As an older 64kg female I don't have the strength or fitness to hold down huge sails.I want to break the 30kt barrier ( 28.6? I think is my PB ) but is it possible if you aren't holding on for grim death?
I tend to change down pretty soon - consistent 15 - 20kts 5.8m ( RAF) - 20kts 4.8m Hucker ( powerful RAF) - c 25kts 4.2m/ 3.8m RAF etc

smaller sails are generally faster then bigger sails if there is enuf wind to power them . due to less drag.
I would focus more on your board / fin set up and the water condition you are trying to go fast in .

What board are you using?

if you are on a free style wave type board they are really hard to push over 30 without a lot of grunt and really flat water as they tend to bounce too much (but gve a really soft ride)

when bearing off on a really fast run the sail will feel almost under powered, the real tuning is using a board that you can keep flat and under control.
Fin selection also pays a massive part in this. too big and the board will tail walk and get out of control - too small and it wont hold and spin out .

Fin selection is really hard to recommend as every rider is different and it comes down to how much vack foot pressure you use. try and borrow fins and try them out till you find something that suits your style.

I remember a conversation with Windxtasy trying to get 30knts last Summer/Early winter.
She was the same, changing down as the wind grew(?).
Lao Shi, her Pinnaroos GPSTC team mate 'instructed' her to go out on his 6.2 for a couple of runs and wouldn't you know it - +30knts.
Alot of it's technique but you need to have the fortitude to hold on to the sail as your bare away and sheet in.
Maybe next time instead of changing down. start your sail later in the day as to not be to fatigued to hold down that sail for a few runs.
Once you've done a couple of runs in the wind then change down and go for alphas or Nautical mile.

Hi Sue. You definitely don't have to be super overpowered. I cracked my 30 at similar weight to you on a freestyle wave with a camless sail. A couple of my awesome sailing mentors down south (thank you Isaac and Chinaman!) keep telling me that going fast is about being comfortable, not crazy overpowered. When you're overpowered, it is really hard to be settled and smooth, and this costs speed. Quite a few days last Summer I felt overpowered, changed down and GAINED a few knots because I was comfortable.

No offence to all the awesome big tough dudes on Seabreeze who give us lots of wonderful advice, but I would encourage you to talk to other chicks about this particular issue. I was continually encouraged to 'go bigger or go home' when I was already holding as much as I could handle, but I don't think it's the answer. Shame you didn't get to meet Chris the other weekend. Talk to Chris and Windxtasy and others and see what they think. I'd also encourage you to try to get out somewhere really flat when you get a chance. Can you lock in a trip to Harrington or Sandy or Yamba? Also, are you using the standard production fin?

Hope to get back on the water myself soon and get to have a sail with you sometime

After suggesting you talk to chicks, I realised I also agree with everything Roar has said

Yes, I got my first 30 on Lao's 6.2 loft racing blade sail. That sail pulled like a train! I can still remember the feeling of the pull, more than the joy of finally cracking 30. I could only just hold it down on the crosswind run. I also remember the support and encouragement of my fellow sailors that day, especially Aus 1111 who kept sailing past and calling out "have you got 30 yet?" and Lao who sailed with me to help me waterstart that sail if I got into trouble.
However my subsequent 30+ were all on much smaller sails - 4 and 4.9m.
Astrid only scored her first 30+ on a sail bigger than 6m just this week.

In 15-20 I'll be using my 6.4, 20 - 23 knots 5.7, 25 knots 4.9, 30 knots 4m

You do need to be well powered up, because the sail will go light on the downwind run and lose pressure, and if you are not powered up to overpowered to start with you will fall in backwards. That's how I wrenched my shoulder - because I was still holding on to the sail because I didn't want to crunch the nose of my board. I stopped, but the sail wanted to keep going at 60km/hr.
Still you do not want to be out of control. You need to be only just able to hold on to the sail on the upwind leg. On the verge of being overpowered across the wind, but just in control.
A cammed sail set full will give you more power downwind. An adjustable outhaul will allow you to set the sail flatter for getting back upwind again and for keeping it all together across the wind.

