For the record Danish/Aussie racer (Jesper Vesterstrom) won the Open division by the tightest of margins (6 massive bullets)….The Free Formula was where the real racing was happening though….more to come!

Heat 2 Results
Heat 2 – NSW Formula Series 2012

Overall NSW Formula Series (to date)
Overall – NSW Formula Series 2012

Congrats to Sam Parker in the open Barry Fawkes in the “Free Formula”, who were the most consistent in the challenging conditions.

A special thanks to the Race Officier of the day (Glenn Rumford) who really came through and ran a truely excellent days racing in horrendous conditions.

Check out NSW Windsurfing Series – Results (Excel) / NSW-Windsurfing-Series (pdf) for results from Heat 1.

Heat 2 will be in a couple of weeks at Huskisson, Jervis Bay.

Check out the following links for updates.

www.aus120.com

http://www.formulawindsurfing.org/index.php

Saturday 5th March will count towards the overall results with Prize giving straight after racing at the glamor Lake Macquarie Yacht Club remember everyone is welcome including kids.

Sunday will be a special marathon race.

Saturday. Light and raining, not a great start!

Still it didn’t deter the “learn how to windsurf” circus from coming to town, and proving to us all that the next generation is only a day away from catching the windsurfing bug, that you can never really get rid of. Anyway back to the racing…34 racers made up the fleet with the FE+ (Formula Experience Plus) becoming more popular and competitive every event. FE+ is basically using any equipment that can get you around 1 lap of a simple racecourse.

The wind eventually ticked over the 7knot minimum and we were summoned to the racecourse for the lightest race of the season to date. I can’t comment much on this race as I had a rather nasty Port/Starboard and had to limp home, but in between repairs I think Sean O’Brien (AUS-120) was winning but then Steve Floyd (AUS-222) on a new 11m North took the lead by a large margin before Sam Parker (AUS-3) on a new NP 12m tracked him down for a victory.

FE+ was won by Barry (I love the calm) Fawkes (AUS-2111) followed by Mick (I love the calm2) Saunders (AUS-149) with Glenn (I’ve still got it) Morrell (AUS-83) in 3rd.

Race 2
Similar conditions to race 1. Sam Parker won this race by a very long way – enough said. Steve Floyd and Sean O’Brien took the minor’s.
FE+ had a new winner in the form of Chris (the beard) Christensen (AUS?) with Mick and Barry close behind.

Race 3
The best conditions of the day — 10knots.
Sam and Steve continued their dominance, but finally the top 3 was broken up courtesy of Mike Nelson (AUS-12) and Remi Dunoyer on his new Maui Sail.
FE+ had its 3rd winner in 3 races thanks to Mick Saunders with newcomer John Demol (AUS-734) from Lake Illawarra and David Flanagan (AUS-057) in 3rd and 4th.
End of a really tough day for both officials and racers…

Sunday
A surprise 15knot SE wind met us at the beach. Skippers meeting completed and onto the water for what was looking like a fantastic days racing.
Murphy’s law kicked in again, with the wind dropping down to the minimum (7knots) just as the start sequence began, and so began a very long days of false starts, general recalls and general frustration as the wind constantly teased at building again.

Eventually the RO (Race officer) managed to get a successful start away in what appeared to be a building breeze.Sam Parker led at the 1st mark by a tiny margin from Anthony (Jet Star) Woodrow (Aus-808) and Brett Morris (Aus-8). Brett took the lead at the top mark momentarily from Sam before the last run to the finish, only for Sam to over lay the final gybe for the finish and allow Brett a sniff of a victory, before Sam cruelly snatched it back at the final mark, like a cat toying with it’s prey…Mitch (I going out at midnight) Stephensen from QLD reminded us how well he can sail with a 3rd. FE+ was won by Barry with Mick 2nd, but David (I’m running late) Lester (AUS-187) was the surprise package in 3rd.

After a weekend of racing in conditions that drained the life out of the both the officials and the competitors the overall results were quickly compiled for the prize giving.

Sam Parker gave everyone a lesson in racing to Win the overall title, with Steve Floyd clearly deserving 2nd and Mike Nelson in 3rd.

