Breeze on at US Open San Francisco

San Francisco, CA (August 13, 2021) – The Kiteboarders and Windsurfers were rigged and ready to go this morning for signature San Francisco conditions featuring big breeze and strong currents on Day 1 of 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco.

The Men’s and Women’s iQFoil and Open Formula Kite events were challenged with wind speeds reaching over 20 knots and temperatures in the 60s for most of the day but all three events completed five races. San Francisco, CA (August 13, 2021) – The Kiteboarders and Windsurfers were rigged and ready to go this morning for signature San Francisco conditions featuring big breeze and strong currents on Day 1 of 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing – San Francisco.

The Men’s and Women’s iQFoil and Open Formula Kite events were challenged with wind speeds reaching over 20 knots and temperatures in the 60s for most of the day but all three events completed five races. Racing in the I-420 and ILCA divisions starts tomorrow.

Open Formula Kite
Taking the early lead in the Open Formula Kite event is two-time Kiteboarding World Champion, Johnny Heineken (Larkspur, Calif.). The competition is stiff in this fleet as Markus Edegran (Rio Vista, Calif.) and Kai Calder (Alameda, Calif.) are even on points with Heineken. The last two races of the day were were won by Heineken to help power the fleet leader into tomorrow’s racing. The Open Formula Kite fleet features 17 entries including several athletes who have competed at 2021 West Marine US Open events in California and Florida.

Women’s iQFoil
JP Lattanzi (Honolulu, Hawaii) was nearly perfect in the Women’s iQFoil event, winning the first four races of the event to take a three-point lead over Bryn Muller (Largo, Fla.). Danicka Sailer (Honolulu, Hawaii) is six points back in third place.

Men’s iQFoil
Six countries are represented in the Men’s iQFoil event, including the United States, Mexico, Canada, Dominican Republic, Colombia, and South Africa. Xavier Ferlet (Santa Clarita, Calif.) has an early two-point lead over Mexico’s Cristobal Hagerman Haro and three points over Adrien Gaillard. The top four athletes in the Men’s iQFoil are separated by only four points through five races.

The West Marine US Open Sailing Series is the sixth and final event of the 2021 circuit with racing on August 13-15.

US Sailing launched the debut of the West Marine US Open Sailing Series at the beginning of 2021 with host yacht clubs in Florida including events in Fort Lauderdale, Miami, and Clearwater during January and February. The second half of the 2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series took a West Coast swing this summer with events in San Diego and Long Beach.

There is a lot at stake for many of the competing sailors as US Open Sailing San Francisco will be a Junior Pan Am Games selection event for the iQFoil and also be used in ranking sailors for the 2021 Formula Kite World Championships.

US Open information – Race details: boards – Race details: boats

Organized by US Sailing and host yacht clubs at venues in Florida and California, the inaugural 6-stage West Marine US Open Sailing Series seeks to fulfill demand for a racing and training platform based in the United States to provide a path to the Olympic Games for prospective athletes.

2021 West Marine US Open Sailing Series:
January 15-18: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
January 21-24: Miami, Florida
February 4-7: Clearwater, Florida
June 11-13: San Diego, California
July 9-11: Long Beach, California
August 13-15: San Francisco, California

Source: US Sailing