New Severne Raceboard sail

I got a new Severne 9.5 Raceboard sail two days before the Dam Jam. The cut is slightly different than my previous sail, and it now features more monofilm and less of the x-ply material that used to be used throughout the sail. The new sail also adds a 4th camber inducer (3 above the boom, 1 below). It feels a bit crisper now and is probably a bit lighter. I still need to adjust the cam and batten tension a bit to improve the rotation, but this is common with any new race sail.

I hope to have everything ironed out with the sail for US Nationals in Worthington, MN in a few weeks.

Check out some pictures of the new 9.5 as well as some of the previous model.

My previous 9.5 Raceboard sail (2012 model year)

New 9.5 Raceboard sail (2014 model year)

Gliding downwind in light wind

Heading upwind in a stiff breeze. US292 is on a 2012 9.5 Raceboard. I'm sheeted out a bit to bear off since the puff lifted us above the layline.

Dam Jam

Dam Jam was fun last weekend. Saturday was light very shifty wind that saw the fleet really mixing it up throughout each race. Alex Monroe and Adam Anderson were consistent in keeping their speed and finding wind throughout the day and each won two races, with Alex holding a 1-point lead over Adam at day's end. I struggled with finding wind at times and only managed one top-3 finish, but at least it was a bullet in race3.

Sunday was forecast with more wind that was set to build throughout the day. The first race (R6) I had to overcome a poor start to salvage a fourth place as Peter, Adam, and Alex checked out on the rest of us. The wind got over 10mph by R7 and I finally got my act together to win the race. R8 had more wind and Adam and I duked it out to the finish in a strong puff as we tacked to the starboard layline to finish. Adam was higher into the wind and had to push off the wind to get down to the boat (low end of the line) while I was lower and right on the layline sailing more comfortably. But he hunkered down through the puff and held me off at the finish.

R9 had probably the most wind of the regatta (gusts to 20) and me and Don Atlmeyer got to the upwind mark first. We caught a great puff coming around the mark and were able to plane all the way through the next two reaching legs. I was able to hold off Don for the bullet. R10 was also windy and Adam and I got a good start to lead at the top mark. I shifted gears quicker for the reaching legs and took another bullet.

With 10 good races in the books, my brother Adam Anderson took home the Dam Jam title. He sailed well both days and had very few mistakes. I dug too big of a hole for my title hopes on Saturday but was able to sail well enough Sunday to tie with Alex, and win the tiebreaker (most bullets) for 2nd overall.

RESULTS:    A Fleet    |    Kona    |    Sport

Click HERE for pictures from the 2014 Dam Jam, courtesy of "Low Boom" Larry Reed.

Up next is US Windsurfing National Championship in Worthington, MN

Saylorville Dam Jam

More wind at the 2013 Dam Jam: Slalom sailing on a 7.8 Reflex2 with 75cm wide iSonic
* Photo by Steve Callaway

The Saylorville Dam Jam had great wind again. We had 10-20 mph winds Saturday and did 7 course races on a triangle course. I sailed my new Phantom 377 with the Severne 9.5 Raceboard for all the triangle races.

In the lighter winds in the morning my brother, Adam, was able to post a 2-1-1 on his 270L Mega Cat 380 and Kevin Gratton posted a 1-2-2 on his Equipe2 and Raceboard 9.5. I was able to nip at those two a bit, but they usually got too big of a lead off the start line due to some poor tactics and pre-start planning on my part. So I ended up with a 3-3-3 in the morning, needing to rely on good downwind speed to get into third place after windward roundings in 4th - 6th place.

After lunch the wind increased and I was able to grab a bullet in R4 with Adam (2nd) and Kevin (3rd) in hot pursuit. Kevin was right back in it for R5 and sailed a great first upwind to run away with the bullet and I was able to maintain a 2nd place ahead of Adam in 3rd. Don Altmyer, Alex Monroe, Niles Book, and Wayne Anderson continued to mix it up for the next several spots.

In R6 I was finally able to sail a solid upwind leg and round the windward mark in the top three. A quick first reaching leg got me out in front and I extended the lead early in the 2nd reach leg. But then the wind backed off and I ran the rhumb line low to the leeward mark. But Kevin stayed higher with his later rounding and used a puff from the top of the course to ride down on me and overtake me at the leeward mark. After a tight rounding and some grinding it out upwind we sailed together into a very large gust on starboard tack as we approached the port layline to the finish. I was able to muscle through the tack quicker than Kevin and punch out from beneath him into the lead as we crossed the line. I was happy with another 1st place, with Kevin in 2nd and Adam came charging in from the right side of the course on starboard to get a close 3rd place.

