after a quick blast on some borrowed kit today and sailing past a couple of 14 footers i went back to Perth dinghy sailing club to talk to my dad, i also had a bit of a chat to one of the guys i had sailed past who is also the commodore of PDSC and after i said that there may be a few formula guys looking to get some racing together he offered us the option of racing at PDSC on saturdays during the sailing season, this would be fantastic if there is some interest to do this. PDSC is a fantastic club to run formula racing from because of it's canteen, nice grassed rigging area, a nice beach to launch from with cross shore winds in summer, great racing in the flat Matilda bay and last but probably most important for a few a great bar open after racing

just like to know who would be interested in coming and doing some formula racing next season at PDSC and don't say your interested if you plan to show up once a month i mean put your hands up guys if you recon you would want to do it every week

I've sailed out of PDSC for 20 years. It's a great family yacht club with a great facility (i hellped build the bar ), rich history and relatively cheap membership. I know the commodore you speak of and he is a great ambassador of the club - Multiple National and State Champion. The only reason i don't sail there anymore is because i'm FIFO and cannot commit to a full time dinghy crew.
Even though i have no formula experience, if this was an option i'd definately take it up.
PM me for more info if you like.

So are you next in line for a formula board, Sean?

as soon as the boat sells Anita but who knows when that will be

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scarrgo said...

as soon as the boat sells Anita but who knows when that will be

You are selling your 49er?

yep

Keep an eye out for winter racing as well. I think Nedlands ran a winter series last year. Will post if I hear/see anything.

I'm keen to have a crack at some racing.

Sat arvo would suit, as I have kids sporting commitments Sunday.

Count me in

I am always keen to do some formula racing:-)

alright including myself and a couple of PM's we have 5 interested so far but we are going to need more than that, i know how these things run you have 10 people that race but only 6 or so are there each week because of other commitments so come on guys i know theres more of you out there

I'm definitely in. The racing is great fun and I proved you don't need any experince to give it a go.

alright 6 now but just going to get some dates out here for people
i think if we can get together for a few winter series races it would be a nice warm up
the best winter series would be RFBYC this will start aprox 9th/10th of june and be on every 2 weeks
then the approximate opening day date for PDSC is the october the 13th

so everyone you've got a bit over a month to get your gear sorted and train up

I don't race (and nobody needs to see that show anyway haha) but I think this is a really good initiative. Great to see somebody organising stuff so hope you have a really good uptake Scarrgo

Yep I am def in as well.
Well done Sean I was actually going to post something along these lines as well.
I was going to propose winter sailing out of mounts bay sailing club.
It really doesnt matter where we base our selves just so long as there are people that want
To race.
I know both mounts bay and the Perth dinghy clubs are very open and welcoming to new classes.
Mounts has the benefit of being a little more accessible to different wind directions.
Hot showers,BBQ,s, bar etc.
If every one would indicate their willingness here to this concept, then it will make it easier
As well as quicker to get things up and running.

hmmm well i'm not going to deny that perhaps the showers, bar and the rest of the club are bigger at mounts bay but i'm not too sure it is easier to get in and off the beach because of the jetty and moorings

anyway organising this with PDSC because firstly i was straight out offered by Brad and secondly the camaraderie and competitiveness within all the classes there is fantastic, if you sail at PDSC for a few years you will know that for a lot of the guys down there it's not so much about the sailing or competition but about the racing against your mates and all you get from winning is bragging rights at the bar. in my view this morality would really support a strong formula fleet and some fantastic racing

i also think that we need to start trying really hard to group together in one location over winter, thats why i liked the idea of RFBYC, a short sail from melville the usual winter spot for many and pretty easy drive for anyone north of the river, formula was invited last year and will be this year meaning if we show up with more than what RFBYC deems to be a winter series fleet (4 boats from memory) they will give us our own start let us choose what courses we want to do from the marks they lay and supply prizes for the winners of individual heats and then the series for an entry fee of about $20 per windsurfer for an entire series

so these are the thoughts behind my ideas in previous posts
but if anyone thinks something won't work or could happen better it would be great to hear the problem and or solution

