As the 26 Formula Racers pulled in to Berkeley, California for race one of the 2011 CalCup Race Series it looked like a no go. This is San Francisco Bay·however and by afternoon the westerly was in and racing was on!(pictured the infamous Berkeley Pebble Carpet)
The day started out with a strong offshore winds which in these parts means a really warm day is on tap and can be one of the few weather set ups that can bring the skunk out. In fact about noon time as the wind was starting to reverse it went dead still on the race course. Within about 45 minutes however the sea breeze kicked in a gorgeous day of 18-23mph winds blessed the racers under blue skies and warm winds. Most sailors were on 9.5 to 10 sails which ended up being a bit on the small side for the first two races but by race three the wind was up and the·sails dialed in.
The racers were a bit amped up to get the season underway resulting in two general recalls to start the day. Race Committee lead Ander Petersen was forced to put up the black flag to keep the racers behind the line.
Making the trip up from Southern California to defend his 2010 CalCup Series Championship Title was Xavier Ferlet. Ferlet picked up right where he left of; winning, and doing so in dominant fashion. Ferlet won 4 of the 5 races with only a race 2 sixth place finish blemishing his scoring line.
Steve Bodner (pictured at left) started the day out by breaking his harness bar but recovered quickly as the day went on picking up 3 second place finishes as the day wrapped up putting him 6 points behind Ferlet in the end. The story of the day however is the emergence of new blood on the San Francisco Bay. Thomas Sehested, a recent Southern California transplant, put up a 3 – 1 scoring line in the days first 2 races only to retire for the remainder of the day. Sehested has shown he has what it takes to win and given some training time may be the man to beat down the road. ·Sehested however may need to step up to a 9.5 sail to go with the 10.7 NeilPryde he’s riding now to help ease the arm cramps. You’ve got to be in it to win it. Sehested (pictured below right) was not alone in his pain “this early in the season… there were certainly some sailors with bloody hands at the day’s end” said Eric Christianson.
Steve Sylvester dialed in to a third place overall finish on the day by sailing consistently all day long. It was no sure thing however as Sylvester was trading off places with F4 Fins Chris Radkowski as the two sailors battled back and forth. The final podium position of the day had to be decided by a tie breaker between the two racers with Sylvester’s lower throw out score giving him the tie breaker.
Junior sailor Jack Lundquist has put a pretty solid grip on the most improved sailor of the year award and we are only one race in to the series. Lundquist’s perfect all bullet scoring line left little to be doubted in the B fleet racing action. Greg Bernstein battled with Saba Fazelli all day long with Bernstein coming out on top at day’s end.· A notable performance was also turned in by Lynn Olinger, one of two ladies to brave the big winds and wild waters of CalCup Racing, including a final race second place finish. Also showing some big offseason growth was Jack Lundquist’s younger brother Charlie. Charlie finished every single race on the day – no easy feat for even the adults!
Junior ladies A Fleet sailor Marion Lepert continues to charge hard and is regularly pushing towards the top of the fleet giving the men a run for their money. In the final race on the day Lepert rolled over the top of the committee boat to dive the starting line a full throttle attempt to get a great start. A daring move with the entire fleet coming right at her; Go Marion!
One more note was again the extra mileage put in by Soheil Zahedi on the day. Last year Zahedi started leaving for the races from San Francisco’s Crissy Field sailing some 30 minutes or so downwind to race and then sailing back home again for another· 40+ minutes on the water. Now that’s a full day.
CalCup impresario Mike Percey has a surgeon or two to thank as it appears he is back.· After knee and shoulder surgeries last year Percey is back on the horse and riding fast. Percey is also sporting some new 2011 Hansen Sails. Check out some more on those new Hansen Sails click here.
Special thanks was sent from all the racers to Anders Peterson, Nick Percey, and Derek for serving up some high quality Race Committee.
This sound like fun? The 2011 Doubletree by Hilton at Berkeley Marina US Windsurfing National Championships will sailed on these very same waters! Come Join us this July – http://www.waterhound.com/windsurfing/us-windsurfing-national-championships-2011
Also special thanks to Chris Radkowski, Steve Bodner, Eric Christianson, Weyman Lundquist, and Soheil Zahedi for contributing to to this article.
Complete Results and a few photos along with links http://www.waterhound.com/calcup-windsurfing-racing-kicks-off-under-glorious-conditions.html
