I was sad to hear about the death of bay area windsurfer, Bill Weir, last week. He had been battling brain cancer for the past year. Bill was a regular at Crissy Field for many years and a favorite of mine to watch. No matter if it was on his formula or slalom gear, Bill was always making the most of the conditions and having fun.
A couple windsurfers and kitesurfers were making the most of Labor Day and got in a great session under the Golden Gate Bridge.
When the sand starts blowing, it means that it is time to go sailing. Friday was a great start to the holiday weekend with tons of sailors out on the water.
Check out the gallery for lots more photos.
I missed the start of the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge race this year, but caught a few pics of the sailors as they were coming in. The race is a 3-way competition between the windsurfers, the Australian 18 skiffs, and the kitesurfers to see who can sail the downwind course from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge in the shortest time.
Here’s Steve Sylvester crossing tacks with the Adventure Cat while sailing back upwind after the race.
And here are the kitesurfers taking the fastest way back upwind – a ride in the RIB.
As summer comes to an end and the other spots in the Bay Area don’t provide their typical amount of wind, Candlestick can become a sailor’s best friend. The water is warm. The winds whip across the 101 freeway. And the chop stays to a very manageable level. The rocks at the launch can be a little tricky though.
After several days of no wind, everyone was excited to see whitecaps on the river and the Gorge returning to its normal state. Even though it was early in the afternoon on a Thursday, the parking lot was full and the river was busy with sailors. Here are two of the shots with many more to come once I have a chance to review them all. These are two Bay Area sailors making their home in The Gorge for the summer.
Tyson Poor
Wyatt Miller
Check out the Summer 2009 issue of Windsport Magazine. I’ve got these two photos in there…
This one is Kel Yip’s battery powered bicycle he built to carry his windsurfing gear to the beach.
And this one is Wyatt Miller.
There must have been something in the air on Sunday causing the sailors to get a little crazy. Tons of people were practicing their freestyle moves.
Here’s one shot from a series of Derek Lueck mid-maneuver in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. Tons more in the gallery. Just click on the photo.
13 sailors turned out for last night’s formula windsurfing races at St. Francis Yacht Club in San Francisco last night. They were treated to 5 windward – leeward races. Everyone is getting in shape for distance racing tomorrow and the upcoming US Windsurfing Nationals in the Gorge.
Even at 5:30, Crissy Field was still fogged in. As the races were starting, a cruise ship was heading out to sea – not the view the passengers were expecting. The Golden Gate Bridge was entirely engulfed in fog.
Here’s a shot of Al Mirel leading the charge to the inside jibe mark.
The racers were preparing for the Saturday San Francisco Classic and course racing on Sunday.
