Florida Racing for Everyone!
photo: Jane Thompson
The 2012 windsurfing racing season kicked off strong in Florida with the Sarasota Island Style Classic and the Calema Midwinters. The Kona class had a nice turnout at both events, with a number of out of town sailors taking advantage of the ability to fly in, charter gear and race without the hassles of travelling with windsurfing equipment. The participants in the Kona class ranged in age from early teens to over seventy and included first time racers and windsurfing legends Nevin Sayre and Bruce Matlack!
The Formula class had its usual mix of local Floridians and out of town superstars. Brazillian Wilhelm Schurmann came for both events, while Micah Buzianis, Taty Franz, Paulo Dos Reis and Gabriel Brown showing up just for Midwinters. Racing was tight amongst the top pros with the top five all winning at least one race!
Sovig Sayre took first place in the women's rs:x class, her dad Nevin took first overall in Kona and her brother Raz finished first in the Techno class at midwinters!
Also in attendance at Midwinters were youth RS:X sailors Margot Samson and Lucas Gonzales who had previously qualified to represent the United States at the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships (which will be held this summer in Ireland). The RS:X fleet had more competitors this year with many of the younger windsurfers ramping up for their Olympic campaigns for 2016.
Results from the Sarasota Island Style Classic can be found at http://www.mswindsurfing.com/results.php and pictures at http://www.flickr.com/photos/54980050@N06/sets/72157629106727954/with/6790967128/
Results and pictures from the Calema Midwinters can be found at http://calema.com/events/calema-midwinters-2012/