Ronstan Bridge to
Bridge - September 2th, 2004
REPORT FROM Gomes on the committee boat: My opinion...Congratulations to all those who made the Ronstan B2B race yesterday. It was an amazing start to the only race of it's kind on the planet. Gary Jobson would have been challenged with setting a starting line outside the majestic Golden Gate yesterday. The conditions were challenging to say the least for all the sailors in the three fleets. The kiters led by local Anthony Chavez left Crissy Field about an hour before the start and arrived outside the Golden Gate Bridge about 20 minutes later. Anthony was followed by locals Kathy Smith, Chelsie Wheeler, Chip Wasson, Paul Buelow, Steve Gibson, Gabe Brown, Mo Hart, Chris Brown, and Jonathan Buys. The wind surfers with Formula class locals such as Steve Sylvester, Alan Prussia, Bill Weir, John Davenport, and Steve Bodner leading the pack arrived a short time later to stake out the starting line. Sometime after 5 the first Aussie 18 skiff shot upwind through the starting area turning heads form kilters and wind surfers. The sheer sail area that these skiffs carry with chutes up was an amazing site. A few minutes later skiff teams West Marine, Emery World Wide, Vodka Cruiser, and 29'er drivers John Heineken, and Mallory McCollum arrived to a crowded field of excited sailors.. The pre-start sequence had kiters, wind surfers, and skiff crews navigating within inches of each other while trying to get into sequence for the 5 minute gun. Hats off to a great race committee and to regatta chair Alan Prussia. Professional race organizer John Craig did an amazing job with the starting line and the sequence. This is one guy who deserves all of our thanks for a job well done yesterday. Stay tuned for possible photos form Bay Area professional Abner Kingman. Abner had the best seat in the house yesterday in the helicopter overhead. Rumor has it that local Seth Besse caught a puff form the helicopter to take honors in this years race.
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