Upper Kanaha.  4 of them about 6 foot apiece, swimming in the swell about 2 feet
over my head in the wave shoulder I was about to grab.  They saw me and ran. 
Guess I was not very appetizing?

It was light at the Miami Pro Am but Kona managed to complete 7 races in shifty
wind conditions. The Clydesdales dominated with Steve from Sandy Point sailing 6
2nd places and 1 first take first place in the event. Perhaps that extra weight
gave him an advantage? Kona Man and Bruce M battled it out for 2nd place with
much yelling back and forth on the course. 2nd was tied at the end but Kona Man
took it due to a collision on the course initiated by Bruce. The beverages and
food kept coming thanks to Miami Windsurfing, and we partied til we were thrown
out of the Yacht club.
  Next event is the I-I, Dec 5th and 6th, then the 2nd in the Kona Series on Dec
12th.

Wind S at 5-10, waves up to head high.  Wind was too light for lots of
frontsides like Sat, but the backsides were long and strong....  Another fine WS
sesh in paradise.  Lots of surfers out.  Waves topped out at shoulder high.

hammy is the name of my son's friend's hamster.. but now it is also the name
of...

finally got a session this sunday morning, went to hobe sound and found waist to
head high ne set waves and se winds 10-18.  session started powered mostly but
wasn't getting quality  waverides with high tide influence setting in.  then it
got a bit lighter,
anyway when winds filled back in i was able to get upwind pretty easily so
worked towards the whitewater i was seeing further south(upwind).   as i was
getting close it was becoming obvious the inside was getting smoother and at the
outside peak further upwind  was so smooth yet windy and the setwaves were so
much cleaner and better formed there, smooth long sloping troughs and clean
consistent vertical peaks, it was looking like a true secret spot.

on the beach there were hundreds of different birds at this deserted secret
spot, resting from the gorging they were doing just offshore, and a hundred
birds were actively working over the smooth waters, mackerel ladyfish jacks
pilchards were all in this poupouri adding to the magic of the moment.. my first
run outside the peak was powered up and i think when going fast i rarely look
back, but for some reason i did, and there was hammy.  actually hammy's fin,
standing up about to my waist, he/she had popped up predator style, with speed
tracking me just behind, i was able to gain some distance and just had my
outside transition to look forward to.. i never saw the hammer head, only the
body and most notably, fin.  i guess it to be a hammerhead because they have a
distinctly taller dorsal fin, and waist high would translate to a ridiculous big
shark of most other species.  hammerheads also have smaller mouths relative to
their size, but make up for it with frisky bad behavior when aroused, and the
speed hammy showed was frisky aroused..  and would probably visit me again if i
stayed in the area.  now i had focused on transition  then getting in and didn't
time up with a set(not a good time to stall on the outside) but saw one behind
me that was so beautiful... that i had to go back out upwind into hammy zone
because i had to get atleast one of those beautiful, secret spot worthy, waves. 
so i did, nice vertical down the line wave, multiple turns, great speed on the
face, and then sailed downwind and worked the public beach upwind edge of the
guarded zone, it is a nice wave there too, but not nearly as the one i had
left.. got several rides, came in.

    the hammerhead behavior, popping up behind with fin out and trying to chase,
is something i have seen before, the shark was smaller, and actually came up
right behind a sailor i was just behind so saw it really clearly but she never
saw it or realized till i told her later on the beach(and explained why i was
yelling out there).   anyway, it is a rare pleasure to experience such thrilling
events, as windsurfing provides for us, and use our sport both to get us into
and out of those moments.  Best wishes, john in jupiter

Hey guys! Dave Oltman here.  I've got some more photos from the Florida Wave
Challenge for you.  They're not as good as the Bombace's photos, but they're
better than a kick in the head.  I got some decent shots of jumps and other fun
stuff so check 'em out:

http://sports.webshots.com/album/575628633uiyeCA

Dave O

Time for Jetty or Cherie.  Jetty should be better if the wind turns even more. 
Plus, it has a better break at high tide.  I'm leaving in the next 1/2 hour.

Puts optimal wave sailing at 3pm until dark.  Hope the wind does what it's doing
at the buoy by then.  cheers.

# 1 for a great sand bar.  # 8 for a slight bend in the dune line and the bottom
for maybe a better break?  We'll see, I've got to do some chores first b4
trying.  Too bad high tide is about 2pm or so....

Waves were head high and breaking left forever.  7-10 of those in a row would
have gotten me to the pier.  Wind was 10 degrees side off at about 6-12 mph. I
used my 7.5 sail and Kona.  Sailed for about 3 hours and Chris Laurie showed up
about 1/2 hour before I quit.

BTW, there is a used 11'5 Carbon edition up at Sandy Point.  It's been slightly
used and is going for $1600.

Maybe Jetty if the tide is messing with it too much points south.  Jetty could
be side off, maybe that's a good thing?  Dunno til we go....

Lower tide surf with lots of push.  Rips every 200 feet made getting out strange
at times.  Get in a rip and zoom out.  Wind had fallen off so much that getting
out without the help of the rip was hard going. Yet, once out, the rips would
screw up the surf to make weird close outs or very short shoulders going right.

Lefts were forever long though.  That's when I had the most fun.  Paid for them
with lots of chunky, funky rights to get back upwind.  Overall, what a day.

6.8 sail 11'5 Kona nicely powered with slightly overhead waves.  Tide was wrong,
but the waves still had some fun in 'em.  Plan to go back for an afternoon sesh.
Low tide is 4pm.  Park closes at 5:45 ish.

Might have to hit the repeat button this morning b4 work.

NNE wind about 11-14 mph. That's about 40 or so degrees onshore. Waves up to
head high.  Low tide.  It all worked pretty well for an brief sesh after work.
Wind had some onshore to it, but the backside rides were pretty fun.

