Great result at the national s John, you should be very proud of your efforts. So you managed to get a start in with the Magics and 16 footers, how did that happen ???

Select to expand quote

AUS 814 said..
Great result at the national s John, you should be very proud of your efforts. So you managed to get a start in with the Magics and 16 footers, how did that happen ???

Thanks Pete,

I was really hoping for top 5, but happy with how I consistently I sailed all week, pity we didn't have a few stronger wind days I might have succeeded.

The start with the Magics and 16ft Skiff was to save the start boat having to do another 5 minute sequence for just one Sailboard. So if anyone is sailing by themselves any week I'm sure it could be arranged by just chatting with Peter W (I told him I'd keep clear of the other boats).

Good morning all,

I'm away this weekend, Pete still out due to injury and Lyndon didn't feel like racing himself, so I've notified the Club that there'll be no Sailboards racing at Gosford tomorrow.

We should be back Racing Sat 10-Feb-2018, I'll update next Thursday or Friday with another post here.

John.

Hi All,

Racing on at Gosford tomorrow. Briefing at 1pm, race start from 2pm.

See you there.

John.

Today's racing saw a light wind start, with 3 starters and Stuart out for a free sail on his new 2nd hand Bombora One Design with a one design rig.

Lyndon and Peter D sailed a shorter course and smashed it, congratulations to Lyndon who had a decisive win on his RS D2 with his Severne 11.5m rig. Peter D waited around at the second top mark for me and would have smashed me had he not waited, well sailed Pete.

I had a good day training for the NSW Raceboard series heat to be held at Woolhara tomorrow. I even managed to beat a couple of the Magics to the top mark on the first lap, but geez it took some pumping!

Well sailed Lyndon, nice to see someone else get the hooter at the line for a change.

Great work Lyndon, last time I saw the 11.5 was when the gun shot went off !.Its it's not insanely light next week I may be able to join you guys

Racing on again at Gosford tomorrow, however there is an Opti Regatta at Gosford so parking is going to be stretched very thin. I'd expect 100+ kids. Might be worth launching elsewhere if you can.

I'll be at the club from about 10:30am to assist, but am planning on racing.

The NSW Raceboards have a head on Sunday at Kurnell as part of the Kurnell cup with Formula and BIC Techno's. Anyone is welcome to join in there too. The forecast is light but it should be a great day.

Saturdays racing was windy challenging but great fun. Its a shame we don't have that sort of wind more often for me to learn to make the most of it. John Foiled, Peter D had sail issues and retired. I used the phantom with a 9m sailworks slalom sail. The slalom style sail is much smaller in feel compared to the 9.5 severne raceboard sail. John really seems to be getting the most out of foiling. I think he would have certainly beaten himself on a race board if he did not fall. The occasional fall makes a big difference. The best move of the race for me was a gybe up in the flat waters of caroline bay. It was a huge neat curve with a near plane out exit. Felt amazing. The sailworks 9m releases so much pressure up high that it makes strong wind that much more manageable. On the other hand my fall started on the first work. A shift stopped me from sailing above point freddo, then a heap of sabots caused me to tack but I ended up heading for a fishing boat in a really busy spot. I could go below and risk lines and hooks, so I tried for above, caught the anchor line and went in. I body dragged past the boat to avoid trashing my sail on the front of the boat. It then took an eternity to get going again. wind really squally and sabots everywhere. Gave the sabots a wide birth after that.

On the first run I tried the mast right back and had a few nice reaches, but I also dropped off the plan many times and struggled to keep heading down wind, all very tiring. Second run I left the mast forward and while my top speed was much less, I stayed at speed down wind most of the time and for me that was about twice as fast. I Couldn't find the bottom mark at the end and the racing was over, so I failed to finish, but sailed the whole course in winds I would say were 6 knot low to maybe 18 to 20 knot highs . Got pretty well balanced with the sail which is good, and surprisingly my legs are the most sore today. Lost count of my falls. several gybe errors, one back winded shift near Green point. one fall adjusting CB track etc for down wind. (so there you go, anyone wanting to join us, I shouldn't be too hard to beat)

Working next week, Don't think any of us are sailing.

