OFFICIAL RESULTS - CLICK HERE!!

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF RACE

EVENT DATE AND INTRODUCTION:
The Calema Midwinters 2008 is scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 28th - Sunday, March 2nd. Racing will be held in the Banana River just off Kelly Park in Merritt Island, FL - USA AGAIN for 2008 - Racing for the Pro's/A Fleet will be three days!! Sport Fleet, Workshop and Kid's Fleets will be on Sat./Sun only as in past years.

CONTINUED FOR 2008 - a KONA FREESTYLE EXPRESSION - with a $200 cash purse -- Join the fun - $100-1st place // $75-2nd place // $25-3rd place.

RULES: The Midwinters will be governed by the ISAF Rules and the rules of Formula Windsurfing (as of 1/1/08)-- with regard to the Pro & A Formula Fleets - the specified sail size limitations and the listing of approved production equipment. New Weight Divisions will be used if more than 20 competitors in a division. Go to www.formulawindsurfing.org As in past years - the Sport Formula Fleets allow for ANY production shortboard - but is still limited to One Board/3 Sails.

Kona One Design: Must use a Kona Style board and a 7.4 Zenith sail for all competitors under 85Kg. Mast and booms are open but boom must be aluminum and mast no more than 75% carbon. Racers over 85Kg may race with a 9.0 Zenith sail.

RSX & Prodigy One Design: Must use approved equipment and sail limitations for A Fleet. Sport Fleet Hybrid may use any sail within size limitations.

OVERVIEW: The Midwinters Festival will continue its tradition of bringing together World Cup Pros, Olympic class competitors, beginner sailors and all other levels of competitor. We will have classes for all skill levels and type of equipment - A Fleet / Sport Fleet / Workshop Fleet (learn to race) // and many Youth, Junior and Kids classes to choose from. We will have an inside course for the youngest and most novice kids. The more experienced kids choose between Sport or A Fleet which are sailed with the adults on an outside courses. Whether you like racing a long or a short board, we have a class for you.

The KONA CLASS - is a one-design class (board, rig and sail) - This year's event is the KONA NORTH AMERICANS! Competitors vying for a title for Kona North Americans must register and race in the A Fleet!

An Olympic RSX class will also be offered. The RSX division will be offered as an A Fleet division only. We will offer an RSX Junior Division if there are adequate numbers of junior competitors. The Prodigy class will be offered.

CLASSIC RACING: We would like to once again attempt to bring out those "CLASSIC" boards to the race course. This is to encourage all those with Longboard equipment (pre-1995) to come out and enjoy the fun!! We are attempting to contact racers from the early one-design days of the Midwinters. They will be racing on the Sport Fleet Longboard course - so call your friends that raced back in the 80's-90's and invite them out!

FULL LISTING OF CLASSES / DIVISIONS :

A FORMULA - PRO Men & PRO Women, Men, Women, Master's 35-54, Grandmasters 55+

A HYBRID - KONA One Design Men, KONA One Design Women, KONA One Design Junior - RSX Men, RSX Women, RSX Junior - PRODIGY Men, PRODIGY Women

A LONGBOARD - OFFICIAL CHANGE AS OF 2/4/08 - THE longboard will be a 3/1 Longboard class as in past events! Please just select A Longboard on the registration form - it will NOT be a limited 7.5 class!

SPORT FORMULA (all on a shorter outside course than A Fleet - racing on Sat/Sunday only)- Men, Women, Masters 35-54, Grandmasters 55-64, Seniors 65+, Kids Fun Time Racing 5.5 limit, Kids Fun Time Racing 7.5 limit, Formula Juniors U16 8.5 limit

SPORT LONGBOARD & CLASSICS - Use of board over 11ft with centerboard -- Open 7.5, Masters 45-64 limit 7.5, Seniors 65+ limit 7.5 , 200lb + limit 9.0

SPORT HYBRID - Use of any longboard Under 11ft with Centerboard - Kona. RSX, Zen, Bic, Prodigy, etc. // Men - limit 9.5, Women limit 8.5, Juniors limit 8.5

WORKSHOP/KIDS - These divisions are for the novice sailors - restricted sail size and ages and will sail on an inside course close to shore. Workshop (learn to race), Kids U16 - limit 6.0, and Superkids U12 - limit 5.0.

