Chavez, Kafka, Richman

[experienced1]

The 2008 Cabrinha Race Series began with a ROAR! If night #1 is any indication of what’s ahead, the 2008 season will be one to remember.
Fifty riders signed up for the series, double from 2007, and after viewing the first night of racing, the competition has also been stepped up. We would also like to give a big welcome to all you first time racers…hope you had fun.

For most of the day, the fog had been pouring through the gate all day with the winds light around 10-14. When it was time to leave the beach, the frog receded back to the bridge and the wind picked up to about 20…and stayed that way for the entire evening. Of course, it was very light at the inside reaching mark (B) for the 1st and 3rd race, with the phantom hole appearing/disappearing at the windward mark.


Prior to racing, Steve Gunn, Cabrinha’s West Coast guy presented the St. Francis a new Cabrinha Race Series perpetual trophy which will be on display at the club. Anthony Chavez and Jeff Kafka, the ’06 and ’07 champions were on hand to see their names as the first two on the trophy. A special thanks goes out to Don Wood of Major Brass Foundry in Gardena, CA for creating this special piece of art.


The racing…Anthony Chavez (Naish) took first overall for the night with 5 pts (1,2,2), followed closely by Jeff Kafka (Cabrinha) with 7 pts (2,4,1) and Shawn Richman (WaimanHawaii) with 8 pts (4,1,3). First place in each race was shared by these three. Geoff Headington (SS, 5,3,4) and John Gomes (Cabrinha, 3,5,5) finished 4 and 5 respectively, were very consistent, and gave the top three something to think about. Chavez, Kafka, and Richman all used Kafka/Neptune Prisoner of Wind Race Quads, while Headington and Gomes used new sticks from NJDesigns (you remember Nils)


The first race saw the only tangles of the evening. Frank Wittke and other rider, (sorry I don’t know your name) tangled and went down at the start. There is a protest pending filed by Frank which could change the results for the evening (not the top 5 spots) as Frank finished 18th in the 1st race and 6th in the 2nd and 3rd. If he prevails, his finish for the first race could be adjusted as high as 6th, the average for his other two races, which would give him 18 points and overall 6th. Also at the start, Stefaans and Chad, both starting on a port tack tangled and went down. Chavez, Kafka, and Gomes went around the course from start to finish in that order.


The second race, the wind shifted slightly and saw Eric Due (Cabrinha) get a great start on port and had a good lead at what appeared to be the lay line. He was followed by Chavez, Richman, Gomes, Headington, and Kafka. All the riders missed the mark on their first attempt, with Richman, Chavez, Gomes, Headington, and Kafka rounding in that order. Eric took 5 tries before he made the mark falling to 9th. Gomes was a strong third at the leeward mark but missed his jibe, crashed his kite and “lost” his board. By the time he recovered, he fell to 5th.


The last race saw Mark Bosta (Naish) get a great start on port and he, like Eric Due in the race before, had a great lead at the lay line, but like Due, Bosta had to make 6 attempts before rounding the windward mark and fell to 7th. Chavez, Richman, Kafka, Headington, and Gomes rounded the windward and reaching mark in that order, with Kafka catching and passing those ahead between the reaching and leeward marks. The wind began to die out in different spots on the course during the 3rd race causing many to get a DNF…and about 15 having their kites in the water at about Anita and requiring a ride back in one of the boats.


Racing was very competitive and close, with close races all over the course, regardless of position. Racers were within feet of each other at the marks and the finish.


The 2008 Cabrinha Race Series is sponsored by Cabrina Kiteboarding, Ozonetravel, adventuresportsmiami, and hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club.