The wind gods smiled on the Midwinters the final day of the race and we were able to have three Formula races back-to-back. The seabreeze kicked in with winds at 9 to 11. I still don’t have final winners but when I do they will be posted. We also ran some Kona today. The awards ceremony will be held shortly at the park pavilion. Everyone enjoyed a sunshine-filled event with good friends. Shelley
No Formula racing yet due to light winds.
Hybrid
Alberto Campos, first
Jorge Fartan, second
Eyder Mendez Gombra, third
Kona Jrs
Mateo Vargas, first
Christopher Waldo, second
Kevin Hendrickson, third
Kona Men
Patrice Belbeoch, first
Dave Stanger, second
Steven Gottlieb, third
A LB
Deiter Reichelt, first
Saturday provided the first stand-up paddle board contest with several teams participating in this new endeavor. It provides a fun alternative to windsurfing. We were unable to have a Formula competion today, but will be posting Hybrid and Kona winners tonight. Party tonight at the pavilion at Kelly Park.
On the causeway, right above Kelly Park, a crowd of people stood on the shore of the water to watch the rocket carrying a telescope take off. It was spectacular as there was a communications van broadcasting the takeoff… It took off in a burst of flames and light, literally a half mile away from me, bursting above my head as its parts separated and its speed increase. What a wonderful perk for participating in the Midwinters! - Shelley
The first official race day of the Calema Midwitners came to a close with several Kona and Hybrid races. Formula races are slotted for tomorrow. Since races went later than expected scores for the Kona and Hybrid racers will be posted in the morning as they were still being tabulated at day’s end. Today included a bright sunshine, many sailors checking out the new 2009 gear, extolling their new and changed sponsors and getting out on the water. A social concluded the days events at Kelly Park, and many are waiting to view the Keppler telescope rocket launch scheduled for this evening out of the north skies. This was an added bonus to the windsurfers, many who travelled thousands of miles to come to Calema.
Pleasant temperatures greeted our fleet of racers this Friday morning in Florida. Races just began with Kona out on the water currently and Hybrid following.
Hi windsurfing fans everywhere. The 24th annual Calema Midwinters windsurfing races are back in full force. We have more than 100 racers from around the world here to compete, including pros and amateurs. We will try to keep you updated with activities and scores as well as wind speed on this site throughout the three-day event! Although today is the official start of the races, activities kicked off yesterday with an excellent seminar presented by professional windsurfer Gonzalo Costa Hoevel. Gonzalo shared all of his tips on winning races to an anticipatory group of racers of all levels. Some of his tips included being aware of what the other racers were doing. Always watch those ahead of you and around you, determine what kind of wind they are sailing in, and anticipate the wind around you as you move forward. He also explained how to move out of the mass and find your own place again to proceed quickly past the competition. And don’t tack as soon as you feel the wind die down. It takes too much time to tack when you could just wait for the next major gust of wind. This saves time in the longrun. After the class the surfers went on the water to practice their new lessons and the tips Gonzalo shared. I am sure his valuable and experienced advice as one of the top Formula sailors (and last year’s Midwinters winner) will come in handy today as races begin at the Calema Midwinters at Kelly Park at Merritt Island in Florida. Stay tunes for more. This is Shelley from San Francisco reporting live. (PS. If you aren’t here, why aren’t you?)
Words from the Big Kahuna:
Wow, for the 24 year, the Calema Midwinters is about to begin.
And we are also celebrating our 25th year in business. What a ride!! We have raised our 3 kids in a healthy environment, good people, great friends and our business has been a catalyst for so may great life stories. Through Calema, people have met, quite a few married, many young aspiring windsurfers have turned into world class professional windsurfers, Olympians, Instructors, or heads of companies. We have taught two generations of windsurfers, and a few times even three generations learned together. Through windsurfing many gained self confidence and life skills that will last them forever. Our Family has been living the dream and sharing it with thousands of people. Sure there have been difficulties before, and this time is no different. But when the visions of gloom and uncertainty cloud our horizons, I always remember- I am so thankful for my health and that of my family. God has a hand on that, for sure. But so does the windsurfing lifestyle.
So enjoy this event even if you cannot be here in person. I know many of you follow the event from afar, and are anxious to get all the details.
I will try and put as much as I can, but I am limited in time during the regatta. After it is all done, I can put pictures , etc..
I hope many of you can visit the Florida Space Coast, and check us out. Flordia this time of the year is incredible. Hey when I think of it, Florida is incredible ANY time of the year!! Oh By the way, Merritt Island, where we are , and the location of the Calema Midwinters, is actually a penninsula flanked by the Indian River and the Banana River. This “River Sandwich” coupled with Cape Canaveral is responsible for a unique set of circumstances that generate wind that many other places in Florida do not get.This is our best kept secret. We don’t need Hatteras or the Gorge or Hawaii. We have it all here.
Some of last year’s action:
