I came down for Midwinters as the only European girl. As aGaastra&Starboard team rider I felt like it was almost my homeground, nitros and 158formulas were everywhere you looked, I guess they are very popular here in United States. On the other hand I met many of sailors from around the World I haven’t seen the whole Winter, so it even felt a bit like a familyreunion.
Despite some organizational obstacles racing turned out pretty good and exciting. Its been a long time for me to start with 90 people on the starting line and I was happy to pull out few good take offs. My two best races where 15 and 16 and this was in the first day of regatta when thewind was consistent, 10-12 knots up to solid 15 knots, side shore.Unfortunately in the first race I did the common mistake of going through the “closed” starting line, which meant DSQ. I didn’t know that untill I saw theresults the next day.
Usually I was using smaller sails than men, but still tried to push them hard and get my way through the crowd. I was mostly on 9,8 and 11,0nitro5. When I felt my speed was not enough to give them a run I tried to focus on tactics and this way gain some advantage. I think my weakest point were starts, which is no wonder after long break from competition with men. I also like to compare it to the “forward loop ability”. I think the levelof adrenaline you get when starting on the port tack with the big crowd on starboard equals the one of doing loops on the wave board. I am not doing forwards yet, maybe that’s the key.
Tihno has its own special way to run the event and I think it’s best notto discuss it. The idea of supporting Midwinters was not mine, but the forces that let me make my living and I think it’s best not to talk about that either. All I can say is that I try my best while I have my time competing on a windsurfing board and that’s the reason for travelling from Maui tothe other side of the Mainland.
Big thanks to Daida, Jimmy, Pieter and Phil for making this trip great and taking care of me, especially on the last day after my little backaccident. I am glad Daida is not joining formula racing (that chick has way to muchof “forward loop ability” running in her vains and would kick my buttstraight away). That’s all for now from me, I am back in Maui still for a littlemore then a week and looking forward to some nice trades and mast high swellthat will let me fly high above the sea level.
See you on the water.
Dorota
