Anyone going to Lano for a kite then THE party on Saturday night?
The organizers are "attempting to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most number of competitiors in an open water Marathon!" Shame they didn't open it to kiters again 
- I'm sure that would have helped their numbers.
Pro kiteboarder Sebastian Bubmann will be putting on a show www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Events/View/Pro-Rider-Sebastian-Bubmann-Australian-Tour_1422777.aspx
The organizers are "attempting to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most number of competitors in an open water Marathon!" Shame they didn't open it to kiters again - I'm sure that would have helped their numbers.
so who is aloud to compete? swimmers? poleboarders? goatboaters?
more detail pls Mr Young, are you sure kiter could not just turn up and join the precession?
cheers mate...
My words exactly Posko LOL www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33886
Registration form at http://www.oceanclassic.org/ doesn't mention kites and I'm sure WAKSA would have drummed up interest if they did. Great google map of the course at www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=33950
In 2000 I did a trial leaving 10 mins after the windsurfers and caught more than half the fleet.
In 2001 they opened it to kites but wouldn't let us race the same course as windsurfers. The race director used the same start line as the windsurfers that forced too many kites into a small area resulting in several collisions and a guy dragged close to rocks.
In 2002 and 2003 they opened the race to kites after much lobbying by WAKSA but it was a straight sprint downwind direct to Lano before the wind kicked in.
In 2004, they only agreed to allow kites to enter at the last minute, the race director set an almost impossible first marker and in light winds only two or three of us got around it. The windsurfers didn't even get off the beach that year and that was the last time kites were allowed to enter
It would be great to see kites and sailboards in the same race, I dont know if you would catch the top 10 sailors but it would be an interesting competition. Catching the back half of the fleet are your average recreational sailors like myself who might be on wave gear, hoping for 20-25knots 
You would hope they wouldnt insist on a running start for kiters?
I think the start could be organised so it wasnt total kaos.
As KPWT Race Director for the last 3 years I've run many races with 60+ kiters without any problems. 400 kites might be a challenge though ... but not impossible 
send them off in divisions like City to Surf!
Sounds like a great idea...
Safety bay to Woodmans point would be ideal.... But I dont know what the issues are with safefy and or going around Garden Island.
Hi Ian .. I kite at Ledge regularly as i have a place there. Last year i watched the windsurfers do The Ledge to Lancelin.They go way out ..approx 500m-1km from shore , outside the reefs. Just a week ago I met A kiter Paul in Ledge and we did a downwinder, from Ledge to Back Beach at Lancelin. It was 25++ knots. An awesome downwinder. Exploring the coast was just glorious!! Some wave sections and some flat water sections.Different coloured blue waters. Dolphins cruising with us. It will definitely be a down winder i will repeat. Frankly i think it is more picturesque and enjoyable closer to shore than being way out . A proviso though is that closer to shore can be effected by wind shadows if the breeze is light and very south. I would certainly be in a group down winder from Ledge to Lancelin ( back beach ) as for racing that doesnt appeal to me but good luck for those that it does.
Its a windsurfers event. I think we should let them have it. Its been around for years, and it would be a big deal to them. Many kites and many windsurfers would make the event too complicated, and i dont think they would want that.
We should see if we can organise our own race the weekend after, but a course that would be better for kiting etc.
We wouldnt like it if a bunch of windsurfers showed up at a kite freestyle comp now would we. It think its a similar (but not so extreme) situation for their race up the coast.
Yer ill be heading up tomorrow morning for the weekend 
Might do a ledge to lanno downwinder my self... cant wait to see some moves from sebastian
