Xavier Ferlet (blue Gaastra) put on an amazing exhibition on the light wind capabilities of foil racing. The 2024 Olympics are going to be awesome. Great regatta even with conditions that felt "like home" It was every bit as light as it looks in the videos. I DNS and DNFed my way through the event. Steve Campbell had more success in the decent sized Kona fleet.
https://www.facebook.com/Britt.Viehman/videos/10156868172036720/
https://www.facebook.com/Britt.Viehman/videos/10156868270441720/
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Glad to see they are not “pumping like humpin’ monkeys”. (Thanks to TC for etching that visual into my brain during the lightwind Beijing Olympics).
They probably would have if the racing was tighter. I know some of the RS:X guys do when racing upwind in the big leagues. Xavier did have enough of a lead (or maybe he did it to preserve it) that he jibed upwind. His light air jibes are that good - he stayed up on the wing and never had to pump out of a transition.
Yeah, I know it's necessary but pumping upwind like that is not a good look on the telly.
https://windsurf.star-board.com/event-report-xavier-ferlet-wins-the-midwinters-foil-event/
Different race but good perspective on how to get into racing without pawning your children
https://www.sail-world.com/news/227728/Foil-racing--Its-cheaper-than-you-think