puffin said...

The spot here has virtually no chop...maybe 1" tops...in 20+knots of wind

www.peconicpuffin.com/the_peconic_puffin/2010/08/the-flattest-water-youve-ever-seen.html

and sets up as a natural broad reach. It's on Long Island (New York) and I'm going to be returning with my GPS as soon as we get the right wind.

Do you guys have any runs as flat as this (and links to a photo?)

Speed loves a sandbar...

My Glory Hole is pretty Flat

Looks a great spot Michael, not too disimilar to West Kirby over in the UK, save our sand bar is made of steel, rubble and tarmac.

Here's a pic I shot back in '87, the wind was dead square over the wall, hence as flat as it gets, the wind was a solid F9 with gusts in excess of F12, too windy to sail, just managed to crawl onto the wall to take a few pix.

looking forward to some fast speeds from you guys then, are you on GP3S?

Don't worry Puffin, we're impressed here in NSW...

no photo, but Lake George in the SE of South Australia used to have some strange aquatic weed growing up to just shy of ~50cms from the surface (I think sunlight killed it), so that stopped most of the chop from generating. add a long sandy spit that cut the lake almost in half, and you could choose your side for some ultra-smooth sailing, regardless of wind-speed.

of course if you fell in, you would part weed which had not moved for years and it would release an unholy stench...good motivation to nail those gybes!

the lake dried up in on summer drought several years back, and when the water came back, the weed didn't, so it's never been quite the same. but I no longer have to abandon my wetsuit after a sail there...

Hey Jimbob,

Here are those pics again shot on a crappy disposable waterproof camera. Lake George early 90's.

Wind was 15-20 with a 5.5 and strapper world cup 275(I was a little lighter then) on the southern side of the spit.

A heap of us shoud be heading down this year, it's going to be epic!
What is the longest weedie you can use there at the moment? I'm currently converting a bunch of old chunky fins...

nice old pics Kimba, remember them days well on my old alegro and 3.5, I have been running a 30 select weedie all year no worries, just also got a 36 jp weedie last week. the water level is good, will take some pics and post in our sa section soon, too wild for me to be out by myself on wednesday BIG killer gusts, pm me soon, I will organize barbies for longweekend. can't wait should be good to sail with the team.

snides8 said...

cant compete with Kimba's pic for smoothness..
but here is a shot from a few years ago taken at yo yo's (near Bunbury)
A day that i will remember for some time to come...
first time on water so flat , never got above 30 knots
it was the middle of winter and the sound of 'running on ball bearings' that day has kept me going back time and time again shame i have only had 1 other god day there...

yes the most memorable days sailing I've had. Nice!!!!!!!!!!

And how could I forget Shelby slidin' glass :

Here is a bit of flat water from the last session at the Clayton Channel.

This light Northerly was a lot of fun. Did this a year ago but didn't post it, sorry about the kooky transitions...

jimbob SA said...

Onboard and winsurfingSA have organised an event on the October long weekend, we will be having speed on the lake and waves at surfbeach. it has been a top show the last couple years, come join us.

I done a few october weekend sessions at Lake George but some time ago as I've been caught in the ACT (so to speak)...fond memories of cracking my first ever gybes on ol' Georgie. Chomping to get back there, count me in this Oct!

That's a pretty good speed for 2 guys. Do you toss for who gets to go up front ?
Is it like being a tail-gunner ?

sailquik said...

KenHo said...

Hey, what is the top speed you guys have done on the tandem ?
That was a very smooth gybe !!

On the big Gemini Tandem we have struggled to get past 26 knots so far (Kato and I)
On the speed tandem (see avatar) over 36 knots, but I am convinced it is good for well over 40 knots.

Perks at Henty river a while back 41kts on the day

Izaac up the top of the course and Dave sitting on the sand