botha and Todd Selby. North Texas Wind Riders' Ken
Merten and Mike Bland will be among those coming from the Dallas area and Austin Windsurfing's Brian Shepherd, Tim Marvin and "Fast Guy" Miller from the Hill Country.

Darran Rolls is out due to a highly contested mis-hap with Brian on Lake Travis. Rumor has it that Jon Jay Ernst has bailed out of Corpus Christi's Screamin Reach to make the drive from Houston to Abilene. If it is like last year's event, there will be no shame if smokin' hot girls from Texas and abroad cross the finish line up front. See you on
the starting line.         KIRK SIMMONS   TXN

DEFI  WIND         day-1              Here we are in Gruissan, France for the biggest windsurfing event in the world and with exactly 800 riders !
After registration this morning, the first skippers meeting is planed at 3:00 pm... Forecast is not very good for this first day of competition but all is possible here in Gruissan with the famous Tramontane !!!  more at www.windsurfjournal.com

Victory!
San Francisco Intl Airport almost killed windsurfing and kiting in south San Francisco Bay. We were windsurfers at heart, but we spoke out as scientists, lawyers, airline pilots, government regulators, real estate developers, frequent flyers, and commuters to fight SFO's colossal 10 billion dollar project. Big news on SFO airport's attempt to construct  unnecessary new runways into SF Bay -- which would have wiped out Coyote Point and most likely 3rd Avenue too*. A decade of blood, sweat, and tears.
http://forums.iwindsurf.com/viewtopic.php?t=14538
*The popular Third Avenue launch would most likely have been wiped out as well due to massive silting of the shoreline, and a likely 20 year ban on watersports due to constantly moving construction barges throughout the entire area and the massive dredging up of toxic elements from deep in the Bay mud.
George
Board Member, SFBA
Hyeres, FRANCE 2008 by: FARRAH HALL

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Day 1: Today marked the first day of my third French Olympic Week. This regatta always has a few surprises as far as conditions go, and this year proved to be no exception. When I got here about a week ago, the mistral wind was blowing 30 knots offshore. For the next few days, I was training with the Polish team in very windy conditions. We had one day of mistral wind and two days of onshore frontal breeze 20-25 knots, combined with some torrential rain. The day before racing, the wind was very light and we finally got a respite from the rain. Last year, we saw the same kind of onshore (southwest) wind and rain right up until the regatta, when it was five knots and sunny the whole time. So conditions around here are variable, but this week is forecasted to be very windy.  The racing opened up in about 15 knots of wind, which quickly built to 20 while rain clouds blew through. There are about 60 girls competing in this regatta and we make up one fleet. Before the committee started the girls, we had to wait about 45 minutes for them to move the start line, which was dragging downwind. The first race I had a great start and was in the front 1/3 of the fleet, dropping a bit as the race progressed and the breeze built  HERE FOR MORE

Peter Ifju Interview  by Rick Randall

 After the Windfest, I sat down with Peter to find out more about the man who has really come on strong in the Florida Formula scene in the last year.  And to get some of the scoop on his secret weapons!

 

Rick Randall:  So Peter, tell me about the first time you learned to windsurf.....

 Peter Ifju:  It was back in.............1986, in Blacksburg, Virginia on a really small lake while I was a graduate student at Virginia Tech. 

RR:  Wow, Blacksburg!  It must have been a small lake!  When did you get your first board?

 PI:  Right after that, it was a Tyronsee 10.5 plastic board with a Neil Pryde sail.  I sailed it a lot on the New River in Virginia, on a place between a class 2 and class 3 rapids.  Sometimes I would sail it in the rapids, hitting the rocks with the plastic fin! here for more

Formula Tip of the Week :   Steve Sylvester  

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# 13------------------------------------       Sail size - efficiency
 
