By Tom
I have not raced for at least 3 years or more. But I decided I had better stop being a wuss and get out there even if I was totally unprepared and out of shape! So I signed up for the last 3 races of the season.
Racing on Maui is pretty much like racing in the PWA in the 19-39 age group. When you are lining up with the likes of Micah Buzanis, Peter Bijl, Gonzalo Costa Hoevel, Peter Slate and more you know it is going to be competitive. VERY competitive. Needless to say things did not go so well in the early heats.
Example of Race (Click on Pic to see bigger)
I misjudged the start slightly in my first heat and I was probably 3 seconds early for the line so 100 feet from the line I sheeted out to slow down a bit to prevent an over early. As I hit the line half the fleet went ripping by as I struggled to accelerate back up to speed. Then just to make sure I stayed in the back someone T-boned me at the first mark luckily without damage or injury. That caused me to file the only protest I have ever filed in my life (and won). I actually got 8th in that heat thanks to my protest and someone else must have been OE.
The next heat I planned to stick close to Pieter Bijl who had a blinder of a start in the first heat. Of course things did not go to plan and I hit a hole in the wind and got stuck on the back side of the swell. Again I was left watching the fleet disappear in front of me as the flag was raised with me 3 seconds behind. I trailed the pack until the last reach to the finish where I passed two sailors on pure board speed to claim another 8th.
Tom Hammerton at Finish line - photo courtesy of
Harry Wiewel Ok so I was not lacking board speed, I just needed to get my damn starts right! In the third heat I hit a good start, maybe 1 second late with 90% speed. I arrived at the first mark in fourth I think and lost one place as I was slow accelerating away from the mark. At the outside mark I gybed right into a hole and completely stalled the board. Desperate to maintain my position I tried to pump my sail, but alas my tired forearms were not up for the job and my hand slipped from the boom causing me to fall followed by a massive pile up behind. Sorry everyone! Disgusted I finished 9th.
The last heat of the Mens 19-39 was excruciating with my forearms pumped up and my body feeling weary. I did not think I had the strength to finish the heat, but I sure was going to try! I got a good start again and got out of the first mark in 5th. the next mark saw someone fall and I moved up to 4th. The inside mark was light and I was exhausted. I failed to plane through my gybe and someone sneaked past as I was unable to pump. It was the same story at the last mark and I came home in 6th. My best finish, not what I had hoped for, but a distinct improvement. I was very thankful that was the last heat before the lunch break as I was wiped out. I was not sure if I could sail another 4 heats in the afternoon.
Pieter Bijl claims another win. Who is that loser way in the back on an orange sail? - photo courtesy of
Harry WiewelI sailed in the semi-pro division in the afternoon which may have been PWA sailor free but still highly competitive and full of talent. Race 1 was a good start as I came to the first mark second and held on until the last mark where exhausted I was unable to defend myself at the mark. Still 3rd was a lot better than 6th!
The next heat I nailed my start perfectly hitting the line at full speed as the flag went up. I got to the first mark first but with Matt Daniels overlapping me underneath I had to give him room and lost the position as we left the mark. I had great board speed and maintained my position with ease on the straights, but loosing a bit each gybe as I had no strength to pump. At the last mark two guys caught up and got away from the mark before me. I was mad as hell I had let the position slip and went hell for leather down the home straight clawing back one position and coming within inches of getting back the other one. I was desperately disappointed at giving up positions in the last two races just from lack of fitness. If I was in better shape those would have been 2nd place finishes at least!
Finally a good start! - photo courtesy of
Harry Wiewel 
Tom Hammerton claims a a 3rd in a tight finish - photo courtesy of
Harry Wiewel The 3rd race saw more physical strength sap away and another good start was eroded at each mark slipping back to 5th. The wind had filled in and in consolation I hit my high speed of the day 30.8 knots on the first reach. I was totally done and considered skipping the last heat as we get one throw out, but an old friend of mine told me the key to racing was to start and finish every race. You never know what everyone else will do, and maybe some of them were more exhausted than me, or perhaps some would go over early. So I decided to grab the helmet cam and record a\the last heat of the day. Of course this was a total jinx and I went over early by a good two seconds. Remembering my good friends advice I turned around and went back to the start to clear myself. I finished last but that was good for 7th as indeed several people did not make the heat (not that it made any difference as it was my throw out). Of course I had forgotten to clear the memory card and I failed to capture the cruise around the course on the camera. Doh!
In the end I finished 17th out of 21 in the Mens 19-39 won by Micah Buzanais and 8th out of 15 in Semi-pro which was won by Matt Daniels. I definitely was not ready for that level of racing. I need to get on the water a bit more and get back in better shape! I will be out practising this week for sure. I definitely need to get my starts sorted and work on keeping my speed up in the gybe.
Check out more action photos from
Harry Wiewel
Bjorn going for a sick Flacka or similar in the strong winds of Feurteventura. He is our 2010 BOLT freestyle wave sail tester and is stoked with all the new room to maneuver under the boom. According to Bjorn the new sail has sick "pop".
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