2000 Windfest Kingston Eastern Canadian Formula ChampionshipsA small but representative fleet of 14 Formula competitors battled in building light winds for two races; then came the big Kingston chop in 12-18 knots, whitecapping across the 2km-wide St. Lawrence River, for three more races (5 more 1-km laps to windward). The Kingston winds came through again, unrivalled in Eastern Canada. The sharp Race Committee team was organized by Kingston Boardsailing Club President ED MASON, who with Brent Helmstaedt set a perfect I-course and judged at the windward buoy . On the RC boat flagging the starts was Jean-Luc Fraikin and Ben Keefe, with John Darling of Windsurfing Canada assisting. Buffalo-area US Pro CASEY TREICHLER (Fanatic Falcon 75-ART 10.0m2) recovered
from early light wind blues to win 1st Man (6.5 pts). Montrealer MARCUS HOOPER
(AHD Diamond 78-Pryde VX3 8.3m2) did the same on a brand new Final results tabulation has given an overturn for 4th position, won by 1st Youth, 16-year old Ian Matthews of Toronto (Starboard Go, Pryde RX1 9.9m2) with two bullets in races 1 and 2 (14.5 pts.-- Ian is one of two top IMCO youth prospects, who will be representing Canada at the ISAF World Youths in Australia this December.) Nice sailing, Ian (known by the Kingston RC as the "little ripper".) 5th place (3rd Man) was Halifax native Shane Hawkins, who called about the
event last week wondering what Formula was all about. On a new 33-inch
wide-Starboard Formula he finished 2nd in his first ever outing on anything
wider than 23 inches (Pryde RX2 10m2, for 15 pts in another close finish.) Yet
another close finish in 6th place (2nd Master) with 16 pts. was On Jan's heels was 7th place (17 pts.)15-year old Mike Hayes of Toronto (Roberts 28"-8.5 Sailworks XL), another sharp young IMCO racer (who will be representing the USA! at the same ISAF World Youths --he gets around!) The four next veteran (raceboard) racers had gear problems in the gusts and chop that they will be working out soon (Dinchar Kochalar, Masao Abe, Bob Shuttleworth and Andrée Gauthier). Meanwhile, Canada's top Olympic sailors were also in attendance: Kevin Stittle was torn between racing and demonstrating some long overpowered kite jumps (warming up for Sunday's freestyle event), while Alain Bolduc showed up only for Sunday's slalom, which had to be cancelled due to heavy persistent rain and lack of wind (but Alain did get to demonstrate how a Starboard Formula-flat 9.5m2 should be sailed in the half-hour of 20-knot gusts that did blow late.) Several well-known Ontario Formula enthusiasts were absent, but next year's proposed event could be announced early to increase the fleet. Hopefully the first order of business in 2001 will be what we missed this year-- the Downwind Slalom course designed by Gary Watson, and Freestyle (with Formula racing on Sunday.) Windsurfing Canada was proud to sanction this event. We thank Event Sponsor DAVE MARSHALL of Windsurfing Kingston and John Anderson, spokesman for the Kingston Boardsailing Association, along with CYA judge Michael Nichol-Griffiths for finalizing the new Funboard Racing Rules "Sailing Instructions." Draw prizes from Neil Pryde, North Sails, F2, Trident Performance Sports, Chinook and DaKine Hawaii, as well as medals from Windsurfing Canada and genuine Kingston shale trophies from WINDSURFING KINGSTON made the event unforgettable! For details contact Windsurfing Canada 416-928-3086 <fwdsail@idirect.com> or >Windsurfing Kingston: 613-541-1189, <info@windsurfingkingston.com> John Darling, WC Chair |