Raceboard Worlds

The raceboard worlds began last night in spectacular fashion with the opening ceremony at the Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron.

This is a massive tribute to the organisers and another great win for Windsurfing in Queensland and Windsurfing Queensland the club.

In recent years there have been two raceboard nationals held here, a number of wave events, all of the national slalom, freerace and freestyle events are in Qld (in Cairns) and now to top it all off we are holding the worlds.

Over a decade ago I had a dream that this was all possible and we went about structuring WQ to cater for it but now seeing 100k worth of designated Windsurfing facilities and 100k worth of charter equipment and general use equipment on the RQYS grounds, it has actually surpassed the expectations of my dream.

There have been far to many people involved in making this happen to list everyone but you know who you are and I'd like to thank you on behalf of the windsurfing community.

Here are some photo's from last night and also a link to the raceboard Facebook site so you can follow proceedings. www.facebook.com/RaceboardClass/

Day one some hard racing .. Level of sailing is exceptional, make one mistake and use loose 10 places. Winds around 9 to 11 knots and shifty Leo Sharpe is leading the Queensland charge closely followed by Brendan Moore. link to day one attached . We have 5 days of racing with 15 races max and you can drop only one race
www.rqys.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/DOC211116.pdf

I'll try that link again. Some images are still uploading so check back later today and there should be more photo's in the file as well as some video.

www.dropbox.com/sh/sgk7iv08u8e1sbm/AAAth8pPdWDhL0HU7J8NvRQxa?dl=0

The following story was on 612 ABC radio this morning

www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-22/manly-in-brisbane-hosts-raceboarding-world-championships/8045262

Great pics Scot. Watching ABC news now.

Day 2 and another perfect day for raceboards.

Here are some more photo's for you and again I'm uploading the rest to dropbox. The files will continue to upload over night so there will be more by the morning www.dropbox.com/sh/w2yr46gizn1cyhd/AAAP6F-XwDKm1O_GipgBT14sa?dl=0

Cheers, Scot.

Thanks Ezric, I've got the guy from the ABC sending it over today. Will post as it comes to hand.

This was another article they did for on-line www.abc.net.au/news/2016-11-22/manly-in-brisbane-hosts-raceboarding-world-championships/8045262

Today was pretty brutal, I did manage two laps of the first race, didn't manage to complete a gybe but nailed several catapults quite well.

Upwind was managable my Aerolite 9.5 HW handled the conditions remarkable well. At no stage did it push on my front hand and try to back wind me and I could rake it back onto the deck and keep the drive pushing the board forward.

Rounding the top mark was like taking the drop on a scary roller coaster, accelerate to over 20 knots and hit the steep short chop pretty close to square, I buried the nose more than once and went over the front, fortunately on a raceboard it kind of happens in slow motion so its not so bad.

What did let me down was fitness, uphauling a 9.5 in 25 knots multiple times creates a downward energy spiral, its a bit like watching your health bar diminish in Halo, you only have so many hits before your dead and unlike Halo you can't respawn.

Like I said I did complete two laps but timed out, the top guys don't make mistakes, they don't fall off and they fly around the course.

I did the start of the second race but my health bar hadn't enough time to regenerate so at the first tack I dragged the mast track back, reached for the very back footstrap, did the big bearaway and made for shore.

Third race was awesome to watch, Max had a blinder. Some great photos from the day check them out at ausraceboard.org

Last day tomorrow, 2 races left and after 4 days I am still excited for the next day.

Probably the most satisfying day of windsurfing I've ever had!

Can I echo strong congratulations and thanks to everyone involved in this . Yesterday I "encouraged" the (non windsurfing) family down to watch. The venue was great, the event made for spectacular viewing , the sailing was inspirational and we were made very welcome . End result was a great day out for all. Thanks ++

Any idea how many came from WA? I want to get some RBing happening over here. I'm close but need windsurfers on the water.

Yep it is a great vid with many thanks to Matthew Chew one of the Moth sailors at RQ who put that together and kindly shared it on FB.

We are not even half way through the summer racing season at RQ and we have another major regatta (National Championships) at Hawks Nest on Australia Day that is going to be just as good in what is just a fantastic location.

If you have any interest in joining in the fun then make some enquiries, we have a smaller inner course at RQ you can start on with really any gear that can do a upwind and downwind course, same start and finish its just less distance. You don't need the latest raceboard or rsx or formula and you will have others there you can race with.

