DaNewsBlog

Tuesday, March 12, 2013

Calendar: Aug - Sept - 2013

Endless Summer Sports Festival | Curacao | Aug 1 -3
http://www.essf2013.com/

St.FYC Friday Night WS Series | San Francisco | Aug 2
http://www.calcupevents.com/Schedule/Race%20Schedule-list-All.shtml

ABK | Rio Vista CA | Aug 2 - 4
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/279

Cal Cup 4 | San Francisco | Aug 4
http://www.calcupevents.com/

US Windsurfing Nationals | Cabrillo Beach CA | Aug 4 - 10
http://www.2013windsurfingnationals.com/

Jem Hall | Baja | Aug 10 - 17
http://www.solosports.net/Holiday%20schedule/schedule.htm

ABK | Bonaire | Aug 12 - 16
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/280

US Sailing Youth Championship/RSX | Corpus Christi TX | Aug 12 - 16
http://championships.ussailing.org/Youth/US_Youth_Champs.htm

St.FYC Friday Night WS Series | San Francisco | Aug 16
http://www.calcupevents.com/Schedule/Race%20Schedule-list-All.shtml

Tour da Croix | Prescott WI | Aug 16 - 18
http://www.mowind.org/wp/?page_id=113

Jem Hall | Baja | Aug 17 - 24
http://www.solosports.net/Holiday%20schedule/schedule.htm

ABK | Bonaire | Aug 19 - 21
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/281

CalCup 4 | San Francisco | Aug 24
http://calcupevents.com/loc_SF08241313.shtml

Wisconia Wind & Wave | Wisconia MN | Aug 24 - 25
http://www.mowind.org/calendar/calendar.pdf

AWT: Pacasmayo | Peru | Aug 25 - Aug 31
http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/peru/

St.FYC Friday Night WS Series | San Francisco | Aug 30
http://www.calcupevents.com/Schedule/Race%20Schedule-list-All.shtml

PWA | Klitmoller | Sept 16 - 22
http://www.pwaworldtour.com/index.php?id=27

AWT Hatteras Wave Jam | Hatteras | Sept 16 - 21
http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/

Ronstan Bridge to Bridge | San Francisco | Sept 18
http://www.calcupevents.com/Schedule/Race%20Schedule-list-All.shtml

St.FYC Friday Night WS Series | San Francisco | Sept 20
http://www.calcupevents.com/Schedule/Race%20Schedule-list-All.shtml

ABK | Long Island NY | Sept 20 -22
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/283

Wind Power Championships | Fond du Lac WI | Sept 20 - 22
http://www.mowind.org/wp/?page_id=42

Matt Pritchard Wave Camp | Baja | Sept 20 - 27
http://www.solosports.net/Wavecamps/Mattclinic2013.htm

Lake Champlain WS Festival | Plattsburgh, NY | Sept 28 -29
https://www.facebook.com/events/475627815865558/?ref=3

Endless Summer Sailboard Classic | Shell Point FL | Sept 28 - 30
http://www.20knotsnob.com/es.cfm

Canadian events

More Team USA junior events

Mowind does a detailed schedule for the Great Lakes / North Central U.S.

Calcup covers the west coast U.S. races and more

Maui Race Series

Gorge Cup schedule

CGWA Events

ABK continuous tour schedule

U.S. Windsurfing National Racing Tour

Southeast U. S. events will be found here

iWindsurf Events page

Solo Sports events

PWA World Tour Events

American Windsurfing (Wave) Tour

BABA events

Matt Pritchard & Shawna Cropas Aloha Clinics

Techno 293 calendar

Windsport events

Kona events

Curacao events

San Diego FW events

Calendar: Oct - Nov - Dec - 2013

SD Formula WS | San Diego CA | Oct 5
http://sandiegowindsurfing.homestead.com/events.html

Aloha Clinics | Maui | Oct 12 - 19
http://www.pritchardwindsurfing.com/clinics/

ABK | Hatteras | Oct 14 - 18
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/288

Atlanta Fall Classic | Lake Lanier, GA | Oct 18 - 20
http://windsurfatlanta.org/sites/default/files/pdf/fc13_nor.pdf

