LightAir TIMES June 2007

Don at Lake Isabella - photo sent by Amy

Lake Isabella from a Rookie by Laurent Russe

I learned to windsurf in San Diego where I believed that 15mph wind on a one-meter wide Formula board and a 10.0 was plenty fun. When I first stepped on the Association’s Go board, my buddy and instructor told me “you’ll see those boards are so stable and easy to learn on”. I wasn’t sure what he meant as I struggled to up haul the sail. I thought the board was pretty rocky.

Then I spent most of my weekends on salty waters trying to get on a plane. I was so excited when it finally happened a couple of months later and I reported my progress to my instructor. He was proud of me and said the next step is to experience stronger winds and that I would have to re-learn everything.

At Lake Isabella last weekend, I finally understood what he meant. The short boards and the strong winds kicked my butt. Indeed short boards are far - far less stable than formula boards. Of course you all know that already.

On the first day, after a successful beach start and a not so successful jibe on a 120-liter Quatro board and 7.5 Ezzy sail, I spent most of my afternoon in the water trying to get back on the board and ultimately back to shore. Have I mentioned I did not quite have the water start technique down just yet? Thank you Don and Greg for checking up on me as I worked on my physical condition by swimming and shifting the sail around the board for an hour. As a person on a kayak finally came to my rescue I managed to up haul the sail and let the wind take me back to shore. Sure I drifted a … hmmmm … distance from where I started, but I heard that a much more experienced windsurfer ended up a lot farther that I did the following day.

Back on dry land and sipping on a couple of anticipated Margarita, we all sat around the goody van excited about the raffle and the mast give-away.

Day two was more powerful than the eve. Much to the disapproval of my adoptive mom Amy and my girlfriend Jess I wasn’t about to let the events of the previous day slow my progress. I picked the same board with a 5.2 Ezzy sail and decided to work on water starts close to the beach. A couple of hours later with the help of Don and the pressure from the beach lookers I finally conquered the beast.

The sensible thing would have been to begin with the water start session on day one.

The weekend at Lake Isabella was a success. The KOA campground on the southeast end of the lake was cozy and the managers very generous even though the grounds were still under construction. Certainly an address to remember for next year.

(Greg, our campfire and stove were cranking on day two!)

Thank you Peter and Tim for putting these demo days together for us.

I’m looking forward to the next road trip to Lake Lopez this summer.

photos sent
by Laurent Russe

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Friendly Faces by Dan Copper

I'm a die hard off road fan. I love to camp, and I love to drive my jeep through the forests, in the mountains, up steep inclines, down them, and especially over boulders. I love the mountains and I love the deserts. I love hanging out with my off road friends, telling stories at the campfire, and chatting on the cb radio while on the trail. I love it so much that I bought a motorhome to tow my jeep to even hotter (cooler) places.

I learned something very important in 2003. In the time it takes me to load my jeep on the trailer, and prepare for an off road trip, I can drive to Mission Bay. I learned to kayak and by the end of the year I bought my little Hobie sailboat. With the Hobie, it made sense to go to Hilton Point where I could unload it right by the water and keep it on the beach by the motorhome. My jeep just sits in the garage.

At Hilton Point I started meeting really cool people and I was talked into taking a windsurfing lesson (by Amy) in late 2004. I sucked, and I was stuck in the middle of the Bay right in front of a bunch of racers waiting for me to move so they could start. I didn't have a lot of control. My friend Ken, from SDWA, the one who first gave me a lesson, let me take out his board on two more occasions. That prompted me to visit Peter Jones.

I planed for the first time in May, 2005, and the hook was set.

Since that point, I have been an extension of the Point. I'd arrive real early and in the dark and park the motorhome. While it was still dark, I unload the trailer, walk my dog (Kirby), and hang out. The bay is beautiful at night, sometimes it is windy and sometimes it's dead calm. The Owls screech from the trees and fish jump. The lights of town reflect off the water. Some early risers in other motorhome's arrive and park. After a little while I head back to bed.