But be warned once you start racing windsurfers you may get very addicted.

Great vid and advert for the sport. Looks like they all had a ball !

Hot windsurfing at event with real warmth
The first Raceboard Worlds to be held in Australia this century have wrapped up in true Aussie style, with fierce competition on the water giving way to friendly mateship on shore.
The Slake Raceboard World Championships (20-25 November) attracted more than 80 competitors from 13 countries to RQYS; from as far afield as Finland, Norway and Argentina, to a contingent of Kiwis who travelled across the ditch.
Spaniard Ivan Pastor, fresh from the Rio Olympics, dominated the men's event, winning 10 of the 15 races and the title of World Raceboard Champion. Defending World Champion, Poland's Max Wojcik took out 3 races to finish ahead of New Zealander Antonio Cozzolino.
The Women's competition was an all-Aussie affair, with RQ sailor Joanna Sterling crossing the line first 12 times in a convincing display. Local sisters Lara and Shari O'Brien fought out a fierce battle for second and third, both winning races along the way.
The competition for World Champion in the 7.8 square metre sail fleet was also touched by family rivalry, with Alex Halank consigning his father Akim to third position. Gary Hill from NZ was second.
There was a very positive vibe about the whole event. The weather was faultless, with sunshine and a broad range of sailing conditions to test all-comers. The support from the RQ Yacht Squadron staff was incredibly professional, with the administration, event organisation and catering superb. The RQ Race Committee was spot on, led by windsurfer John O'Brien, and supported by Louise Davis.
President of the Australian Windsurfing Association, and the major sponsor through SLAKE, Brett Morris mused that the secret for the success of the event was that it was run FOR windsurfers BY windsurfers. The team of volunteers who planned the event all competed in the racing.
The organisers were hoping for a relaxed "Australian" atmosphere, something one doesn't see in Europe where World Championships can be stiff, formal affairs with people marching behind flags and mayors and other unrelated dignitaries making endless speeches. And the event managed to nail the perfect blend between professional and laid-back, with the competitors loving the Welcome Barbie and the party atmosphere of the Presentation Night.
On day 3 of the event, the Windsurfing Centre of Excellence was opened with a ceremony in the waterfront precinct. After the ceremony, the sailors were offered a beer (or non-alcoholic drink if they preferred) as a reward for signing off!
This impressive venue is to be the template for windsurf development in Australia. Max Wojcik, who has been living and working in Australia for the past 3 years, was the driving force behind this initiative. Max says the event at RQ was an amazing experience.
"I have been competing all my life and never had a chance to enjoy the whole experience so much as here in RQ. It even doesn't bother me to come second . that much "

Results:
Men:
1st ?Ivan Pastor???Spain
2nd?Max Wojcik???Poland?
3rd?Antonio Cozzolino?New Zealand

Women:
1st ?Jo Sterling???Australia
2nd?Lara O'Brien??Australia
3rd?Shari O'Brien??Australia

7.8:
1st?Alex Halank???Australia
2nd?Gary Hill???New Zealand
3rd?Akim Halank??Australia


Youth
1st?Alex Halank??? Australia
2nd?Taine Baldwin Core? Australia
3rd?Courtney Schoutrop Australia

Master:
1st?Ivan Pastor???Spain
2nd?Fernando Consorte?Argentina
3rd ?Leo Sharpe???Australia

Grand Master:
1st ?Bruce Trotter??New Zealand
2nd ?Lea Sitja??Australia
3rd ?Juha Blinnikka??Finland

Veteran:
1st?Tim Wood???New Zealand
2nd?Martin Thearle??Australia
3rd?Keith Single???Australia

Lightweight:
1st ?Ivan Pastor???Spain?
2nd?Max Wojcik???Poland
3rd?Antonio Cozzolino?New Zealand

Heavyweight:
1st?Fernando Consorte??Argentina?
2nd?Fabian Grundmann??Germany
3rd?Juha Blinnikka???Finland

Full results:
http://www.rqys.com.au/result/






More photos and videos
www.ausraceboard.org/
www.facebook.com/RaceboardClass/

Words: Lissa McMillan
Images credit: @RaceboardClass

Why weren't you racing Greenie?