ALL ABOVE CLASSES/DIVISIONS ARE CONTINGENT UPON ADEQUATE PARTICIPATON (MINIMUM 5/DIVISION).

INTERNATIONAL GUESTS: We are asking all international competitors to bring a flag from their Country to be flown at the race site - suggested size approx. 1m x 1.5m Please let us know you will be bringing a flag so we prepare a place for it to be flown!

US WINDSURFING NATIONAL RACING TOUR:
The Calema Midwinters is again participating in the US Windsurfing National Tour. We are the 2nd stop on the tour. Those racers participating in the tour must be members to receive ranking for the tour. A representative will be here if you need to update your membership. Non US competitors must bring proof of their country's membership to registration. All other US competitors - Longboards, Sport Fleet, Juniors - are encouraged to join and help our sport to grow. US Windsurfing supports junior development, racing, instructor certifications and much more! When you check in at the event, we will refund $5 to all US Windsurfing members.

MEET WORLD CUP PROS:
Top World Cup Pros will once again be in attendance - flying the colors of their sponsors. Take this chance to meet and chat with them and learn all the new ideas behind the 2009 gear.

JOIN US FOR FRIDAY'S ACTIVITIES:
AGAIN THIS YEAR - Racing for the A Fleet will begin on FRIDAY - FEBRUARY 29th (it's LEAP YEAR). We will have demo days from supporting manufacturers! Don't miss our Friday evening welcome party as well - some surprises are scheduled - as well as good food and entertainment.

BRING A FRIEND AND SAVE!
HELP TO MAKE THE SPORT GROW!! -- You can do your part by bringing someone along to Learn to race & Skills Clinic. Invite someone NEW to the WORKSHOP FLEET. They get all the fun, food and parties AND instruction, and you get $10 off your entry! (Make a note under comments on BOTH of your registrations - we'll give the refund at check in! The WORKSHOP Learn to Race/Skills Fleet is designed for those windsurfers who are already directional and want a friendly introduction to the Art of Racing. They'll work on starts, roundings, and more. Lots of fun without any pressure. A separate course close to shore will allow them to practice their new found skills. Workshop participants must provide their own equipment or they can charter. Please call to confirm charter availability and types available for Workshop Fleet.

ENTRY FEES:
Midwinter Racer's Entry Fee includes: Thursday evening Welcome, Friday Demo Days activities, Friday night welcome party, Friday, Saturday and Sunday lunches, Saturday Night Banquet, Security on site - Thursday-Sunday, event shirt, entry into all raffles and lots of great memories. Entry fee for ALL A Fleet racers is $125. All other Fleets - entry fee is $98. All non-A Fleet JUNIORS/KIDS - entry fee is $88. The Midwinters non-racer entry fee - which includes all parties, meals, t-shirt and raffles the same as the Midwinters racers is $68. T-shirts will only be guaranteed to early registrants - so sign up today! Plus save yourself the Late fee of $15 (for all entries emailed or postmarked after 2/18/08) ONLY applies to the A and Sport Fleets. There are no late fees for the Workshop Fleet, or the Non-racer. Current US Windsurfing members will receive a $5 refund off their entry fee when they check in on site.

CHARTER BOARDS:
A limited number of Boards will be available for charter. So far, we have a commitment for 30 KONA boards from Exocet - 20 will be complete one-design set ups and 10 for the Kona Open. Charter info will be on soon under event registration and a direct link from here!