Miami Slalom Open | Virginia Key | Oct 18 - 20
https://www.facebook.com/events/298278873649653/

Wyatt Miller WS Camp Solo Sports | Baja | Oct 19 - 26
http://www.solosports.net/Wavecamps/Wyatt-flash/wyatt-camp-2013.htm

AWT Maui Makani Classic | Maui | Oct 24 - Nov 2
http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/

ABK | Hatteras | Oct 25 - 27
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/286

Wyatt Miller WS Camp Solo Sports | Baja | Oct 26 - Nov 2
http://www.solosports.net/Wavecamps/Wyatt-flash/wyatt-camp-2013.htm

Formula North Americans | Miami, FL | Dec 20 - 22
https://www.facebook.com/events/514098975331185/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

Monday, February 11, 2013

The New Quadrennium

RS:X Reboot · Maybe you've heard the term quadrennium. It means a period of 4 years, most commonly used in reference to the 4 year period between the Olympic Games. The RS:X Olympic Windsurfing Class is slowly coming back to life after its near death experience, when at the 2012 ISAF mid year meeting, the Council selected Kite Board Racing to replace windsurfing for the 2016 Rio Games. In fact, many RS:X Olympians began to learn and train for the new KBR Class. But, at the annual meeting in early November of last year, just 3 months ago, the ISAF Council reversed itself: the RS:X Class was in for Rio, KBR was out. Just a month after that decision was the start of the 2013 ISAF World Cup, a series of international regattas created to hone competition and promote awareness of the Olympic sailing classes. So in December 2012 at the Sail Melbourne OCR, the first of four regattas included in the 2012-2013 ISAF Sailing World Cup, the fifth edition of the annual series for Olympic sailing, just 3 RS:X racers registered and competed. KBR, which had already been scheduled for this World Cup event, was still allowed to compete: 46 registered. Meanwhile back in Florida...

Nearly a dozen RS:X racers competed for 2 berths in Limassol, Cyprus, host of the 43rd edition of the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championship, which will take place this July 11 - 20. The qualifying event, attended by 8 Americans and 3 Canadians, was held in Clearwater, FL January 19 - 21. Have a look at the results and note that Florida is the home of all but one of the 18 year old or younger US participants. Congratulations to the Clearwater Community Sailing Center and the Miami Yacht Club for fielding all of the Florida RS:X hopefuls.

Less than a week later, 5 participants from the Youth World Qualifier joined the field at the Miami OCR and were able to compete against real Olympic medal winners. From this group, one had an impressive 2 regatta performance. She won the Youth World Qualifier for RS:X and had the best finish for US RS:X at the Miami OCR. DaNews asked her a few questions:

Name: Marion Lepert

Age: 17
Education: Castilleja School — Class of 2013
Nationality: French (U.S. Permanent Resident)
Where do you currently live: Belmont, CA
Sponsors: Sailworks, JP - Australia, F 4 Fins, Boardsports

Was the just finished Miami Olympic Class Regatta your first international RS:X regatta? Does this mean you're going to campaign for the 2016 Rio Games?

Miami OCR was my first international regatta on the RS:X. My goal for this event was to learn as much as possible and to get some experience for the ISAF Youth Worlds this summer. I am taking the RS:X one step at a time, and we'll see where it takes me.

Do you have plans for college?

Yes, I will be attending college next year. I have not yet decided where, but it will be close to the water.

Your top US RS:X finish in Miami qualified you for the 2013 US Sailing Team. What does that mean for the rest of the year?

This is my first time on the U.S. Sailing Team, so it is a new experience for me. I hope to be able to compete in more international events and to improve with the rest of the team domestically.

You attended a week long clinic before the MORC. Was that sponsored by US Sailing? How did that clinic help you on the race course?

Yes, U.S. Sailing organized a clinic with Kevin Stittle the first week of January for RS:X sailors in preparation for the ISAF Youth Worlds Qualifiers and the MOCR. Since I have limited experience on the RS:X, getting to train with other people on the board before these two events was a tremendous help to me. U.S. Sailing also made it possible for all American RS:X sailors to be coached by Mike Gebhardt during the MOCR. He helped me fine tune my equipment and worked with me to improve my technique and be as fast as possible on the race course.

