trans-atlantic race
 

i googled "trans-atlantic windsurfing" and came across one race. is this an annual thing, or just a one time deal?

You might be lookig at "something" that happened in 2000, the TAWR2000. My recollection is that it was a very poorly organized, but absurdly hyped, "attempt" using support boats which sailors could use to rest at night (so much for "windsurfing" across). It aborted after a few days at seas after everything ran into trouble at the first "storm" (a tame force 7-8 if I recall correctly): first to go were the support semi-rigid boats, and the all thing needed to be rescued, they got lucky they were just a day or two out.

There was a way more serious and successfull attempt by Christian Marti in 1982. Solo, no stop, no support boat: he made it in 32 days. But the "windsurf" was a loooong board and you could sleep in it.

So ... if you are lookign to became famous a "real" crossing, solo, no support on a "real" windsurf (a Futura 122?) I think is still something that has not been done.

I have the video of the entire races accross. It was a great adventure and it was done in all conditions you can imagine. Now with Formula boards I am sure it will be even easier.

You were one of the few participants in that crazy Trans Atlantic Race back
in 1998. Can you tell us a little about that event? Was that the craziest
thing you ever did as a windsurfer?


'Crazy' is an awfully big word. Lending Josh Sampiero your favorite carbon
boom on his first day of Gorge sailing is all kinds of crazy. The
Trans Atlantic Race, however, is difficult to distill in few words. Better to
watch the videos (video 3 of 7 introduces Eddy).

http://sports.groups.yahoo.com/group/ecfw/message/4693

Well guys, I do not want to sound disrespectful and there are great sailors in that effort, but I am not sure that that represents a "crossing" of the Atlantic. It seems more like a strange way of having a few races (?) in the high seas using a big ship as main support.

The ship takes the windsurfers out of port, the semi rigids take people back and forth on equipment that can only take certain conditions, and people wait on the ship until the conditions are ok to go around ... plus the ship actually sails at night toward England or looking for better conditions ...

However, it seems for sure much better, and safely, organized attempt than the disastrous 2000!

A few other people crossed the Atlantic see "da solo" already, including a Lady: Raphaëla Le Gouvello in 2000 (60 days) following with the Pacific ocean in 2003 (90 days). Although you may not consider it windsurf, such events are good for our sport. Notably the second trip was reported everyday by TV/radio stations, which had not happened to any windsurf event for years (for instance the TAWR was hardly/merely mentioned in mags).