I have worked out a way to repair sails using a sewing machine needle , braided fishing line and some pliers help.
I will post photos and explain soon.

I had a great time out on my foil on Saturday, but I'd almost forgotten how much more physical foiling is compared to my Raceboard, despite the much smaller rig - 6.8m BIC Techno. I guess it's mostly due to being unharnessed for about 90% of the time.

As Lyndon said above, it was very gusty and at times very strong, I was happy to only have a few swims during the race, especially since I hadn't foiled for nearly 2 months.
It was great practice, and like Lyndon said it's a pity we don't get conditions like that more often.

Dodging 100 Opti's downwind on a foil in that breeze wasn't ideal so I have them a wide berth where I could.

Sunday was even better conditions with a 25 knot nor Easter for the Raceboard event at Kurnell. I managed a 3rd which I'm very pleased with. Pity I tore a hole in my Loft 9.5 Raceboard Blade rig. So it's in for repairs at Barracutta sails and I'll have it back this Saturday :)

I'm headed to Sydney this weekend for the inaugural Australian Foiling National titles, Lyndon is working so doubt there'll be any racing at Gosford this weekend (at least that's what I've told the club. See you all Saturday week.

Hi All,

Back at Gosford again tomorrow. Lyndon and I will both be there. Peter S out with an injured shoulder, and Peter D out with family commitments.

Forecast is looking good, 15 knot nor easter.

See you around midday.

John.

Is there racing at Gosford tomorrow? The stars have aligned and I'm finally able to make it ??
12:00?

Edit: Bah! You osted when I was writing. See you tomorrow John.

Guy

Hi Guy,
Great to have you join us.
John agrees that you seem to have real potential. Very light footed and naturally able to more around the board.
Have to try sailing a southerly in toowoon bay with that sup sail and a long wave oriented sup, or even your viper. However we may lose you over to wave sailing so perhaps not.

Anyway Im happy to give you an indefinite lone of the caveman board and we will do the same with a rig. Keep it at your place for practice. I said to john that I have a 9.5 race sail, but he wisely suggested it might be better to start with a 7.5 or 8. If you come around I will set you up.
Lyndon

Hey Lyndon,

Yesterday was pretty wild out there for me. All that chop and trying to make my way upwind was a little difficult. I gave up after a while and just headed back..

It'll be great to try out some other gear! I'm away next weekend but the one after should work for me..

Guy

Im glad to hear you are staying positive. You did really well. It took me 6months of racing in front of the sailing club to build the courage to go out in the main bay. You turned up and just did it. Yes the chop is no fun, but some boards handle it much better than others. Either way as I said out there I try to find an area on the right or left with less chop for as much time as possible.






This is the board we will lend you. You will be amazed how much faster it goes with the same power input as your viper. We will set you up with an 7.5 to 8 ish rig as well. When you are ready we will get a 9.5 race sail for you.

If you are interested in short boards I have some options for you to try as well. Once you can manage a 7.5 to 8m in 10 to12 knots with your weight fully committed to the sail you will be ready to get some performance out of short boards. Until then you will be much faster on a race board.

Great looking board Lyndon, will be great to develop those RB skills. I couldn't see the three storey board storage in the pic ????

Hi all,

Great to have you join us last Saturday Guy, the conditions were less than ideal and I found myself bobbing around like a cork, wrong day to take my foil out), so I know how you felt, Well done Lyndon who smashed it for his first outright win. Congratulations and well deserved.

Guy you'll be amazed how much easier a Raceboard glides through the chop.

No racing today as I'm away at the Raceboard series heat on Lake Macquarie and Lyndon and Guy are busy and poor Pete is still out due to Injury.

See you next weekend.

John

Really sorry but due to work commitments Im not available 17th or 24th.
Guy your board and rig is ready to pick up anytime.
I will try to sail in the arvo of the 17th so if you do race watch out for me. Fingers crossed
Lyndon

Hi everyone, sorry I missed last Saturday as I had visitors from overseas staying with me.

