Bodner reports on Day 2 Formula Windsurfing Worlds

by Steve Bodner on 12 Sep 2008 Formula Windsurfing World championships, from 8-14 September '08, being sailed at Portimao, Portugal.

Steve Bodner (USA 4) reports on Day 2:

The Portugese coast delivered for day 2 of the Formula Windsurfing World championship in Portimao with a late afternoon thermal breeze kicking in for 4 races in the 85 board mens fleet.

The side shore breeze made perfect viewing from the beach where the RC set a windward leeward course.

With the breeze building all afternoon, most sailors chose their 11.0 rigs with some flying on the 10.0 rigs.

I had some trouble dialing in my 11.0 and was either slow upwind or flying downwind, constantly trying to find the right setting. The 'big Z' was a bit much to handle but saved me a few times in tight mark roundings where I was able to keep my angle well. Some good moments of racing for me today but some of my gambles didn't pay off as well as I'd hoped - leaving me stranded near the shore waiting for the next puff to come down the course. Other times, I was completely wound downwind, exploding on race 3 - taking my first discard. So far after 5 races, I'm sitting in 34th with room to get back into the top 30 to meet my goal for the regatta.

Some noticable trends so far in the regatta: Mid line sag - with a 85 board fleet, the line is huge but the black flag has been keeping people back. I started 2 races today a full board length in front of the boards around me.

Puffs near the shore - you can get really lucky gybing around the windward mark set close to shore and carrying the breeze down the shoreline.

Thursdays forecast looks equally as good with the breeze expected to build but so far at 1:30 nothing has even filled in.

Both fleets are anxiously waiting to get a few more races in before the
fleets are split into gold and silver.

Check out the class website for results and photos, click here

www.stevebodner.com