World's largest Kiting event coming to San Francisco

by Meredith Laitos on 9 May 2015 This summer, 80 of the world’s fastest foiling kiteboard racers will assemble in San Francisco to compete in the second stop of the 2015 Kite Foil Gold Cup tour. From July 30 to August 2, competitors will launch from Crissy Field and race along City Front, filling the Bay with colorful kites that are reaching record speeds.

“The Kite Foil Gold Cup regatta hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club (StFYC) will be the largest kite foil board race in the history of the World tour,” says Regatta chairperson Erika Heineken. “It's gonna be spectacular!”

For Heineken, the regatta represents many things. As the top-ranked female in the tour, it is a pivotal stop in her personal competition. As a native San Franciscan and a lifetime sailor at the St. Francis Yacht Club, it is also her chance to compete on her home turf. Sailing alongside her will be many Bay.

Area kite-racing regulars, including Johnny Heineken, Joey Pasquali, Ariel Poler, Kevin Growney, Steve Bodner, Daniela Moroz, Seth Besse, Geoff Headington, Chip Wasson, Haydn Fischer, Hugo Kenyon and Tyler Baeder, in addition to many international competitors.

The regatta, the second stop in a three-stop world tour, will consist of two days of qualifying races followed by two days of finals. Heineken predicts there will be enough competitors to necessitate three fleets: gold, silver and bronze. Seeding for Day One will be based on previous rankings; seeding for Day Two will be based on Day One results. All scoring will be cumulative.

The kite foils will race along City Front between StFYC and the Golden Gate Bridge. “Each twicearound windward/leeward race will take less than 15 minutes. The speeds that we’re reaching are unreal,” says Heineken.

She doesn’t exaggerate. During the first stop of the Kite Foil Gold Cup in La Ventana, Mexico, March 24-28, upwind racing speeds reached VMGs of over 15 knots for the first time. With equipment technology rapidly improving, expect to see more of that throughout the San Francisco event. According to California-based kiter, Daniela Moroz, “[La Ventana] was my first international competition and it certainly didn't disappoint. On the starting line were 43 kiters, representing 15 countries. I was one of only six women participating.”

After the July event in San Francisco, the fleet will gear up for the third stop in the tour hosted by Townsville Sailing Club in Townsville, Australia from October 8-13.

Gold Cup will feature a larger and more competitive fleet of kiters than ever before seen in San Francisco. The “dock” is Crissy Field beach, were dozens of kiters will be stationed throughout the weekend, tweaking foils, comparing gear and analyzing techniques between races. Spectators are encouraged to gather at Crissy Field during the day to watch the racing and chat with the competitors. In the evenings, there will be fantastic social events at StFYC and Crissy Field. Stay tuned for a full list of social activities.