Gaastra’s Arnon Dagan turns up the heat at the World Formula Championships in Puerto Rico!
1 August 2011

After an intense week in the tropical waters off Puerto Rico, Arnon produced some speed that had all competitors fearing his presence. The Israeli national came ready to battle and show that he has the speed to deliver top results. 

INTERVIEW from Matt Pritchard:
I had a chance to sit down with Arnon and see what he had to say about the racing action - here is what the event was like coming from his words …

“As soon as I went in the water I realized my situation is very good as my Gaastra Vapor formula sails and Gaastra Vapor formula board were working amazing in this place! I had new fins from Z fins and they were just flying through the chops and waves. The wind was stronger then I usually prefer for Formula but it didn't seem to bother my speed and I was just destroying anyone I sailed with during training. It was a great feeling.

The cores area was very tricky, full of reefs everywhere just in the middle of where you want to go so we all took the time to look where are the shallow spots as we knew it will come into play in the race and it did.

Puerto Rico is a beautiful place and reminded me allot of Maui. The place is just sick for windsurfing! Wind and Waves everywhere during the winter and flatter and windier in the summer.  The event organizers are a group of windsurfing lovers that made all the sailors feel great taking care of us really well.

The event started and I managed to get a 2nd and a 1st in the first 2 races coming back from behind after average starts.

The course was very narrow. If you started on Starboard you would sail strait into a huge shallow reef with some small braking waves on it and it was kind of lucky whether you are gonna pass this reef or run into it and destroy your gear completely. However if you did make it outside the reef you had the chance to get the windward mark in one tack (the mark rounding was the opposite way than normal) so lots of people still started on starboard making the start super tricky and extreme. In the 3rd race starting port tack I was sheltered by Micah and felt I’m gonna have a great start.. suddenly I got hit full power on my boom by BRA 999 and found myself in the water. BRA 999 saw that Micah will not give him way and just ducked him and went straight into me. BRA 999 had right of way but there was nothing I could do to avoid him. 

After this crash I lost a bit of confidence as it was very early into the event and it was obvious that we are gonna have 15 races so I tried to play it safe on the starts something that didn't payoff very well. The course was super short and tricky so it was hard to catch up after starting average.

I woke up to late for the event win but in time to get on the podium and get second winning 3 races in a roll in the last day.
I was a bit sad as when I was sailing head to head with F192 I managed to pass him a few times from behind and take a bullet also in the stronger winds something that not many people are able to do.

However he was much more consistent and sailed great to win.

I do know that I was faster on my Gaastra gear and Z fins and that in a normal course I have the ability to take home the FW title and I will work towards it for next year.”