Don't be impatient. You are doing really well. Guys being bigger and stronger can join the GPSTC and score 30 in their first week. It is MUCH harder for us ladies, and it took me nearly 3 years to get there. Admittedly I wasn't very good when I started. Even really good sailors take 2 years to really get the hang of speedsailing. It is a lot different to just blasting around and gear tuning is paramount.

Select to expand quote

Windxtasy said..

Yes, I got my first 30 on Lao's 6.2 loft racing blade sail. That sail pulled like a train! I can still remember the feeling of the pull, more than the joy of finally cracking 30. I could only just hold it down on the crosswind run. I also remember the support and encouragement of my fellow sailors that day, especially Aus 1111 who kept sailing past and calling out "have you got 30 yet?" and Lao who sailed with me to help me waterstart that sail if I got into trouble.
However my subsequent 30+ were all on much smaller sails - 4 and 4.9m.
Astrid only scored her first 30+ on a sail bigger than 6m just this week.

In 15-20 I'll be using my 6.4, 20 - 23 knots 5.7, 25 knots 4.9, 30 knots 4m

You do need to be well powered up, because the sail will go light on the downwind run and lose pressure, and if you are not powered up to overpowered to start with you will fall in backwards. That's how I wrenched my shoulder - because I was still holding on to the sail because I didn't want to crunch the nose of my board. I stopped, but the sail wanted to keep going at 60km/hr.
Still you do not want to be out of control. You need to be only just able to hold on to the sail on the upwind leg. On the verge of being overpowered across the wind, but just in control.
A cammed sail set full will give you more power downwind. An adjustable outhaul will allow you to set the sail flatter for getting back upwind again and for keeping it all together across the wind.

Don't be impatient. You are doing really well. Guys being bigger and stronger can join the GPSTC and score 30 in their first week. It is MUCH harder for us ladies, and it took me nearly 3 years to get there. Admittedly I wasn't very good when I started. Even really good sailors take 2 years to really get the hang of speedsailing. It is a lot different to just blasting around and gear tuning is paramount.

Yeah I try and compare myself with the ladies but when Byron and others in our team are getting 40kts + and most people seem to get 30kts with their eyes closed it's a bit demoralising.
I find I often turn off the wind and lose power in the sail and find I'm oversheeting ( generally I can be tired and sailing like a sack of spuds) and have to get more upright and come back upwind.
My best speeds have been sailing diagonally sideways on my 78ltre Tabou Pocket wave with an 18cm Makani freemove weedie..or the 95 ltre tabou rocket in 20-25kts? with a 4.8m I think. Fairly flat water at Canton although in a WNW so a bit of chop in the middle.
I'm dying to get my act together at Canton in a SW. I don't often seem to get into a good possy that coincides with a gust to bear off..
I'm looking at Severne 6m overdrive at the moment but it won't rig properly on my Sailworks mast so it's dependent on getting a 2nd hand mast to suit. If I get that I'll get an adjustable outhaul.
At Coal I work upwind to the sand islands then go for some runs but then go out above the point for a bit of variety so to be able to adjust the outhaul on the go would be good. Is it hard?
Windxtasy you carry more sail than I do although most of my sails are Sailworks revos- RAF wavesails so they would be twitchier than cammed sails.
Needsalt I like the idea of being comfortable to get decent speeds..Be good to catch up for a sail. Yes pity Chris was crook when I was up there.
Roar most of my fins are probably pretty average - Makani weedies used mostly with some freemove freestyle type fins on the little board.I haven't used pointers much lately due to weed.

My fiance is 45kg and uses a 5.4 KA Koncept in 15-20kts (gusty and flat) and she manages to hold it down comfortably. I myself am 63kg and use a 6.6/7.5 in similar conditions. If the wind was more consistent we would probably both use smaller sizes (maybe half a size down). The only part that I'm usually "gripping" the boom is when beam reaching and about to sling shot, other that the rig usually feels light in my hand. How far apart are your harness lines? Have you considered moving them apart? Also you could try posting one of your sessions and the folks here can see if your going off the wind enough.

-Kevin

Select to expand quote

sboardcrazy said..

Windxtasy said..