Constant vigilance.

November issue http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/0c5c4023#/0c5c4023/1

Beth Winkler , PWA Turkey chronicles . part 1

Aug 3, 2009     The beginning of a fantasy come true.Twelve years of traveling, four quadrennials competing on the Olympic Windsurfing trail has blessed us with many friends far and wide. Although the Olympic dream has been long past the friends remain... http://www.windsurfingtour.com/?p=857

I've heard there are more photos to be released as soon as 2 certain magazine editors decide which ones they need for probable future articles. A video is in the works. http://www.floridawavechallenge.com/

New Formula boom development by : Peter Ifju ( the I-Boom )

After thoroughly testing my new "I-boom" I have determined that I will never go back to a traditional design for formula racing...  http://www.windsurfingtour.com/?p=906

WindSurfing magazine's Facebook Fan page offers a daily digest of news, videos and more. http://www.facebook.com/windsurfingmag

Finally, here's some potty humor that I'm sure will amuse. Honestly, i found it on a windsurfing forum. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czyLRX430qo

--- In ecfw@yahoogroups.com, swivelpush <no_reply@...> wrote:
>
> Once I make it to Vero on Vet's Day, I will be looking to purchase equipment. 
For starters, I am looking for a 7.0 cammed sail that's in good shape and early
or pre-loose leech.
>
Newer North sail that fits on a 460 will do.

 
 
   

Somehow, the surf got larger on Sunday. Well overhead, maybe even logo high.  Wind was nil when I got there, but it switched on at about 1pm.  Side Onshore about 30-40 degrees that is at about 9-13 mph.  Grabbed a few rides anyway, until I got worked on the inside.  Pulled up stakes and went to Cherie Down.

There, it was side shore 7-12 mph, and waves were 1/2 to 1/3 of what was happening at PAFB. Ideal spot may have been between Lori Wilson Park or the first free parking spots at CC. Strange to see the waves closing out nearly as bad at Cherie as points S. Despite the onshore wind angle, my best rides were at PAFB taking off way earlier than the surfers could.  They were getting a few lucky lefts that would break forever.  It was a crap shoot. Most were getting closed out.

Weak front side rides were on tap at Cherie.  Zippering, yet early, swell/surf backside rides galore at both places.  what a terrific weekend for playing in the surf.

 
   

Somehow, the surf got larger on Sunday. Well overhead, maybe even logo high. 
Wind was nil when I got there, but it switched on at about 1pm.  Side Onshore
about 30-40 degrees that is at about 9-13 mph.  Grabbed a few rides anyway,
until I got worked on the inside.  Pulled up stakes and went to Cherie Down.

There, it was side shore 7-12 mph, and waves were 1/2 to 1/3 of what was
happening at PAFB. Ideal spot may have been between Lori Wilson Park or the
first free parking spots at CC. Strange to see the waves closing out nearly as
bad at Cherie as points S. Despite the onshore wind angle, my best rides were at
PAFB taking off way earlier than the surfers could.  They were getting a few
lucky lefts that would break forever.  It was a crap shoot. Most were getting
closed out.

Weak front side rides were on tap at Cherie.  Zippering, yet early, swell/surf
backside rides galore at both places.  what a terrific weekend for playing in
the surf.

Good luck for the race!
I'm in Jax and need to take care of kids and work....

Vincent.

--- In ecfw@yahoogroups.com, "Professor Mike" <mrayl11@...> wrote:
>
>  Forecast looks good for today's race, possible spike in the wind early
afternoon. Come on out and sail!
>  A lot of Formula sailors have committed to racing, the Kona boards will be
available and it is much better than watching football!
>  I heard Formula is delaying the starts by sleeping in but Kona Man will be
there bright and early. Well at least early.
> See you there,
> Kona Man
>

Forecast looks good for today's race, possible spike in the wind early
afternoon. Come on out and sail!
  A lot of Formula sailors have committed to racing, the Kona boards will be
available and it is much better than watching football!
  I heard Formula is delaying the starts by sleeping in but Kona Man will be
there bright and early. Well at least early.
See you there,
Kona Man

I called Titusville Causeway bridge this morning (11-13-09).  Bridge is repaired
and functioning ok.  Headed to Playalinda now for what should be a nice
sideshore session.

--- In ecfw@yahoogroups.com, "Clyde" <clydepeggy@...> wrote:
>
>
> Access to Playalinda is currently only available from the north
> (Daytona/New Smyrna) due to construction on the Cswy bridge. The bridge
> may reopen today. Call before you go: 321 264 5084.
>

SW at Jetty. NW at PAFB.  You guessed it, on the Kona.

Used a 7.5 on Wed, it was way too much outside, and on the waves.  Used a 6.8
yesterday and was not nearly as OP until I got on the 12 foot waves.  For the
first time, I felt as though I needed the fin back in the offshore position, and
to use a dramatically smaller sail.  As in the Punto san Carlos mantra of having
a sail just large enough to geek out....

The wind is looking light, excellent for Kona and challenging for Formula. If
some of you come out it should be great to race the Kona.
  Temp is looking good too.
  At the very least Formula sailors will be talking fins.

Access to Playalinda is currently only available from the north (Daytona/New Smyrna) due to construction on the Cswy bridge. The bridge may reopen today. Call before you go: 321 264 5084.

The race is on for this Saturday, since this is a Kona event anyone racing 1
race counts as a competitor. If some of you came out to race one or two races
this would be a big help. Steve will be bringing 4 Konas and rigs. My hope is to
make this an area for many races since the location is in between most racers.
I'm not looking for people to work, just have some fun. After the racing, we are
having a BBQ at Kona Man's house. Racers and ECFW members are welcome.