From: felixc@cbnewsj.cb.att.com (felix.cabral)
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing
Subject: hatteras trip/race (LONG)
Date: 6 Apr 92 17:48:08 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T


Just got back last night from my trip to hatteras. The main reason for going 
was to attend a race help by Kitty Hawk Sports and NJBA (New Jersey Boardsailing
Association). Here is my report.

I rented a house on the sound in Nags Head for four days ($371). The cost was
divided by seven which turned out to be pretty reasonable for a house which
you can leave your stuff rigged a few feet from the water. The other six
members were sailing friends.

We all met at my house around 3pm wednesday. A dealer friend of mine let us
use a trailer which held 10 boards including a few masts. We packed and were off
by 4pm with a caravan of two vans and a 4x4 pickup/trailer.

Things didn't start too well when we discovered a slow leak on one of the 
trailer tires. After adding some stop leak we drove to a place which would
sell us a tire ($65!!!). We all chipped in a bought the tire since the bad
one was unrepairable. 

On the road again. Soon after dark however, we noticed the trailer lights 
would not work. After playing with the wires and a few set of burned out
fuses we found the short and repaired the lights.

It took us almost 9 hours on what should have been 6 1/2 hour trip.

When we arrived a wind gauge in the house recorded gust over 45! It was
hard to sleep. I woke up at 6am after a 4 hour nap. I was anxious to hit
the water. The house shook all night from the wind. The next day brought
the same. We sailed all day on and off stopping only to warm up, eat some
bananas and change boards/sails. We had 20-30 knots the whole day.

The next day the same thing occured 20-30 knots NW in the morning. The wind
died down a bit late morning because it was about to switch to the SW. It gave
us time to take a couple hour nap (THANX!). The wind came back mid-afternoon
about 15-25 SW.

Saturday, first day of racing. 8-12 knots gave us a course racing day (perfect).
All but two members of our party joined the race. I had the luxury of racing
against pro sailors Dave Buemi, Brian Benedict, Trip Forman and a couple
others. I got lucky and beat out Dave but Trip spanked everyone on the course.
In fairness Dave Buemi was on a 7.4 and in the mistral class. Trip was on a
10.5 prisma with an equipe XR. I was on a mega cat and an 8.2 Art race pro.

Sunday brought 20-30 knots with much higher gusts. I was placed in the second
heat for the slalom race. I first rigged a 6.0 and got spanked by the wind.
I came in and rigged my 5.3. Unfortunately, while rigging a gust yanked the
sail out of my hands and into a pole which punctured a whole in the sail.
When I frantically tried to patch it I accidently locked my keys in my van.
A passerby luckily (I wonder) had a "jimmy". He opened the door for me. I
patched the sail finally. Just before I launched to get to the start line I
rubbed my eye pushing my contact lens back into the eye socket. I had to run
to a mirror to find it in my eye and place it were it belonged. Launched
again. BTW, the pros even those smaller than me were on 6.0 and more! I was
barely able to hold my 5.3!

As I got to the start line my heat had already sailed. I was DSQ'd for missing
the heat. I wanted to pack up and leave. However, I stayed and sailed the rest
of the morning. Afterall, I could not pass up a 20-30 knot day with 55 F degree
temps.

Brian Benedict came in first, Dave Buemi second and Trip Forman third. At least
that was the way I called it. I will know for sure in a day or two.

In the end we all had a GREAT time right Vinh? (Vinh also joined us). Three out
of four days brought us 20-30+ knots. Not bad for a four day trip!


-- 
Felix Cabral         {felixc@mtgzz.att.com}      "Give me nukin winds,
AT&T Bell Labs       {  att!mtgzz!felixc  }       a rad board, rad waves,
Middletown,NJ        {    (908)957-5081   }       and a company sickday!"
Newsgroups: rec.windsurfing