Yes, I got my first 30 on Lao's 6.2 loft racing blade sail. That sail pulled like a train! I can still remember the feeling of the pull, more than the joy of finally cracking 30. I could only just hold it down on the crosswind run. I also remember the support and encouragement of my fellow sailors that day, especially Aus 1111 who kept sailing past and calling out "have you got 30 yet?" and Lao who sailed with me to help me waterstart that sail if I got into trouble.
However my subsequent 30+ were all on much smaller sails - 4 and 4.9m.
Astrid only scored her first 30+ on a sail bigger than 6m just this week.

In 15-20 I'll be using my 6.4, 20 - 23 knots 5.7, 25 knots 4.9, 30 knots 4m

You do need to be well powered up, because the sail will go light on the downwind run and lose pressure, and if you are not powered up to overpowered to start with you will fall in backwards. That's how I wrenched my shoulder - because I was still holding on to the sail because I didn't want to crunch the nose of my board. I stopped, but the sail wanted to keep going at 60km/hr.
Still you do not want to be out of control. You need to be only just able to hold on to the sail on the upwind leg. On the verge of being overpowered across the wind, but just in control.
A cammed sail set full will give you more power downwind. An adjustable outhaul will allow you to set the sail flatter for getting back upwind again and for keeping it all together across the wind.

Don't be impatient. You are doing really well. Guys being bigger and stronger can join the GPSTC and score 30 in their first week. It is MUCH harder for us ladies, and it took me nearly 3 years to get there. Admittedly I wasn't very good when I started. Even really good sailors take 2 years to really get the hang of speedsailing. It is a lot different to just blasting around and gear tuning is paramount.

Yeah I try and compare myself with the ladies but when Byron and others in our team are getting 40kts + and most people seem to get 30kts with eir eyes closed it's a bit demoralising.
I find I often turn off the wind and lose power in the sail and find I'm oversheeting ( generally I can be tired and sailing like a sack of spuds) and have to get more upright.
My best speeds have been sailing diagonally sideways on my 78ltre Tabou Pocket wave with an 18cm Makani freemove weedie..or the 95 ltre tabou rocket in 20-25kts? with a 4.8m I think. Fairly flat water at Canton although in a WNW so a bit of chop in the middle.
I'm dying to get my act together at Canton in a SW. I don't often seem to get into a good possy that coincides with a gust to bear off..
I'm looking at Severne 6m overdrive at the moment but it won't rig properly on my Sailworks mast so it's dependent on getting a 2nd hand mast to suit. If I get that I'll get an adjustable outhaul.
At Coal I work upwind to the sand islands then go for some runs but then go out above the point for a bit of variety so to be able to adjust the outhaul on the go would be good. Is it hard? Windxtasy you carry more sail than I do although most of my sails are Sailworks revos- RAF wavesails so they would be twitchier than cammed sails.
Needsalt I like the idea of being comfortable to get decent speeds..Be good to catch up for a sail. Yes pity Chris was crook when I was up there.

Have you tried moving the back end of the lines further forward? That usually helps with my oversheeting depending on the conditions. The Tabou Rocket can definitely be a fast board :D I managed a 34.76kt 2 sec peak on it in 18-22kts (105L) of wind with my Koyote 6.6 and 31 vmax fin.

Have you set up Speed Genie on your GPS? The depowering(the sail feeling really light compared to when you were beamreaching) part you feel going downwind is usually the fastest part.

-Kevin

Select to expand quote

KevinD002 said..

sboardcrazy said..

Windxtasy said..

Yes, I got my first 30 on Lao's 6.2 loft racing blade sail. That sail pulled like a train! I can still remember the feeling of the pull, more than the joy of finally cracking 30. I could only just hold it down on the crosswind run. I also remember the support and encouragement of my fellow sailors that day, especially Aus 1111 who kept sailing past and calling out "have you got 30 yet?" and Lao who sailed with me to help me waterstart that sail if I got into trouble.
However my subsequent 30+ were all on much smaller sails - 4 and 4.9m.
Astrid only scored her first 30+ on a sail bigger than 6m just this week.

