G'day guys i'm heading over for the speed fortnight.

As i have never sailed the pit before, can some of you locals give any advise on set up,fin size etc.

I'm 85kgs and will be running (if it's windy) A CA SP50 with NP RSR 5.0m, 6.2m and 6.7m. The fins i have for the board are KA sym 23, F1 26 and a a choco mach1 28.

Any advise is greatly accepted. Cheers in advance Bender

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Bender said...

G'day guys i'm heading over for the speed fortnight.

As i have never sailed the pit before, can some of you locals give any advise on set up,fin size etc.

I'm 85kgs and will be running (if it's windy) A CA SP50 with NP RSR 5.0m, 6.2m and 6.7m. The fins i have for the board are KA sym 23, F1 26 and a a choco mach1 28.

Any advise is greatly accepted. Cheers in advance Bender

Dont be timid, i dudded myself out of 40kt doppler by rigging too small and being psychologically timid, hardies run is 10 times harder to go fast on, you've done 38kts at hardies that would be equvalent to 45kts at end of pit run

I'm not a local or an expert...

but my advice would be don't pull up too early. All of my peaks were in the last few meters of my runs. The water is so flat you are actually going a lot faster than you would think, and the aparent wind makes it feel as though your power drops right off down the bottom of the course.

Have fun

Use lubrication for the first time

You'll be fine, rig to suit the conditions and have fun..., only reason the Pit crew are fast

serious note just be careful when you pull up at the end of the run, give yourself some room to slow down and don't head into the bank too quick, i'm nursing a bruised foot from nearly running into the bank

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choco said...

Use lubrication for the first time

You'll be fine, rig to suit the conditions and have fun..., only reason the Pit crew are fast

serious note just be careful when you pull up at the end of the run, give yourself some room to slow down and don't head into the bank too quick, i'm nursing a bruised foot from nearly running into the bank

gee you SA guys are hard core not only do you sail fast you knock banks off

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Bender said...

choco said...

Use lubrication for the first time

You'll be fine, rig to suit the conditions and have fun..., only reason the Pit crew are fast

serious note just be careful when you pull up at the end of the run, give yourself some room to slow down and don't head into the bank too quick, i'm nursing a bruised foot from nearly running into the bank

gee you SA guys are hard core not only do you sail fast you knock banks off

Monday-Tuesday looking nice as well

yeh yeh will be there Sunday arvo

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choco said...

Bender said...

choco said...

Use lubrication for the first time

You'll be fine, rig to suit the conditions and have fun..., only reason the Pit crew are fast

serious note just be careful when you pull up at the end of the run, give yourself some room to slow down and don't head into the bank too quick, i'm nursing a bruised foot from nearly running into the bank

gee you SA guys are hard core not only do you sail fast you knock banks off

Monday-Tuesday looking nice as well

we know you have done pbs choco....so no need to jinx the forecast for the rest of us

Sounds like you are pretty sorted gear wise to me. The SP50 will be a bit big if it gets windy.
I am dropping down (or getting somebody to) some 2011 Koncepts for demo if they arrive, so everybody will be welcome to try them. I was maybe thinking of leaving the Love Muss small down there as well but am a bit anxious about it getting broken. If I do it will be perfect for you if it gets windy.

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Bender said...

G'day guys i'm heading over for the speed fortnight.

As i have never sailed the pit before, can some of you locals give any advise on set up,fin size etc.

I'm 85kgs and will be running (if it's windy) A CA SP50 with NP RSR 5.0m, 6.2m and 6.7m. The fins i have for the board are KA sym 23, F1 26 and a a choco mach1 28.

Any advise is greatly accepted. Cheers in advance Bender

sorry bendy man,havent sailed the pit but the same rules apply there as we use here
....dont get in my way!!!!!!!

You need to be really powered up - if it is fairly easy sailing back upwind then you have probably rigged too small - go a size bigger. It also helps to have the sail quite bagged out - ie little or no tension on the outhaul to give a fuller shape. And as Porka says, go further down the run than you think you should - usually the fastest speeds are just before you unhook.

And as per the other thread, look back to see if it is clear before gybing or pulling into the bank.

Lastly, don't go faster than the Pit crew!

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porka said...

I'm not a local or an expert...

but my advice would be don't pull up too early. All of my peaks were in the last few meters of my runs. The water is so flat you are actually going a lot faster than you would think, and the aparent wind makes it feel as though your power drops right off down the bottom of the course.

Have fun

Yes i have noticed that alot as well. Although most of the reasons i pull up early is because of the rolling chop at the end of the course if the wind isnt quite the right direction, as it gets a bit hairy at speed .

I do warn you though bender.... your cheeks will get sore from the grin from ear to ear. Also there will be deep depression for a year until the next Speed Fortnight.

oh yeah, one other tip when your having a shower make sure you clean the sand out of your ears... see you there second week

Hi Bender,

Being a fellow interstate visitor to the pit and only sailing there a couple of times there this is what i have found:-

Don't rig too small - especially trying to get going on small board at start of course - wait for a gust to get going.
Don't rig sail too flat.
Ride close to the bank as you can and go down the course as far as possible to get best speeds.
Watch out for sailors coming down the course - they come very close to bank.
Ride and use familiar board and fin combo and tune sails before using.
At the end of the course look out for anyone coming behind you and go wide before stopping at the bank (i almost hit the bank a couple of times).
Watch out for any kiters - i almost got taken out.
Watch out for those Pit Crew and some interstate guys - they have very fast gear and fast gps's. They can sail too.
Take any advice from the local's - they are very helpful.
Have fun, go fast and have a great fortnight.

