Thanks to Alex & Simone for hosting the Miami Pro Am. For those who have never organized a regatta, there is a lot more behind the scenes work than is often apparent to the participants. Getting access, promoting the event, organizing prizes, arranging details are all time consuming and take a concerted effort. Once again Alex & Simone were successful in throwing a great competition with an excellent turnout of people with two fleets showing up, Kona & Formula. Without someone organizing the event or without the participants the event will fail. Alex & Simone do a great job of making sure that the word is out so people do show up.

    The long term survival of windsurfing racing requires that people don't take events as a given. Like the organizers committing, competitors that want to see the events continue have to make commitments to show up. Most events have a rather high overhead that requires an acceptable turnout to cover the hard costs of the event. If events don't get people to show up, they lose money and won't continue to be run. It's kind of like when your favorite restaurant or business fails, they need your participation to continue, regattas are no different. I was glad to see that the Pro Am was supported so well with a great turn out of local, regional and long distance attendees. The event was a success. I'm concerned with the global weak economy, that future events may suffer. I was very thankful to see the great turn out at the Pro Am. I'm hoping that people will continue to have windsurfing as a priority in their life and show up at future events.

    The Pro Am was opened on Saturday to a modest breeze from the South, warm air and water, 80°+ for both, which was plenty for the Kona fleet to run races. Formula was on standby while Kona blasted off five tightly fought races. Formula was summoned out to the course but the breeze didn't cooperate and went back to the US Sailing Center to have dinner.

    Sunday's skipper's meeting was at 10 a.m. It was a completely new day. Three races were planned for Kona & Formula before taking a lunch break. The wind was 180° shifted from Saturday, now blowing a cooler sunny breeze into the low 20's, (mph), and a bit offshore which made for tactical racing. Those that made good decisions were rewarded. In the formula fleet, I was fortunate to be making good decisions and went into the lunch break with three bullets, followed by Fernando with two 2nds & a 3rd. Martin Abete had showed that he could be a force and rounded the last mark in 1st place but didn't invest in a stop to shed weed and couldn't hold the angle he previously had to take the win. Pete Ifju was also going well and looking strong, but fell in twice thwarting a bullet attempt. The wind in the 3rd race was weakening. During lunch it could be felt it was diminishing further. Many re-rigged from 10m & 11m sails used in the morning to their biggest sail and fin for the after lunch racing. A decision was made that the Kona fleet had gotten enough races in, 8 total, and was done for the day. Formula would run two more and call it a wrap. The course was shortened from a two lap upwind downwind to a 1½ lap race with a downwind finish. Farrah Hall who will be in S. Florida for the winter training is planning to take up formula for the season. Her skills were improving rapidly and in race four there was a near photo finish between myself and her fighting for 3rd at the boat end of the finish line while Pete Ifju, Jim DeSilva and Fernando were duking it out at the pin end. It sorted out with Fernando 1st, Pete 2nd, myself 3rd, Farrah 4th and Jim 5th, separated by mere feet or yards. Race 5 was the last and Pete Ifju got it together taking the bullet followed by Fernando, and myself. But that wasn't the whole story. There were all kinds of sub plots to this novel. The teacher/coach was battling it out with his protégé, Chris Gardiner, showing Chris he still has more to teach him. Sergio Kapul was doing very well and finished races in the money clearly showing major improvement over the last few years. He won't admit to being a racer or having a competitive drive, but I'm not sure he's not showing it! Albert Ramos was right in there handling some tough conditions and finishing the course very respectably for a newcomer to formula racing. Marius Todor although finishing last said he learned all kinds of good stuff and will come to the next race more prepared.

    Florida is a great winter spot for windsurfing. It's our season and we've got a great regatta schedule coming up with US Windsurfing National Race Tour Events. So you can plan ahead and show up, here's what's going on:

December 6-7 -- Fort Lauderdale, Inlet to Inlet Long Distance Race, I-To-I, www.i-to-i.org

January 17-19 -- Miami, Alex Caviglia Bluewater Regatta and Windsurfing North American Championship, http://www.shakealegmiami.org/site/c.kkLUJbMQKpH/b.2627363/k.94D1/Events_Calendar/apps/cd/content.asp?event_id={E4D7927E-6328-4645-AF86-4735B6F270B3}&content_id={D67DFE0C-A647-49D0-A258-8F97AD019236}&seid=

February 27-28 -- Sarasota

March 5-8 -- Merriit Island, 24th Calema Midwinters Festival, Http://www.calema.com/midwinters.php

March 14-15 -- Miami, 48 Hours on the Causeway

April 18-19 -- Merrit Island, Florida Windfest (not NRT race).

See you soon!

    Ron