Yep, but I have only one large sail and a 155 lt older Starboard Formula
That's it, and a spasmodic attendance if thats any good too you.
Know sweat Fanny Adams about racing a Formula, or even sailing one of these ratbag things.
But yep, count me in too

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scarrgo said...

hmmm well i'm not going to deny that perhaps the showers, bar and the rest of the club are bigger at mounts bay but i'm not too sure it is easier to get in and off the beach because of the jetty and moorings

anyway organising this with PDSC because firstly i was straight out offered by Brad and secondly the camaraderie and competitiveness within all the classes there is fantastic, if you sail at PDSC for a few years you will know that for a lot of the guys down there it's not so much about the sailing or competition but about the racing against your mates and all you get from winning is bragging rights at the bar. in my view this morality would really support a strong formula fleet and some fantastic racing

i also think that we need to start trying really hard to group together in one location over winter, thats why i liked the idea of RFBYC, a short sail from melville the usual winter spot for many and pretty easy drive for anyone north of the river, formula was invited last year and will be this year meaning if we show up with more than what RFBYC deems to be a winter series fleet (4 boats from memory) they will give us our own start let us choose what courses we want to do from the marks they lay and supply prizes for the winners of individual heats and then the series for an entry fee of about $20 per windsurfer for an entire series

so these are the thoughts behind my ideas in previous posts
but if anyone thinks something won't work or could happen better it would be great to hear the problem and or solution

Location will always be an issue as it depends on wind direction.
All the locations mentioned will be adequate at some stage of the year.
In summer freshy will be partly sheltered in a swester, in winter freshy will be like trying to sail indoors when the wind blows from the nwest through to swest..
In summer mounts will be ok for most dirctions as you only need to sail 200 meters clear of pelipoint to access clear wind. In winter mounts will require a sail of 3 to 400 meters to access clear west winds.

In summer dinghy club is sheltered for some distance but not too bad.

In winter it will be like freshy..almost

I agree dinghy club has agreat atmosphere as i have spent many years there as well as mounts.

The freshy idea for winter has merits,although i cant see them being too happy having windsurfers sail up from melville only to dissapear after they have raced.
They will be looking for more commitment i would think.

As i said these are all things to consider,personally if someone said lets race at beaty park aquatic centre.. i would go.

snides you actualy just pointed out the reason why the winter series at freshy is so popular, it is nice and convenient for many as they leave their boats at their own clubs and either get a tow or sail to the racing, alot of 420's lasers and opi's come all the way from SOPYC, they go to the race coarse for the start and then go home never actually going to the club it's self

as for wind on the race courses we won't be the only things with sails out trying to race at any of the clubs so it doesn't really matter what patch of water we are on and how much wind we get so long as it's over 8 knots or so

yeh indore wouldn't be bad if you were supplying the fans snides

I'd like to have a go but couldn't commit to turning up every race.
If it can be reasonably casual I'm in.
How about a handicap for those sailing with old crap?

JJ

Hi Sean,count me in if it is just fun casual racing,Saturdays would suit me if possible.

Great to see Formula coming back again and people talking about racing.

A link to this post has been sent out on twitter and facebook for the WWA members not using seabreeze but who might be interested.

WWA Facebook - www.facebook.com/

WWA on Twitter - @windsurfingWA

yep your welcome to come and have a go anytime even if you can't make the commitment this goes for both the winter series and PDSC
and yes for normal racing at PDSC during summer everyone who sails reasonably regularly will get a handicap which will change week to week depending on how one goes

Ok one more the numbers
I think that Mr Bobby Dazzler handicap should be a brick tied to either back footstrap Is that how the system works

excellent so we have 9 now waiting on a reply from matt langer but i havn't got any way of contacting claude or peter h so if anyone has their details and can contact them that would be great
i'm pretty sure they will be interested so we should have a end total of 12

+1 have formula gear so would be interested in joining and sailing around work commitments, also 30 knots and a low tide will keep me at Safety Bay.
Any river club is a hike from Safety Bay so happy to follow the majority
When I decide which of my two formula boards I like better will even have one to put on the WA market.
One thing I miss from my former dinghy sailing days is the session in the bar after the race.

