Cabrinha Race Series Sponsored by Kite Windsurf

[~emily.]

The Cabrinha Race Series
sponsored by Kite Wind Surf
hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club

Race Results for July 20: Top 10

Skipper: race 1/ race 2/ race 3: total points (series position)
Anthony Chavez: 1/1/1: 3 (1)
Geoff Headington: 2/2/7: 11 (3)
Andy Holmes: 6/3/2: 11 (tied 4)
Nils Stolzlechner: 5/4/4: 13 (2)
Sky Solbach: 8/6/3: 17 (na)
Marcelo Segura: 3/8/6: 17 (10)
Jeff Ruoss: 4/7/9: 20 (tied 4)
Jeff Kafka: 7/9/5: 21 (na)
Chip Wasson: 12/10/10: 32 (5)
Jaime Herraiz: DNF/5/8: 34 (na)

This was the sixth race of the Cabrinha Race Series sponsored by Kite Wind Surf with better winds greeting all racers this time; steadier and filled in much closer to Crissy Field. The flood current was much lighter closer to the yacht club and the wind was mostly filled in there however the race course was set further out and in a stronger flood; and shortened up quite a bit. Shortening the course in that strong current kept the race times down; my first race was seven and a half minutes and consecutive races were about eight to eight and a half minutes start to finish. The race committee successfully orchestrated three fast, competitive races.

Not a whole lot to report from the actual racing. It was of those nights that sailors might refer to as drag racing; because there wasnít much strategy involved, and the course wasnít long enough to even play the wind shifts. As usual, all starts were port tack; one almost could have started on starboard, but it wasnít worth it. Each race was similar: start on port, race all the way till you think you could make the windward mark, once around the windward mark, it was pretty much a straight line shot to the leeward mark, round that and beat from the leeward mark to the finish. Fastest sailor wins!

The regular Bay Area racers were joined by the North riders, Sky Slobach, Jaime Herraiz, and Travis Ronk. Racers were on sails ranging from 12 meters all the way up to Andy Holmesís 16m Turbo Diesel. And bigger boards again prevailed. Racers on big boards like the Glides or similar custom boards were leading the pack. Geoff Headington, Nils Stolzlechner, and Anthony Chavez once again up in front! Andy Holmes was the surprise of the night, with some really very nice racing, and taking 2nd for the night in points, tying with Geoff Headington. Anthony Chavez won all three races and Iím pretty sure he led all three throughout. Right out of the gate he charged up wind and beating everybody to the windward mark, and finishing each race in first place.

So far itís been a great series and all the racers are having a great time and pushing themselves and their equipment in a new discipline of kiting! Thanks again to the race committee volunteers for making this such a success!

Jeff Ruoss
Blue #9

[~emily.]

some pics from last Thursday's races

[narly1]

very cool
thanks

[windhorny]

I am curious if that Ferry was on its normal path or if it was just taking the scenic route right through the race?

[steve]

YEP...normal route. Other sight seeing cruises also come in close and thru the race course. Good news is it makes for some interesting photos and really hasn't caused any issues.
steve

[jjm]

This is from last year. I have another picture that I didn't upload where you see the kites lined up in parallel to the cruise ship.

[steve]

Results from September 7....yep, you guessed it, Anthony Chavez scored 3 bullits!!!!! And, he was out on new equipment; a 12m Cabrinha XB2, and a 5'2" Kite/Surf Board designed by Jeff Kafka of WOW Kiteboarding. Incidentally, this was the same board that Kafka used to smoke everyone in the Ronstan Bridge-2-Bridge race a week ago (also on a Cabrinha). Second place, with a 5th, 2nd and 3rd was Ty Reed from Santa Barbara. Ty was in town to participate in the BIG Boat Series. Third went to Kris Youngberg with a 3rd, 4th and 5th...think if there was another race he would have been 6th (smile)?

Conditions were the usual. No wind on the inside but enough in the middle, so the course was moved "outside." Most were on 12s/14s.

Kafka had an interesting evening. He initially went out on his 14 Contra but just before the race began had to return to the beach due to equipment issues. Got a DNS. He then rigged up his 12 XB2 and was late to the start by just shy of 2mins. By the finish, he caught most of the fleet and finished 5th. In the 3rd race he started on time and finished with a strong 2nd.

This thursday, September 14th, will be the last race of the 2006 Cabrinha Race Series. Come out to play... available spots open for you to participate. Then join everyone at the St Francis to celebrate a successful season. Also, Shawn and Jesse Richman, Cabrinha riders from Maui are supposed to be in town to participate. Shawn is just back from Canada where he won the first international kite course racing event at the PKRA.
Shawn won 7 of the 9 races, had a 2nd and one throw out. Guess that makes him the current world champion?

And lastly, the Cabrinha Race Series Awards Celebration will be at the St Francis on October 14. So, put the date on your calendar...fun for everyone and awards for ALL participants.
steve

[steve]

Cabrinha Race Series Finale: September 14

Anthony Chavez who dominated the racing all season, experienced only his second, 2nd place finish of the season in the finale. The wind had been howling all day for the Rolex Big Boat Series with speeds of 16-33 and gusts recorded at 42. But, by the time the kite racing gun went off, the wind had dropped to about 14 avg. with gusts to 19 and a slack tide on the inside and a strong flood on the outside. Cabrinha rider Shawn Richman came to town fresh off claiming the kite course racing world championship at the Canadian PKRA to challenge Anthony, but it was younger brother Jesse (Cabrinha) who surprised them both capturing the victory. The Richmanís brought a quiver of Cabrinhaís newest kite; the Switchblade 2s. To make things fair and level the playing field, I put Anthony out on one of my SB2s. On September 7th, Anthony rode one of Cabrinhaís new XBOW 2s and smoked the field, so the finale should have been quite a battleÖand it was. Even in the light winds, Anthony, Jesse and Shawn quickly separated themselves from the rest of the field. Anthony was 1st to the windward mark, followed by Jesse, and Shawn. Jesse overtook Anthony about 2/3rd the way to the leeward mark, and thatís how they finished with Geoff Headington(SS) finishing 4th. Some notable absentees were Nils (Naish, race committee), Jeff Ruoss (Cabrinha) and one of the hotest competitors of late, Jeff Kafka (Cabrinha), Due to the light winds only one race was run.

Iíd like to take this opportunity to thank KiteWindSurf, the sponsor of the event, and our hosts, the St Francis Yacht Club. Iíd also like to thank ALL of the competitors who are setting the stage for kite course racing around the world, and who made it a pleasure for Cabrinha to support the races. 2006 saw a very successful race series, and I am looking forward to the 2007 Cabrinha Race Series to be even better.

I hope to see ALL participants, guests, and those that just want to party, at the St. Francis for the Cabrinha Race Series Awards Celebration, on October 14th. I think this will be combined with the Friday night windsurf series and Cal Cup awards and end of year SFBA party.

steve

[lacasaverde]

I'll mark my calendar, but what time do the festivities start??

[steve]

Think about 8:00, but haven't received he final details. Hopefully the announcement/inviation to ALL will be posted shortly.
steve