Hi, what kind of board qualifies for course racing in tasmania?

Hi Darb,

Pretty much anything goes for the racing we do in TAS. Last year's sailing guide states:

Racing will be held in winds ranging from 8-35 knots. Any board can be used. There is a maximum size limit for sails of 12.5 m2. Generally, if the course involves an upwind leg, points will be awarded toward Formula (and Longboard). For all other courses points will be awarded toward Slalom. Generally, Formula races will not be held in winds above 18 knots and Slalom races will not be held in winds below 18 knots. Please note: It will be at the discretion of the Officer of the Day as to what type of course is set (Formula or Slalom) and whether points will be awarded toward Formula (and longboard) or Slalom.

However, last year we had the option of running either Slalom or Formula racing at each State Title event whereas this year we have designated events for Slalom and Formula, so the course/wind restrictions won't apply. I don't think we will have a longboard division this year, but we could if we have a minimum of three entrants, otherwise I think we would just include anyone with a longboard in with the Formula class?

What type of gear have you got? Be great to see a good fleet racing this year.

Hi thats made things a little clearer, I have a F2 lightning and a bombora 295 old gear by todays standards which is why I would like to buy another board which may be more suitable for the Formula division any suggestions?

regards Brad

Hi Darb,

The F2 Lightning is a great board and would still be very competitive. If you were thinking of getting a Formula board and rig to match there is plenty of second hand kit out there and it is very cheap compared to other types of sailing gear. A lot of the guys in NSW's upgrade their gear every year or two, which keeps the second hand market competitive (they have about 50 Formula sailors competing in their weekend races). A complete kit sold on Sea Breeze a couple of weeks ago for under $1000 (board, mast, sail, boom, ext, the lot) and it was in good condition. Probably expect to pay more around the $2000 mark though, or up to $3000 for top of the range.

Most of us who race here in TAS just have the one sail and fin (instead of three of each) and the sail should be in the 10-11m size range and the fin should be 70cm.

All of the Formula gear from around 2003 onward will be competitive, so newer isn't necessarily any better. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss any of the gear currently for sale on Sea Breeze and how suitable it might be.

Probably the key thing is to have a mast that specifically matches the sail and a good carbon boom. The boom is usually the most difficult and most expensive piece of kit to get. I bought my current carbon boom in 2001 and it is still going strong, so once you have one it should last a fair while (which is why they hold their value so well - expect to pay around $700 second hand).

Hi Darb, I have a Formula board on Seabreeze.
Its a Starboard 161 with a 70cm formula fin.
I can do you a better price than whats advertised.

www.seabreeze.com.au/Classifieds/Windsurfing/Boards/~bjmpi/Starboard-161-Formula-Board-161-litres.aspx?search=iVVAl2umBXmHLC7VP1FIeA%3d%3d&t=0


Regards Steve.

Is anyone keen for a formula fun sailing day??

I would love Dave and Steve to run one so that I can learn how it all works.

Russ

Sounds like a great idea Russ. Really looking forward to getting out on the Formula gear again after a bit of a break. Some good footage of Formula cruising here:

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AUS02 said...

Sounds like a great idea Russ. Really looking forward to getting out on the Formula gear again after a bit of a break. Some good footage of Formula cruising here:

That is some great formula sailing....Great control, looks like he is riding a slalom kit!

Check out the new 2012 Starboard formula boards. www.star-board.com/

If the wind stays like it is and i grow grey hair overnight, i'll have to buy formula gear haha

p.s that vids cool Dave

You'd be suprised Jez, I wouldn't class it as an old mans sports, it's bloody hard work and the racing is a lot of tactics not just pure speed. It's a bit more like yacht racing tactics and getting the angles right to the next bouy so there's less tacks to be done. Good fun but a bugger if you drop your sail, waterstarting and uphauling with those big sails is the hard bit, they are heavvvyyyy.

The other good thing is there are heaps of them around for sale, I wonder why!!
If you are into racing there are plenty of bargains to be had.
cheers

There are certainly heaps around, that's for sure as the racing guys like to update and compete using the latest gear. A big slalom board and big slalom sail will probably be more fun and easier to use than Formula gear for general sailing, but if you want to have one of the fastest pieces of equipment around a race course, then Formula boards are the way to go. At the PDYC we race against the B14's. They're pretty quick, but above about 10 knots the Formula kit beats them around the course - and I'm sure the B14's cost a fair bit more than a Formula board.

If anyone ever wants a go of one, let me know as you can take mine for a spin.

Do you know how the formula boards fair up with the Moths Dave? They seem really fast and a bit of a handful too.

It's good fun racing them out on the River, that's for sure. They plane quite a bit earlier, so up until about 10 knots they abosolutely fly around a course, but from around 10-12 knots upward the Formula boards are getting close upwind and probably faster off the wind (definitely faster, but not sailing as low, so Formula board covers more ground to get there same time or quicker). As the wind increases, the Formula board has the advantage. Depends a lot on sailor experience though. The moth guys on the Derwent River are world class sailors and you can imagine the difference between Antoine Albeau and someone like myself around a course - big difference, so be good to pit the best against the best in both classes. Still great to blast around alongside the moths and, as I said, above about 12 knots the Formula gear is pretty full-on around a course and very had to beat.

sounds like a challenge for board seeker to setup