Is anybody doing the on Sunday?

Yes so far confirmed is: Michael Jones, Brad Anderson, Peter De Laet, Clive Churchman, Dave Sandos, Steve Comiskey and myself. I'm sure there are others attending and the Freerace committee have asked all attending to check the facebook update and let them know numbers if possible. Surf Connect will be having a sausage sizzle after Brad wins so come on down and have a go.

Facebook event is here: www.facebook.com/events/1439421433024872/ (hope that link works)

Cheers
Marty

Any one know what its like there in a westerly can we expect consistant wind or will it just be lots of holes

will come as well tomorrow.

That's what I was wonderingSimon

In can be a bit patchy and sometimes solid. Not usually as reliable as Wello but if you want to Freerace just do it !

Note the 'inaugural' part of the 'jetty to jetty' race, this is a first up gig, bit of trial and hopefully not much error.

If we get good numbers it may become annual thing that can be built upon...(Kite v' windsurfers has been discussed) W/SW wasn't on the cards in the initial planning, so its going to be challenging wind wise, but wave wise should be flat.

Padi from Surf Connect explains that the wind line starts a bit off the beach(high tide) at the Sandgate end, the further out and the further across the bay the wind gets more consistent and stronger, W/SW are always gusty/fluky even on the best of them, being a mid tide there will be a bit of walk to the water (no mud) and that should in theory put us in a better place to catch the wind at the start.

So predication is ,, bit patchy at the start, and end, but stronger as you venture along, I'd expect the wind to really funnel strongly through past the bridge section, check out the map below and swap the arrows over and you will get the idea. Coming back may require a tack or two or three.

Certainly going to be the best Sail I've had for a few weeks and looking at the charts maybe for a while!

Good interest and numbers currently being show, the more that do it the better it will be, Sausage sizzle, beers in the park after and a chance to wind some great prizes in the random draw.

We have in the draw.

2 x Flying Object Transit Harnesses, your size choice

2 x Black Pproject fins, type R, your size

1 x Severne Sail, NCX or Turbo

1 x 50% Voucher for a 2016 Starboard 'of YOUR Choice'


Worst case scenario is the wind just doesn't arrive (forecast is still strong) and we end up eating some sausages sharing a beer and sharing some prizes, good opportunity for everyone to catch up and chat about the sport we all love and maybe share some ideas on what we can do to push the sport in 2016.

entry online via www.windwanderers.org.au/Events/FreeRace/OnlineEntryFees.aspx

or on the day, don't forget PDF jacket, GSP is not essential for this race, but great if you can bring /wear it as will make a great replay.

Sign on from 12.00 we aim to start race at 1.00

See you there.

Yep I in.

Should be an interesting coarse to sail.

Game on, heaps of wind already at site, going to be a blast!

Good luck with sail selection racers !

Good day. I'm surprised nobody got dinged up. Crashes looked great. Will be some pictures coming.

Well what an afternoon! Winds smashed through with a 15 to anyone's guess top speed Westerly, some say 25+ others claim 35+ bit like the 'how big was the fish'!
Certainly was some big bullets that's for sure, but by mid afternoon it had dropped to nothing!
Some of the runs along Sandgate beach were super flat and fast in the early afternoon, and the as the tide changes the chop came into play around the bridge end, was a pretty spectacular site to see a bunch of sails blasting across the bay like that.

The wind direction, sailability and safety meant for some changes to the day, the Jetty just being too far off the wind in the offshore winds meant a couple of distance races were held to the channel markers on the bridge and back which was the right course/call or the conditions, some insane fast sailing combine with some decent old crashes made it all the more interesting, no one lost at sea, no injuries, although Jason's tour of Moreton bay wasn't on the plans for the day, and not sure where Clive went, think he got stuck talking to the troll under the bridge, big thanks to Morgans Family for participating and assisting with Photo's, Starts, and the occasional Jet Ski rescue!

We managed two races which was perfect as we have a 4 way tie for first! Brad Anderson and Dave Sandos 1st & 4th and Steve and Leo 2nd and 3rd respectively, all finishing with a score of 5! So the best way to sort it out would be to do it again next year!


As a racing and destination event site its got a lot of things going for it, facilities, parking, works in a variety of winds, no mud, in a SE wind the Jetty to Jetty will be a lot more achievable and importantly a great team of water crew at Surf Connect that help bring it all together.

There is a heap of photos on the Face Book site, www.facebook.com/freeraceq .

There were also some great prizes awarded for the season also, with Fin's from Black Project, Transit Harness from Flying Objects, and the big two..
A brand new NCX or Turbo sail from Severne and the Starboard Board prize won by Martin (more pics to follow) .

Winners not in attendance on the day that need to make contact, George Polak - Severne , Rob Vaughn & Hannu Viitakangas - Black Projects, if you won a prize please PM here so we can put you in touch with key persons to arrange goods.

Again a big thanks to Padi and the team at Surf Connect who helped make it happen with support, boats, sausages and lamingtons, Surf Connect have been keen supporters of the concept all the way, great place to get friends into Windsurfing with Bic beach learner kits available to hire right there on the beach.