...and GO

[experienced1]

…….and GO



The 6th season of the Cabrinha Race Series got off to a GREAT start. Winds were averaging 29 at Anita for the first race and dropped a bit, like to 23 for the second race with even lighter winds down around the leeward buoy. THIRTY-SEVEN racers signed up for the 2011 series with 7-9m kites the choice for the first race. Everyone stayed on their small kites for the second race which was not the best choice for many.

The 2011 season saw the return of Jeff Kafka (2007 champion) after an absence of a year as well as Anthony Chavez (2006 and ’08 champion) after a two year absence; although he was a no show for the first night. We also saw the introduction of the production fleet




In the first race, Geoff Headington borrowed my 7m XB and whooped the field by approximately 25 seconds. He was followed by Wasson, Vance and Lake… all finishing in a fairly close pack.

In the second race, Bryan Lake, making his first run at the Cabrinha Race Series podium, finished ahead of the field by about 10 seconds. Again a pack consisting of Stefaans, Vance and Kafka battled it out for 2,3 and 4. Lake’s first place was a bit surprising as he is the largest racer in the field and was still on his 9m even though several of the top finishers wished they had been on larger kites.


Basically, both races were almost a mirror image of each other. Great starts with Adam Vance having the most speed. At least that’s how it looked to me. Vance, Headington, Lake at the windward mark first followed by Wasson, Kafka, Stefaans, Ty Reed and Joey Pasquali and basically the same at the leeward mark and finish with some position changes.

Of special note for the evening: In this writers opinion, Adam Vance, who flys in from Seattle for the races, was significantly faster and more competitive than in 2010. He was sporting some new Paolo Rista fins he has been developing with the designer…and had it not been for several errors on the course, might have won the evening. Also of note, a special shout out to Allen Chung who I believe had his best night ever amidst the very competitive fleet; a 12 in each race for a 10th overall. And, a warm welcome to our only female rider, Ericka Heineken of the sailing Heineken family. Her brother Johnny is not signed up for the entire series as he is finishing his final quarter at UCSB, but we expect to see him competing on selected evenings after graduation.




So, overall for the evening it was Bryan Lake with 6 points (5,1) atop the podium, with Adam Vance second with 6 points (3,3), Chip Wasson 3rd with 7 points (2,5), Geoff Headington with 8 points (1,7) Stefaans Vijoen with 8 points (6,2), and Jeff Kafka also with 8 points (4,4).
Joey Pasquali won the production fleet with 2 points(1,1), followed by Bret Herscher with 5 points (3,2) and John Von Tesmar also with 5 points (2,3). Note that Anthony Chavez is in this fleet as well as Eric Due who did race committee and is recovering from ACL surgery.

Next race, Thursday April 21. Come watch or drop in and race for the evening.
The 2011 Cabrinha Race Series is sponsored by Cabrinha, OzoneTravel, Captain Kirk’s and hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club

[ricki]

Nice summary and images as always Steve, thanks! I am glad you had some nice wind to kick things off at least for part of the run. Keep it coming!