Share at least one thing that you learned from racing with the Olympians?

Olympians make mistakes too, and they fight hard to make up for them. Before the MOCR, I had a naive picture in my mind of Olympians as people who nearly always make perfect decisions. Numerous incidents during the regatta made me think otherwise, however. I saw, instead, that what makes Olympians different is how hard they fight to get back to the front.

You're a Formula racer back home, what motivated you to make the jump to the RS:X Class?

While I enjoy sailing Formula in the San Francisco Bay, there are few opportunities for women to sail Formula internationally. The international racing scene in the RS:X class is more exciting, and it's why I've decided to start sailing the RS:X.

San Francisco is by far the Kite Board Racing capitol of the US. Have you tried KBR?

Yes, and I love it! I got a raceboard in the fall, and I am excited to start racing in the local Thursday Night Kite Races in the Bay this Spring.

Why are you passionate about racing?

Racing is a lot of fun. I love the combination of speed, technique, and tactics, and the thrill that comes with it. I also like that racing gives me the opportunity to travel and meet people from around the world.

You've spent quite a bit of time flying this year. What 2 people do you wish you could have talked to on those long California to Florida flights?

I would have liked to sit next to any windsurfer or kitesurfer with crazy stories to tell.

What's your favorite website?

www.windsurf.com when it is windy.

Music that inspires you? Music that makes you want to dance?

My favorite music changes every week. Right now, I like Ellie Goulding and ED Sheeran, but I have had many other favorite artists.

Where are your next 2 regattas?

My next regatta is the RS:X Worlds in Brazil next March. After that, the racing season starts in San Francisco, and I haven't decided yet what I want to do next.

More Hopefuls · The Miami Herald reported 2 locals were invited to the US Sailing Team: "Raul “Coqui” Lopez, 16, a 10th-grader at Miami Killian High, finished 19th out of 20 boats in the RS:X men’s class. But Lopez and 16th-place Carson Crain of Houston were the top Americans in their fleet at the week long regatta on Biscayne Bay, so both got the nod. Kathleen Tocke, 36, of Miami came in 10th in the 15-boat RS:X women’s fleet to make the U.S. team along with Marion Lepert, who finished ninth." Margot Samson, Solvig Sayre and Christopher Waldo add to the U.S. talent pool. For the Canadians, Laurence Bonneau-Charland, Jean-Sebastien Fugere and Olivia Mews are the early contenders. From Mexico, Mauricio Martinez De Alva, Isaias Minor Huerta and Nicole Level finish out this group from North America.

Lest we forget, the usual suspects: CAN 17, Nikola Girke, left the RS:X for the new boy/girl Olympic catamaran class, the Nacra 17. Zac Plavsic, CAN 33, was on the starting line in Miami. Dominique Vallee, long time Canadian number 2, will be coaching this year. Farrah Hall, USA 3, is all in for the Rio Games but missed Miami. Bob Willis announced his retirement after the London Games, last year. Ben Barger, USA 1, 2008 Peking Games, is enjoying a new job but maybe by this summer... David Mier y Teran MEX 1, had a strong finish in Miami and is ready for another Olympics. Demita Vega, MEX 5, failed to qualify her country for London 2012 but is back on the trail for Rio 2016.

New this year is an experimental racing format designed to focus more drama in the final race. Anyone who makes the final can win the event. Scuttlebutt explained: "After the Men's and Women's RS:X events completed their 3-day first round six race series, the top ten qualified for the quarterfinals after race six. The top four from the quarterfinals advanced directly to the finals. The bottom six from the quarterfinals advanced to the semifinals. Other sailors not in the top ten also have a chance to advance through the quarterfinal repechage into the semifinals. The semifinal held one race and two sailors advanced to the finals. The finals featured six boards and consisted of one race and the order in the final race determined the final places."

US Sailing did not win any medals at the 2012 London Games. For an organization that seemed laser focused on winning medals, it must have been a real blow to the empire. Craig Leweck of Scuttlebutt met with the leadership of the US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider to learn what lies ahead. A few excerpts from his interviews:

The attitude adjustment: "...we are seeking to foster a cooperative effort within each class as much as possible and recognize that different classes have different needs and that there is no one right way to do things. We strongly believe that it is no one thing that you need to do to succeed; it's fifty tiny things to get a little better."

