2006 Southeast Race Series

By Paul Hansard

The 2006 Series is now in full spring swing. The Series opener was the South Florida Inlet-To-Inlet Race, or i-i. This event is a long distance race from the Port Everglades Inlet to the Hillsborough Inlet and back , a total distance of 22 miles. This year, winds were too light at the start to hold such a long race, so long distance was abandoned in favor of some shorter course races.

In contrast, the Sarasota Islandstyle Classic, which in years past has been plagued by fickle weather conditions, enjoyed ideal wind conditions of 10-25 knots. Peter Ifju (Gainesville) and local sailor Joan Pere Aguilo took top honors in Formula, while Colin Spitzer, another Shell Point local captured 4th place in Open.

At Calema Midwinters, 185 competitors enjoyed the good winds including world class sailors Antoine Albeau, Wojtek Brzozowski, Gonzalo Costa-Hoeval, Devon Boulon, Jimmy Diaz, and Phil McGain. Florida sailors Ron Kern, Peter Ifju, and Joan Aguilo placed 17th, 25th, and 26th respectively, in the fleet of 50+ Formula racers, while Ft. Walton local Lee Huels took 1st in Prodigy.

The Spring Into Liquid Regatta, a new event hosted by Liquid Surf and Sail in Ft. Walton was held March 25-26. Winds for this event were 8-20+ knots, and frequent shifts in direction favored the tacticians over the speed demons. Mike Shulman dominated the Longboard class (and the A Fleet) with four bullets and a second, while Lee Huels obliterated the beach-bound Hybrid class. In the Sport class, Shell Point local Mike Scott prevailed over Steve Harrington and Dean Ulferts with 3 aces and a deuce.

Racers at the Central Florida Windfest, held last weekend in Merritt Island, enjoyed two days of challenging conditions. On day one, slalom races were held in the 18 knot southerlies. After lunch, the race committee dutifully held two course races but abandoned these in favor of more slalom racing when the wind topped 30 knots. On day two, the committee held the Banana River Crossing (long distance), in north winds of 15 knots. Don Wagner of Miami won the Crossing, Ron Kern won the course event, and everybody won in Slalom! This is a fine event, hosted by Sandy Point and Calema Windsurfing.

The last Series event of the spring will be the Stephen Smith Regatta (Shell Point, April 22-23). Racing will resume in the fall with Juana's GoodTime Regatta (tentative), followed by Endless Summer and the Atlanta Fall Classic, and culminating with the Fall Into Liquid event in Ft Walton . Trophies will be awarded at the final event, courtesy of US Windsurfing and the Shell Point Sailboard Club. In addition to trophies, prizes will be awarded to top finishers, courtesy of Sandy Point Progressive Sports and Watersports West. Participation is easy; join US Windsurfing and race! For more information, including event schedule, series rules, and current standings, visit the Southeast Series website at www.20knotsnob.com/usw_region10.asp.