Can't seem to locate the elapsed times but 8 kites in the top 10 , looks like a fleet of kites, windsurfers , 18 ft skiffs , couple of cats ( looks to be one extreme 40 in there) and a hobie tri foiler . There is a video on YouTube .
Johnny Heineken has secured the fastest time at the Ronstan Bridge to Bridge Race 2012, during the Nespresso International 18 Skiff Regatta hosted by the St. Francis Yacht Club.
In fact, it was party time for the kiteboarders, as they swept the first seven places of the Californian competition. Heineken finished the 5.3-nautical mile course challenge in record time.
The Course Race world kiteboarding champion linked the Golden Gate to the Oakland Bay Bridge in 14 minutes adn 14 seconds, lopping two minutes and one second off the record set by Brian Lake, last year.
The foiling trimaran l'Hydroptere, kiteboarders' one-time bitter rival, started early but failed to officially finish. New Zealand's C-Tech team of skipper Alex Vallings, Chris Kitchen and Josh McCormack, continued its domination of the week with the 18-boat class to wrap up the title.
The last day of sailing races were held under 15-20 knots of wind.
www.surfertoday.com/kiteboarding/johnny-heineken-sweeps-the-ronstan-bridge-to-bridge-race-2012
I think kites are officially the fastest thing on open water 
Funny, a kite brand which prides itself on not using pulleys wins the ronstan sponsored bridge to bridge, not a great advert for your pulleys
Looking at the Footage it wasn't a great year for the 18's, the wind was too far in the right, I did the race on an 18 4 years ago and Howie Hamlin won on the 18 and made it in 1 gybe and beat all the kites, Johnny was the first kite home then aswell. with the improvements in the kiters skills I dont think the 18's will even stand a chance anymore.
It's an epic race, Interesting to see some kites going back upwind, they had the option to get a power boat lift back up when we did it. Probably quicker to kite home with the way they are going now. Can't wait to hopefully do the race next year on a kite.
... I remember years ago, 2002 I think, and was racing a couple of kites while I was riding a pole board. They were no match for me at the time. In post briefing after race (ie beers and bragging time) I fully agreed with them that kites will beat the poles one day. Little did I know what I was talking about then, my opinions were based on nothing but what I could imagine, even back then. Put my money where my mouth was and a year later I convereted to the dark side and never touched a pole board again.
You know, even us weekend worriors can have a poke at any sailing craft out there and give it a good go.
What a great equalizer this kiting is hey!
cheers,
Robbie 
