Hey folks!

Well … the PKRA finished quite interesting for me. We did another race … race no. 11 and I knew that this was the one race that would decide about ending up in the top 3 or getting a 4th place. 

I was 0,7 points behind Farley and pretty far ahead (in points) from the next follower, Sami Garli. So all I would have to do is beat Farley. After the first round around the huge course I saw him not getting the buoy and even dropping his kite so I was pretty happy and sure that I would end up on a third place and the podium!! Well, that’s what I thought but things work out kind of different in course – racing.

After going around the upwind buoy I raced downwind together with Sky Solbach who didn’t know what the next buoy was and I shouted at him and told him which way to go … we then raced downwind like crazy pushing each other which was pretty fun. The leeward – buoy came, which we would have to go around and then tack back upwind to the finishing – line which was close to the land (we had offshore winds). I went around it from the left side and I was quite confused because I saw Sky and Sami going around it the other way … I thought logically … is there any advantage I would get from going around the leeward – buoy the other way around? There clearely was not! I would’nt gain one little cm more upwind. So I raced back upwind to finish with a 4th place behind Sky.

Still I thought I would end up 3rd overall until Carlos came and told me I should come to the office for another protest from … Sky! I looked around and saw Farley and Hanel (both North riders, just like Sky) talking on Sky like crazy and the second I understood what was going on. Let’s not blame Sky for being loyal to his team and let’s say I didn’t read the rules and went around a leeward – buoy the wrong way (let’s forget that I gained no advantage and that I was in nobodys way) … I simply went around it the wrong way but still I think that things like sportsmanship should play a part in our sport … also in course – racing.

I can just keep my fingers crossed that course – racing will not end up in a rule – book thick like a 600 page novel even if guys like Farley and Hanel do the very best they can to make it look gay and create rule after rule … what matters to me is who comes around the course the fastest and of course, who is fair! And honestly … I could have protested a few races earlier to ensure I would end up third place, but I’ll leave that to guys who think they have to do it to get a good result! I’ll try to get around the course as fast as possible and then have a good party!

Cheers

Sebastian