Cheers,

Carl

i am also a sandy virgin and hope some one can give me some good advice
...can i buy little creatures pale ale at sandy point or somewhere close by?
any directions to bottle shops that sell the best piss on earth will be gratefully recieved

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snides8 said...

i am also a sandy virgin and hope some one can give me some good advice
...can i buy little creatures pale ale at sandy point or somewhere close by?
any directions to bottle shops that sell the best piss on earth will be gratefully recieved

Snides, with all the piss i will take out of you on the drive over we should have plenty when we arrive

Little creatures

Never heard of it.

The local store usually has a pretty large range of beer type stuff....

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snides8 said...

i am also a sandy virgin and hope some one can give me some good advice
...can i buy little creatures pale ale at sandy point or somewhere close by?
any directions to bottle shops that sell the best piss on earth will be gratefully recieved

Hey Snides.

Check out Gippsland Gold by the Grand Ridge Brewery. Its no LCPA but it's as good as you'll get in the land of VB.

Thanks for all the tips guys.
The long drive starts tonight

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Bender said...


The long drive starts tonight

An Irish Windsurfers Blessing:
May the road rise to meet you (and be free of multinovas),
May the wind be always at your back (and at least 25 knots),
May the sun shine warm upon your face (remember the sunscreen),
May the ten toes of your feet steer you clear of all misfortune (and kiters)
and may the PB's that you score make the whole trip worthwhile.
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

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Bender said...

Thanks for all the tips guys.
The long drive starts tonight

are we there yet? .... are we there yet? ... are we there yet?... are we there yet?? ... are we ....

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choco said...

oh yeah, one other tip when your having a shower make sure you clean the sand out of your ears... see you there second week

Oh Crap.... why did i pick the second week to go last time i was sailing with you choco there was no wind. it was definatley your fault, not mine.

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pacman76 said...

choco said...

oh yeah, one other tip when your having a shower make sure you clean the sand out of your ears... see you there second week

Oh Crap.... why did i pick the second week to go last time i was sailing with you choco there was no wind. it was definatley your fault, not mine.

no it was Luca's fault.....

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choco said...

pacman76 said...

choco said...

oh yeah, one other tip when your having a shower make sure you clean the sand out of your ears... see you there second week

Oh Crap.... why did i pick the second week to go last time i was sailing with you choco there was no wind. it was definatley your fault, not mine.

no it was Luca's fault.....

I like the way you think....

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pacman76 said...

choco said...

pacman76 said...

choco said...

oh yeah, one other tip when your having a shower make sure you clean the sand out of your ears... see you there second week

Oh Crap.... why did i pick the second week to go last time i was sailing with you choco there was no wind. it was definatley your fault, not mine.

no it was Luca's fault.....

I like the way you think....

BUT you both live in the tropics and DR Cam,s speedweeks have suffered from the lack of wind. We had the most wind ever, last year with no Ricky and Luca......which means if you want to sail, come the first week cos the second will be just HOT AIR for the north Let the Games begin

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kato said...

pacman76 said...

choco said...

pacman76 said...

choco said...

oh yeah, one other tip when your having a shower make sure you clean the sand out of your ears... see you there second week

Oh Crap.... why did i pick the second week to go last time i was sailing with you choco there was no wind. it was definatley your fault, not mine.

no it was Luca's fault.....

I like the way you think....

BUT you both live in the tropics and DR Cam,s speedweeks have suffered from the lack of wind. We had the most wind ever, last year with no Ricky and Luca......which means if you want to sail, come the first week cos the second will be just HOT AIR for the north Let the Games begin

TSK TSK Mr Kato [}:)]. Luca was actually there last year but not myself, although he was not there during the infamous day at sandy point last year. He went to green island but i did not, so it proves the point that he is definatley the fun stopper... not me

Hot air from the North is way better then Old farts from the south, as they do stink

And oh yes it has begun..... BRING IT ON

Sandy Point isn't all about speedsailing, the wind doesn't blow every day. When it looks light sneak off to the Go Kart track and work out which of the rental karts is fastest, inevitably you'll end up there racing at sometime and a bit of inside knowledge goes a long way. Be careful of the echidnas wandering along the sand at low tide, and don't be surprised to see a few koalas crawling alongside the road. Foster has the best bakeries for carb loading and make a trip out to the Prom, its a stunning bit of scenery relatively untouched by man. Whatever you do don't take the locals parking spot at the Pit, they get a bit annoyed when you wont move!

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Roo said...

Sandy Point isn't all about speedsailing, the wind doesn't blow every day. When it looks light sneak off to the Go Kart track and work out which of the rental karts is fastest, inevitably you'll end up there racing at sometime and a bit of inside knowledge goes a long way. Be careful of the echidnas wandering along the sand at low tide, and don't be surprised to see a few koalas crawling alongside the road. Foster has the best bakeries for carb loading and make a trip out to the Prom, its a stunning bit of scenery relatively untouched by man. Whatever you do don't take the locals parking spot at the Pit, they get a bit annoyed when you wont move!

Gosh isn't that sweet advice. Personally I think the Pit is ALL about speedsailing, speed talk, speed freak buddies and the rest is just nice atmospherics. Give me 40knots SW and I guarantee you won't be thinking about echidnas and fluffy koalas! But seriously, it's a magical place and it's well worth immersing yourself in the scenery.

Thanks Bono. I thought it was sweet as well. My family enjoyed Sandy Point and those were some of the highlights for them.