After 15 races this years US Nationals came to an end. It was a week
filled with racing and great winds the entire event.

Today had three races with McGain taking the first race followed by
Pritchard in second and Jimmy Diaz in third. Buzianis finished in 4th
giving Pritchard a little breathing room for the next races.

Race number two saw Pritchard lead from start to finish. This was the
pressure race with Pritchard needing to win the race to put the nail in
the coffin and Pritchard came out big. Perfect laylines the entire way
around the course, along with his speed gave Pritchard the advantage to
take the win. This race solidified his championship to become the 2002 US
National Champion. Buzianis finished in 2nd in this race, while Diaz
finished a credible 3rd.

Race three was just for fun with not too many changes able to take place
in the overall standings. Pritchard came off with a great start and was
winning from top to the bottum of the course but decided to let the
others take the favored inside and went out and got passed by Buzianis
and Diaz.

Pritchard says-“I was pretty excited to win this year. Phil took the
title from me last year and I wanted it back in a bad way. My gear was
really working good out there this year. I worked pretty hard on getting
the stuff going really fast and it paid off. It is always exciting to
see how your gear is working and winning the European and US National
Championship back to back shows that the gear is working great. Big
thanks to my family for all the support throughout the years!”

Final standings.
Pritchard- 13.3
Buzianis- 17.8
McGain- 25.4
Diaz- 41
Boulon- 49
Sherman- 62
McGrath- 77
Imperato- 81
Pinheiro- 101
Morrone- 101.

US Open Day four
Pritchard maintains lead, but Buzianis closing in.
by Phil & Micah

Race 11.

After a general recall the fleet finally got away clean, but half of the fleet didn’t see nor hear the general recall signal and was already at the weather mark heading back down, including in that group was McGain, Pritchard,Diaz, Sherman and many others. These sailors eventually figured out there was a general recall, so they headed back to the beach to wait the race from the beach. “It was impossible to know there was a general recall from the pin end of the line”, McGain said.

Buzianis who realized there was a general recall, found himself in the lead at the weather mark followed by Boulon and Peterson in 3rd. This was an easy win for Buzianis with Boulon in 2nd and Peterson in 3rd.

Race 12.

This time the race committee got another boat to noticfy competitors of a general recall. After one general recall all sailors started correctly and the fleet was away clean. McGain was leading at the first mark, closely followed by Buzianis and Pritchard in 3rd. By the bottom mark, Buzianis had passed McGain while Pritchard had dropped back to 4th behind Diaz. Pritchard realizing he was not going to pass McGain or Buzianis headed into shore on a flyer. It paid off, by the time Pritchard got to the top mark, he was 50 metres in front of Buzianis and McGain. Pritchard held on to finish well ahead of Buzianis in 2nd and McGain in 3rd.

So after 12 races.

1st- Pritchard 10.2

2nd Buzianis 14.8

3rd McGain 20.7

Still more races tomorrow.
Regards
Phil
————————————-

Another day of mostly kiting here in Corpus. We ended up starting around 2pm with a long upwind course, two laps in medium to light winds.

I went for my 10.9, the first start was a general recall and unfortunately most of the fleet did not hear the recall and kept going. The race director decided to restart the race and half the fleet did not make it back for the start. So with only half the fleet on the line it was an empty starting line and I had a clean start. I was first around the top mark followed by Devon and that is how it ended up after 28 minutes of racing, followed by Dale and Bruce Peterson. There were a lot of upset people on the beach after this race but race director Greg Aguera made it clear at the first skippers meeting that it was the responsibility of the sailor to watch for the general recall flag.

After a short break we ran the same course again, I again had a good start and was second just behind Phil around the top mark. I was able to pass him on the downwind and was doing what I thought was a good job covering him upwind but I chose to cover the wrong guy. Kevin tacked off early to go to the inside and it paid off huge, as far as he was behind at the bottom mark was how far ahead he was at the top mark. All I could do was follow him to the finish, followed by Phil and then Devon.

The top three remained the same Kevin, me then Phil, there could be some shuffling in the lower ranks after the mishap of the first race today.

Tomorrow is the last day so we will see what happens…

Regards
Micah

US Open day three
Pritchard starts his move.
by Phil McGain

2 races held today in lighter winds than yesterday. Sailors using 11 to 12 meter sails moved into the starting area at 2pm for the first start of the day.

Race 8

McGain and Alf Imperato starting at the pin got the best starts with Pritchard a little further back on the line but at full speed and Buzianis nearer the boat. Pritchard and McGain were clear ahead at the first mark, with Pritchard holding a narrow lead over the consistent McGain. Imperato rounded 3rd with Buzianis back in 4th, Diaz in 5th. Pritchard and McGain stayed that way until the finish, with Pritchard beating McGain only by a few boat lengths. Buzianis moved ahead of Imperato to finished in 3rd.

Race 9

Pritchard this time starting more down at the pin got away clean and pushed up wind to round well ahead of his competition. 2nd to round was Buzianis with Devon Boulon in 3rd and McGain now in 4th. Pritchard held his position to the bottom mark with none of the other places changing, but it was close between 2nd, 3rd and 4th. Pritchard easily won this race with Buzianis in 2nd, and the young Devon Boulon just finishing ahead of McGain.

