Looks like great fun. Haven't done a race before. Just wondering how good one has to be to consider joining the open class in the downwind marathon for the hell of it. Quite happy to come last but looking at the no. of non finishers from last year I'm a bit worried esp when they start talking about carrying your own flares in the safety regulations. Is gear breakage or fitness the issue? Can imagine that the downwinder would be grueling if you rig to big and end up overpowered. Also on the ledge to lancelin are there specific gybe-markers or is it a free for all pick your own line affair?

How much does it cost, can see bank details on the site but not how much to send to them?

I haven't done the race myself but someone a while back said that if you can sail in the waves at Scarborough for an hour solid then you're probably fit enough.

They use cray boats for gybe markers I think.

Tobyhodgso? is organising a trial run on Boxing day... (see a few threads down)

Thats right windxstasy... see this thread and maybe you want to come along, I am a LOC virgin too...
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=59582

Cost $80
Gybe markers are Cray boats
180+ starters
Downwind
be prepared to drink beer afterwards- apparently...

see threads below for advice
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=40031&SearchTerms=ocean,classic

see for forecast and map
www.windfinder.com/forecast/lancelin?utm_source=www.windfinder.com&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=redirect

see GPS Team challenge for some advice and stories from Swan River Mob
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2009-01-10&team=10

and GPS Team challenge team Pinnas for a map/ track gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2009-01-10&team=12

bring on the personal challenge.

Cheers windy and toby, my search did not return any of the links you provided so I'm guessing I just spelt lancerlynn wrong. Wasn't the drinking beer afterwards bit that had me worried.

After an awesome days sailing I'm stoked and I'm gonna bite the bullet and register. Figure that the worst that can happen is you hurt or publically humiliate yourself.

Come on all the rest of you amatuers - Join me in the quest for Reg's $1000 gift voucher.

I'll be off tomorrow to buy flares, an inflatable liferaft, emergency rations and a windsurfer one to store it all on.

a trailer! now thats a good idea- might effect your top speed a little...
great news see you there.

My comments from this years events
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2009-01-10&team=2

thanks evets. great info.

Select to expand quote

tobyhodgso said...

Thats right windxstasy... see this thread and maybe you want to come along, I am a LOC virgin too...
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=59582

Cost $80
Gybe markers are Cray boats
180+ starters
Downwind
be prepared to drink beer afterwards- apparently...

Well that rules me out...

I did the event a couple times in the 90's when I was about 18.

Looking back i am ikinda amazed that i made it on a 70 lt 18 inch wide speed board. altho i probably ony weighed in around 60 kg back then.

the one year the swell was so big you couldnt actually see the cray bouts when they were inbetween the troughs in the swell. in fact if someoen was sailing in the trough 1 or 2 waves down from you you couldnt see their sail :) just big arse mounds of water.

that year the cray boats all had big orange baloons floating about 100 meters above them so you could see where to go.

All in all tho it was a lot of fun and id reckomend it to any keen sailer.

1 hour BAFing at Scarbs is completely different to sailing for 1 hour downwind in the open ocean.