RONSTAN Bay Challenge - July 6, 2002

This was probably one of the windiest Challenges that I can recall, not to mention one of my best performances as well. Iwindsurf was down so no graph today. Winds were averaging around 24mph is my guess. No slogging anywhere today.

The forecast called for some 30mph afternoon winds so I didn't hesitate to rig considering there was 30 minutes before the start sequence. The 8.3 Aerotech 2003 Prototype that I just received a couple of weeks ago was my choice. Although I hadn't quite tuned it yet, I figured there was no better way to test a sail than on a long distance race. And besides, the wind was already howling around Alcatraz. I noticed most racers were going out on 9.0's. I think everyone above me was on a 9.0 or 9.3. I also chose a 2 year old 64cm Tectonics Mirage.

The windward mark came up quickly and I found myself rounding in 4th place. Nice feeling. I guess I got too excited because, not even 50ft past the mark, I found myself flat on my back in the chili bay waters. What happened! It wasn't even that big of a gust. I couldn't believe it. It was over, I said to myself as half of the fleet went by. No, I must continue. On that first reach down, I passed up Mike Percy floundering in the water. Things were looking up. I could still see Mike Z. His blue Gaastra was easy to spot. Mike Percey was able to pass me at the first jibe past Harding. That guy is fast down wind. 15 minutes later I could tell that he had already caught up ML as we passed Treasure Island. I never saw Steve or Rob until the trip back. I guess those North sails blend in to well with the huge whitecaps. I rode the fifth strap all the way down which kept Bill Weir about 100 yards to windward of me until I lost him at the last jibe. He had jibed early to stay in the wind zone. It worked. We rounded the leeward mark together with only a boardlength between us.

That was it for my competition. I gradually lost them all since I couldn't quite pinch upwind as close as they were. Nevertheless, I was able to watch the whole show, which is more than I can say for all those previous years. It really is nice to watch the finishers come in and know your place in the fleet as you finish. I suppose Mke Percey could have defended his title if he had not faltered earlier in the race.
Special thanks to RONSTAN for supporting this event and to the SFYC for keeping the tradition. Congratulations to all who competed. It is always an accomplishment. Especially this year. Also thanks to my sponsors, Aerotech Sails, HPL, Powerex.

Overall Fleet Results       
Elapsed Time Lead Gap Racer Gap Place Sail # Name DIV Weight
0:57:56     1 ML Mike Zajicek   168
0:58:04 0:00:08 0:00:08 2 S3 Steve Sylvester Open 165
0:58:23 0:00:27 0:00:19 3 VYV Mike Percy   164
0:58:38 0:00:42 0:00:15 4 M9 Bill Weir Open 175
0:59:19 0:01:23 0:00:41 5 326 Rob Hartman Formula 190
1:00:41 0:02:45 0:01:22 6 Z Jean Rathle Open 200
1:11:19 0:13:23 0:10:38 7 a Soheil Zahedi Formula 170
1:16:34 0:18:38 0:05:15 8 32 Fung Yang IMCO  
1:20:50 0:22:54 0:04:16 9 ARG61 Fernando Martinez IMCO  
1:27:49 0:29:53 0:06:59 10 223 John Davenport Formula 205
1:29:42 0:31:46 0:01:53 11 > Bob Kudrna Open 210
1:32:44 0:34:48 0:03:02 12 US 86 Royce Yen Formula 195
1:35:55 0:37:59 0:03:11 13 US 8 Chris Radkowski Formula 172
2:02:45 1:04:49 0:26:50 14 T Ivan Popov Open 190
2:18:03 1:20:07 0:15:18 15 44 Eric Christianson Formula 178
DNF     DNF 14 Alan Prussia   160
DNF     DNF 246 Lyn Preuit Formula 210
DNF     DNF 940 Bill Martinson Formula 200
DNF     DNF 988 R. Adam Darriau Formula 185
DNF     DNF 1H1 Chenda Herstus Formula 160
DNF     DNF JK Jim Kiriakis Open 168
               
Heavy weights       
Elapsed Time Leader Previous Place Sail # Name DIV Weight
0:59:19 0:01:23   1 326 Rob Hartman Formula 190
1:00:41 0:02:45 0:01:22 2 Z Jean Rathle Open 200
1:27:49 0:29:53 0:27:08 3 223 John Davenport Formula 205
1:29:42 0:31:46 0:01:53 4 > Bob Kudrna Open 210
1:32:44 0:34:48 0:03:02 5 US 86 Royce Yen Formula 195
2:02:45 1:04:49 0:30:01 6 T Ivan Popov Open 190
               
Light weights       
Elapsed Time Leader Previous Place Sail # Name DIV Weight
0:57:56     1 ML Mike Zajicek   168
0:58:04 0:00:08 0:00:08 2 S3 Steve Sylvester Open 165
0:58:23 0:00:27 0:00:19 3 VYV Mike Percy   164
0:58:38 0:00:42 0:00:15 4 M9 Bill Weir Open 175
1:11:19 0:13:23 0:12:41 5 a Soheil Zahedi Formula 170
1:35:55 0:37:59 0:24:36 6 US 8 Chris Radkowski Formula 172
2:18:03 1:20:07 0:42:08 7 44 Eric Christianson Formula 178