Round 2 of the Winter series is this Saturday at Boggy Lake (Lake Reserve Road) - where we were last weekend for the marathon. Rego and briefing at 11am. Good forecast: 20-30 N/NW.

Should be some great slalom racing and close competition.

Hope to see you there.

Ah dam, wont be able to make it. The Bic techno thing is on this saturday so heading to that again. Dad got a bit freaked out last week because it was so cold. Dont know if his so keen on thw whole winter windsurfing idea. Have to do a bit of sweet talking i think. Whens the GPS max speed one going to be do you know? I asume your waiting for ideal conditions at Goolwa?

Bubs

Hey Bubs. The GPS speed event is the weekend of 16 + 17 August (windiest day). I understand if you can't make it to this weekend's event. Tell your dad he's got to harden up!! Or buy a better winter wetsuit....

...or become a fat boy, good insulation

I'm away for the weekend so will miss out again !!
hope all goes well

Great day today..........

The second round of the KASailWINTERSERIES’08 was held yesterday at Boggy Lake. The forecast was for N/NW winds at 20-30 knots, and the plan was to run slalom racing. These plans soon changed when we tried to place the first buoy, and the wind was so strong that it took off across the water with the anchor dragging across the surface sending spray high into the air. A quick chase in the boat and Sam was able to grab it on the run. We then realised that perhaps our shiny new massive inflatable buoys were going to be too big for the day (and perhaps our boat was too small), so we would focus on some speed instead. We weren’t at the best venue for speed sailing conditions, and the strong cross wind with 1 foot chop was quite unsettling on the boards. It was also difficult to find a board/sail/fin combo that worked and the gusts were very strong but there were still lulls that would have you sinking if you were on small gear.

There was only a modest turnout, but in the end, the results were:
35.4 knots Sam Doecke
35.1 knots Tim Hemer
32.1 knots Chris Dimond
29.8 knots Richard Upton (27.9 on the Kona)
29.3 knots Norm Clarke
26.8 knots Nick Bellgrove

Crazy day, and super cold once again, but then that’s what this winter racing is all about.

The next round is on the weekend of 16/17 August, and will either be slalom or speed again depending on conditions.

Hope to see you there.

Thanks again for organising this event Chris. Tough business this winter sailing!

For those in the internet world interested in the new breed of long boards, I will outline my experiences on the Kona (One) for the day.

I initially went out on my 268 shortboard with a 5.0 wavesail. The wind was strong in parts, but with lulls that would have seen me floundering in a slalom race. I rigged the Kona with a 7.0 sail, and was well-powered up to say the least. The bigger size of the Kona (220L) I think helps managing over-powered sails. When the event changed to speed, I did 27.9 k on the Kona (a pb I think), which was pretty scary but not to the point where I thought I was not in control. It is kind of like going fast in a big old car with soft suspension soaking up the bumps. The limit to my top speed was almost certainly the centre-board gasket, which showed evidence of water being forced through and out the top of the slot. I reckon taping over the gasket under the board would be worth an extra 2 knots, and I will do that next speed day. The Kona goes to windward pretty well with the board up anyway.

I swapped back to the shortboard, and it took me a good half-hour to top the speed on the Kona, although I had plenty of power in the 5.0 sail by that time.

So I reckon the Kona with a 7.0 is good for winds from 0 to 25 k +

I currently have a 2 board quiver, and I'm very happy with the versatility of the Kona (although I'm clearly not going to win any of these events :- )).

Yeah i found a bigger board makes it easier. I was out at the adelaide sailing club on saturday and it was very windy with big swell (compared to what im used to anyway). The only gear we use there is a 205L Bic Techno with a center board and a 6.8m cammed sail. Usually in the same conditions i would have rigged a 5.0 or maybe a 5.8 uncammed wave sail so i was very overpowered considdering im on 65kg. But the bigger board defently made a difference in being able to control it to an extent. Good fun anyway, didnt last long in the water though. Got out after 3/4 of an hour because i was stuffed and cold. Got home by lunch time.

Bubs