2013 Race Recap by Ron Kern


The pre-race.   The forecast during the week prior looked really good and didn't look like it would matter which day the race was.  By Friday the forecasts were changing and it made sense to have the race on Sunday.  It was a good call.  Nothing happened on Saturday and we would have sat at the beach waiting for wind. 

Race Day.  Sunday we had the skipper's meeting at 9:00 a.m. which answered questions and gave the course for the race. The wind was about 12-16 mph averaging about 13-14 mph from the ESE.  Formula sailors rigged sails from 9.5m to 12m and 66 to 70cm fins.  It was a beautiful day, sunny, 80's and 75° water.  No wetsuit, even for me!  

The start and upwind to Port Everglades Inlet channel marker, (PE).  The field of 12 men, 9 windsurfers and 3 kitesurfers, made it out through the surf with no mishaps.  The 10:10 a.m. start time approached and off we all went.  Fernando Martinez on the new Fanatic Falcon formula board took the start at the pin end.  Myself, I was at the leeward and was instantly almost 400 yards behind.  Fernando's early lead was instantly gone when Leif Given on the MHL Lift kite foilboard got going.  He was so far ahead at the weather mark it wasn't funny.  My race now was with Fernando.  He tacked too early for the marker and I made it just right and picked up 300 of the 400 yards I was behind.  Zack Marks was quite a bit behind me.

Broard reach leg to Hillsboro Inlet marker, (HI).  Leif and Fernando headed towards the beach for the leg.  I could tell that would open things up for me.  I went straight line to the marker.  Zack had the hammer down and was on the same course to the HI marker as I was.  About a quarter of the leg went by and I saw him passing me to leeward.  I tried harder so I wouldn't lose him and then fell.  The race with him was over for me because after I got up he was 400 yards ahead and stretching it out.  Towards the beach I saw Fernando about even with me and thought I could do okay when we converged at the mark.  Leif was nowhere to be seen.  He said the broad reaching tack was very difficult for him and ate it 15 times along the way, many of the falls ugly, losing lots of time and distance.  The good news with Zack being ahead is I had a perfect sighting of the HI mark and continued a straight line for it.  Zack rounded first in the fleet by a good amount of distance and was probably close to a mile ahead when Fernando and I converged.  Fernando was on a higher slower course and myself reaching nearly full speed for it.  He rounded first with me about 50 yards behind.  Still no sign of Leif.

Close reach leg to finish.  The water was relatively smooth and the going was tame, especially compared to some of the legs in the past.  Fernando was saiing a bit high to the finish and my slightly lower direct course was proving faster.  I was out ahead of him by  about a 100 yards when I started over-thinking.  My thought was if the wind shifted more to the south I would lose to Fernando so I headed back up towards him for "insurance".  Bad call.  My lead lessened and I woke him up and next thing I knew I was looking at his clew with about half the leg to go.  I was really trying but never got in front again.  Meanwhile, Zack who wasn't able to point as high as us, needed to tack three times.  Each tack was costly and I could see the windsurfers were back in the race for a first place finish.  

Finish line.  Fernando was there first.  So close, I couldn't believe I couldn't reel him back in.  Seven seconds separted us and I got second.  Meanwhile about 2 minutes behind Zack and Leif were close and Zack took Leif by 22 seconds for third and fourth places.  We had a total this year of 8 that made it the whole way.  Woo hoo!

Party.  This year's party was at our Adventure Sports for pizza and beer.

Awards.  Thanks again to the generosity of Adventure Sports, Neil Pryde, JP, Sandy Point Progressive Sports, Aerotech, Exocet, Liquid Surf & Sail, and Next-Sports, North Sails, Fanatic because we had plenty of awesome prizes which were awarded after pizza & beer.  The i-to-i does build up your appetite!

Wrap up.  It was a great race again this year. It was fantastic to see new entrants along with the veterans.  I was really happy everybody listened this year and came with phones in waterproof cases and nobody needed to use them!

Next Year.  Hope to see you all back next year along with some new entrants. Give it a try!  Keep December 6-7, 201 open on your calendar.  Thanks to all for helping make the event happen.  11 years now!

Ron