Ronstan Bay Challenge >> Adam Koch & Chip Wasson beat the Formula Windsurfers

Ozone team riders Adam Koch 1st and Chip Wasson 2nd beat the Formula Windsurfers on elapsed time during the long distance race. The top 4 finishers were on the new Ozone Edge.

We had a great race with some surprisingly warm weather for San Fran.  The course was from Crissy Field, up to the Golden Gate, down do Treasure Island and finishing on the race deck in front of ST. Francis Yacht Club.

We started out with barley enough breeze to make it off the beach and some serious crowd dodging at Crissy. (sorry about your beer and sandwich frat dude) After we made it out to the starting line we ended up with 15- 20 knots for the weather leg followed by a really  fast downwind run.  The wind held out until we hit Treasure Island where it was down to 12 knots.  Adam and Chip had a pretty good lead rounding the Treasure Island mark.  I had a great run rounding in 3rd with a pretty comfortable margin.

The wind picked up around Alcatraz and it was game to the finish on with most of us on 13 meter kites.

Andrew Koch


Day 2 of the Ronstan Bay challenge (Source: http://www.waterhound.com/ronstan-bay-challenge-course-racing-wrap-up.html)

Day 2 saw course racing on the agenda. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again; never believe the forecast. It blew doors.(Photo credit The Photosurgeon Dr Ressman).

With more north winds predicted and warm weather supposed to hold the westerly off till the afternoon just the opposite happened. As the Kiteboard and Formula Windsurfing Racers arrived at the beach this past Sunday June 13th they were greeted with a 20mph westerly already in place and a fog bank lapping at the Golden Gate. With a 15 degree temperature drop from just the day prior the conditions were set for big winds.

After having just completed the long distance race in winds that were so light the race committee shortened the course the day prior the racers were ready to sailed powered up. The Formula Boards were up first. You know you’re dealing with a crack race committee (rc) when the head of the, RC John Craig, is on the boat. John however showed a new trick in his bag this day as he not only ran the countdown and spotted the line he simultaneously shot off the shot gun with one hand while the other hand raised the flags! Now that’s multi-tasking.

Race one for both fleets was the kind of weather you would pray for. Perfect 20-25 mph warm winds and a relatively flat bay. With a few gamblers trying a port tack start the bulk of the fleet started on starboard. The gamblers lost and lost big as the whole fleet cleared them with ease. Seth Besse was on fire. Showing a new notch of speed he absolutely dusted the fleet to the weather mark and from there only extended his lead in a proverbial horizon job. As the gun is sounding Al Mirel is trying to take Steve Bodner up as he comes up from the leeward side. Bodner not wanting to be over early tries to foot down and – pileup. Both sailors go down in the water with Mirel taking the worst of it. Somehow Mirel gathers himself and while Bodner is doing his penalty turns puts the hammer down. In what is the performance of the day (minus the dominant Besse) Mirel reels in the entire fleet and takes a second place! Los Angeles Journeyman Xavier Ferlet scores third.

Next up was the kites for race one and it was little windier than the first windsurfing race. Picking up where he left of Saturday Adam Koch blazed out to an early lead. Making the most of the course and hitting the favored port side of the course Adam cruised to a relatively easy victory with Chip Wasson and second and Geoff Headington in third.

Race two for the windsurfers and it was a little windier than the last kitesurfing race. Racers on their 10’s are starting to say hmmm maybe should have taken the 9.0. But it’s manageable. Xavier Ferlet has what looks to be a good start but after the gun the aforementioned multi-tasking rc blasts his shot gun the horn sounds followed by a scream of “XAVIER you’re over early”. Besse gets the bullet, Mirel bookends his second place from race one and Eric Christianson, who is now reaping the benefits of his 9.0, gets third. Ferlet picked up the OCS essentially ending his chances on the day having never heard the over early call.

Race two for the kites and it’s a little windier than race the last race for the windsurfers. Sensing a trend here? This race sees Chip Wasson get an absolutely perfect start. With his Ozone Edge Kite and Mikes Lab board lit up he pulls off the line in the perfect position to keep Koch behind him. Sailing a flawless race he does just that and holds on for the win. This time no one is even close to the two dueling kiters and it’s a good two minute gap back to Headington who takes third.

Race three for the windsurfers and it’s a little windier than the last race for the kiters. Now it’s just stonking windy. With outhauls pulled flat its survival time. Besse again takes the win while the rest of the fleet goes in to survival mode with one exception. Eric Christianson is now pushing Besse hard and seems to have him covered coming off the last leg. Can he ruin the perfect sweep? Besse tacks to go for the finish line what looks to be a little early and Eric decides not to cover him. Lesson when you are in the lead – tack to cover! Besse picks up the bullet, Christianson gets second and Chris Radkowski dials in his best result of the day for third place.

Race three for the kites and the windsurfers are thanking god they got to go first on the day because you guessed it – it was even windier. My compliments to all the kiteboarders who completed the third race as it was simply a spectacle to watch. The now cranking conditions have added another 3-5 mph to the wind than in the windsurfing race that had gone off just before them. Koch used all his power to grind out the win with Wasson not far behind. Headington who sailed super consistent all day rounded out his day with a 3-3-3 scoring line. Chris Brown had his best race of the day just missing the podium and coming in fourth place.

With no throw outs on the line it was a single point that separated Wasson from Koch at the day’s end. With Adam at 4 points and Chip at 5 the day belonged to the World Champ. Geoff Headinton completed the podium.

Seth Besse’s perfect 1-1-1 scoring line says it all for the windsurfing fleet. Al Mirel gets second and Eric Christianson finishes third for the day.