I'm away this Saturday at the final heat of the NSW Raceboard series. Fingers crossed I can hold down third :)

As Pete, Lyndon and I are all away I'll let the club know there'll be no racing 24-Mar-2018.

See you Saturday 31-Mar (Easter weekend) if you're about.

John

The Sailing Season at Gosford Sailing Club finished up last weekend, so from this Saturday we will be racing informally. I should be at the club around 12:30pm, Lyndon advises he'll be there too. If the wind is too light then bring your SUP paddle and it may be paddlemania :)

Sorry guys heading away for Easter , not that I can sali anyway. Will try and catch up in a couple of weeks time

Due to the extremely light forecast for today we've decided to go SUPing at Umina SLSC instead.

All welcome, should be a great afternoon on the water anyway.

This has to be the longest run of no wind ever! But we really made the most of it catching small waves at umina. Almost as much fun as raceboards. In retrospect we should have set some BOP races but we were having too much fun to think of that. Safe trip home to our Czech friends. Great to meet you.

Good afternoon all,

Ok so it looks like the forecast has finally improved and the wind has returned after one of the longest zero wind periods in a long time - Wahoo!!!

I've also been advised that we will have a guest appearance at Gosford this Saturday by "Al" the owner of a brand new Windsurfer LT board (S/N 0001), that's right folks the first one off the production line!

As a result I'll be dusting off my old Windsurfer One Design as will my brother so there'll be at least 3 Wally's (Ok 4 if you count me lol) at Gosford this Saturday.

So this is a callout for everyone and anyone (and I mean everyone) with a Windsurfer One Design that's been laying around for years (any year model past or present is welcome). We'll be meeting at the waterfront on the Southern side of Gosford Sailing club from midday, racing to start around 1pm-1:30pm. It'll be very informal with either a Beach start or perhaps a rabbit start. It doesn't matter what skill level, age or race, everyone is welcome, and if you don't have a Windsurfer One Design you can bring whatever else you have (Div II, Raceboard, Funboard, Formula or Foil).

It's time to make Windsurfing Great again (to be honest it never stopped being great, everyone just forgot how great it was). So come down to Gosford Sailing club this Saturday for a reminder of what you're missing out on and to see the beginning of a Windsurfing Revolution.

This Wally will be making a guest appearance, well not on the water anyway

Looking forward to catching up with you guys, thanks for organizing John and Lyndon. I'm happy to also bring along an original Wally with old school rig or my mistral superlight for anyone who wants to join in but doesn't have a longboard. Message me before Saturday and I'll be happy to oblige. The more the merrier! If anyone has some where's Wally striped clothing it would be a hilarious spectacle. Don't think I have anything like that though. Cheers Al

Looking forward to catching up with you guys, thanks for organizing John and Lyndon. I'm happy to also bring along an original Wally with old school rig or my mistral superlight for anyone who wants to join in but doesn't have a longboard. Message me before Saturday and I'll be happy to oblige. The more the merrier! If anyone has some where's Wally striped clothing it would be a hilarious spectacle. Don't think I have anything like that though. Cheers Al

Hi Al,
I would like to demo the mistral super lite if you happen to bring it. I have other gear if you dont bring it. But I find it difficult to make a wally work. I can really only sail if the mast is fully back, which then conflicts with having the CB down. Too little nose volume for 110+kg. Im interested to see how the new wally compares. Lyndon

Wow the forecast is looking superb for a big day's racing tomorrow. NW are always a little gusty, but should be a great afternoon out. At this stage we are looking at at least 5 boards, possibly more if the maybe's show up. Would be great to see a fleet of Windsurfers back at Gosford again.

No doubt John and the others will give a better update but we had 8 sailors all up. Alan from Newcastle turned up and let us try his Windsurfer LT, I liked it, thanks Alan.

It was good to have so many sailors for once. We would have had a ninth except for injuries.

Thanks all, I had a great time! Super fun.