I’ve found that the smallest sail you can use that still generates enough power to keep you moving downwind at a good VMG is the best  choice. Often before a race, I’ll go out and test conditions to see if  the sail I’m thinking about is close to the right size. I’ll go upwind  for a bit and if that feels good, I’ll turn off and go downwind. If I’m  still reasonably powered and think the conditions for the race aren’t   likely change, I’ll stay with that size. If I’m feeling over powered or  under powered off the breeze and again don’t think the wind will change  appreciably I’ll get on a smaller or larger size respectively. But since  I’m not a heavy person (I’m around 155 lbs.) when I make the final   choice of a sail for a race, I tend to stay with the smallest sail I  think I can get away with on the downwind runs. If I can be efficient  and   here for more

Florida Windfest, organized in partnership between Sandy Point Progressive Sports and Calema Windsurfing is coming up April 19 and 20!!        Kona and Formula together forever........

The faithful came from near and far to the hallowed ground of Kelly Park to enjoy a weekend filled with fun.  The Kona sailors and the Formula sailors set aside their differences and joined together for the love of this cool sport.  And the wind gods looked down upon them and said it was all good!   Steve and Marty rallied us all together once again with Tinho's support for some serious fun.  The wind was on the light side for Saturday, and the Kona sailors were sent out for a few races before we lunched behind the shop.  After wards, the Formula sailors received their commandment to get out to the race course.  The first race was held in very puffy winds, which left many slogging for periods, but the race was completed by all.  The second race was held in a dying breeze, and not everyone was able to make it around the here for more

Antoine Albeau, logically... Wind, rain and not less than 3 handles of long distance run under at the very least new conditions, the World one Of the wind with Leucate - Franqui continues to hold its promises after one week madly been windy for the kitesurfers. A time worried by Pascal Toselli, Antoine Albeau makes a beautiful return and seizes the provisional classification of the test, almost logically... Summary of the factranslate by altavista babel fish)  from windsurfjournal

Martin Abete is pushing hard on Race Board                           04-14-2008 

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Where are you from?                       I’m from Argentina

How long have you been windsurfing?

I start in 1989, racing in long boards(Division 1, Raceboard, IMCO)my whole life.  In 2002, I moved to Miami to study and I didn’t windsurf at all till last year. I look in google for windsurfing in Miami, and I saw my old friend Fernando Martinez in the Miami Pro-Am web page.   here for more

 #12    Kit tuning - Harness line position and length.
 
Perhaps one of the most overlooked adjustments of a FW kit is the harness line length and position. I’ve come back from events where I’ve inadvertently changed my harness line position on the booms because I’ve used the boom on a different sail and gone out sailing forgetting that  I’d changed the harness line position, sometimes only very slightly. I’ve wondered what was wrong because nothing about the setup felt  here for more

US SAILING STATEMENT ON RIOS-HALL HEARINGS                   04-11-2008


The US RS:X Women's Olympic Trials Jury conducted two hearings on April 8and 9, 2008 in Providence, Rhode Island. The first hearing was a reopeningof a request for redress filed by Nancy Rios (USA 323) after the last race at the US Olympic Trials held in October 2007. The hearing was conducted "de novo" (that is from the beginning with all testimony from the prior hearing disregarded) on April 8th. After hearing all evidence, the jury granted redress to Ms Rios. Farrah Hall (USA 3) then requested  here for more

Spring Water Sports Swap Meet                     04-11-2008

Sailboards Miami and South Florida Windsurfing Association are co-hosting our semi-annual water sports swap meet on Saturday April 12th. The event is free to all. Bring your old water sports equipment to sell, some cash, or just the dog to take a walk! The event runs from 10:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. Contact us if you require further information.  www.sfwa.info

Wed. Nite Racing April 9th—Wild Action @ Shake A Leg Miami!!         04-10-2008

 The best race series in America is back and with a vengeance.  Shake A Leg Miami, home to the best kids windsurfing program on Biscayne Bay, hosted their second Wed. Nite race of the season, with 14-23 knot juice on tap.  Rumored to show up were multiple kiters to battle with Team Miami for bragging rights, but the kiters had a secret weapon up their sleeve—JOSH NOE WAS IN THE   here for more

TAMPA BAY    SLALOM RACE                                                                               04-06-2008                

It was great to see, many people that had not raced before, hadn’t raced slalom in years out racing on Sat. for our slalom races.  Mainly everyday people that windsurf when they can were out with their everyday gear blasting across the starting line. Not a true slalom racer with the lastest and greatest race gear to be seen.