Thanks Troutty. I am just bagging a couple of kilos to the deck as i type this. If the vac pump keeps working and i don't crush the board i will be able to get back on the water soon.

FYI - jervous bay YC has also talked about running races for the windsurfing , they are looking at also wednesday twilight races as well in summer. Again awsome grass and always freindly . if the interest is there they will run it

Good on ya Dazza
I can drop off a bag of concrete if you need it

alright ladies i have nearly compiled a list with enough info
i just need from everyone last of all an email so i can make a contact list to keep everyone up to date and in the loop
please send them to my email "my29er1411@hotmail.com"

now have been discussing the delicate issue of membership with my contact and a few of the formula crew. My initial presumption was that no one would be willing to pay the full membership at perth dinghy sailing club which is ~$400 (includes $100 of compulsory club vouchers for bar and canteen) because we're a bunch of cheap buggers, so snides suggested i try and twist the commodores arm for our first year to be only a social membership which would mean the cost would be $95 (no vouchers) and normal rules apply so you get up to 3 races before you have to be a member (not including opening day so potentially 4 races) don't hold me to this though. just interested in what most would be willing to pay (please send replies to my email)

and just to get you back interested after our little money talk i now have 15 confirms

Formula Windsurfers
First Name Last Name attendance estimate type of gear reply response
Steve _____Schnieder__often______________new________y
Sean______Carr______ often______________new________y
Greg______McGuffie___often______________new________y
Darryl_____Griffiths___ often _____________ new________y
Premo_____Jacniacki__ unsure____________ unsure________y
Mike______Canny_____ rarely_____________old________y
john______ johnson____sometimes_________old________y
peter______horra_____ often______________new________ y
john_______watkins___ often______________new________y
damien____ lewis_____ sometimes_________old________y
izaac______ de vries___unsure____________ unsure________y
borgy______ _________rarely_____________ not formula________n
matt_______langer____ rarely_____________new
patrick_____mc_______ rarely_____________new________n
steve______mez______ rarely_____________new________y
claude_____lecoque____rarely_____________new________y
chad______ silver_____ unsure____________unsure________y
adam______linton_____ rarely____________ unsure________y

totals with yes response
total often 6
total sometimes 2
total rarley 4
total unsure 3
total yes 15

alright when you all email me feel free to let me know if i've got some info wrong in the above list BUT NOT MY ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE if i have under estimated you i will be over the moon if you prove me wrong and for those of you i have estimated as often don't let me down [}:)]

Sean, does the $400 include race fees for the season? If yes then this is a perfectly reasonable price for a seasons sailing.

A social membership and weekly race fees for occasional sailors would also be another good way to go.

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snides8 said...

Yep I am def in as well.
Well done Sean I was actually going to post something along these lines as well.
I was going to propose winter sailing out of mounts bay sailing club.
It really doesnt matter where we base our selves just so long as there are people that want
To race.
I know both mounts bay and the Perth dinghy clubs are very open and welcoming to new classes.
Mounts has the benefit of being a little more accessible to different wind directions.
Hot showers,BBQ,s, bar etc.
If every one would indicate their willingness here to this concept, then it will make it easier
As well as quicker to get things up and running.

I spoke to Andy briefly a couple of twighlights ago and mentioned that some of the formula boys (and girls?) might be keen to try some racing, and he said he'd be keen to run some racing if ya all wanna go down that path, have a word to him. PDSC is a great club too though, maybe it could be a joint effort over a number of clubs?