A practical plan: "The schedule has been re-tooled in the view that we want domestic training to be a strength. So the change is that we are going to train more in U.S. We are still going to be travelling to international competition because you still need that check-in to see where each sailors ranks on the international level."

Wisdom: "What we are telling youth sailors now is that there is no one Olympic pathway. There are multiple ways to get into the Game and multiple ways to make it to the podium, and we want to encourage different pathways..."

Read the entire interview on Scuttlebutt.

Sunday, January 27, 2013

The New Racing Rules: 2013 - 2016 · Euro Events

The Windsurfing Competition Rules (Appendix B) starts on page 56 of the 178 page PDF ISAF document: 2013 - 2016 Racing Rules of Sailing. Below is a reprint from the Formula Windsurfing Class, highlighting the rules that have changed:

"Andrus Poksi, ISAF IJ from Estonia, has very kindly put together this short summary of changes to WCR in the RRS 2013>2016 edition. Kamen Fillyov is finalising a 2013>2016 specialist edition of the Windsurfing Competition Rules - available soon.

Introduction
Main changes in Appendix B are restructural. Rules in Appendix B are relocated according to rules in Parts 1-7 so it is easier and more logical now to find rules. For example, Appendix B2 corresponds to RRS Part 2, Appendix B3 to RRS Part 3, etc. There are also some very minor edits which are solely for clarification and are not detailed here.

Definitions
Definition Mark-Room allows a board to sail her proper course to round or pass the mark. Previous version allows to sail a proper course only at the mark. Definition Tack, Starboard or Port changed. To define board’s tack before, we had to look boards side but according to new definition we have to look competitor’s hand – which hand in normal position is closer to mast, that is the board’s tack.

B2 Rule 16 Changing Course
B2-16.3 is changed. Rule does not apply for slalom racing only but for all races where course to the first mark is 90 degrees or more from the true wind. Also a right-of-way board cannot change course during last one minute, instead of 30 seconds in former rule.

B2 Rule 18 Mark-Room
B2-18.1 last sentence clearly prescribes when rule 18 ceases to apply.

B2 Rule 23 Capsized; Aground; Rescuing
B2-23.2 The rule has been rewritten but with no substantial changes. Added “if possible” gives in some cases just more flexibility to capsized board.

B2 Rule 24 Interfering With Another Board; Sail Out of Water
B2-24.3 The old rules states that the sail must be out of the water when a board is approaching the starting line to start, which means an unclear period of time; now this rule defines the period as 1 minute before the starting signal.

B3 Rule 31 Touching a Mark
This rule is changed significantly which changes also the game. B2-31 just states the rule is deleted, which means a board can touch a mark and can hold on to mark as well! There is no restrictions anymore as it was in former rules which prohibits to hold on to mark. So according to new rule (deletion) a board can hold on to starting vessel and wait her start unless it is forbidden by sailing instructions.

B4 Rule 42 Propulsion
The text of the rule is unchanged except last sentence is added, which makes the interpretation of this rule very clear – ie significant progress shall not be made by paddling, swimming or walking.

Rule 48.2
There is a new rule 48.2 for boat as well as for boards – A board shall comply with IRPCAS (International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea) rule 10, Traffic Separation Schemes. Basically this rule states how to cross a traffic channels or lines.

B5 Rule 60 Right to Protest; Right to Request Redress or Rule 69 Action
B5-60.1(a) The words “or saw” are deleted in rule. It means a board cannot protest another board for an alleged breach of a rule of Part 2 or rule 31 (which has to be deleted as well as this rule is deleted for boards) when she just saw the incident. Also protests based on hearsay are no longer valid. She must be involved in the incident when she intends to protest.

B5 Rule 61 Protest Requirements
B5-61.1(a) The last sentence of the rule is changed by replacing word “immediately” to “as soon as practicable” which give a board a little bit more time than immediately to inform the race committee of her intention to protest.

B5 Rule 62 Redress
B5-62.1(e) The wording of the rule is changed but the meaning is same. The words “failed to keep clear” are replaced to “breaking a rule of Part 2”.