When I wake up later I walk Kirby, watch the joggers and the people arrive at the bay. Soon a windsurfer will arrive, then another. I love it as the place fills up, I walk around and chat, talk windsurfing and other things. People start to rig and I am still walking around talking, enjoying all these people with one thing in common, windsurfing. There are doctors, lawyers, computer analysts, truck drivers, such diversity, all with the passion for windsurfing.

I've learned so much with the helpful friendly advice of the people at Hilton Point (the SDWA members). Not only was I shown how to rig, but it was explained to me why I should do it this way or that way.

I finally rig and head out for blast. I sail till I'm half exhausted, then take a break. There is always great conversation and super stories. I like everyone I meet windsurfing. These are now my friends and I really look forward to seeing their happy faces every weekend.

After a while people start de-rigging, but not me, I'm not in a rush. I still plan on going out again.

Before long, everyone is gone, and I hang out to maybe barbecue, read, and catch yet another brilliant sunset. I watch the partiers and watch the crowd turn into a night crowd. Usually after the fireworks at Sea World, I'll pack it up and find a place to park for the night, well, maybe till mid morning.

I'm almost 50 and these are the best times in my life. It wouldn't be that way without all of you, the list is long, you know who you are,

Thanks

P.S. my jeep still just sits in the garage

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Cynthia - photo by Dan Copper

The Racing Scene by Robert van

Of the 5 scheduled Formula Regattas so far this year, only three have seen enough wind to complete. Both the January and March Regattas were cancelled due to low winds, and the April venue was moved to Belmont Shores for the same reason. It’s not so much that we are not having a windy year (by our San Diego standards) as much as the specific days scheduled for Regattas have fallen victim to bad timing. It seems that there’s always plenty of wind just before and after…

Still, we have three regattas under our belt full with plenty of fun and competition. Eleven competitors have participated this year, and it looks as if the same suspects are lurking atop the standings. No surprise I guess that former National Champion Joe Roth and former Olympian Peter Bonello are tied for 1st in the standings. Gabor Vagi is third, and has taken first in both Regattas’ that he’s attended. San Diego’s Lasse Uronen is currently fourth, and impressive showings by Tuan N’Guyen have moved Tuan up to fifth.

Of note for racing this year is Maui Sails support by offering Racing Fleet Members discounts on new Formula-specific TR3 Race sails and components, and providing monthly prizes for members competing with their sails. Racing Members taking advantage of this offer so far include Dave O’Connor, Dave Dombrowski, Lasse Uronen, Dan Copper, Erik van and myself. Many thanks to Barry Spanier of Maui Sails for supporting our Fleet!

photos sent in by Robert van

Our next Regatta is June 2nd at The Hilton; concurrent with the 1st SDWA Picnic of the year. Don’t be shy to join the fun for a race or more!

If you have any questions regarding SDWA Racing, please feel free to contact me at : rvk@randmindustries.com

Robert van

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Rigging clinic by Devon Boulon - Story and photos by Lasse Uronen

Pro secrets revealed in the middle of the day at Mission Bay?

A dozen or so SDWA members took this extraordinary opportunity and joined us to learn the tuning secrets of the long time windsurfing professional and current SDWA President Devon Boulon.

Just to mention few who were able make it – Robert Van, Dave O, Cynthia, Laurent, Chuck, Steve, Gregg, Karen and Bob. Also new members Eric and Randy were present. Attached photos will show only a few of the participants. (group photo here)

The location of this clinic was at the popular Hilton launch pad at East Mission Bay. Devon provided a full 2 hour interactive session of great instruction and detailed explanation of the sails and the tuning of them.

As the crowd included a mix of beginners and seasoned sailors Devon covered some basic topics also touching fine tuning in great detail. The equipment used in this clinic were Hansen 11.6 m2 formula race sail, Gulftech 550cm full carbon mast, Gulftech 310cm carbon formula boom, modified extension with a slippery formulino line and a carbon spacer (1cm slice of the old mast) for detailed length adjustment. This sail size is great for San Diego conditions with new wide style formula boards.