There was new gear, old gear, wave sails and boards, freeride stuff galore, but the important thing that I saw was the smiles and the statement, “Let me know when you are doing this again.” I heard it time and time again. There were teenagers, women and everyday guys out starting with all the chaos, blasting down the line, jibing and sometimes falling. They were all driven by the desire to go faster than the sucker beside or behind them, who was their friend before the starting sequence. There some great races, 20 people from all over the West Coast of Florida, great winds, it was 22-25 all day with waist-deep water all the way around the race course. You can’t get much better than that.  The energy, the stoke was palpable on the beach. You could taste it. It was a great reminder after all the talk of windsurfing has been cancelled, people are excited about windsurfing. Windsurfing is such a great sport. www.nbwindsurfing.com

Results :  1.Tom Derricks    2.Greg Rata     3.Taz    Tied 4.Bruce Matlock    Tied 4.Tyler Heston

Review:  Hot Sails Maui Sails/ Giant slalom. 

Few weeks ago thanks to gracious loan from one of Ft. Lauderdale rippers, Dave Walsh, I got to test new proto of Hot Maui slalom sail, GPS 9.7 m2, The design is outside the convention, so it was very interesting to see how it performs. At first glance:  it uses RDM 490 mast+ 40cm ext. - that’s all! (530 luff), and Hot Rod RDM 490 looks indestructible, boom length 237 also super short,

moderate wide luff sleeve, 3 cams, not rollers but with some soft webbing, construction looks very good, the rest is standard. Rigging: slide the mast in without cams, downhaul as recommended,  here for more
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Argentina Formula Nationals                           Mendoza   04-03-2008

Sunday was the last and final day of competition in which we where presented with perfect blue skies and 15-22 knots winds.
Race committee went for 3 races back to back, so most sailors choose 10-11 meters sails not to get overpowered if the wind picked up to much.

On the first race, most sailors went for a starboard pin end star. I started close to Galvan and Paulao, who started just behind me and manage to cover me from the top and with that I risked taking to the other side. Paulao kept covering me and he rounded the top mark in first, I came in second followed by Galvan Mathias and Sergio Mehl.
Paulao kept the lead until the end; I came in second and Sergio Mehl close in third.

Second Race winds picked up and 10.7 was starting to get a bit big. Paulao and I had a battle at the start and he managed to tack ahead and cover me to the upwind mark. Sergio was in third with mathias, galvan and Raul Saubidet all close together.
On the second upwind, Paulao was a few meters ahead of me and tacked, I kept going and risked going to the other side, I lost big ground with this and Paulao took the win, I came in second followed close by Sergio.   here for more

The top 3 in open formula are:
1. Wilhelm Schurmann BRA999 (Starboard-Neilpryde)
2. Paulo Dos Reis BRA 3333 (Starboard-Servene-BL3)
3. Mathias Pinheiro BRA 5 (F2-North Sails- Banco do Nordeste

The Coyote Point windsurf access is in dangerous disrepair. Completion of the County funded beachfront and promenade restoration is a few years away. The interim solution of temporary sandbag ramps has been approved by the County and the necessary permits have been obtained. We need to fund the final $10,000 of the $35,000 project. There is a limited window of opportunity for installation of these ramps due to restrictions by the Regional Water Quality Control Board. Your help is urgently needed to maintain safe windsurfing access at Coyote Point!  here for more
Robbie Naish Plans to Race on the HIHO

Champion racer and windsurfing icon Robbie Naish plans to attend this year's Highland Spring HIHO event.  "It has been on my 'to do' list for years." confirms the legendary competitor.  "This is one of the sports best events and Robbie's keen to join in," stated Naishs's press secretary in Oahu.  "Robbie loves the Caribbean, especially the British Virgin Islands."  Naish has confirmed his entry in the Techno 2 class, though organizers expect he will cover the BIC logo with the well know Naish skull & crossbones motif  here for more

