Spectacular Formula Racing on SF Bay this weekend…..
” this one was a special race. I think it is particularly cool the Formula is part of one of the most prominent yacht clubs in the world!”
Day one of the St Francis Yacht Club’s Elvstrom Zellerbach Regatta was sailed in spectacular conditions. Somehow day two was even better.
With most fleets sailing four races on the first day of racing the Formula Windsurfing fleet was one race behind having only 3 races under their belts from Saturday’s Racing. The Elvstrom Zellerbach Regatta includes Finn, 29er, Laser, and Laser Radial classes in conjunction with the Formula Windsurfers. Conditions for Saturday were a bit late in arriving so the fleet had been held on shore while the Olympic class dinghies’ went at it. The St Francis Yacht club is famous for mixing up traditional racing with newer “boats” in their course racing regattas and has been including the Formula Windsurfing classes alongside the standard Olympic class dinghies’ for years.
Sunday’s conditions were right on time and just as St FYC race committee head John Craig had promised the fleet the day before, a 12:30pm start, he boldly called the Formula Fleet out first. Usually needing a bit more breeze than the dinghies it was a display of skill by the race committee in instantly recognizing sailable conditions for the boards that only comes with years of experience. Most sailors grabbed their 11.0 sails, the ‘big’ sail for the local fleet, and headed out.
With 12-16mph winds blowing the first race was to be the lightest of the day with each race picking up 4-5 mph of wind until the final race of the day with was sailed in 25-30mph of breeze. Xavier Ferlet, who had made the trip up from Los Angeles picked up right where he left off on Saturday. Despite sailing on only a 9.5 Neil Pryde he was able to maximize his efficiency and win the first race, the second race, the third race, and the fourth race – 4 bullets. Most impressive however was his performance in race 4. With the wind howling he was out in front when he came face to face with one of San Francisco’s famous voodoo chops. And I mean face to face; leading with his forehead he went straight over the proverbial handlebars culminating in a spectacular wipe out. Steve Bodner saw the opening and took it. With Xavier gathering himself Steve charged in to the lead. Unfortunately for Steve he charged a little too hard and he himself did a yard sale and assumed the swimming position despite being spitting distance from the finish line. With the rest of the fleet in survival mode it was a matter of who could pull it back together first Steve or Xavier that would determine the winner of the last race. Showing wisdom beyond his years Xavier sailed off the course lay lines and used the time to compose himself. Making a steady jibe, and making sure it counted he was able to pass the still swimming Bodner and claim the sweep on the day and the regatta win. Chris Radkowski posted his best result of the 2 days of racing in this last race by simply keeping it all together in the wild conditions and took a second place. As racing concluded on the day the final results were Xavier in first (6pts), Bodner in second (18pts) and Eric Christianson in third (19pts)
The competitors were profuse with thanks for the professional race committee and incredible hospitality of the St FYC staff. John Craig’s’ team on the boats and Melanie Roberts’ team onshore make for a potent combination. But one the most incredible efforts put forward was that of the 20 strong volunteers who helped make the regatta possible the applause put forward for the volunteers at the award ceremony was the day’s loudest. One note regarding the nature of the competitors and the management of the event was that across some 65 boats (& boards), sailing 7 races each, across two days of competition, in 25mph+ winds, not a single protest was lodged.
Complete RESULTS
See you next year at the Elvstrom Zellerbach!
Spectacular Photos of the event on www.waterhound.com
David Wells, editor, waterhound.com