In 15-20 I'll be using my 6.4, 20 - 23 knots 5.7, 25 knots 4.9, 30 knots 4m

You do need to be well powered up, because the sail will go light on the downwind run and lose pressure, and if you are not powered up to overpowered to start with you will fall in backwards. That's how I wrenched my shoulder - because I was still holding on to the sail because I didn't want to crunch the nose of my board. I stopped, but the sail wanted to keep going at 60km/hr.
Still you do not want to be out of control. You need to be only just able to hold on to the sail on the upwind leg. On the verge of being overpowered across the wind, but just in control.
A cammed sail set full will give you more power downwind. An adjustable outhaul will allow you to set the sail flatter for getting back upwind again and for keeping it all together across the wind.

Don't be impatient. You are doing really well. Guys being bigger and stronger can join the GPSTC and score 30 in their first week. It is MUCH harder for us ladies, and it took me nearly 3 years to get there. Admittedly I wasn't very good when I started. Even really good sailors take 2 years to really get the hang of speedsailing. It is a lot different to just blasting around and gear tuning is paramount.

Yeah I try and compare myself with the ladies but when Byron and others in our team are getting 40kts + and most people seem to get 30kts with eir eyes closed it's a bit demoralising.
I find I often turn off the wind and lose power in the sail and find I'm oversheeting ( generally I can be tired and sailing like a sack of spuds) and have to get more upright.
My best speeds have been sailing diagonally sideways on my 78ltre Tabou Pocket wave with an 18cm Makani freemove weedie..or the 95 ltre tabou rocket in 20-25kts? with a 4.8m I think. Fairly flat water at Canton although in a WNW so a bit of chop in the middle.
I'm dying to get my act together at Canton in a SW. I don't often seem to get into a good possy that coincides with a gust to bear off..
I'm looking at Severne 6m overdrive at the moment but it won't rig properly on my Sailworks mast so it's dependent on getting a 2nd hand mast to suit. If I get that I'll get an adjustable outhaul.
At Coal I work upwind to the sand islands then go for some runs but then go out above the point for a bit of variety so to be able to adjust the outhaul on the go would be good. Is it hard? Windxtasy you carry more sail than I do although most of my sails are Sailworks revos- RAF wavesails so they would be twitchier than cammed sails.
Needsalt I like the idea of being comfortable to get decent speeds..Be good to catch up for a sail. Yes pity Chris was crook when I was up there.

Have you tried moving the back end of the lines further forward? That usually helps with my oversheeting depending on the conditions. The Tabou Rocket can definitely be a fast board :D I managed a 34.76kt 2 sec peak on it in 18-22kts of wind with my Koyote 6.6 and 31 vmax fin.

-Kevin

Rub it in why don't you..lol's I'll keep the lines in mind although I think the problem is probably just lack of practise going off the wind. Until I got into GPS 6 months ago I really only went upwind and reached.

Select to expand quote

sboardcrazy said..

KevinD002 said..

sboardcrazy said..

Windxtasy said..

Yes, I got my first 30 on Lao's 6.2 loft racing blade sail. That sail pulled like a train! I can still remember the feeling of the pull, more than the joy of finally cracking 30. I could only just hold it down on the crosswind run. I also remember the support and encouragement of my fellow sailors that day, especially Aus 1111 who kept sailing past and calling out "have you got 30 yet?" and Lao who sailed with me to help me waterstart that sail if I got into trouble.
However my subsequent 30+ were all on much smaller sails - 4 and 4.9m.
Astrid only scored her first 30+ on a sail bigger than 6m just this week.

In 15-20 I'll be using my 6.4, 20 - 23 knots 5.7, 25 knots 4.9, 30 knots 4m

You do need to be well powered up, because the sail will go light on the downwind run and lose pressure, and if you are not powered up to overpowered to start with you will fall in backwards. That's how I wrenched my shoulder - because I was still holding on to the sail because I didn't want to crunch the nose of my board. I stopped, but the sail wanted to keep going at 60km/hr.
Still you do not want to be out of control. You need to be only just able to hold on to the sail on the upwind leg. On the verge of being overpowered across the wind, but just in control.
A cammed sail set full will give you more power downwind. An adjustable outhaul will allow you to set the sail flatter for getting back upwind again and for keeping it all together across the wind.

Don't be impatient. You are doing really well. Guys being bigger and stronger can join the GPSTC and score 30 in their first week. It is MUCH harder for us ladies, and it took me nearly 3 years to get there. Admittedly I wasn't very good when I started. Even really good sailors take 2 years to really get the hang of speedsailing. It is a lot different to just blasting around and gear tuning is paramount.

