The Americas Cup will be showcasing more than one type of high performance sailing during this Saturday’s final of the Louis Vuitton Series. Immediately following the races between Emirates Team New Zealand and Luna Rossa Challenge, the formula windsurfing fleet will take the course for several races along the San Francisco city front as part of the AC Open and CALCUP series.
Formula Windsurfing is the high performance competitive course racing format of the windsurfing world with riders capable of reaching speeds of over 30 knots.
Not unlike the AC 72’s which will be racing before them, the formula windsurfing class is an open developmental class- meaning sailors can choose from different manufactures of boards, sails and fins to fit their body weight and specific water and wind conditions.
The event is being run as part of the AC OPEN which sees 16 smaller events staged at the America’s Cup Village at Marina Green and run in parallel to the Louis Vuitton Cup and America’s Cup. In addition to showcasing the formula class, the events goals are to enhance the spectator experience at the America’s Cup Village as well as creating a link between users of San Francisco Bay and the America’s Cup.
Racers will launch from a specially designed ramp at the base of the America’s Cup Village and race around the city front course which takes them to Anita Rock, through the St.FYC starting line, around a leeward mark at Ft. Mason and back upwind to a finish in front of Marina Green. Awards will follow at the Village Stage in the America’s Cup Village.
Special thanks to 101 Sports and the Americas Cup Event Authority for helping to promote the sport of sailing and windsurfing in San Francisco and around the world.
More info can be found at www.americascup.com & www.101surfsports.com or come down Saturday to watch at the AC Village. The first possible start is at 2pm and prize giving at 4:30.
Steve Bodner USA4
www.stevebodner.com
