Windsurfer One Design American National Championships
October 16, 2009 · Print This Article
Windsurfer One Design American National Championships (aka: The 12th Annual DINO Race) September 26th, 2009
This grass roots event was organized by the fleet of Windsurfer One Design enthusiasts outside of Houston, Texas and attracted 30 sailors.
fleet shot 3 photo by Hauk Wahl
Six races were held in light to moderate winds. The 30 sailors were divided into three classes. Starts were alternated and sailors rotated boards each race so each competitor sailed a different board in each race because there were more sailors than boards. A tight start line, a subtle ebb tidal current and slight wind shifts made for tactical sailing conditions for seasoned competitors and pleasant conditions for the beginner racers.
The mood of the event was casual and fun, no protests were made. A party barge anchored off the windward mark and stocked with “refreshments” provided front row seats and shade to sailors that were waiting for their next race, and friends and family to heckle at competitors on the racecourse.
fleet-4-photo-by-Hauk-Wahl
Also known as the Dinosaur (DINO) Races because the sailors have maintained their Windsurfer One Design races and their original equipment; these enthusiasts have preserved the fun and social aspect of the Windsurfer One Design Class events of the 1970s & 1980s. To read more about the original Windsurfer, visit www.originalwindsurfer.com
houston-5-photo-by-Brad-Bickle
Great to see so many Mark 1 Windsurfer One Designs. We need to have a Worlds where we can combine the WOD in Australia and all of these other fleets. It would be massive.
Pat