Topics included: Sail parts, length of the luff, structure of wide luff sails, formulino downhaul line and Bowline knot, camber business and how to get them on, downhaul settings and loose top panels, outhaul settings and adjustable power, upwind and downwind outhaul settings, boom height and control, harness lines location and length.

Due to the nature of Devon’s pro-racing background and the equipment available the main focus was on the race sail. However most of the tuning tips can be applied to the newer cambered and non-cambered free-ride and wave sails as well.

The main difference between old and new style sails is the loose top. With the correct downhaul settings some of the top panels can get considerably loose depending on the design of the sail. Devon observes usually the 3rd panel from the top to set correct downhaul tension.

A race sail has three sections and each has its very own function. The top part is for speed, the middle part is for stability and the bottom part is for power.

The bottom part is the area below the boom which has quite often 2-3 lowest battens. Devon prefers to have the battens tightened as much as possible and way past the normal settings which just clear wrinkles from the batten pocket.

The middle part of the sail is just above the boom where 4-6th battens are and Devon uses moderate batten tension to make sail stable.

The top 7-9th battens do not require any tension and he does not care if there are wrinkles on the batten pockets or panels. When a sail is properly downhauled this area is twitching considerably on the negative side and if observed behind the S-curve of the leech is obvious.

Devon preferred to have just one optimal downhaul setting for a wide range of wind conditions. An adjustable outhaul system is crucial for easy adjustment of the power while sailing and thus avoiding un-necessary stops at the beach. The thumb of rule is that the flat sail will increase upwind capability and gives good angle. On the other hand baggy or full sail will provide better downwind power and deeper angle.

Also wide luff makes it easy to slip the mast in and then apply some downhaul tension, and then install the boom, and add some outhaul pressure to get cambers popped up onto mast. It was demonstrated that sometimes there can be too much downhaul and outhaul pressure and the cambers do not slide in.

If you feel your back is sore after downhauling your big sail and you do not own or do not have a crank in hand Devon shared his Harness for Downhauling trick. In this trick you’re are wearing a harness, sitting down on the ground, a downhaul line with nice Bowline knot goes around the harness hook and instead of pulling hard with your hands and upper body you are pushing the mast extension with your feet.

Devon prefers to have his harness lines well balanced in the middle of the sails “sweet spot”, thus avoiding extra effort of pulling and pushing the sail. His lines are about one hand width apart and also rather short as he prefers to be close to the boom and sail. By doing this the power distribution is better from the sail to the board through his body.

Most of the formula race sailors keep their boom at the height somewhere between chest and mouth. Devon however prefers the low boom keeping it on the chest level.

Setting the mast base all the way back will make a board more slippery and by moving the mast base more forward the control of the board will increase. The same applies to boom height, the higher the boom the lighter the board feels and lower the boom more control is present.

Some of the important learning’s for me were to set downhaul and outhaul lines so that when properly tightened a pulley will touch another pulley (block to block) and a leach of the sail will touch a boom end. This provides a solid rig package and sail does not move around as if the lines were longer.

All in all, this was outstanding session and I anticipate another session about the board and fin tuning. (Devon’s photo here)

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Lasse on the Bay photo by Dan Copper

