Today was the perfect race where everything what happened needed to happen. A big crash on the sandbank. The worst start I could imagen. It was perfect for the joy of the race. 
Again I decided to start from the beach to save energy for the competition. Because I was late yesterday I decided to try and start more quick behind the boat. This resulted in being squashed together with all the other who wanted to squeeze behind the boat. I came planning, but just had to break because there where just boards side to side. Completely gone was the wind. 
So with a 90 kg body on a 88 liter board and no wind at al. Just chaotic gusts coming from all sides and likewise waves. All the sails worked like lamellen and just changed the wind direction. So I wanted to go completely offshore to kind of adjust to the new wind direction. But there where also only boards and sails haha. So I was stuck in floating with the group trying to get planning in our new wind direction coming from the front! Slowely the group expanded and more and more often a litte gust came free to at least not sink away. It looked like all 1200 windsurfers where in front of me!! As if the first guy’s where already turning the first boey. Then finally the first gust came to make me plane and I decided to give up speed for going upwind towards the beach. 
When I finally got there thru all the dirty wind and messy board waves I thought…. Now let’s have some fun. I got my stance right and started kind of speedsurfing along the beach. Using the swell as a hill to boost me upwind for free. It was like all the people where standing still. Beng beng beng , it was one big mass overtake of windsufrers. It was really funny, and something I mist yesterday because I was ahead of the stuck pack. The ego inside me smiled. The fist boey turn went well and again I put all my efford in going upwind thru all dirty wind towards the beach. The amount of surfers I had to overtake was immense. The bad start really put me all the way back. But again a mass overtake took place. Beng beng beng.. I started to feel confident that if this would continue I could possibly even enter the top 100 again. Than the 2nd turn. No falling. My new tactic is to completely surf away from all turning people and than turn where there is more solid wind and no people around. Mainly, it is easier to start planning again because there is no dirty wind from the others after a turn. Still the amount of people in front of me was insane! But two more reaches to go. Again I went for a run close to the beach. The mass overtake action was happening again. But than a funny thing had to happen.
I saw a guy working on his gear. It looked like he was standing just above knee hight  in the water. It was pretty close to the beach and the water was brown colored. But I thought that If I would just pass near him I would have the depth of his knee down to his feet. Full speed…..BENG!! What the fack!? It felt like I hit a rock. I quickly came up. Nothing felt bad fysicly. Than I looked at the guy.. He looked kind of worried and than he stood up haha! He was not standing on his feet, but on his knees! So the water was 20 cm shallow. Stupid that I wasted time explaining him that it looked like standing. He explained he was just fixing his gear because he crashed also. I thought the race was ended. I inspected the gear and nothing was broken! So now I just decided to give it a go and enjoy the last 1,5 reach. I was up to speed again and suddenly I recognized a wildly sponsored severne sail..  Than I recognized Bjön Dunckerbeck sailing… I don’t know what was going on but I pointed towards him and within a flash I was overtaking my big hero which I watched so many times on youtube. How the heck was this possible! Later in the race I realized he was probably just cruising behind his sun enjoying the race together. Dad-love probably ;). But in that moment I had the illusion (probably) that I was fast haha.The last boey was showing up. I decided again to take the long road. Again no fall. And.. no dirty wind to start planning again. My hero Björn took a tight turn around the boey. I felt a bit guilty planning upwind of him while he tried to start to pull away and give him dirty wind.. But hay, it is a fun competition. 
This experience which felt like a dream come true to be able to race Bjön Dunckerbeck gave me all energy to fly the last reach. Another wildly sponsored severne. Liam Dunckerbeck. I was passing and saw a new target just before the finish boat. There was a foiler ahead of me. Pretty choppy here but managed to go full speed over the chop just before Marion Mortefon on her foil over the finish line… I knew the competition ranking wouldn’t be good, but the fun ranking was skyrocket high! This felt like a real race! 

After I checked out I did some freeriding. I asked one of the competitors if there would be another race. ‘No’ he said, this is it for today. So I packed my gear and went to see my Dad who just arrived from Holland in Gruissan town. Unfortunately I missed the 3rd race which gives me somewhat a sad feeling. But luckily it was replaced by a cosy afternoon with my dad.

Hopefully there will be some more nice races to sail :)

Fun above ranking!
Forever speed :)