Sunset Sailboards San Francisco

A new beginning or the beginning of the end? Yesterday was my first foray into formula windsurfing.  I'm not a racer, and most people would characterize me as a classic under-rigger.  I like to sail small sails, milk them for power, maximize glide, and practice freestyle.  I generally like flatter, finesse-oriented sails, and while racing does require a lot of finesse and technique, the "power sailing" element of racing is dimension that I'm not really that used to.

With the 2011 US Windsurfing National Championship in Berkeley this year, my windsurfing home, I thought it might be fun to participate.  There will be three disciplines:  formula, slalom, and freestyle.  My initial intention was to do all three.

I'm pretty comfortable with freestyle, and I've been putting in a little bit of time on the slalom stuff.  I got a couple of Fanatic Falcons and a Maui Sails TR-7 XT 7.0, but until yesterday I had never been on a modern formula board nor sailed a big double luff race sail.  My TR-7 XT 10.0 had been sitting in my board room since February, and I finally rigged it for its maiden voyage yesterday.

Suffice it to say that I pretty much got my ass kicked.  I can chalk it up to the wind or the fin or whatnot, but I did not feel that comfortable, and I only made one jibe.  I had taped up a hole on the bottom of my board, so I could sail yesterday, but the tape started peeling, so I had to come in after 20 minutes which truth be told was a relief.

I put the formula stuff away and took out my 7.0 and was lit and had a great time.  Never before had the 7.0 felt so small and maneuverable.  I even switched down to Sofien's 5.2 Loco and Twin Tip 90 later, which really felt weird after being on 10.0.

I'm still not a racer, but I am looking forward to my next 10.0 sesh

Tubamancha:  what/where the hell is that?  This seldom-sailed spot is neither secret nor stealthy; obscure is a better description.  "Tuba" is actually a surf-sailing break at the mouth of the Drakes Estero in the Point Reyes National Seashore, located between Limantour and Drakes Beach.  Non-specific forecasting, blustery offshore winds, a two mile hike, a reputation for great white sharks, and lots of uncertainty make this spot fall far off the radar for most Bay Area windsurfers.  With the advent of wind forecasting, webcams, and real-time wind reports, most windsurfers opt for the sure thing, hedging their bets and going to where you know you won't get skunked.

Some days you just feel a little more adventurous, craving that uncertainty and the prospect of new experiences.  Throw in a few eager friends, a willingness to work for your turns, and a few extra dollars for a bridge toll and the long drive north, and see what you end up with.

This was my third trip to Tuba.  My first trip wasn't so successful; I was totally OP'd on a 3.7 and 62l wave board... I never made it more than a few hundred yards upwind from the Limantour Beach launch, a mere fraction of the two-mile upwind trek to the breaking waves.  "Spooked" best describes my experience on that day.  There is so much wildlife in the water.  You can see tons of seals and birds galavanting around, but it's the sea life you can't see that's most intimidating and recalls imagery of National Geographic Blue Planet commercials... you know, the one where the shark breaches and snatches a bird out of the sky.

My second trip to Tuba was similar.  BHO (barely hanging on) conditions on a 4.2, grinding upwind for half an hour just trying not to get catapulted and get converted into a link in the food chain.  At least that time I made it all the way to the break, got some waves, and survived to tell the tale.  An experience for sure, but not epic wave riding... more like survival sailing.

The wind was a little lighter this trip, and there were great waves and tons of familiar faces.  I was still overpowered and spooked at times, but there was enough positive energy internally and in the air that I had a great time.

Pics below are courtesy of Joyce Luu via The Human Catapult.  Check out his account of the journey here.  Also, I posted an old clip of Tuba below the pics.  This is an excerpt from one of my favorite windsurfing videos, Quake on the Gold Coast, which is also posted below.