Wouldn't this be nice !! ??
Just throwing it out there....
The Dream.....
A True Down Wind Race. DJ's course, and DJ as Event Director. Approx 400m from shore. 3 week waiting period. 48hr's notice via Seabreeze & SMS to those registered. Day before confirmation, 14-24hrs out....
12'0 and over. Main Division as "Open".
Simon
Makes sense to me.
Events usually have a date, but the weather doesn't always play well, and then we have to hear of changes, changes, changes - usually with the sponsors name at the front of every post.
I think that event sounds good Simondo.
You register, get 48 hours notice, via sms. No sponsors and we work out the car swap stuff and the rest on the fly. Just have to think of a name. As long as it hasn't got "love" in it.
What do you mean by "three week waiting period"?
Actually the idea is not really to different to what happens already, only it's not called a race - more of a friendly downwinder. It happens every strong N NW and goes from St Kilda to Sandringham.
Got to say, have never seen many westies doing it - do you get invited?
Three Week Waiting Period - is just a nominal waiting period, for when you need to be "on call"!
Yeah, I'm often invited, but the total turn around time from Torquay is roughly 6hrs, and most days it is hard to find the time. Also, there are a few waves down here that handle NW winds, so sometimes I've elected to surf.
(Edit: PS - this is news to DJ too)
Might as well register interest here! We can convince DJ later, and then work out what permits and boats are needed.
Great idea Simon.. Now.. if I'm the event director here's my rules...
He/she who has the most fun is the winner.
He/she who falls in the most is the winner.
He/she who paddles the least is the winner.
He/she who uses a Naish board is also the winner.
He/she who uses a Kialoa paddle is the winner.
He/she who has the most stickers on their paddle is the winner.
So.. anyone who uses Naish boards and Kialoa paddles.. and has heaps of stickers on it.. and has fun while falling alot.. and doesn't like to paddle all the way.. wins.
Seriously.. I'm sure it will happen and let's hope it happens soon.. I'm sure in the future we will see regular racing on this famous St Kilda to Sandy DW course.
DJ
You could do a GPS downwind league.
Log your downwinders on a website like Leonardo.
Make awards for:
- best speed over n kilometres.
- most total kms.
- most runners caught (identified by speed peaks)
A 3 week waiting period becomes necessary if the event was to be legitimate and above board with all the requisite council and Parks Victoria permits along with risk assessment safety plans, competitor insurance and public liability which is essential for the aforementioned permits to be granted. You can't put all of those things in place and have an open ended date or TBA. The most flexible you could be with a permit application is a 3 week waiting period as Simon suggests.
Now you might say that this is all bureaucratic bull**** but if there are no permits, no risk assessment or safety plan, and no insurance and the worst was to happen, ie a fatality, then expect your event director to face some harsh treatment at a coronial inquiry followed by possible criminal charges and then civil law suits.
On the other hand, if this was just a bunch of friends out for a paddle, there is no event director and no organization or club or shop or sponsor involved, and if these friends decided on the day to race from point A to point B, then I cannot see how anyone is liable or responsible in that situation. But I'm no lawyer.
