The Show Down Formula/long board or what ever board event is coming up on the 30th - 31st October. Run by the Royal Yacht Club. Check out the website www.theshowdown.com.au

I might give this a go, most likely come last but sounds like fun. i bought Dave Moreheads old yellow Thomen about 8 years ago I presume that would get round the course

If Russ, Marlon and I (and whoever else) turn up with our longboards, would this constitute a "division" that could be carried over to the other events.? Or is it Formula Vs all comers?

There was a windsurfer division last year and three windsurfers entered. The Formula boards (9 of them) started with the NS14's if I recall and the Windsurfers might have started with Lasers. The more the merrier, it was a good event last year, not much wind though.

Anthony, if you used one of the START boards, with a dagger board and your biggest sail, that might be better for getting around the course than the Thommen if there's not much wind. Those START boards go really well with bigger sails, especially with the centre-boards down. There are three of them, so maybe we try and get them all on the water!!

The windsurfer division will probably be strictly for windsurfer one designs (not sure?), but I suspect any board could sail in Formula (as long as board is under 1m wide, fin less than 700mm and sail less than 12m)!!

I'll put my hand up for a start board for the event if their up for offer!!

Not sure if it will do the job but sounds like it may, so someone can borrow my JP Funster board for the event, 160ltr with a centre board.

Jez, your board would be great, in a race in Victoria it actually came in well against a lot of the hiogh performance boards.
I think it would fair nicely with a jp team rider on it... hint hint.

OH , Thats not me either!

Jez, why don't you take your board in it. I'm using Clydes Mistral Vision 130L and my new 1995 Neil Pryde slalom sails kindly donated by Luke (Zen)

good point damo. jez, i've sent you pm

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Kazza said...

Jez, why don't you take your board in it. I'm using Clydes Mistral Vision 130L and my new 1995 Neil Pryde slalom sails kindly donated by Luke (Zen)

Nah ill give this event a miss, I don’t want to embarrass myself. But ill come along and support

Thanks to Jez i've got a board for the event, so I'll be there. Thanks Jez

This afternoons looking good for a few runs in the lagoon. SSE 20 knots athe moment, it's supposed to be SW but I recon it will stay with a lot of S in it.

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buzzy said...

Thanks to Jez i've got a board for the event, so I'll be there. Thanks Jez

This afternoons looking good for a few runs in the lagoon. SSE 20 knots athe moment, it's supposed to be SW but I recon it will stay with a lot of S in it.

You’re welcome buzzy! I was thinking pond later this arvo, just need to sneak away from work, get gear and get down there by about 4ish. PM me your number.

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Jezstrt said...

buzzy said...

Thanks to Jez i've got a board for the event, so I'll be there. Thanks Jez

This afternoons looking good for a few runs in the lagoon. SSE 20 knots athe moment, it's supposed to be SW but I recon it will stay with a lot of S in it.

You’re welcome buzzy! I was thinking pond later this arvo, just need to sneak away from work, get gear and get down there by about 4ish. PM me your number.

It’s bucketing down out at technopark though

Oh no you might get wet!!

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AUS02 said...


Anthony, if you used one of the START boards, with a dagger board and your biggest sail, that might be better for getting around the course than the Thommen if there's not much wind. Those START boards go really well with bigger sails, especially with the centre-boards down. There are three of them, so maybe we try and get them all on the water!!

Anthony - If your keen then I'll go as well on the start board with the 7.5 it could be quite fun

I am going for it for sure!!!
Not sure how I will go, but at the end of the day I just want to try the Tassie organised events. I have made a commitment to give these formula events a fair go this seasion and have a crack.
Please have a go on what ever you have that floats.
lets get behind our events and have a blast.

Cheers Russ

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Kazza said...

Oh no you might get wet!!

Damien, Kaleb and I went to the pond to brave the elements but the wind had died

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TASSIEROCKS said...

I am going for it for sure!!!
Not sure how I will go, but at the end of the day I just want to try the Tassie organised events. I have made a commitment to give these formula events a fair go this seasion and have a crack.
Please have a go on what ever you have that floats.
lets get behind our events and have a blast.

Cheers Russ

Love the enthusiasm Russ

Jez, don't be embarassed, you're sailing bloody well now and you're bound to knock off Buzzy cos I don't think he could handle a startboard.

