Formula Aqua

Bora Gulari.. Fastest man in Cascade locks.. Photo Thierry Martinez

Yesterday we had the Velocitek Speed Challenge and the North Sails "dash for cash" Moth slalom. Mach 2 rider Bora Gulari was $2000 richer at the end of the day as he claimed both prizes. With a lighter breeze we had to chase the wind upstream towards Hood River to get a fast time and Bora eventually came back with (I think) a 25.4 knot ten second average.



Getting it wrong.. Practicing at the gybe mark before the slalom start.. Photos Thierry Martinez


The slalom was excellent. Rohan did a great job as the MC and kept the crowds interested, informed and entertained through an hour and a half's racing that was so close to the shore that if you got your gybe wrong you wound up on the grass. I won both my heats and made the final along with Bora, Scott, Rob Gough, Arnaud and Dalton. My plan was to stay low and go for bouy room at the first gybe but the wind died and we all struggled to get onto the foils. It was great racing though and I think shows the way for how Moths can compete together in the future. Finally sailing, a true spectators sport!

It was a good atmosphere in the evening with beer being served and the spectators and competitors mixing togther. Arnaud built on an existing theme to create the "boom of doom" complete with automated beer loading device. Even the Major of Cascade Locks had a go!

A good day in a breeze I'm a bit more suited to. Racing starts tomorrow so it gets serious again.