Fernando Martinez  ARG 42                Top Formula sailor in America

Fernando Martinez: I am originally from Argentina . I came to the US to attend grad school in Berkeley , CA and ended up staying in the US . I lived 7 years in the San Francisco Bay Area until I decided to look for warmer waters. Then I asked the company I work for to transfer me to their Miami office. I feel South Florida is one the best places for water sports in the world.

RR:  So, how did you get into windsurfing?

FM: I was about 14 years old when windsurfing got to Argentina , and I couldn’t resist it. My parents bought me my first board in 1986 

RR:  When did you begin competing?

FM: I raced my first National Championship in 1986 

RR:  When did you first sail on Formula gear?

 FM: I was racing with a Mistral One Design in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2001. At every race I saw the Formula fleet pass by at incredible speeds. It didn’t take long to realize Formula was the best thing for the conditions there. It took a while until I was set up with my own Formula gear. Mike Percey helped me first with a Mikes Lab and a Windwing rig. I ended up catapulting and breaking that board in half east of Alcatraz …  

 RR:  You are pretty much considered to be the guy to beat at all the races here in Miami , what is your secret? 

FM: I think the secret is to realize that there are no secrets. It is a very complex sport when it gets to competitive stage. You play with many variables, and you need to work hard at getting good at managing the combination of all. Perseverance and spending time on the water is definitively key. Here is where everyone in Formula should be spending most of the time:

·        Your speed (a combination of gear, tune up for the conditions, and technique)

·        Your physical condition (you need explosive spurts of energy during times at races, such as starts, tacks, and when you need to get into a plane, as well as endurance to keep the optimal technique going during the entire race)

·        Your gear condition (make sure nothing is going to brake during races)

·        Your lay lines (critical in Formula racing)

·        Your starts and overall tactics during racing

·        Being able to pick the right gear for each race

If you get to work on all this and you don’t see improvements, you need to give it some time. Be patient and enjoy being in the water even if you go 5 knots slower than other people or you point a few degrees lower! It’s the best sport no matter what!

RR:  Is Miami a great windsurfing location?  Why?

 FM: It is definitively an awesome windsurfing location with an incredible group of people; you get warm weather all year round. You also get many different wind conditions. Although it is common for winds to be on the light side, there are many days of winds above 15 knots. We also get a number of days of 25-35 knot winds.. then it is just paradise.

Another great thing about Miami the opportunity to sail both on open ocean and lake-type conditions if you sail inside Bay Biscayne.

 RR:  You are going to be a Dad soon, will that slow down your windsurfing competition schedule?

FM: Probably… But I am getting ready to bring the little one to the beach often; and got an incredibly supportive wife… which helps!

 RR:  How soon do you plan on getting your little one out on the water?

 FM: Very soon!

RR:  You are riding on North and F2 right?

FM: Yes; I’ve been riding on North since 2001 and F2 since 2005

RR:  What do you think about the 2008 Formula board vs 2007?

FM: The 2007 F2 is a great board; but suffers a bit when you sail overpowered on choppy conditions; The 2008 one introduces some changes that make the board much more enjoyable in all conditions; it doesn’t require that much effort on the chop, and is faster overall.

 RR:  How about the new Warps?  They seem really nice this year........

FM: North has been consistently making improvements year after year, and 2008 was no exception. I think the hard work of the design team and the testers during 2007 paid off, and we got a distribution of power on the sails that gives you great stability and increased speed compared to last year.

RR:  Do you have any secret training you are doing to get ready for the Midwinters?  Does Antoine stand a chance against you this year?

FM: Well.. the truth is that my full time job doesn’t let me windsurf much, except for weekends. Then we need wind.. so I  am spending some time in the gym during the week, and then accumulating a great desire to windsurf for the next event… 

Hope Antoine slows down a bit this year…   

 RR:  Any parting thoughts?

 FM: Don’t be too serious about all this stuff…

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Eduardo Owen  US 01

Eduardo is owner of Next Sports, a leader in the windsurfing industry, a great sailor and a heck of a good guy!  He is always there at the beach, letting people check out the latest and coolest gear available, except when he is out tearing it up on the water!  Loves the F2 Formula, Fanatic Falcon 90, and his North Sails Warps!

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Rick randall

Rick Randall  US 089

A newcomer to the Miami scene, Rick contributes to this website, runs US Tour races in Florida and Maryland, and goes sailing in between glasses of beer.  A former Maui local, he loves his Maui Sails and custom boards from Richard Greene, and his sweet new F2 Formula also!
This guy is big and burly and likes strong wind.  Rick is the man at West Marine so when you need the hook up, talk to Rick.  More into Formula now, and likes golf, (he probably crushes the ball) but unfortunately there is not a golf course on the Rickenbacker Causeway.  The Causeway is named after Rick, by the way.

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Monica Vicente Arche

Monica Vincente-Arche  ESP 211

Monica is the sole woman out there ripping it up in Formula with the guys.  She also enjoys sailing slalom and wave gear when the wind picks up.  North and F2/Fanatic rider.

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juan Gonzales