Yeah I try and compare myself with the ladies but when Byron and others in our team are getting 40kts + and most people seem to get 30kts with eir eyes closed it's a bit demoralising.
I find I often turn off the wind and lose power in the sail and find I'm oversheeting ( generally I can be tired and sailing like a sack of spuds) and have to get more upright.
My best speeds have been sailing diagonally sideways on my 78ltre Tabou Pocket wave with an 18cm Makani freemove weedie..or the 95 ltre tabou rocket in 20-25kts? with a 4.8m I think. Fairly flat water at Canton although in a WNW so a bit of chop in the middle.
I'm dying to get my act together at Canton in a SW. I don't often seem to get into a good possy that coincides with a gust to bear off..
I'm looking at Severne 6m overdrive at the moment but it won't rig properly on my Sailworks mast so it's dependent on getting a 2nd hand mast to suit. If I get that I'll get an adjustable outhaul.
At Coal I work upwind to the sand islands then go for some runs but then go out above the point for a bit of variety so to be able to adjust the outhaul on the go would be good. Is it hard? Windxtasy you carry more sail than I do although most of my sails are Sailworks revos- RAF wavesails so they would be twitchier than cammed sails.
Needsalt I like the idea of being comfortable to get decent speeds..Be good to catch up for a sail. Yes pity Chris was crook when I was up there.

Have you tried moving the back end of the lines further forward? That usually helps with my oversheeting depending on the conditions. The Tabou Rocket can definitely be a fast board :D I managed a 34.76kt 2 sec peak on it in 18-22kts of wind with my Koyote 6.6 and 31 vmax fin.

-Kevin

Rub it in why don't you..lol's I'll keep the lines in mind although I think the problem is probably just lack of practise going off the wind. Until I got into GPS 6 months ago I really only went upwind and reached.

I think you are doing the right thing though. At my local spot, GPS speedsailing was unheard of until I splurged and bought a gps unit. A few of the guys who are pretty fast now were the ones who accepted what the GPS showed them and tried to improve upon it. The others who kept denying what the gps showed still only score 2 sec peaks below 27kts on days the faster guys can do 29/30kts.

Lets have a look at your session data?

Have you set up Speed Genie on your GPS? The depowering(the sail feeling really light compared to when you were beamreaching) part you feel going downwind is usually the fastest part.

-Kevin

Select to expand quote

KevinD002 said..

sboardcrazy said..

KevinD002 said..

sboardcrazy said..

Windxtasy said..

Yes, I got my first 30 on Lao's 6.2 loft racing blade sail. That sail pulled like a train! I can still remember the feeling of the pull, more than the joy of finally cracking 30. I could only just hold it down on the crosswind run. I also remember the support and encouragement of my fellow sailors that day, especially Aus 1111 who kept sailing past and calling out "have you got 30 yet?" and Lao who sailed with me to help me waterstart that sail if I got into trouble.
However my subsequent 30+ were all on much smaller sails - 4 and 4.9m.
Astrid only scored her first 30+ on a sail bigger than 6m just this week.

In 15-20 I'll be using my 6.4, 20 - 23 knots 5.7, 25 knots 4.9, 30 knots 4m

You do need to be well powered up, because the sail will go light on the downwind run and lose pressure, and if you are not powered up to overpowered to start with you will fall in backwards. That's how I wrenched my shoulder - because I was still holding on to the sail because I didn't want to crunch the nose of my board. I stopped, but the sail wanted to keep going at 60km/hr.
Still you do not want to be out of control. You need to be only just able to hold on to the sail on the upwind leg. On the verge of being overpowered across the wind, but just in control.
A cammed sail set full will give you more power downwind. An adjustable outhaul will allow you to set the sail flatter for getting back upwind again and for keeping it all together across the wind.

Don't be impatient. You are doing really well. Guys being bigger and stronger can join the GPSTC and score 30 in their first week. It is MUCH harder for us ladies, and it took me nearly 3 years to get there. Admittedly I wasn't very good when I started. Even really good sailors take 2 years to really get the hang of speedsailing. It is a lot different to just blasting around and gear tuning is paramount.

