The Red Bull Youth America's Cup starts this weekend in San Francisco. This is definitely one of the most exciting programs to come out of this AC. Even the critics of this AC are getting behind RBYAC. 

It's not Kiteboarding and its not Sailing but you have to love some of the worlds best athletes excelling in the ocean. 

Preliminary Entries:
1. Alex Aguerra
2. Alex Caizergues
3. Brock Callen
4. Sylvain Hoecinin
5. Damien Leroy
6. Bill Lynch
7. Morgan Douglas
8. Brian Kender
9. Jamie Douglas
10. Nico Parlier
11. Rob Douglas
12. Christophe Prin-Guenon
Here is the "Last Episode" from the 2011 NASSI to get you all fired up. As always nice work by Damien Leroy on the filming, production and editing of this one.

This is an excellent insight into the technology that surrounds the  Little America's Cup and the C-Class Catamarans. Now imagine if we were able to take a budget like this and apply it in more extreme conditions? Imagine North Sails  ThinPlyTechnology applied to boards or Foils? Imagine a kite that held 50 PSI in the leading edge instead of 12 PSI? Or if the Kite was made from North Sails 3DI Technology. Onboard Vesper or onboard any high level sailing program you will see a computer down below running constantly. But no longer is it just for Navigation. It's crunching numbers, analyzing data and spitting out performance polars constantly, this can and most likely will be applied to more extreme aspects of our sport and will increase the performance in all areas, not just racing. This is the future and it's coming...FAST

Summer is coming to an end, my wife informs that it's 18 days until our oldest son starts Kindergarten which means that the Island will be slowly emptying of the tourists. But more importantly it means that Speed Sailing must be just around the corner in fact there are only 57 days until the North American Speed Sailing Championships begin. Which begs the question; Will we see new speed sailing records like we did last year? Will we see another explosion of speed this time bumping the Outright Speed Sailing Record from 65 Knots to 75 Knots? Probably not likely to see another 10 knot increase but with the way the foiling technology is going you never know.
For me this time of year means increasing numbers of hours in the shop. Last years boards that were designed by myself and Stan Pleskunas and built by Hydroflex are getting some updating and modifications. I have thinned out the tail both in width and thickness and have shortened the nose by over 4 inches. This should give me a more controllable board and by shortening the nose I will be able to ride back upwind at a better rate of speed as well.
What's been great is that while I am busy in my shop Stan has been busy in his shop tweaking my current designs in Solid Works and getting ready to cut the foam that will become the 2013 Boards. 
So with 57 days I know that I am not the only one cranking away in the shop. Speed Sailing Guru's like Alex Aguerra, Alex Caizergues, Rob Douglas, Nico Parlier are all doing the same. We all want to see Kiteboarders take a new speed sailing record. We all know it's possible but we also know its going to take technology and development of our equipment. For me I am looking to take all of the technology we use in Grand Prix sailing and trickle it down to speed sailing and kiteboarding. In the past I have reaped some serious benefits with my bar and line development and this year I am hoping to take it a bit further. But as always that takes a few all mighty dollars. I have been fortunate enough to raise about 35% of my proposed operating budget for the NASSC and I am hoping to raise the remaining budget in the next 50 days. With that said please contact me if you are interested in coming on as a partner or if you know someone who might be interested. With the right team a new speed sailing record could be right around the corner.
All right enough writing, time to get some work done. 

Bored this morning? Don't want to work? Well, this might keep you occupied for the next hour. Every year the Association of Wind and Water Sports Industries nominates a limited number of Athletes to submit videos for Kiteboarder of the Year. 
This year there are some amazing athletes including Red Bull King of the Air Winner Jesse Richman, American phenom Chris Bobryk and west coast styler Patrick Rebstock. Oh and let's not forget the amazing women, Colleen Carrol, Jalou Langaree and Bruna Kajiya. It's also great to see two BEST Kiteboarding riders Sam Medysky and Chris Bobryk nominated.
It's interesting to see the different approaches that each rider take to their nomination videos. From slick edits, to bikinis, to picturesque scenery each video brings something different to the table. It's too bad the AWSI doesn't offer an award to the editors and producers of the videos who have gone the extra mile...Maybe next year.
Allright well enough procrastinating for me, off to work. Enjoy!

Just as little something to kick off Monday morning.

With the 2014 Kites and Boards about to drop from BEST Kiteboarding there are a ton of emails and orders flying. 
With the 2013 North American Speed Sailing Invitational right around the corner I have ordered my 2014 TS Kites but after watching this video I can assure you that there will be a few Cabo's in the quiver for the winter waves.

Franck Cammas and Groupama preparing for the Little Amr

I like to post videos of actions or people that inspire me. I have never met Ian Alldredge and only know of his prowess in kiting waves exceptionally well. But after watching this video I have enormous respect for what he does both on the water and off. A truly great story of a man's interaction with the ocean and the benefits it brings to his life.