No broken gear this year and I think everybody had a good time. Wind was a bit south of onshore, a beat to the first mark at Port Everglades, a slightly broad reach from Port Everglades and a close reach back from Hillsboro Inlet on the way back. I think we were in about 12-16 mph ESE wind most of the time. A beautiful day in the 80’s, 75° water. No wetsuit, even for me!
12 men competed: 9 windsurfers and 3 kitesurfers. The race was fun with the lead changing a number of times. Leif on a kite foilboard looked at first like he was going to crush us all on the upwind part of the course to Port Everglades channel marker.
Leif Given
He was so far ahead at the first mark it was disheartening. But things went downhill from there for him. He sailed a route too direct to the beach to Hillsboro Inlet sailing further than Zach, (Mike’s Lab kiteboard), & I did, but the bigger problem he reported was crashes. He said he ate it at least 15 times and most were kind of ugly taking lots of time to get up. He was out of the lead by a huge amount. Fernando got a much better start than I, the best in the fleet, and was 400 yards ahead most of the way to the weather mark at Port Everglades, but tacked too early and gave up all but about 100 yards of lead over me in 3rd. He followed Leif giving away more of his lead. About a quarter of the way to the Hillsboro mark Zach caught me and was opening up a lead. I tried a little harder and was staying with him and then he fell. I almost caught him and we had a race. I stepped it up a bit more and then I fell and he was gone opening up a solid lead of at least a 1/2 mile by the time we got to the Hillsboro marker. Meanwhile, Fernando and I were converging on the mark, he low on a close reach and myself going faster on a broad reach and he rounded ahead and was 60 yards ahead after. He went higher and myself lower and I wound up almost 100 yards out in front. Zach on the kiteboard wasn’t able to point as high as Fernando and I and had to tack. He lost a lot of ground to us on the first tack and it was looking good for a windsurfer comeback. I started thinking about what would happen if the wind shifted just a bit to the south and decided I should head up a bit so I wouldn’t have to pinch if it did. That was a mistake as it woke Fernando up and he was able to match speed with me and passed me. We raced the next 5 miles neck and neck but I was never able to pass him again. He finished first 7 seconds ahead in 1 hour 21 minutes 16 seconds after I had clocked 24.6 miles on the course with an average speed of 18 mph and a peak speed of 27.6 mph. Zach was third, about 2 minutes behind, losing more ground with several more tacks on the way back. Leif was catching Zach big time and lost to Zach by just 22 seconds. It was pretty exciting to experience.
Danny Steyn, windsurfer and pro photographer, showed up at the beach and he had the camera for a bit.
Ron Kern
2014 Fanatic Formula Falcon
After everyone finished, Adventure Sports nearby on 17th Street Causeway hosted a party with pizza, beer, and we handed out prizes.
Thanks to all that showed up to participate, visit and cheer!
Thanks to all the sponsors who helped make the event awesome:
Adventure Sports / Neil Pryde / JP
Miami | 2750 SW 26th Avenue / Coconut Grove, FL 33133
Tel: 305.591.3559 / Email: asmcg@adventuresportsmiami.com
Doral | 8800 NW 13th Terrace Unit 103 / Miami, FL 33172
Tel: 305.591.0599 / Email: info@adventuresportsmiami.com
Fort Lauderdale | 741 SE 17th Street / Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tel: 954.526.9367 / info@adventuresportsftlauderdale.com
Concession and Kite School
9610 Old Cutler Road, Coral Gables, FL 33156 / Tel: 305.733.1519
Next Sports / Fanatic / North
South Miami | 13470 SW 131 St. / Miami, FL 33186
Tel: 305.255.0111 / Email: ed@next-sports.com
Liquid Surf & Sail
Fort Lauderdale | 2612 South Federal Hwy. / Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316
Tel: 954.523.7778 / Email: Jesse@liquidsurfandsail.com
Sandy Point Progressive Sports / Aerotech / Exocet
South Daytona | 3090 South Ridgewood Avenue / South Daytona, FL 32119
Tel: 386.756.7564 / Email: http://www.progressivesports.com/contact.php
iWindsurf.com
Sue and I came home and took a much needed nap!
Later,
Ron