Yeah I try and compare myself with the ladies but when Byron and others in our team are getting 40kts + and most people seem to get 30kts with eir eyes closed it's a bit demoralising.
I find I often turn off the wind and lose power in the sail and find I'm oversheeting ( generally I can be tired and sailing like a sack of spuds) and have to get more upright.
My best speeds have been sailing diagonally sideways on my 78ltre Tabou Pocket wave with an 18cm Makani freemove weedie..or the 95 ltre tabou rocket in 20-25kts? with a 4.8m I think. Fairly flat water at Canton although in a WNW so a bit of chop in the middle.
I'm dying to get my act together at Canton in a SW. I don't often seem to get into a good possy that coincides with a gust to bear off..
I'm looking at Severne 6m overdrive at the moment but it won't rig properly on my Sailworks mast so it's dependent on getting a 2nd hand mast to suit. If I get that I'll get an adjustable outhaul.
At Coal I work upwind to the sand islands then go for some runs but then go out above the point for a bit of variety so to be able to adjust the outhaul on the go would be good. Is it hard? Windxtasy you carry more sail than I do although most of my sails are Sailworks revos- RAF wavesails so they would be twitchier than cammed sails.
Needsalt I like the idea of being comfortable to get decent speeds..Be good to catch up for a sail. Yes pity Chris was crook when I was up there.

Have you tried moving the back end of the lines further forward? That usually helps with my oversheeting depending on the conditions. The Tabou Rocket can definitely be a fast board :D I managed a 34.76kt 2 sec peak on it in 18-22kts of wind with my Koyote 6.6 and 31 vmax fin.

-Kevin

Rub it in why don't you..lol's I'll keep the lines in mind although I think the problem is probably just lack of practise going off the wind. Until I got into GPS 6 months ago I really only went upwind and reached.

I think you are doing the right thing though. At my local spot, GPS speedsailing was unheard of until I splurged and bought a gps unit. A few of the guys who are pretty fast now were the ones who accepted what the GPS showed them and tried to improve upon it. The others who kept denying what the gps showed still only score 2 sec peaks below 27kts on days the faster guys can do 29/30kts.

Lets have a look at your session data?

Have you set up Speed Genie on your GPS? The depowering(the sail feeling really light compared to when you were beamreaching) part you feel going downwind is usually the fastest part.

-Kevin

What's the speed genie and how do you set it? Do you want a PB session or average to show?

You are using the GT-31 right? Speed Genie when set to X speed will alert you when you go over that speed and once you are done with that run, it will show you the top speed / Xs speed (X being seconds you choose) of that run. Very useful :D Since I usually aim for 30kts at my home spot since we usually only get 15-17kts of wind, I set mine to 27kts because I know anything above 27 is good :D. I'd say send maybe your best and a few average sessions.

-Kevin

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-10-23&team=9
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-10-10&team=9
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-11-05&team=9
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-09-20&team=9
Hope you can see on the google earth.. the image is only small.
I only posted 2 as it takes too long. the first is my PB session. The second a recent one last week.

Still new to the TC site, is there a way I can download the tracks?

Select to expand quote

KevinD002 said..

Still new to the TC site, is there a way I can download the tracks?

Not sure but I think if you want to enlarge them you can only do that if you do it before you upload? I then take a general screen shot. Maybe I can enlarge a part and put it up if one session interests you although it will be a slow way to do it.

Select to expand quote

sboardcrazy said..

KevinD002 said..

Still new to the TC site, is there a way I can download the tracks?

Not sure but I think if you want to enlarge them you can only do that if you do it before you upload? I then take a general screen shot. Maybe I can enlarge a part and put it up if one session interests you although it will be a slow way to do it.

I mean like downloading the actual GPX or SBN file that the gps produced?

Select to expand quote

KevinD002 said..

You are using the GT-31 right? Speed Genie when set to X speed will alert you when you go over that speed and once you are done with that run, it will show you the top speed / Xs speed (X being seconds you choose) of that run. Very useful :D Since I usually aim for 30kts at my home spot since we usually only get 15-17kts of wind, I set mine to 27kts because I know anything above 27 is good :D. I'd say send maybe your best and a few average sessions.

