Casual racing :D

Still buzzing from a fun session down Sandy Point on Sunday. Consistent 15-18 knot winds, big sails and freeride boards :D

Other than just going for gybes or speed, something I think would be fun is to have some blow up markers with weights on them and have some casual races.....

Nice and simple, no worrying about same gear, same boards, just some fun laps, couple of clew strikes to your opponents on the way past (or being passed)......

Good way to have a bit of fun on the water and probably help technique too.....

Anyone tried this in the past? Ideas for markers? Weights?

Would also be good to do down Invy too!

Performance enhancing ?

Going to check out some diving shops and boat shops for cheap buoys or something..... something visable from far away, with a flag on it or something like divers ones..... probably have to use marine event colours or something to keep it legal........ but if we can pick some cheap ones up means we can have some racing fun.....

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Divers-Surface-Marker-Buoy-SMB-Flag-Dive-Scuba-Safety-Marker-Easy-Pull-/330719390814?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Scuba_SnorkellingEquipment_SM&hash=item4d00696c5e

/sr=1

Here we go:

www.pocketbuoy.com/

Not a bad idea. The drag concept is different to GPS speed contest because its based on overall speed, not just for a time period and you have someone next to you - sounds like fun!

Recon, keep it very casual, go for bragging rights, do straight line drags and some round the buoy races too - doesn't matter how good someone is, just fun to participate.... more about having a laugh, feeding some competition spirit.....

Been looking around, a couple of cheap foam buoys from Whitworths with some pirate flags stuck in the top, nylon rope and some old exercise ladies dumb bells for weight.... sorted :P

That could get quite messy.

maybe we can all get out on our old gear and old mast attached to the opposite side of the sail for some Jousting action!!! It would like windsurfing demolition darby!!!

maybe not...

Isn't that what we already do on GPSTC?

Many years ago we use to have a week long comp at the Pit called "The high wind carnival" One of the races was a Man on Man drag race which featured a large clock as a start squence. When the hand hit the 12 you had to be on the start line at full speed and race down to the end, about 250m long. You got 2 shots at advancing to the second rounds. My first competitor was Mal Wright ,fastest sailor in the world at the time.Got smoked. Scratch a win in that race. 2nd race Tony Wynhoven 2nd fastested in Aus . Smashed again

The next year they added a jybe at the end and the finish line was back at the start. I had a better shot at that as both Mal and Tony were crap at jybing at the time......but so was i.

Bricks and milk bottles work really well as buoys, just add more of both as needed

This type of event/activity and more, is one of the WV forward planning items. When we have our first open committee meeting early August, you should come along.

I'm just saying, take a couple of cheap buoys be they milk bottles or blow up thingies, throw them in a few spots and have some informal races, be it drag racing or slalom races a few times around the buoys.....

Doesn't need to be anything big, no special gear, no skill levels required, grass roots stuff...... Georges idea with the beer would be good for a laugh... perhaps last race of the day.... drink and windsurf :/

If a few guys could have the (make shift) buoys in the back of their vans, then when you do an invy or sandy trip, paddle out, drop em down... game on....

When I'm back on the water in three weeks, I'll have some in the back of my van for Invy and Sandy. Open source races......... join in if you want, or not - its for the lulz.

Jez, didn't you say you could easily beat Kato in a straight line race? In three weeks you can prove it :D

/trollingover

Pff.... like Kato is fast............

I could beat him in a drag race anyday......