Not sure if you have seen this site before:

http://www.birdseyeviewphotography.com.au/lancelin_ocean_classic_2008.shtml

but it has some awesome shots of the Ledge to Lano from a helicopter perspective. Some unbelievable shots in the Panorama area recently updated showing how beautiful WA really is.

There are some fabulous photos in that collection - wow the coastline looks beautiful. No wonder it's regarded as the windsurfing mecca. I'll have to get to WA one of these days.

Also I now have a better understanding how Bertie hurt himself finishing race when looking at photos (did the sailor to the right win?). Maybe a marker buoy positioned waist deep to enforce a dismount could alleviate serious injury, (or just maybe I don't know what I'm talking about).

BTW - How long is the race and how shallow are those rocks that lead sailor appears to be slicing through with his fin?

just to take a sidestep in this thread.... is there any racing done in victoria that would be suitable for beginner/ intermediates to enter into, and if so what kind of equipment would be used generally.

i know when i was sailing dinghies and cats as a kid in the earlier days of windsurfing, windsurfer one designs and other long boards were racing on handicap with us, but is there any lancelin style windsurfer only races in the bays.

as for equipment, to my very untrained eye there didnt seem to be many formula boards in the pics from lancelin so im assuming that freeride or similar boards are the go, is that because of the ocean swells, and therefore bay sailing would make a formula board more suitable. because im not about to lash out on another board, would it just be a case of getting a deeper fin to get upwind a bit better, or am i simplifiying it a bit much, which i have a habbit of doing

To answer one of your questions X sport guy, SHQ run a race once a year from somewhere to somewhere else, just a blast out and back. Check their website for more info probably. From what I've read on Seabreeze about the last race, the turn around mark was a bit of a mystery, but I'm sure it'd be a fun event.
They also organise a "dash for cash" event in Hobart, coinciding with the Sandy Bay Regatta.

cheers easty, ill look it up