-Kevin

I can check my speed after a run and it tells me my 2sec and maybe 10sec but not sure as my eyesight isn't very good as my sailing glasses aren't multifocals.... so is that the same ?

Select to expand quote

KevinD002 said..

sboardcrazy said..

KevinD002 said..

Still new to the TC site, is there a way I can download the tracks?

Not sure but I think if you want to enlarge them you can only do that if you do it before you upload? I then take a general screen shot. Maybe I can enlarge a part and put it up if one session interests you although it will be a slow way to do it.

I mean like downloading the actual GPX or SBN file that the gps produced?

I suppose if I put the card back in the computer and can identify the sessions I can copy and paste the files?

Sue, can you upload you .gpx or .sbn file to KA72 and overlay on Google earth.
This will bring your gps track up an you should be able to see the angle of bear-off during those runs.
Save a screen shot and post on here maybe?

Select to expand quote

Stuthepirate said..

Sue, can you upload you .gpx or .sbn file to KA72 and overlay on Google earth.
This will bring your gps track up an you should be able to see the angle of bear-off during those runs.
Save a screen shot and post on here maybe?

Yes what this guy says! Or email the track to me so I can run it through GPS results and see how the bear off looks :D

Select to expand quote

Stuthepirate said..

Sue, can you upload you .gpx or .sbn file to KA72 and overlay on Google earth.
This will bring your gps track up an you should be able to see the angle of bear-off during those runs.
Save a screen shot and post on here maybe?

Ok. Those posts have google earth tracks but I can enlarge the 2 sec part if that's what you need?

an overall session track will show the bear way tracks in relation to the normal 90 deg sailing.
Someone should be able to tell you if you need to go more square when bearing away.

Can you send the tracks themselves Sue?
The track data can let me see your 10sec runs 2 sec etc etc
-Kevin

Select to expand quote

KevinD002 said..

Can you send the tracks themselves Sue?
The track data can let me see your 10sec runs 2 sec etc etc
-Kevin

I've posted 2 sessions enlargements in the post above but will also try to send you the info.I can open the data on the card but when I copy a file it won't paste to anywhere?

Sue have a look at this session at Safety Bay WA.

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-03-11&team=105

the wind blows roughly 90deg to the shore line.
You can see how drastic Adam bares away as he starts his run down the bank.
These are the angles which will deliver the best speeds.
Equipment setup will be essential to maximise the effort you are putting in.

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Stuthepirate said..

Sue have a look at this session at Safety Bay WA.

gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2013-03-11&team=105

the wind blows roughly 90deg to the shore line.
You can see how drastic Adam bares away as he starts his run down the bank.
These are the angles which will deliver the best speeds.
Equipment setup will be essential to maximise the effort you are putting in.

So I take it the bear aways are the track that go to the right and down towards the beach? Looking at my PB track it looks like that was on a reach..? Is that right?

^^^I agree, someone with more experience in speed sailing than me could analyse the data a bit more.

Looks to square to the wind Sue. You need to sail further off the wind, it should be hard work to get back to your starting point (More than 1 tack)

Hi Sue, for me board size is key to going quickly not just sail size. As a relative lightweight (70kg) one of the major things that I find helps me go fast is a small board. I have only ever gone quickly on 45,52,54 cm wide boards. I accept 100% that it may be my technique is poor and that is why I am not quick on wider boards but that is me. I have tried to get my 105 litre 65 wide slalom board to go quickly but I fail when others around me are making it look easy. When I put a smaller board on, something which as a lightweight I can do far earlier than my amply proportioned frineds, I get a lot closer to their speeds.
The other thing that my level of technique needs is relatively flat water. Given a small board and flat water I am happy!

And yes bearing away is essential. Last weekend I managed many 30+ 2 and 10 sec speeds but none were across the wind.

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kato said..

Looks to square to the wind Sue. You need to sail further off the wind, it should be hard work to get back to your starting point (More than 1 tack)

Bugger. I hate trying to get back upwind.. I usually sail above my start until I feel comfortable and then play but if you need to stay in a confined area of flat water you can't do that. I suppose I'll just have to get more confident at losing that ground and getting back upwind.I have been trying to bear off more lately but only for short periods as I hate the feeling of losing all that hard earned upwind..I suppose a better fin might help me get upwind too.