Submitted by Mike Rayl:

Kona report

Mike Rayl with Steve Eagen looking on.  (Photo by Randy Ruttger)

With the wind averaging 15 knots I launched early to test my setup. The shore break and onshore wind made getting out a little difficult. Once out I felt a powered up and with a decent angle for the Kona. I came back to shore and added a little more downhaul. Also checked my base as it moves sometimes with the Kona foam deck. All set to go we set our stopwatches for 20 minutes and launched. Getting out took timing as the waves were close together then there would be a lull. I went out with the centerboard down to help get upwind and sailed around to wait for the start. Tacking and jibing when not moving were tough in the chop. I crossed the start line in the middle of the pack and the Formula boards took off. I was planing but had trouble going upwind as the wind had dropped off a little. Passed the southern mark and started upwind. I noticed that Steve Eagen on the other Kona was having better success upwind than me so I dropped the centerboard and continued upwind. About 2/3 upwind I saw Steve now below me. I rounded the upwind mark with Steve about 2/3 of the way behind me. It was planning conditions all the way to the northern mark with 3 tacks to get me away from shore as the mark was 3/8 of a mile offshore. I could not get the Kona to head upwind as I thought it should. The rig felt out of balance with the board. The run seemed to last forever and the only way I knew that I still had farther to go was I saw some returning sailors. The swells were getting larger with some breaking waves further offshore. I rounded the northern mark, dropped the sail and noticed that the base had slipped all the way forward. Moved the base back and headed home. Once I reached the mark my energy was going. Now the board would plane off and on. The breeze was becoming gustier with less wind. The swells combined with the gusty wind made it hard to stay on the board especially since I was becoming too tired to stay out of the harness. I probably fell 10 times on the way back. I stopped once to let off the downhaul and move the mast forward. This helped planing some and I looked over and Steve had caught up with me. He was closer to shore and consequently closer to the finish. I started riding swells in the gusts to move closer to shore and the finish. The sail and board adjustments improved my progress and I gained ground (or water). I finally spotted the finish and sailed into shore. Peter and Fernando helped me get the equipment to shore and Steve finished 1 minute behind me.

 Will I do it again? On the way back I would have said no as I used most of my energy to get to the northern mark. The next day I feel like I would if there was enough wind. How to prepare? Sail more in the ocean and increase my aerobic workout-wait I don’t have an aerobic workout. And after 4 years I made the whole distance! See you next year.