Top youth was the rapidly improving Nick Austen from Marmong Point Windsurfing Club at Lake Macquarie.

Grand Master winner was Tibor Ferenczy followed by Bruce Healy and Wayne Bowness.

FE+ was super close with Barry winning by a mere .25 from Mick and David Flanagan.

Thanks to or Race Officer team of Nick Nelson and John O’Brien for doing a great job in the conditions.
Thanks also to John Hurley and Tam Ting for making sure the event not only happened but we had photographic evidence to prove it.

Next event is the NSW Windsurfing Series, Heat 4, mid Jan2011.

Don’t forget to register for the Oceanic’s a.s.a.p. on www.fw-australia.com

Saturday

As we looked out over the sun drenched beach, watching the local wild life (stingrays) cursing up and down the crystal clear water, and not a breath of wind in sight it didn’t bode well for getting in any racing. The forecast of light winds from every direction on the compass was looking accurate until a perfect 15knot NE sea breeze kicked and due to some slick race management (Nick Nelson), we were on the water ready to race, well half of us were anyway.

With half the fleet opting for their largest sails (12m) it was any ones guess who had chosen correctly. Sam Parker (Aus-3) on a 10.7m, dominated from the start (boat end) for a relatively easy victory from the in form Byron McILveen (AUS-747) and Mike Nelson (AUS-12). The FE+ fleet was won by James Farley (AUS-173) who clearly benefited from the Friday tuning session huh? Race 2 – Bizarre! Race started in 15 knots but faded as the race went on with the lead changing so many times I lost count. From memory Rick Murray (AUS-4) on his new North’s was 1st at mark 1, with Mike Nelson 1st at mark 2. Then I think Chris Ting, Remi Dunoyer, Bryon, Brett and eventually Steve Walsh (AUS-55) leading at the last mark. Then the wind at the finish died completely bringing the entire fleet within 50m of each other for the drift off to the finish. Brett Morris (AUS-8) won the lotto in the open with Andrew Rogan (AUS-311) clinching the FE+ division.

The wind died as quickly as it came in, and with the Lightening only a few km away racing was called. Next stop – Husky RSL. Tip for next time. Be at the RSL before 6pm if you want to order the lamb shanks. There are some photos floating around of Saturday night, just not sure all the animated partners want them to be aired?

Sunday

Racing bought forward to 10am, which is very un-Australian as was the 13degrees and rain. Anyway with a 25knot Southerly front predicted to hit and die quickly, we were all a little surprised to see no wind at all. Luckily for us the RO (Nick Nelson) again proved his experience and has a course set up waiting as the wind filled in. Race 3 was in steady 10-12knot, with flat water. On large sails we flew around the course with Sam taking his 2nd victory from Brett and last years winner Steve Floyd (AUS-222). FE+ was won by Mick Saunders (AUS-149) from Sunday racing specialist Adam Craven (AUS-032).

Race 4 was delayed to give everyone a chance to change sails as the full force of the southerly finally hit. With 25knots, Brett (with the smallest sail in the fleet) won easily. In the FE+, Tim Ford (AUS-71) made it 4 different winners from 4 races. Amazing how competitive the FE+ fleet has become. Race 5.

With Sam and Brett equal on points but Brett in front on a count back, 1st home would take out the Heat. The pressure was on. From the start Brett was in front and covered Sam all the way around the course only to blow a jibe and offer Sam the opportunity to win the race, which he gracefully accepted.

Tim Ford won the final FE+ race extending on his Heat 1 form. All in all if was a bit of a crazy weekend, but with lots of racing and that is what counts. Huge thanks to Nick Nelson for his continued support of the only southern event on the calendar. His RO experience made the most of the very difficult conditions all weekend. Thanks to Chris (Sam and Ruth Parkers father) for being super helpful on Sunday, even if he believes rain and cold are normal – he’s from England! Thanks to everyone else how helped during the event.

Next Heat is Lake Macquarie 13-14 November 2010. Meeting at Valentine. www.storm-riders.com.au for details.