(machine translated in 2023) Almere Island Race
Finally, another competition that continues. The Almere Island Race is a Marathon. A long Course Race track is explained and then either an expensive race, who sails the most laps in a certain time or a number of heats is sailed.

Good winds were predicted but also a lot of rain.

Today 2 heats were chosen. For the big men 3 rounds for the lesser 1.
The start was special: Starting half winds. The starter boat sails against wind over the start line and you are only allowed to start behind the boat. As a result, the surfers who start at the on-the-wind buoy have less of an advantage.

Entry:
The wind seemed fairly strong, so the GT85 with Daytona 8.3 rigged, even before the skippers meeting I was on the water for a while. Couldn't plan. After the skippers meeting we continued on the water. I could plan there, but it was clear that the 8.3 was too small to sail high on the wind. So quickly back to the side for the R-Type with 9.5. After rigging, I was at the start area a few minutes before the start.

Heat 1:
All the heat rain.
I had missed the timing for the start, so I had to go on other and on the starting boat. Start wasn't bad, but it was somewhere at the back of the field, some since heading towards the downwind side of the starting line. I soon noticed that I could not walk enough height to reach buoy 1, first rak was quite upwind. After 2 tacks I was well past buoy 1 almost in front of the clubhouse. From there, the big upwind could start towards buoy 2, wherever it might be. I just started cruising, as long as there were surfers higher up in the wind I probably wouldn't be past it yet. After 3x tacking I was in more wind and went tight to the wind. I even got formula boards in sight again. To my surprise, I was already heading straight for Buoy 2, which was apparently just in front of an island. Unfortunately, I couldn't make it to about 5 meters and had to stab again. But looking at other surfers, I had come out much better than others and had made up for a lot. then downwind. Again that question, where did we go, where did we start? I didn't go super spacious, there was a formula board next to me that went much more spacious, but slower. Even after my first gybe, I crossed just behind him. After my next gybe I lost it. I also gybe too early and came out too high, and so had to gyben 2x to get to the 3rd buoy. After the first round, I could have stopped and joined the lesser guys, which I really belong to. But I was doing so well that I wanted something extra and then decided to do 3 rounds.
2nd round started the same, could not reach the 1st buoy in 1x. 2nd buoy went pretty well again. At the 3rd buoy I didn't really come out nice. Plus the downwind part became very heavy, I now went wider and was now more bothered by the waves.
3rd round it was the same again at the 1st buoy, not to be achieved in 1x. This time too far due to dangers at the 2nd buoy, came out a lot too far than necessary. Downwind once tried how spacious I could/dared. First with 2 feet in the foot straps. But that felt really scary. With 1 foot in the middle on the fin and 1 in the foot straps and then just straight with the wind I could plan quietly towards the 3rd buoy. Once there, the starter boat was gone. Fortunately, I came across that on the way to the finish at the clubhouse. Almost 1.5 hours over the 3 laps.
Most of the formula guys had been on the side for 20 minutes or so when I went to eat. I expected to have to get back on the water after 10 minutes, but the race management took their time.

Heat 2:
Fortunately, it stayed dry in the 2nd heat, so the visibility was also a lot better.
After doubting whether I should not take my R13 65cm to be able to sail even higher on the wind, I decided to continue sailing with the R12, the downwind rak was the heaviest and would only get heavier with the R13.
I had learned from the first heat. I started all the way to the windward buoy, hoping to reach buoy 1 in 1x. I came a little downwind towards the start line, looking at the boat I could start pretty well. The boat encountered a wave in front of me and came completely loose from the water (respect to the boys in the boat.) I was just able to get the 1st buoy, tacked on and immediately lay quite well. It soon became clear that the wind had turned slightly and buoy 2 was now difficult to reach. A lenger 2nd rak was now needed to reach buoy 2. Then well back to buoy 3. This time I went again with my back foot out of the foot straps towards the buoy, I went quite well, could not see the buoy for a long time, thought I was too high, made a gybe, and just after that I saw the buoy, I could have made it in 1x. You can also see that clearly in the GPS track.
2nd lap I was a bit too tight with the round of the buoys.1st buoy in 1x, tacked a little too early so I had to float a bit upwind to get the buoy, but much better than the first heat. At the 2nd buoy I thought I would come out very nicely. Unfortunately, that just didn't work and I hit the buoy with my board and my sail, causing me to fall. Bales. To the 3rd buoy sailed a little less spacious but with 2 feet in the foot straps.
3rd lap went very well, 1st buoy made without problems, on the way to the 2nd buoy I see the buoy fall over, see a boat and wonder if the buoy is removed. Sure enough, come across a competition boat with the buoy about 400 meters before the old place of buoy 2. I hesitate for a moment, am I too late? No, I finished my round, but I thought I could gyben now, I was around the buoy. Now I could go well towards the flat shallow water, 1 gybe was enough to reach the 3rd buoy. Then back to the surf club. I didn't make it in 1x. Now I was a lot faster: I only needed 1.06. Much better. And that with traps. That should have worked under the hour.

All in all a wonderful and educational race sailed. I am not one of the top performers, my material is not suitable for that either. But when I hear how tired everyone was it is clear that I have a very easy sailing set, if we should / should have done 1 extra lap I would have easily sailed it.

Almere Haven

11:30 0.25 hour Wind: W
Board: AHD GT 85 - Drake R13 Race 60cm
Sail: North Daytona 8.3 - North Viper 75 490cm - Unifiber Freerace/Slalom 220-280
  (machine translated in 2023) Test sailing/trimming before the race. With 8.3 not hardly in plane, so quickly back to the side for my 9.5.
12:15 3.75 hour Wind: W
Board: AHD GT 85 - Deboichet R12 M 64cm
Sail: North R-Type 9.5 - North Viper 75 490cm - Unifiber Freerace/Slalom 220-280
  (machine translated in 2023) Set ran well again. I hesitated to take the R13 65cm to run even better height. But was afraid that the downwind rak would then become heavier/more difficult and that was already violent enough. The R-Type sailed light and enough power. Wasn't nearly as tired as the guys on formula set.