	South Padre Island April 13 – 16 By Dave Gatti In mid-April luck was cast upon Amy Bianchi, Don Ezernack and myself as we were fortunate enough to find ourselves at South Padre Island for a four day hiatus from our hectic professional lives. We rented an entire house a lot removed from beachfront with furnished kitchen, two bedrooms, two baths, entertainment center and barbeque as well as all our windsurf gear from Jibber of Windsurf The Boatyard (www.windsurftheboatyard.com). The area we sailed is known by locals as the flats, roughly a 5 minute drive from our rental, and the body of water as the Laguna Madre. The Laguna Madre offers steady wind, flat water 4’ deep and extends from South Padre to the mainland, a reach of 6 miles. Laguna Madre has an un-crowded feel even though as many as 100 windsurfers and 50 kiters (separated from the windsurfers) were on the water in complete contentment. Jibber, extremely helpful, friendly and a great guy believes best breezes are here in March and April. During these months expect steady breezes with minimal daily variability. No gusts or directional shifts. The crème-de la crème of wind. Lucky us, first day here and a major front passes through. Wind is running a steady 30 - 35 kts out of the south for most of the day. This is my first experience on a 4.5 sail. Don sails a 4.0, Amy a 3.2. Day 2 wind is stronger running a steady 35 - 40 kts out of the north. Too much wind for Amy and I although I suspect Amy might have given it a shot if a 2.5 were available. In the meantime, Don is carving jibes on a 4.0. Day 3 winds are Mission Bay like so we head to the beach and take in the local scenery. Day 4 wind is again out of the south running a steady 25 – 30 kts. Perfect day – we’re in heaven!
	Dining was fantastic as Chef Gatti barbequed many a taste bud rattling meal at the Jibber house. We also ventured out, most memorably to Pirates Cove in Port Isabel on the mainland, a 10 minute drive from our rental. Most memorable local edibles are the fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit which eat like candy and the fresh local shrimp which are sweet and barbeque beautifully. We will be there next year, you bet! And you’re all invited.	Don at South Padre Island - photo by Dave Gatti
	If you are interested in viewing our slide show, click here - or email me at dgatti@gmail.com

	the umbrella man - photo by Dan Copper
	Rules that apply when windsurfers meet By Chuck Markham As two windsurfers approach each other on opposite tacks, the closing speed between them can be over 40 miles per hour. If you hit it off just right, it could be fatal. There are right of way rules governing such meetings. The following is my understanding of these rules and does not express the opinion of SDWA or SCRA. When two sailing boats/boards are approaching one another so as to involve a risk of collision, you must determine which one of them has the right of way and which one has the duty to keep clear. When there are no docks, rocks or other obstructions to maneuvering, the rules are: 1) When the two sailboards are approaching each other are on different tacks, the one on a starboard tack has the right of way. When your right hand is forward on the boom, you are on a starboard tack. Your left hand forward on the boom means you are on a port tack and have the duty to keep clear of the board with right of way. You are keeping clear if the other vessel does not have to change course in order to avoid a collision. The board on port tack does not have to pass downwind; it may pass to windward of the other board if it can do so safely. While the sailor with the right of way may change course, any change must be done in a fashion to allow the other sailor to keep clear. In close passing situations the sailor with the right of way usually maintains a constant predictable course so the board can maneuver to keep clear and avoid the possible collision. 2) When a windsurfer is overtaking another vessel (windsurfer, sailboat or motorboat) the slower vessel has the right of way. The overtaking windsurfing has the duty to stay clear. The overtaken vessel should maintain course and speed. 3) When two sailors are on the same tack, the downwind sailor has the right of way and the upwind sailor has the duty to stay clear. When windsurfers/kiters meet in the surf, the sailor going out has the right of way regardless of his tack over the sailor coming in on a wave. This is because the outgoing sailor must generally go through surf at right angles and cannot change course. However since riding the wave is the purpose of being there, most outgoing sailors generally do not insist on the right of way if it is possible to allow those on the wave to enjoy the ride. A boat or windsurfer coming at you is on a collision course if the vessel stays at the same angle/bearing relative to your own course. Remember to check for other vessels who may be counting on you not to make any quick or unpredictable maneuvers before changing course.