OK, here are some links for further information on The Showdown!!

http://www.theshowdown.com.au/formula-windsurfers-promise-lots-action
www.theshowdown.com.au/enter-otb

I have just entered!! Cost was $35. Before you enter, you must be a member of Windsurfing Tasmania (for insurance purposes). When you enter, you must put WT down as your club and put "NA" when it asks for your Yachting Australia Membership.

You will also need a lifejacket to wear on the day (compulsory). I have two spare lifejackets, so if anyone wants to borrow one from me, let me know. They are both good for windsurfing in (ie don't get in the way of your harness hook).

This will be a great event and good fun, so don't let the entry fee and lifejacket put you off, these are fairly standard requirements for fully organised events!!!

PS you will also need to register a sail number. If you don't already have one you will be assigned one when you become a member of WT. If you don't want to get the proper sail numbers for your sail (from Peter Johnsons or Ian Ross) you can use masking tape to make up your numbers or you can just just put down your sail size as your number and let the guys on the start boat know which sail you are!!

I know all of this sounds like a bit of an effort, but the guys on the start boat have a couple of hundred entrants that they need to track and sail numbers make this task easier.

I presume entrants will also have to know the basic rules of yacht racing - port / starboard, windward boat keeps clear, buoy room etc. I haven't raced lasers for 20 years, can one of you formula doods enlighten us.

Only rule really is to avoid collisions!! However, Starboard tack does have right of way (sailing with right hand forward on boom) over sailors sailing on Port tack if you are heading toward a sailor (especially a non-windsurfer, such as a laser). Generally we give a lot of respect to the dinghies and would rarely call Starboard to make one tack.

Not long now...

Have many people entered?

Hi Dave,

I entered last night.

Looking forward to it. Let's get behind our Hobart event!!!

Cheers Russ

Hi Dave, still got some queries
- Are there races both days?
- Are windsurfers sailing off SBSC? Can we register there on the day?
- Will someone (on the day) explain course and starting system?
- Is there lots of beer to drink after the races?

Hi Easty,

Yes, there is racing on both days (see below). All of the info is on the website (see also Notice of Race). Early entries close Wednesday at 4PM, after this it costs an extra $10 (ie $35 becomes $45) and you must enter before 9AM on the day of racing. You must be a member of WT for insurance purposes. You will need a lifejacket and a sail number or some identifying number on your sail that you can register (otherwise they will not be able to track you as you start/finish, etc). You get a t-shirt included in the entry.

Day/Date Action Time:

Saturday 30 Back to Back Races - First Warning Signal 1000 (this means you need to be out at the start line by 1000)
After racing food and entertainment 1600

Sunday 31 Back-to Back Races - First Warning Signal 1000
Prize Presentation – at RYCT 1700

There will be no Warning Signal made after 1530 on Sunday 31 October 2010.

We'll rig and race off Marieville Esplanade, down next to the RYCT who are hosting the event. I'll get down there at around 8:30AM. There will probably be 4 races each day and each race will probably take around 30-40 minutes.

The actual sailing instructions, with course details, etc will be provided from 8:30am on Saturday so we can go through as a group then. Basically it will be start between two marks and sail upwind to top mark, go around and sail back to bottom mark, do this 2-3 times and then back through start/finish line.

There will be lots of beer and no doubt a big BBQ dinner after racing on the saturday (beer at the bar and a ticket required for BBQ, probably $15-20).

This should be good fun. At this stage it's looking like a moderate southerly will blow both days, which will provide fantastic racing conditions (best winds for racing in the Derwent) and make it possible for any type of board/gear to race (ie a large slalom board would go OK in a southerly, compared with if it were a light and fickle northerly)!!

So far 5 windsurfers have entered - you can check entries out on-line!!

I have just had a chat to AUS02 and we have agreed that the wally one-design windsurfers would be better to start with the formula boards this year. we kept away last year out of respect - but this year its gloves off. just kidding. we figured it is good for the sport to be all in so please have mercy on us at the starts.

Look forward to some fun racing on Saturday and hopefully still being able to stand up on Sunday so we can do it all over again.

I've entered however sail number is still pending. I hope 100m/h tape i the rough form of a number will be ok.

Dave, how do we get hold of the start boards ?

Who do we talk to, etc.

Should be interesting

regarding the start boards. they are still in the sharpie sheds at the RYCT from the dinghy group sail school - see http://www.dinghygroup.org.au/node/915 for more info there.

the sheds will be open early saturday morning and i can help dave pull the stuff out and have it ready on the lawn by 8:30am

also I hope you have a slightly bigger rig coz the ones down there are pretty small training rigs.