Hi Everyone,

As you know we have been running some pretty fun course racing for the last few weeks at Pinnaroo and there is emerging a core group of dedicated racers that love the challenge of course race boards and the speed and upwind ability that they represent.

There are also loads of people who love the idea of racing, but find the learning curve of riding the course boards a bit steep and so haven't been entering the races for fear of losing, or looking like a kook or whatever other reason.

The whole idea of the racing is to develop a new interest, to set new challenges for yourself, to change up your kiting experiences, to meet new friends and to have fun in a different discipline of kiting.

I'm still learning about running these events and am happy to keep changing it a bit and experimenting so that we get a formula everyone is happy with, and is the most fun and easy for everyone to participate. With this in mind, I have a few changes to announce ....

Wednesday 2nd December's race will be the first "fleet" race. We have decided to run just one official race on that day, the race will start at around 5.45pm and will be around the same course as the first event (a triangle with upwind, downwind and cross wind legs) but this time will be the first time we combine twin tips/surfboards (General division) and also course boards (Race Division).

We will of course be offering up the course boards as in previous weeks but the number of course boards are limited (7 boards). First in best dressed I guess.

Open division will start first and will be followed by the Race boards a few minutes later giving the twin tips enough time to clear the start and get going upwind on the first leg, then we start the course boards.

Start this week will be a beach start racing cross wind to the first marker to begin the upwind leg which should break up the start chaos and smooth the first mark dramas.

Race will be two laps! We will have two winners, one from the General division and one from the race division. At this early stage we have abandoned the idea of recording results until we finalize a format and are just keen to get everyone racing.

There will be a briefing at 5.30pm that will detail course layout and start process. You will need to register your participation by putting your name on the whiteboard. This can be done before or after briefing.

The course will be set at around 3.30pm as usual and if you want to run against your mates in a mini unofficial race, the boards will be available and you just start yourselves or if I'm available, I'll start you.

Start sequence in the main race will be either a flag system or a rabbit start if we have too many starters. More details at the briefing.

I really hope to see you there.

Ciao

KH

Ummm,

Did I mention there was racing on this afternoon at Pinnaroo?

aka BUMP

Cheers,

KH

I know I'm from the wrong side of the dune

But you might want to start the course boards first so they don't go running thought the twin tips - just a suggestion

I bags a course board

Hey Crazy Canuk,

You can't help being on the wrong side of the dune, but thanks for the input, it is most welcomed.

I usually put down a plan in advance and then modify it as the numbers arrive. If there are only a half dozen to a dozen twin tip or open division, then they'll start first. If there are more, then the course boards will start first.

It's a big course and there is a wide open ocean to race in with little to no obstructions so crowding shouldn't be too bad. If I have worked it out right, the twin tips will all be on the upwind work when the race boards round the start of the upwind leg marker buoy. I reckon the course boards will have passed all of the twin tips by the top mark which will leave the course pretty much free of traffic.

Good stuff, 20-30 knot wind forecast so it's gonna be fast death defying racing again [}:)] and a wet ride in the inflateable to retrieve the buoys after the race ...... again

Good racing everyone!

KH

Hi Everyone,

A quick update on todays racing. We seemed to have nailed the right start sequence of beach start to rounding mark and then upwind.

Disappointingly, there were no twin tips racing so it was just the course boarders. Conditions were very rough chop and 25-30 knot winds. As it was an all in, all 7 course boards were out on the course, if there had been more I think we may have had a couple other racers also.

The course was big and with two laps to complete, my legs are killing me right now. All up, as the crow flies, the course was about 6.5 km. Beach start, drag race to the first mark, then begun the two triangles with an upwind leg. A fast broad downwind reach a quick gybe and then a close hauled tight reach back to the start again.

The lead was swapped several times in the race with a crash usually being the cause of the change of position. First and second place were only about 20 m apart after 6 km which was exciting. We had one DNF through gear failure at the start which was a bummer, but everyone else finished. The girls also raced after the main race as a one on one and had a great time too.

Excellent and now all we need is a nice lighter wind day to try and increase our speeds.

Thanks to everyone for coming and having a go and to all my crew for helping pack everything away again. Ta to all, and see you next week!

KH

sounds like a lot of fun, wouldn't mind giving this a go, maybe we need a goldie race.

It was wickid fun
Thanks Dazza for all the effort really appreciated.

Those boards are insane.
Upwind truckers like nothing i have ever tried before.
They feel really wierd underfoot and i struggled to gybe it
Take some getting used to
I was amazed that when you try and 'brake' them by heading upwind hard it makes no difference the board maintains speed and away you go.
The downwind runs are a bit scary with max pressure on back foot.

Great fun though and will try and get another few goes in to get used to it.

Thanks again Darren
Great fun.

Oh needless to say i came last