Cabrinha Kiteboard Racing July 29 You Must Be Upright To Win

[waterhound]

Thursday’s Cabrinha Kiteboard Course Racing action saw 3 races get off in gusty 20-25 knot winds and a big ebb tide.

If you’ve been following along the Cabrinha Series all year long you already know that big winds and big ebb make for big waves and big crashes and today was no exception. At times the fleet looked like skipping stones as they bounced their way upwind and like tea bags as the dunked themselves downwind.

Race one saw 11 port tack starters make the brave attempt to clear the mass of starboard starters but the starboard guys were on it at the gun forcing most of the port tackers to duck them. Lucky for those on port it was massively favored to start port. Heading out in to more wind and more ebb with one less tack to do quickly made up for sterns they had to take at the start. Chip Wasson was absolutely buried deep in the fleet on port tack due largely due to his non functional watch and it was symbolic of how his day would go. Johnny Heineken didn’t have a particularly good start either but the two sailors used all their energy to dig out of the fleet and get to the front. Heineken looked to have an easy race on his hand as he came to the windward mark but decided to take a short swim that allowed Wasson to reel him in making a race of it. Geoff Headington rounded third and made an excellent tactical call to head in to the shore to flatter water and less tide while Wasson and Heineken headed outside to what looked like the West Face of KT22 after 2 weeks of no snow and 3 day holiday weekend. Wasson then must have been feeling warm because he too decided to go for a swim amidst a plume of spray as he dove in. Sailing fast, but safe, from behind was Joey Pasquali who managed to pass the swimmer as he retrieved his ride. Heineken took the win, with Headington in second, and Pasquali in third. Wasson salvaged fourth.

Race 2 saw Geoff Headington brimming with confidence and firing off a near perfect start. He rounded the windward mark in first place and again headed for shore. Adam Vance, Stefaans Viljoen, Johnny Heineken, and Chip Wasson were not far behind in that order. While Headington headed for shore the others again jibed to go outside. By now the wind had laid down about 2-3 mph but had gotten even lighter inside. Unable to hold the deep angle of the race prior Headington was caught by the sailors going outside. Wasson had fallen on his jibe at the top of the course and was now pushing super hard to get back in it. I couldn’t see exactly what transpired from where I was standing but Wasson and Headington then became wrapped up. After much struggling Headington was able to get free but only after most of the fleet had passed him by. Wasson was tangled and done for the day save for a boat ride back to shore. Heineken took the win again while Viljoen took second and Adam Vance took third.

Race 3 saw the smallest contingent yet of about 5 kites try the port start. Not sure why however because it was more favored than ever. With none of the Series leaders, other than Viljoen, opting for port it was Viljoen jumpig out to a big lead. As he made a perfect tack over to the lay line even he must have been a bit surprised to see the size of his lead. As Viljoen rounded the windward mark he was a good 20 seconds in front of the trailing Heineken and a pressing Kevin Richards. Stefaans Viljoen was taking chances sailing deep and fast downwind and they paid off for him netting him as he held off Heineken around the leeward mark. Heineken however passed him up wind in a tight finish leaving Viljoen in second place. Richards had his best race of the day rounding out the podium in third.
Eric Due sailed consistently all night long and his 6-5-4 scoring line was good enough for third place on the night with Viljoen claiming second and the undefeated Heineken taking the honors. I didn’t see what happened to Joey Pasquali on the last race but with all the carnage going on it was easy to get lost in the spray and he was unable to finish the last race. (Steve Gunn updates us that his depower loop failed).

Next race in the series is August 12th.Full Results for both the nights racing and series so far minus tonight along with some racer photos.
http://www.waterhound.com/cabrinha-kite ... right.html

[steve]

David:
NICE write as usual, and VERY timely..but think you need to check your notes as this one has a few more inaccuracies than normal :=).
I'm pretty positive that Adam Vance was not the first to the windward mark in the 3rd race, and one of the season's leaders did opt for a port start in the third race...Stefaans. Stefaans nailed the start and had the commanding lead at the windward mark... and a lead at the lee mark as well although John H was chasing him down and nipped him at the finish.
I believe both Vance and Stefaans were wearing green Jerseys.
I also believe Vance was first to the windward mark in the second race.
FYI..Joey's depower loop failed.
steve

[waterhound]

I'll have to take your word for it but I was out there on my windsurfing gear and it sure looked like Vance as I am not used to seeing Viljoen in a hood but with the jerseys all covered by harnesses its super hard to tell.

I thought for sure Headington was first to the windward mark in race two unless I totally missed vance. I was standing right below the windward mark and watched him round.

I am super appreciate your corrections and I will update accordingly. It super hard to make these guys out from shore and I was hoping being out there would help differentiate.