After 9 races and discards.

Pritchard leads on 7.5, Buzianis 2nd with 12.1 and McGain in 3rd on 14.7. Still 2 more days to go, with a possible 6 more races.

US Open Day two
Pritchard holds on to narrow lead while Buzianis turns it on.
by Phil McGain
At the USWA Nationals today winds were up to 10- 20 knots to hold 4 races.

Race 4.

Micah Buzianis was in very good form lead the first race of the day followed by Pritchard and McGain close by at the first mark. Pritchard managed to pass Buzianis on the downwind and stayed in front to the upwind mark the second time. Buzianis rounded 2nd closely followed by McGain and Diaz. On the downwind Buzianis fell and to McGain surprise found him just behind at the bottom mark. McGain capitalized and tacked immediately for the finish to finish ahead of Buzianis with Diaz in 4th.

Race 5.

Buzianis and Pritchard battled this one out all the way from start to finish, with Micah holding onto for first place by only a few seconds from Pritchard with McGain in 3rd.

Race 5.

Buzianis didn’t make any mistakes this time lead this race narrowly from McGain at the first mark, followed by BrazilianWilhem Shurman while Pritchard sailing on the wrong side of the course was back in the fleet. Buzianis and McGain battled a close race but it was Buzianis who held onto for a good win, followed by McGain and Pritchard who managed to come back to 3rd.

Race 7.

Final race of the day, was very important as the winds are predicted to back off the next few days. This time it was McGain and Pritchard who cleared out on there own for a very tight race. McGain getting the better start, but over laid the first mark and Pritchard rounded a few metres in front of McGain. Buzianis was back in 3rd with Diaz and Boulon in 4th and 5th. Pritchard sailed well to stay in front of McGain for a close finish while Buzianis came in 3rd and Diaz in 4th.

After 7 races.

1st Pritchard- 8.1

2nd Buzianis- 10.1

3rd McGain- 12.7

US Open Day one
Pritchard takes a slim lead in this years USWA Nationals.
by Phil McGain

This years US Nationals Kicked off with a bang. Great winds prevailed at 25 knots with 3 races taking place. The first race of the event was won by Micah Buzianis. Pritchard was leading the race but a costly mistake cost him the race on the downwind leg. Phil Mcgain capitalized on Diaz’s mistake to take third and Diaz finished in fourth.

Race number two saw McGain lead from start to finish. Pritchard pulled out all the stops with a perfect port tack start. Pritchard had clear sailing but was no match for Mcgain’s upwind speed. McGain took the victory, followed by Pritchard, Diaz and Buzianis in 4th.

The final race of the day saw Pritchard run away with this race. McGain rounded the top mark in second and got passed by Buzianis on the downwind. Buzianis ended up in second closely followed by McGain in 3rd.But it was Pritchard put in his best performance in the last race of the day and came up on top.

“I was pretty dissapointed with my first two races. I had the speed but still wasnt winning and that was not how I wanted to finish. I feel a lot more focused this year and want to get the title back to the USA. It will be a close race down to the end. Micah and Phil and I have all won races today so it is shaping up for a great National championship,”said Kevin Pritchard.

“Everytime I am out there on the race course I gets excited. To win a couple races here and there really keeps me motivated. I’m still showing these young guys how to race. The wind here in Corpus Christi Texas is fantastic. I think it is one of the best places in the world to hold a Formula Championship. This is a race to watch..their will be some good battles!”Phil Mcgain commented.

So after 3 races. Pritchard leads on 4.7, Buzianis in second on 6.7 and McGain 3rd on 6.7.

More winds predicted for tomorrow.

23.05.02

Registration day at US Nationals/US Open.
by Phil McGain

Over 80 competitors from 7 Nations showed up today at Corpus Christi Texas for the annual USWA National Championship in conjunction with the US Open windsurfing Championship which normally takes place at this time. Winds already blowing hard today, got most of the competitors onto the water for tuning and practice. Corpus can be very challenging with it’s strong winds and short steep chop, so for the first timers it was a day to get used to the conditions and figure out what sail sizes to register.

The USWA National tour this year is 8 events strong, with Micah Buzianis winner from last weeks Newport Fun Cup here in Corpus to try and add to his points lead. Kevin Pritchard recently winning the European Formula Championships in Portugal is set for a strong regatta, looked to be in good control in Corpus Christi Bay today as winds picked up to 22knots. Two times US Open winner Jimmy Diaz was very relaxed while rigging and tuning his equipment is up for the challenge to win one more time. Australian and Maui resident Phil McGain is on a mission to retain his National Championship and US Open titles which he won in 2001.

Locals Guy Miller and Guy Racette as predicted have been training at the race venue for weeks and say this has been one of the windiest seasons today. “It’s been blowing none stop here for a month well over 25 knots”.

Founder of the US Open event 15 years ago, Dr Charles Allen is still competing at the age of 56, will be heading the over 55 men’s division where he won the National Championship in 2001.

Winds are predicted to be 25 knots tomorrow with the first race starting at 1pm.