WEDNESDAY NIGHT RACING BEGINS!    Biscayne Bay , Miami
(Wednesday, April 2nd 5:15 - 8:00 pm)
Back by popular demand, our Community Racing Series begins this coming Wednesday. Bust out that “Racing Rules of Sailing” rule book and join us for the Spring Series. Boats available for charter are Freedoms, Sunfish, Access Dinghies and Windsurfers (*all vessels require a check out prior to the day of racing).  No previous experience necessary to crew!  Remember to arrive early ‘cause boats fill up quick! Questions? watersports@shakealegmiami.org  

Learning Plateau II - Gybingleaning curve for formula will have some plateaus and most likely if you spend some time analysing why this learning plateau has occurred, you just might find a few insights on how to improve. More often than not, it is the sailor, rather than the sails or having the right fin helping fuel these problems. This is not to say that having the best equipment and tuning worked out is not important, because in FW it very crucial, BUT most of us do not lose the race on account of not having the right equipment; far more do because our technique is not up to scratch. Not being able to quickly initiate planing out of the start or out of manoeuvres means you will always be sailing in the dirty winds created by others. Technique is vital for being able to get out of the pack and get yourself into clean air. Jan Witteveen (NED-22) continues his Learning Plateau articles this week, focusing on the training for gybes.Read the rest of this entry »

Last week I raced in a very competitive RS:X Windsurfer fleet at the 39th Trofeo S.A. R. Princesa Sofia Regatta on the Spanish Mediterranean island of Palma de Mallorca. My goal was a simple one – get out of the bottom third of an international class fleet – and I did it! And I’m never looking back  here for more
Interview:               chris gardiner                                                03-28-2008

How long have you been windsurfing?         I first learned to windsurf in cape Hatteras about 8 years ago, and did it there two weeks a year until 3 years ago when I joined the north beach windsurfing kids team where my skill really progressed.

 How did you start racing?

I started racing at the last Suncoast Classic ever held, in the Techno 293 division. I had already done some boat racing and Britt convinced me to do this regatta, it was a great experience.

 I hear that there are more kids windsurfing and starting to race in your area?

Absolutely, this year Britt started a kids camp in our area, inviting talented kids from his summer   here for more

Formula Tip of the Week :   Steve Sylvester     


 
#11-----------------------------Kit tuning - Boom height
Boom height is very personal thing. I’ve seen top racers with boom as high as above their eyes and as low as just below their chin. There are a few things to consider when selecting a boom position. First, the higher the boom is on the mast the stiffer the mast will feel. Second, the further forward the mast position on the board the higher the boom can be carried comfortably. For me personally, I like the boom at least at eye level. It seems that with the boom that high I attain my best VMG up wind. What that is due to, I’m not sure. It may have something to do with the leverage I gain over the rig in addition to making the mast a bit stiffer. This setup works best when I’m reasonably powered with my harness lines at their shortest length. The fact that I tend to sail with the rig slightly canted to windward when I’m really powered may also affect how high I like my boom. I like the feeling of the board
being lifted, up on the fin, feeling light and sailing fast. In light winds, I’ll sail the rig more straight up with longer harness lines and a slightly lower boom .here for more  

     Antoine Albeau   F-192     Formula World Champion  and fastest windsurfer Alive

It was great to sit down with Antoine for a few minutes before racing on Sunday at the Midwinters.  Here is what he had to say! 

StarboardiSonicSpeedSpecial(1)

Rick Randall:  So Antoine, tell me about when and where you started to windsurf... 

AA:  Well it was when I was 5, in the small island where I live in France called Ille De Re.

 RR:  Early huh?  So did you start competing early on also?

 AA:  Not too soon, but not long after I began to compete and win in the youth races in France. here for more

A new Formula windsurfing class has been added to the Highland Spring HIHO 2008 event.  In addition, the event has been added to the US Windsurfing National Racing Tour of events.  The Formula