	Lake Isabella from a Rookie by Laurent Russe I learned to windsurf in San Diego where I believed that 15mph wind on a one-meter wide Formula board and a 10.0 was plenty fun. When I first stepped on the Association’s Go board, my buddy and instructor told me “you’ll see those boards are so stable and easy to learn on”. I wasn’t sure what he meant as I struggled to up haul the sail. I thought the board was pretty rocky. Then I spent most of my weekends on salty waters trying to get on a plane. I was so excited when it finally happened a couple of months later and I reported my progress to my instructor. He was proud of me and said the next step is to experience stronger winds and that I would have to re-learn everything. At Lake Isabella last weekend, I finally understood what he meant. The short boards and the strong winds kicked my butt. Indeed short boards are far - far less stable than formula boards. Of course you all know that already. On the first day, after a successful beach start and a not so successful jibe on a 120-liter Quatro board and 7.5 Ezzy sail, I spent most of my afternoon in the water trying to get back on the board and ultimately back to shore. Have I mentioned I did not quite have the water start technique down just yet? Thank you Don and Greg for checking up on me as I worked on my physical condition by swimming and shifting the sail around the board for an hour. As a person on a kayak finally came to my rescue I managed to up haul the sail and let the wind take me back to shore. Sure I drifted a … hmmmm … distance from where I started, but I heard that a much more experienced windsurfer ended up a lot farther that I did the following day. Back on dry land and sipping on a couple of anticipated Margarita, we all sat around the goody van excited about the raffle and the mast give-away. Day two was more powerful than the eve. Much to the disapproval of my adoptive mom Amy and my girlfriend Jess I wasn’t about to let the events of the previous day slow my progress. I picked the same board with a 5.2 Ezzy sail and decided to work on water starts close to the beach. A couple of hours later with the help of Don and the pressure from the beach lookers I finally conquered the beast. The sensible thing would have been to begin with the water start session on day one. The weekend at Lake Isabella was a success. The KOA campground on the southeast end of the lake was cozy and the managers very generous even though the grounds were still under construction. Certainly an address to remember for next year. (Greg, our campfire and stove were cranking on day two!) Thank you Peter and Tim for putting these demo days together for us. I’m looking forward to the next road trip to Lake Lopez this summer.
			photos sent by Laurent Russe

	The Racing Scene by Robert van Of the 5 scheduled Formula Regattas so far this year, only three have seen enough wind to complete. Both the January and March Regattas were cancelled due to low winds, and the April venue was moved to Belmont Shores for the same reason. It’s not so much that we are not having a windy year (by our San Diego standards) as much as the specific days scheduled for Regattas have fallen victim to bad timing. It seems that there’s always plenty of wind just before and after…
	Still, we have three regattas under our belt full with plenty of fun and competition. Eleven competitors have participated this year, and it looks as if the same suspects are lurking atop the standings. No surprise I guess that former National Champion Joe Roth and former Olympian Peter Bonello are tied for 1st in the standings. Gabor Vagi is third, and has taken first in both Regattas’ that he’s attended. San Diego’s Lasse Uronen is currently fourth, and impressive showings by Tuan N’Guyen have moved Tuan up to fifth. Of note for racing this year is Maui Sails support by offering Racing Fleet Members discounts on new Formula-specific TR3 Race sails and components, and providing monthly prizes for members competing with their sails. Racing Members taking advantage of this offer so far include Dave O’Connor, Dave Dombrowski, Lasse Uronen, Dan Copper, Erik van and myself. Many thanks to Barry Spanier of Maui Sails for supporting our Fleet!
			photos sent in by Robert van

	Our next Regatta is June 2nd at The Hilton; concurrent with the 1st SDWA Picnic of the year. Don’t be shy to join the fun for a race or more! If you have any questions regarding SDWA Racing, please feel free to contact me at : rvk@randmindustries.com Robert van

		Southwest Boardsports 1451-A Morena Blvd San Diego, CA 92110 Phone: (619) 276-4508 Email: pjones-swbs@sbcglobal.net
	Don’t forget that we have our own windsurfing guru. Peter Jones has the only windsurfing shop in San Diego. He can find you anything new and most for prices better than you can find elsewhere. He also has a large array of used equipment from boards and booms to sails and fins. Check out his shop, call first to get his business hours.