2010 Formula Windsurfing European Festival

Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy                                                      5^th to 10^th July 2010 

An International Windsurfing Association sanctioned event 

BEBEKO MAIA BRA-1313

"Sailing Formula Experience has been important in my development in Windsurfing.  Through this class, in which I am sailing two years, I have learned a lot and significantly improved my techniques and performance. I participate in races in under  17 and youth in the FE class in Brazil, around the world and, as a class to access Windsurfing, FE  has been very important to me.

The Formula Windsurfing European Championships 2010 in Cagliari, was a major challenge for me because my main opponent Oscar Ania Barrachina - ESP 161. He has great technical skills and  this puts a lot of responsibility on your sailing, providing a match race format with very similar equipment – in fact, we have  100% identical equipment.  A major dispute, requiring strategic skills all the time during the five races, demanded much of the sailors. The winner is the one that won in the small details and technical actions, these actions demonstrated by the fact that in almost all races we compete together, always finishing one after  the other.

The greatest experience I have gained in this European event in 2010, was to  let go and compete with the Formula Windsurfing Youth and Masters, and winning in some races with  good placement, taking into account the vast difference between technical equipment used in the FE and FW, and  the high technical level of the competitors of FW. "

Three on Day Three!

Another morning with no wind but, as yesterday, the AP came down at midday.  However, with the wind refusing to reach 7 knots, sailors waiting for the start for over half an hour were returned to the beach as it was just too hot on the water!

At 2.00 the Race Officer decided to try again - wind was 10-11 knots on the course - and at last Race 3 was under way . . . followed by Race 4 . . . then Race 5!  Hopes were dashed for Race 6 which was started but quickly abandoned.

Day Two AP came down at midday when the wind had settled at 8-10 knots.  The wind dropped after one race, sailors were sent to the beach to wait, but it was not possible to start another.  Conditions were the same as the day before - just a small window of opportunity to get one race.  These conditions are unusual for early July in Cagliari! Every night is pasta night, but tonight was special - a sailor dinner in the grounds of the club.

It took until after lunchtime for the wind to build to 10-12 knots so it was early afternoon when Race 1 - two laps of a windward leeward course - got under way, all competitors starting together, on perfectly flat water.  Regrettably the wind did not hold and race 2 was abandoned after the start, sailors were sent back to the beach.  By 6.30 the Race Committee decided no more racing for the day.  Better luck tomorrow!

Opening Ceremony 

The opening ceremony was followed by a pasta party. It's sunny and hot - around 30 degrees - and the forecast for wind looks good for the week.

The Festival includes the European Championships for Formula Windsurfing Youth, Formula Windsurfing Master, and Formula Experience.  The Festival also includes an international event for the senior division in Formula Windsurfing.

The event will be based at the Windsurfing Club Cagliari, in Cagliari Gulf, in front of the Poetto Beach.  Cagliari is the largest town of Sardinia and is located in the south of the island.