At this point (6 races in), Kevin led with 8 points on low point scoring, followed by Adam with 9, and me with 10. The wind was building even more into the upper teens and I was hoping for another race, and the committee called one. Adam and I got a jump on the fleet by hitting a great start right at the boat. I was slightly ahead and Adam was slightly behind but to windward. I managed to get to the upwind mark first, just ahead of him, pulled the track back, and blasted away on my batwing tail. My gps read 28.9 mph after the race - not too shabby I think. I was able to get a strong first place, with Adam in 2nd, and Kevin making up the top 3. I found out later that Adam got his mast track pedal stuck down on the first reach and wasn't able to get that rectified until the first jibe or else he probably would have made me work harder for the bullet.

So after 7 races, Kevin, Adam, and I were all tied with 10 points. I fortunately had the tiebreaker with 3 bullets while they each had two.

Saturday night we had a good time at the floating bar at the marina and then camping. We had a little rain but not much compared to the heavy storms we've had in the past.

Sunday morning had more wind with 15-25 by the time a course was set. I took out my 7.8 reflex2 and 75cm wide iSonic 121. It was a great setup for the figure 8 slalom, and I posted a 2-1-1 on the day to secure the Dam Jam victory for the 5th year in a row. Adam beat me in the first slalom race so I can't be too disappointed in that because he was on fire also with his 7.8 evo3 on a 80cm F2 Hornet. Adam came in 2nd at the event, and Kevin Gratton rounded out the top 3.

Here is a link to the regatta report on the MOWIND page. Here is a link to the RESULTS.

Here is a Picasa photo album. All photos courtesy of Steve Callaway.

Dam Jam 2013

Worthington Video

The Daily Globe interviewed Adam and I after the race in Worthington. They have some nice video clips worked in from the action on the water.

http://www.dglobe.com/event/article/id/57861/group/Regatta/

Worthington Wrap Up

Great sailing again on Sunday. Winds were 20-30 mph and I sailed basically the same thing as yesterday to win 3 out of 4 course slalom races today. iSonic 121 with 40 cm fin, but today I switched down to a 7.0 Reflex3 because the wind was higher and more filled in, and the reaching legs were longer so more emphasis on speed. Adam sailed his 7.8 on the Hornet again and was tight on me in races 1 and 2 and beat me out in race 3. He took 2nd place in the event.

Check out the summary on the MOWIND page, and also check out the regatta coverage at the Worthington Daily Globe. They even have a nice Photo Album and I inserted some pictures below.

I also put some GPS tracks at the bottom of this post.

Results:  A Fleet  |  Kona  |  Sport  |  Workshop

Worthington Daily Globe Images

Cruising on Sunday

Powering up to run at the start line

Starting on port tack

One of the performances for the Unvarnished Music Fesitval

Spectators for the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Unvarnished Music Festival

GPS Tracks: Saturday's GPS results and Sunday's GPS results.

Saturday - Races 1 & 2

Saturday - Races 3, 4, 5 (a bit more shifty on the inside jibes near shore)

Sunday - Races 6-9. I took one long run to the west end of the lake and back between  R8 and R9, and did 23.94 knots fora one nautical mile stretch.

Worthington Updates

I posted to the MOWIND site.

http://www.mowind.org/wp/?p=1765
http://www.mowind.org/wp/?p=1767

Great racing today with Adam, me, and Steve Johnson sailing the same
course slalom gear that we used at Dam Jam a few weeks ago, since the
wind was in the 15-30 mph range. Very gusty and shifty too.

I was on the Starboard iSonic 121 with a 40 cm fin and a 7.8 Severne
Reflex2. Adam was on a 145L F2 Hornet with a 42 cm fin and a 7.8 Pryde
RS-R. Steve Johnson was in his Starboard formula 155 and a Loft sail.

We did pretty well against the longboards, usually trailing to he
first upwind mark, catching up through he reaches and jibes, and then
holding our own on the long upwind leg to start he second lap. If the
wind was particularly shifty on the upwind legs the longboards could
get back in the mix. It also made a big difference how the wind lines
up going through the reaching legs. If the wind was up towards the
beach it was easy sailing. But if the wind was down or really gusty it
made the reaching legs much much slower.

More wind forecast for tomorrow.

Worthington Regatta this weekend

The Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Unvarnished Music Festival is this weekend.

