Happy New Year!

To all of our friends and supporters at SailFast... Happy New Year!

Thank you for sharing 2012 with us. Best wishes and lots of wind to you in 2013!

Wind Sports Have Come A Long Way

Great story in SurferToday about 3 kiteboarders being nominated to US Sailing's Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year awards.

Follow the link to read more: http://www.surfertoday.com/kiteboarding/8333-three-kiteboarders-shortlisted-for-the-us-sailing-awards

Where in the World is this Sailboat?!

Name that Venue (it's about time for another one!) Can anyone name this sailing venue?

Sailing Slalom

If you haven't already, check out the Heavy Weather Laser Slalom 2011 Worlds. Racing is under way... where else but at St Francis on the Bay!

"The course is short, two parallel rows, four buoys each, starting in front of the race office and heading West for only about 200 yards. In other words, all the action is easily seen from the race deck or along the shore in front of the club. The wind will blow, the races are one right after the other, and the thrills and spills are part of the fun!"

http://www.sflaserworlds.com/page/Slalom

Creativity in Sailing

Just add a 2nd trap wire, tiller extension, duct tape and perhaps a little more wind and voila... a fun & fast modification to a relatively slow boat! Looks like an awesome day!

And of course it wouldn't be a complete trial of a new idea without someone ending up in the water!

Sky's the Limit

Sailors get to experience some of the most amazing scenery and locations without realizing how lucky we really are! Here's some shots from a college regatta at Yale University. What an amazing sky!

Here's some shots of equally amazing sailing skies from SF fans!

2009 Etchells Midwinters

Sailing under the Golden Gate

SF Classic: Wind Surfing and Kite Boarding at its Best!

40+ miles and 20+ knots! The top windsurfers and kiteboarders duked it out on San Francisco Bay at this years SF Classic race! More info & photos here: http://www.pressure-drop.us/forums/content.php?1581-A-Classic-Classic. Photos from www.pressure-drop.us!

Boston Goes EXTREME!

For the past few days Bostonians have been in for a real treat: the Extreme Sailing Series racing just off Fan Pier on the harbor! For newbies to the sport of sailing (heard this weekend exclaiming, "they're going to tip over ahhh" every time a puff came through) and veteran sailors alike, this was truly an amazing sight!

11 Extreme 40's barely fit in the harbor but the event full of amazing sailors (including Terry Hutchinson, Dean Barker and many other America's Cup & Olympic veterans) made the racing possible and competitive. Congrats to Emirates Team New Zealand for a win in Boston and for putting such a great show for the thousands of spectators that got an impressive introduction to sailing! More here: http://www.extremesailingseries.com/venues/view/boston-usa.

Pirates of the Caribbean?

What do 25 knot "trade winds," "pristine blue waters," and "Olympic medalist and America’s Cup helmsman" have in common?! They were all present this year at the 42nd annual Antigua Sailing Week. Amazing to gather such competition and talent in such a beautiful Caribbean venue!

Incase you still need convincing that this was a spectacular sailing event, check out these 2 racing photos from Tim Wright (more at: photoaction.com)!

More info on the 2011 Antigua Sailing Week here incase you want to read more about the racing or are looking for a good time to plan a Caribbean vacation next year!

Windsurfing the Gorge

Remember a recent SailFast post about college sailing in the Gorge? Well last weekend, windsurfers took over Cascade Locks, Oregon (“The Gorge”) for the annual Gorge Windfest!

The event attracts hundreds of windsurfers including some pros but everyone is invited (only $10 for unlimited demos per day!) Music, drinks and windsurfing clinics and exhibitions… what’s not to love?!

If you’ve always wanted to learn to windsurf, consider signing up for next year!