Race Report – 37 Adrenalin fueled craft participated in the 18th running of the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge race. Kiteboards and Windsurfers had the northern end of the ¾ mile wide start line, while the Open class, which included the Mod 70 and Marstrom 32, started on the less desirable southern end of the line. Conspicuously missing were the 18 foot skiffs that couldn’t make this years’ race due to a schedule conflict.
Conditions were excellent for the 5.8 nautical mile down winder from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Bay Bridge. A southwesterly breeze of 18 knots and a favorable 2.5 knot flood tide made the sailing angle to the Bay Bridge ideal. The flat water, flood tide allowed racers to push their crafts hard down the entire race course. The early lead was taken by the lead pack of foiling kite boarders and they never were challenged by any of the other classes.
A new course record of 10:32 shattered the previous record of 12:00 and was set by visiting Italian foil boarder Rikki Leccese. 1st-5th places were held by foiling kiteboards, 6th place was Tom Siebel’s Mod 70. The foiling kite boards continue to dominate the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge with highly refined hydro-foils and high aspect race kites. Average speed over the race course by Rikki was an amazing 33 knots! – Alan Prussia.
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