The NOAA forecast calls for fantastic 15-30 mph winds for Saturday and Sunday!

The city and people of Worthington are gracious hosts and make this a great event for windsurfers and non-windsurfers alike. Check out some of the press they are already doing leading up to the event:

http://www.dglobe.com/event/article/id/57727/group/Regatta/

More updates through the weekend...

Enhanced Dam Jam Photos

I cropped and applied effects to some of my favorite pictures from the Dam Jam and posted them to a Picasa Album.

Dam Jam 2012 enhanced photos

Here are a couple of favorites:

7.8 ReflexII with iSonic 121

Me following Adam into a jibe, with Don already around

Me and Adam blasting down a reach during course racing Sunday

Dad approaching a jibe during course racing Sunday

Adam reaching to the beach after slalom racing Saturday

Dam Jam Results

UPDATE: The Official Results are in!
A Fleet  |  Sport Fleet  |  Kona Fleet

Dam Jam report

I posted a summary to the MOWIND site.
http://www.mowind.org/wp/?p=1704

Photo album:

Picasa Web Album

Dam Jam 2012

Races and Gear:

We raced several kinds of courses this weekend. I won both of the triangle course races using my Starboard Phantom 380 with Severne Raceboard 9.5 on Saturday morning. Next, I won five out of the seven slalom races Saturday afternoon on my Starboard iSonic 121 and Severne Reflex3 7.0. On Sunday we did three races on an "M" course (upwind leg, followed by four reaches with three jibes down to a leeward mark, 2 laps), and I scored a 2-1-5 in those races on the iSonic 121 and Severne Reflex2 7.8. My brother, Adam, just beat me in the first "M" course race on a similar setup, and in the third "M" course race the wind was lighter and fluky so the raceboards were able to beat the slalom setup.

Setting up before the first "M" course race Sunday

Severne Reflex2 7.8

Coming in between slalom races Saturday, Severne 7.0 Reflex3

I finished first overall with 8 bullets in 12 races, and a 2 and a 4 as my other scores (two throwouts).

The next race for me is in Worthington. Both Worthington and the Dam Jam are part of the US Windsurfing National Race Tour.

Door County Results

It's been a busy month, but I finally got the results posted for the Door County Breeze and a couple of pictures on the MOWIND report.

Final Scores:  A Fleet,  Sport Fleet,  Workshop

Day One at Door County

Day One leader Alex Monroe, US292

Wisconsin had strong winds Thrusday and Friday, blowing itself out for the start of racing on Saturday. We were for postponed for a few hours, but at least the weather was sunny and there is plenty to do in Ephraim. I personally went and got a fantastic Russian sandwich from the Second Story restaurant at the old post office down the street.

The lake breeze didn't fill in as we hoped but Steve and Ann on RC still made the wise call to send us out for some quick races despite the light winds. We got in three windward-leeward two-lap courses in quick succession. Alex Monroe paced the fleet with very quick upwind sailing and a nose for the wind. Andy Gratton and myself mixed up the rest of the top 3. Alex has two firsts and a second, I have a 2-3-2 for a score, and Andy had a 3-1-3.

Race 1 I was over early and happy to salvage a 2nd place.

Race 2 I lined up for a port start with the wind coming in hard from the left (westerly, the forecast lake breeze direction) only to have a competing puff come in from the launch shore (the right) and lift the starboard tackers. Andy and Alex were off like a shot and I had to work to get into 3rd position.

Race3 I had a good start and was able to get upwind quickly, just not as quick as Alex. I followed him around the course making ground downwind but losing ground upwind.

The new Phantom worked well in the lightwinds as did the Severne 9.5. Everything felt much better than the last light wind race I did (Saturday at Worthington). I just need to pay more attention to my starts...and get some upwind tips from Alex ;)


Door County cake at the event dinner

Racing was followed by a delicious supper right at the race sight. Jan and everyone always do a great job with that.

Later I watched the Fish Creek fireworks from the balcony of the Cookery while having some cherry pie.

More racing tomorrow...

2011 Worthington Scores

Complete scores are available HERE.

Click HERE for the MOWIND regatta report.

Jeff Hegwer's Handmade Trophies

Check out the handmade trophy that Jeff Hegwer created for the event. I think he has been doing this since 2003. Very unique. He even made me a SUP paddle a few years ago that is gorgeous. I'll try posting some more pictures of his trophies from previous years when I get a chance.