B7 Rule 90 Race Committee; Sailing Instructions; Scoring
B7-90.2(c) This rule allows the race committee to give oral instructions not only on the water but also on ashore. This procedure can be in force only when it is stated in the sailing instructions.

B8 Rule A1 Number of Races; Overall Scores
The last sentence which clarifies how to calculate the overall scores has been added to rule.

B10 Rule 29 Recalls
In this rule there are two errors in ISAF rule book. Rules B10-29(a) and (b) are referring to rules 29.1(a) and (b) but there are no these rules. The proper reading must be rules 29(a) and 29(b).

Commented by

Andrus Poksi
ISAF International Judge

Get a PDF version of new Racing Rules of Sailing - Windsurfing Competition Rules - changes explained. "

Windsurfing competition thrives in Europe. The PWA has 9 of their 12 events scheduled on or near the continent. The Forumla Class has confirmed 8 events in Europe. And the European Freestyle Professional Tour, efpt, is planning 6 events. And yes, they award prize money. The impressive British Wavesailing Association has announced 2 events for May with more to come. Equally as large in member participants, the British Slalom Association is set to run half a dozen or so races again this year. Both groups working in conjunction with the UKWA make up an outstanding busy yearly schedule. And don't forget the French...It seems every country in Europe has its own unique windsurfing association running its own country specific events. Got a bank roll? A summer in Europe might help you find out if you have game and help you build your competitive edge...

Calendar: April - May - 2013

Cabarete Pro Clinics | Cabarete, DR | Apr 8 - 12
http://www.cabareteclinics.com/

St.FYC Friday Night WS Series | San Francisco | Apr 12
http://www.calcupevents.com/Schedule/Race%20Schedule-list-All.shtml

Cal Cup 1 | San Francisco | Apr 20
http://www.calcupevents.com/

SFBA Crissy Field Swap Meet | San Francisco | Apr 20
http://www.facebook.com/SFBA?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/events/115395298651153/

Matt Pritchard Solo Sports Wave Camp | Baja | Apr 20 - 27
http://www.solosports.net/Wavecamps/Mattclinic2013.htm

Wyatt Miller WS Camp Solo Sports | Baja | May 18 - 25
http://www.solosports.net/Wavecamps/Wyatt-flash/wyatt-camp-2013.htm

Gerry Brown Regatta | Essex MD | May 19
http://www.windsurfbaba.org/pages/racing/racing.htm

Evening with Andy Brandt | Neptune, NJ | May 20
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=518530331539017&set=a.129639107094810.24869.129634753761912&type=1&theater

St.FYC Friday Night WS Series | San Francisco | May 24
http://www.calcupevents.com/Schedule/Race%20Schedule-list-All.shtml

Buzzard's Bay Crossing | Falmouth, MA | May 24 - 26
http://www.boardliving.com/events/eventDetail/114

Cal Cup 2 | San Francisco | May 25
http://www.calcupevents.com/

Aloha Clinic | Maui | May 25 - June 1
http://www.shawnacropas.com/alohawindsurfingclinics/

AWT | Santa Cruz CA | May 30 - June 3
http://americanwindsurfingtour.com/california/

CMWA Spring Get Together | Ontario | May 31
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/event/9527742/ON/Port-Bolster/Spring-Get-Together-amp-25th-Anniversary-Reunion/Burgess-Enclave/

Prokids Windsurfing | Bonaire | May 31 - June 2
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Prokids-Windsurfing-Bonaire/108970982460811

Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Calendar: Jan - Feb - Mar - 2013

Lord of the Wind Showdown | Baja MEX | Jan 11 - 13
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lord-of-the-Wind-Showdown/142026572492055

SDFW | San Diego CA | Jan 12
http://sandiegowindsurfing.homestead.com/events.html

Miami Pro Am | Miami FL | Jan 19 - 20
http://www.windsurfingtour.com/miami-pro-am-2013-january-19-20/

ABK | Bonaire | Jan 21 - 25
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/262

ISAF Sailing World Cup Miami (RSX) | Miami FL | Jan 27 - Feb 2
http://mocr.ussailing.org/index.php/notice-of-race-published/

ABK | Bonaire | Jan 28 - Feb 1
http://abkboardsports.com/camps/details/263