Nov 4, 2014

DAY 1

“If we get an early season front moving through, we will have some high wind racing.” Event chairman Michael Fox being quoted in Sail-World on the upcoming Worlds. His predication proved to be very accurate, more so than many of the racers had wished for.

The last two Kona World Championships were held in very light wind conditions. No prayers has softened the local wind gods in Maspalomas, Canary Islands or Trois Rivière, Quebec. At the skippers meeting not many signs indicated that this Worlds would be different.

At that point, the sea was perfectly calm and the only boards out were a few paddle boards and the first start accordingly postponed. When the AP flag finally went down the racers sailed out to the course rigged for light wind sailing. The big fleet of more than 100 sailors were divided into two, a yellow (outer) and a blue (inner) fleet.

At a given moment the sign came that the local wind gods talked two their colleagues in Canary Islands and Quebec and finally decided to grant the Kona Worlds with the most precious gift possible – wind, and lots of it!

So, when the first fleet finally was sent off it was into some very demanding conditions with winds up to 30 knots. Words like “survival sailing” and “I’m happy I got back in one piece” were heard when the sailors returned for a late lunch. The morning races were later declared abandoned due to the great change of conditions.

The afternoon left a few of the racers on shore after the rough morning. The rest had two very intense and demanding races in the strong winds where the Kona boards were pushed to the limit demonstrating its high-wind qualities. The first afternoon race saw Rasmus Sayre (USA – blue fleet) and TIm Aagesen (Denmark – yellow fleet) as winners after impressive sailing and the second Nevin Sayre and Tim Aagesen.

In the overall Tim Aagesen is in the lead in the yellow fleet and Nevin Sayre in the blue fleet after day one. Rumor says that prayers have been uttered by some of the racers to the local Islamoradian wind gods. Still unclear: What the answer has been – less or more? Tomorrow will tell.

DAY 2

The Gods must be crazy. A classical South African comedy from the early 80’s but also an illustration of the thoughts of many of the competitors after the first race day. It was point taken: “We understand. You are in charge. Please grant us with some lighter breeze tomorrow”. And, the prayers clearly paid off.

When the fleet went out for the two morning races the committee boat measured 12 to 15 knots. Perfect conditions. Those that had been put on shore yesterday were now ready for some good racing together with the rest of the fleet.

The starting order had been reversed compared to race day one and it was blue fleet that was first to be sent off on the outer course. Day one had been a family affair with father and son Sayre (USA) taking a bullet each and the morning continued in the same way with young Kevin Sayre winning both races.

In the yellow fleet Jean-Sebastian Fusère (Canada) and Joachim Larsson (Sweden) managed to take a bullet each.

In the program it was originally planned a long distance race (outside the official results) in the afternoon. The racing committee made a decision to change and continue with two more course races in instead. This was a much appreciated decision by the competitors since the conditions were perfect and gave everyone a chance to some fair and good racing.

The afternoon belonged to the ladies. Experienced Dominique Vallée (Canada) managed to secure two victories in the blue fleet. Young Andrea Holm (Sweden) won the first race in the yellow fleet. The second Danish windsurfing legend Tim Aagesen picked.

Six qualifying races have now been carried through. Today the fleet will be split into gold and silver fleet according to each competitor’s results. The top 50 will sail in the gold fleet competing for the world championship title in the final series until Wednesday when the Championships end.

DAY 3

Day three of 2014 Kona Worlds on the waters outside Islamorada in Florida Keys. After eight qualifying races the stage was set for the first two races in the final series. Altogether 54 competitors qualified for the gold fleet, 41 for the silver fleet.

It was an early rise with the skipper’s meeting already before 9 am. The atmosphere was clearly different then the two first race days. Determination was demonstrated all around the rigging area. Kona Windsurfing’s CEO, Joachim Larsson, was seen stretching his muscles, which only happens at rare occasions and a sign to his competitors to back off, and that he was ready to battle.

The communication channel with the local wind gods remained open and they granted the sailors with ideal conditions. A steady breeze of 15 – 17 knots greeted the gold fleet as it took off for the first race.

Young Rasmus Sayre, 17 years-old, (USA) continued his impressive sailing from the qualifying rounds by securing the first bullet in the final series, before last year’s Kona World Champion Björn Holm (Sweden). Rasmus’ father and multiple World Champion, Nevin, finished third. The top three served up a perfect illustration of Kona sailing – attracting young talent as well as experienced racers.

In the second race Swedish talent Andrea Holm (18 years-old) made it all the way, giving strong support to her nickname, “the speeding bullet.” The Sayre family showed further dominance with Rasmus’ sister, Solvig, taking an impressive second place. A very happy father Björn Holm, defending his own family colors, finished third turning the racing more and more into a family battle.

The podium in the gold fleet after three days of racing is exciting. Rasmus Sayre is in the lead with a net score of 12 points before Andrea Holm (21 points) and Danmark’s living windsurfing legend Tim Aagesen (22 points), just before Joachim Larsson. It is setting up for an exciting fourth day where the weather forecast tells about an increase in wind.

Kevin Gratton (USA) made an impressive performance in the first Silver feet race and secured his first bullet.

In the second race Conner Oursler (USA) won. In the overall for the Silver fleet, Conner holds on to the lead with a net score of (177 points), just before Conny Broberg (Sweden) and Artem Lavrynenko (Canada) both with 177 points.

An exciting day with big wind awaits tomorrow.

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