Elvestrom- Zellerbach regatta

Some valuable lessons were learned at this weekends Elvestrom- Zellerbach regatta hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club on the San Francisco Bay.
With 4 dinghy classes and the Formula windsurfing fleet on the city front course, the RC managed 7 races for each fleet over 2 days in sunny conditions ranging from 15-20k on Saturday to a breezy last race on Sunday with the wind up to 30k and some serious voodoo chop on the course. Watching the dinghies tack up the city front where there was some relief from the 4k flood tide was a great lesson but the boards still choose to maximize their VMG and bang the corners.
After all- speed kills
Xavier Flerlet GBR-451 cleaned up the formula fleet with 6/7 bullets.
The only race left was for 2nd seeing US-44, Eric Christanson and myself, USA-4 tied on points going into the last race
Leading the final race in EPIC conditions, I held out until the last downwind on the double windward leeward course before exploding within spitting distance of the finish line.
The big lesson for me was no matter your lead, it’s not over till you cross the finish line!
At the end, Xavier stole the last bullet with the SF Formula fleet clearly in awe.
Great sailing mate.

Steve Bodner
USA-4

Full report at www.stevebodner.blogspot.com
Photo credit: Erik Simonson: www.pressure-drop.us
Results: stfyc