SAIL NUMBERS:
All sailors must carry unique sail numbers. Those registered with US Windsurfing should have their registered number displayed on all sails. Numbers must be a minimum of 10 in. height and displayed with numbers on the starboard side higher than on the port side. Alpha numeric numbers are preferred. Recommended are either country/numeric or state/numeric designations. TO ORDER SAIL NUMBERS -- You can place your order in advance. Orders for sail numbers will be accepted ONLY through 2/20/07 - so please order EARLY! We can have them shipped to you or have them waiting for you here at the event. Order online today! Cost for black 10 in. vinyl adhesive numbers is $3/single letter or number. Example: USA2 is $12

HOTELS, CAR RENTALS, GEAR TRANSPORT AND TRAVEL:
HOST HOTEL- is the COUNTRY INN & SUITES IN CAPE CANAVERAL -- Standard room - with either one King or 2 Queens - $79/night // Suite - same bedroom option with a living room - $89/night. All rooms come with a complimentary HOT breakfast each morning. Resort has a pool and jacuzzi, fitness center, arcade, business center, laundry facilities and fresh baked cookies 24hrs./day TO BOOK: Call the front desk (ask first for BRANDY CRAYTON and mention CALEMA MIDWINTERS) -- 321-784-8500.
Out of Country guests ONLY PLEASE - email her at brandy.crayton@countryinns.com

For help with all other travel arrangements or gear transportation - please contact our travel agent - Celeno West - at 800-231-7740 or email her at celenow@contus.com

WANT TO SHARE accomodations or rental cars? - please click here for TINHO's FORUM Under News-Events - Tinho will start a topic specifically for these requests BEGINNING 1/28/08 so you can connect
Area hotels w/reduced event rates --

COUNTRY INN & SUITES - CAPE CANAVERAL (closest to Kelly Park) - call 321-784-8500.
$79 standard / $89 Suites -Out of Country guests ONLY PLEASE - email her at brandy.crayton@countryinns.com
DAYS INN - COCOA BEACH PIER - $99 Standard / $139 Efficiency -- 321-784-2550
BEST WESTERN COCOA BEACH - $114 courtyard / $145 Oceanfront & Suite -- 321-799-8640
HAMPTON INN COCOA BEACH - $119 - 321-799-4099
COURTYARD MARRIOTT COCOA BEACH - $119 - 321-784-4800!

EQUIPMENT STORAGE:
Security will be available on site starting Thursday evening and will continue through Sunday morning so equipment can stay on site throughout the event. Please DO NOT have equipment shipped to Calema without prior arrangements. NEW -- due to requests - We will have a PODS storage container on site from Feb. 15th through the event. For those coming early or having equipment shipped in prior to their arrival, please call Susie if you want to have your equipment stored in this container. CALL TO MAKE ARRANGEMENTS.

SPONSORS:
Our great sponsors for 2008 SO FAR: Brevard County Parks & Recreation // Windsurfing Magazine // Windsport Magazine // Albert Ferrer, D.C. // Fanatic // Exocet // Windgear Direct // Space Coast office of Tourism // DaKine

SCHEDULE:
Schedule will be updated periodically - please continue to check!

Thursday, February 28th - DAY - Equipment check for Formula and Formula Exp. / Charter Board Checkout
4-7pm Check In/Late Registration for Participants & Evening Welcome Party for ALL at CALEMA's shop - with LOTS of FOOD - so come hungry!
7:30 PM Skippers meeting for A fleet MANDATORY
All A FLEET Competitors MUST CHECK IN by 8:00pm 2/28/08 EVEN if pre-registered!

Friday, February 29th -- 10:00am - First A Fleet Race
11:00am -- Demo Days of Sponsors Products
6:00-8:00pm Check In/Late Registration for Participants & Evening Welcome Party for ALL - Kelly Park - Dinner!

Saturday, March 1st
8-9:30am - Last Registration & Check In @ Kelly Park (Sport/Workshop/LTW/Non-Racers)
10:00am - First A Fleet Race
10:00am - Skipper's Meeting for ALL OTHER FLEETS
11:00am - First race for all other fleets
6:30pm - Banquet - CHANGE - ON-SITE at Kelly Park - Bring your cowboy boots and be READY TO RIDE!!!

Sunday,March 2nd -- Racing all day
4:30pm - Latest start of Awards Ceremony.

ONLINE REGISTRATION IS NOW ACTIVE - CLICK HERE!! PLEASE READ NOR FIRST!