Rondeau Windfest 2005

A fresh strong steady Southwest breeze propelled six slalom races on Sunday May 15, after four mostly Formula course races were completed the same morning at the Rondeau Bay Yacht Club. This was the first complete slalom event in over a decade in Ontario -- and in lukewarm water!

Verteran Master Jan Wroblewki (Pryde/Hypersonic) from Milton ran away with the Slalom racing, with fast gybes and good control, but Windsor-area sailor Don Ferguson was close behind, cruising to 2nd place, while veteran raceboard competitor Bob Shuttleworth of Toronto Windsurfing club cashed in on consistent results to take 3rd overall. Olympic sailor Dave Hayes took first Youth (4th overall) folowed by first woman Andree Gauthier (5th o/a) and 2nd Youth Phil Solytsiak (6th)

In Course racing, past Windsurfing Canada Men's Champion Jan Wroblewski (again) cruised to an easy win with on Formula with an 11.0m2 sail, with veteran Andrée Gauthier coming in 2nd also on Formula. Third place went to 1st Youth Tom Soltysiak on Formula Experience gear, and 4th place went to TWC's Masters sailor Mike Tindall on the only raceboard -- taking a bullet in the first light-air race. Third Man (4th o/a) was Bob Shuttleworth (Formula), with 2nd Youth Josh Wood (6th) and 3rd Youth Dave Hayes (7th.)

A highlight was the Saturday light-air Freestyle in shallow, warm water which saw freerides, FE and raceboards alike in action. With a final high-wind series on Sunday, Phil Soltysiak won demonstrating some great moves, closely matched by Josh Wood (both youth training buddies, both of Markham, and both heading to the Gorge this summer). Tom Soltysiak showed strongly in heavier air, overtaking Adam Wood to place 3rd while Adam polished his high-winds skills for 4th place final. We don't need to mention all this fleet is Youth, and included Dave Hayes who placed 4th on Saturday ahead of some stiff competiton from adults on bigger bigger boards on the light-wind day.

Excellent clubhouse facilities, food and organization was provided by Commodores David French and Kurt Doolin of RYC, who look forward to a bigger crowd in a modified format in 2006! A small army of volunteers provided the RC and food.

The famous Rondeau Bay winds came through, on cue!

---John Darling, Windsurfing Canada