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

If you haven’t already, head on over to the Official Event Website for the 2009 Oceanic & Australian FW Championships at Ramsgate Beach, Sydney where you can find all the results, photos, and news from the event. www.FW-Australia.com

We now have an extra special Photo Gallery available here on Storm-Riders for the event with 239 new and unseen photos from the event (which aren’t available on the Official Event Website) all thanks to our trusty Tam Hohnberg behind the lens! [ FW Nationals Super Gallery ]