For now, I found this article online:
http://www.globegazette.com/news/local/article_9640075a-c3b9-11df-b195-001cc4c002e0.html

Jeff, great job by you and your team with every aspect of the event this weekend. Keep it up!

Arden, EL-11

Worthington Wrap Up

Day 2 featured shifty and gusty 5-15 mph winds. Sailors needed to balance their tactics between capitalizing on opportune shifts/gusts while staying cautious about not over-committing to one side of the course.

The course for the day was a 2-lap "P" course, basically a box with a set of jibes on the way down the outside leg. There were a lot of lead changes and position scrambles in each race, especially on the long upwind from the lee mark to the windward mark at the start of the second lap.

Andy Gratton did the best job of navigating the winds today and won the regatta title. Adam Anderson contiued his strong sailing for second place. I managed to do better than yesterday but still couldn't keep pace with Andy and Adam. But I did sail well enough to get into third place.

I will post complete results once I receive them.

Next up is Door County Breeze over the 4th of July weekend.

Arden, EL-11

Worthington Update 1

We will be starting Day 2 racing at Worthington soon. Looks like about 10mph winds on the course. I'm hoping for better results than yesterday.

Alex Monroe (3rd and 1st place finishes Saturday), Adam Anderson (1st and 3rd) and Andy Gratton (two 2nd's) are tied for the lead. I have a DNF in race 1 as my cams popped off my mast on the third leg. Didn't have enough downhaul tension as I was trying to create a deep pocket for the light winds. Race 2 I got 4th position after chasing Andy Gratton all the way around the course only to have Alex steamroll past on the last leg...he was on such a roll he even caught and passed Andy. Adam also caught me on the last leg as I had gone left on the last beat (trying to get lucky to catch Andy and Alex so I split tacks) and Adam went right.

The Saturday races were exciting even though the wind was very light. You had to stay on your toes to keep in the better wind, avoid holes, and respond to the shifts. Lots of positions exchanged throughout both of the races.

Day 2 at Dam Jam

We had another fantastic day of racing at Dam Jam, running four slalom races on a figure 8 course. Winds were about 15-25+ through the morning and the skippers meeting but diminished a bit and got more gusty as the wind veered south as racing approached.

I rigged a 7.5 to go on my isonic121 and put on a big fin to help with the lulls. The first race started during the largest lull we saw all day so I schlogged for the first leg but finally got going at the jibe mark. The puff was short lived because I was back to schlogging for most of the second leg as well. 3rd leg (of 4) the wind finally filled in a bit so I was able to make up some ground especially by working through the lulls to stay on a plane until the next puff. Managed to pull put a 3rd place I think.

To deal with the large lulls on the course and shifting wind conditions I decided to grab the Mega Cat longboard for the next race. I didn't make the change-over quick enough and ended up a bit late for the start. I got caught up with the fleet on leg two, but ended up losing time again when I fell off the board while trying to adjust the mast position...more familiarity with the board will help avoid this. I think I finished in the middle of the pack.

The next two races I was able to get my act together and be ready on time. It was fun sailing the longboard all powered up through the slalom course. Pulled off two bullets and was able to wrap up the regatta title.

Arden, EL-11

End of Day 1 at Dam Jam

Done with racing today. More tomorrow. Pic of Mike Fox with my brother, Adam.

We did 3 races after lunch. I was late for the start of R4 but clawed back to get within a couple of feet of Don to finish 2nd. R5 I fell on the inside jibe while in a comfortable lead - doh - and Adam capitalized on it to take the win with me in 2nd again.

Last race, R6, most the fleet went to the right but Peter Hartwhich went towards the launch on the left and murdered us upwind. He ran away with the win after that. My Dad, Wayne, rounded the top mark in 2nd by going left early with Peter but faded through the rest of the course. Adam and I split tacks on the last upwind with him getting the better of it, finishing 2nd with me feet behind in 3rd.

I think I am in first place right now and Adam and Don are probably 2 and 3 in some order and Robin and Peter are probably 4 and 5.

Arden, EL-11

First Day at the Dam Jam

We woke up to rain at the Dam Jam, but that went away by 9:30 and then the sun came out and the wind filled in. We did three races this morning in about 10-15 mph winds. I felt pretty good on the Mega Cat and won the first race with some room to spare but had to eke out races 2 & 3 as Robin and Don were right in there.

Kona fleet made it's debut for MOWIND and had 9 racers. Nice tight racing in that fleet. Looks like fun.

We came in to break for lunch and are headed back out soon. I attached some pictures of the launch, command central, and some of the sailors.

Arden, EL-11