Skills

 Wyatt Miller and Tyson Poor gave a most excellent Jibe Clinic this April 25; made possible by Wind NC, Makani Fins and others as part of the OBX Windsurfing & SUP Festival. The clinic starts out with why getting the right boom height, harness line length, footstrap set up and using a mastbase volcano pad are all important for good jibing. Endure the UStream ads that rudely interrupt. The actual clinic starts with an introduction by Andy McKinney around the 9:45 minute mark. Jibe specific instruction begins about 24:25 minutes in and ends at 50:48; clinic restarts at 76 min with help on tacking. 

From the above video, Tyson said the photo below demonstrated how looser fitting footstraps allowed his foot to turn within the strap which saved his foot from breaking.

About a week earlier, Andy McKinney held a Hatteras wave sailing clinic that covered getting off the beach, getting back on the beach, falling in the break, schlogging for waves, riding the outside swell, catching the last wave in the set, Q & A, and more.

Guy Cribb visited the US earlier this year and held clinics in Maui and Texas. Cribby is a prolific writer and regardless of how his articles might be categorised by Windsurf, they will help everyone who wants to improve their skill set. If you're settled in your windsurfing ways and think you know it all, test yourself and read at least the 2 embeds below. And if you're kinda new and just eager to learn some really good stuff, read on.

Double shot ~ Did you know: adjusting the outhaul can effectively decrease or increase your sail size by 15% and raising your boom improves early planing. Explore the math and science of boom height and outhaul tension.

Ground Control ~ An in depth look at the mast track as it relates to skill level, sea state and windsurf discipline with more on how it relates to sail rake, directional stability and boom height.

More of Guy Cribb's reprints from Windsurf Magazine.

The Handbrake ~ The importance of the front hand. Beach preparation for getting in the harness, foot work and hooking in.

Sideswipe ~ The importance of the backhand with gybing, wave sailing, tacking and water starting.

Kick Start ~ Getting ready for a new windsurfing season.

Footloose ~ Getting in the foot straps and what to do with them when gybing and tacking.

Chip Chop ~ Gybing in choppy water.

Riders On The Storm ~ More help for improving your sailing in choppy water.
 

American Racing

Every year a small group of dedicated volunteers organizes a schedule of race events for their home waters. They grind through a mountain of details and eventually publish the plan for the race season. Their consistent efforts sustain and nurture a thriving windsurf racing community. These websites provide the true racerheads and the uninitiated a chance to meet and compete.

 

The CalCup Perpetual Trophy was first awarded in 1991 to Rob Hartman. Soheil Zahedi does a great job keeping the CalCup Website up to date. 2013 Schedule for the Formula Race Series:

• April 20
• May 25
• June 29
• August 24
• September 21

More Bay area Formula racing happens on some late Friday afternoons, St. FYC Twighlight Series. The 13 race series started April 12 and ends September 20.

The well sponsored, 6 race slalom series is set to begin May 18 at the Hood River Event Site. Thanks to Jay Salzman for the Gorge Cup Website .

Maui Race Series is the ultimate grass roots racing organization. This year will mark the 29th running of the series. Some might complain about its lack of a formal website, but locals  know to go to the Hi Tech Website for the all important registration form and event information. A few event highlights:

 

Venue: Kooks Beach, Kanaha Beach Park

Time: Skipper’s meeting, 10:00 am. Racing for Morning group, 11:30 am...

Note: Absolutely NO windsurfing before 11 am....

Rules: US Windsurfing guidelines except where modified by the Race Committee.

• June 1   North Sails Slalom
• June 15 Dakine Classic
• June 29 Hot Sails Maui Grand Prix
• July 13  Quiksilver Cup
• July 27  Neil Pryde Hawaii State Championship

In their own words: "MOWIND is a volunteer group of active racers and event organizers in the Midwest. We provide regatta insurance and a standardized set of rules and scoring methods..." Kudos to the MoWind Website for the detail of information and histories of their events.

 

More ~ The Cabrillo Racing Series will start their inaugural 5 race slalom season on May 12. Tampa Bay Board Racing invites both kiting and windsurfing to compete in their rabbit starting windward leeward course, late afternoon series, set to finish May 6. Miami Windsurfing Cup is a summer race series combining Formula and slalom with 3 events completed.

This year, US Windsurfing lists 10 events on their National Race Tour which concludes with the National Championship.

 

Behind the Scene

Farrah Hall is the only American entered in the RS:X Class at the Princess Sofia ISAF World Cup set to run April 1 - 6. Kiting has been cancelled for this event due to poor pre registration.

A Florida wave contest is in the planning stage for the AWT in 2014. The Jupiter area is the top contender for location but Cocoa Beach is also under consideration.

A European interest has bought the intellectual property rights to the name Windsurfing Magazine and all the content of past issues. Their intentions have not been disclosed.

Simmer is working on a small wave board that would retail for under $1000, appropriately called the Frugal.

The PWA is in pursuit of a corporate sponsor to partner with for a slalom and freestyle event in the Bay area after the America's Cup.

KonaOne is prototyping a sailing SUP as a possible entry level board for slalom racing.

WeatherFlow will be phasing out its forum service to focus more resources on their core business of weather data.

US Windsurfing wants your input for a kite vs. windsurf race at the US Nationals this year. They would also like to know if prize money should be awarded.

Severne Enigma Wave Booms have the smallest diameter arms in the industry at 25 mm. I hear it may be the most expensive wave boom on the market.