Spring has sprung. Time to hang up the skis and surfboards, crawl out of our caves, and head off to Crissy. The Notice of Race is now live for the 2019 St. Francis YC kite series.
Mark your calendars!!!!!
April 18 | May 2, 16, 30 | June 13, 27 | July 11, 25 | Aug 8 | September 5, 19
Last night kicked off the first St Francis YC Thursday Night Kite for the season. We could not have asked for better conditions. Fog in the distance at the north end of the bridge but perfect sunshine and steady wind on the course and at the beach. 27 racers flying around the course on 11M kites, with perfect power was a great way to kick off the season.
Race one started slightly boat favored with a very compact fleet as the ebb compressed everyone towards the boat, but clean start and off and running. We had wind all the way to the beach which mad for some really good racing. Those who managed to tack and clear the fleet prior to getting into the flood current at the beach made out the best. At the windward mark we saw Joey Pasquali (2,1,5), Nico Landauer (3,2,1), and Even Hefferman (1,22,4) hitting the windward mark within 1 second of each other. On the down wind there was a little bit of a fluky light spot just to the west of Anita. Those that were able to hold it low through there were rewarded by the early flood and south bend to the wind off crissy and in front of the YC. Most of the fleet did two jibes down wind, I think Joey and Stefaans may have made it in a single jibe to the outside gate.
Race two was very similar with the exception of the start, still boat favored but with the cobwebs shaken loose many more in the fleet where really pushing their line sights. At the windward mark those that ended up calling their lay line early had a little bit of a surprise at the windward mark with ebb switching to flood in the last 50 ft up to the mark.
Race Three was really a repeat but this time giving a major advantage to those who could tack off to port earlier and stay out in the stronger flood and avoid the swirling current and wind to the north west of Anita.
All in all a great night and looking forward to the rest of the season.
