Get Ready! Round 2 of the RPS/Starboard Flatwater series is on this Sunday 27th Feb.
This race will be a 60 minute, short course ( anti-clockwise) and is open to all-comers. A new division will be a 50's and over category to recognise the more mature paddlers amongst our ranks.
The venue has been the main change with the 2 remaining races being held at Half Moon Bay, Black Rock. This area forms a perfect natural amphitheatre for sup racing and the Red Bluff provides a stunning backdrop.
9am Registration for a 9.30 race start.
Free Entry to SupVic members [ you can join on the day]
Otherwise $25 race entry on the day.
There is ample car parking available in the SLSC/Sailing Club carpark - enter from Beach rd just south of Bayview Cres. The carpark is ticket parking, but you can go for the no-cost option of dropping off your board and parking your car in a side street. [ note, 6am - 10am weekend parking curfew on Beach rd / cyclists.]
The weather forecast for this Sunday looks perfect, with a top temp of 29 degrees. A nice change from what we've had the past 3 weekends.
Hope to see you at Half Moon Bay this Sunday.
I'll be there with my 17' Glide.. 60 minutes.. Sheesh!.. That's almost an hour.. 
I might have to bring a cut lunch and strap it to the nose of my board.. 
DJ
Hey Warwick, will you be launching the inflatable party boat thing as a turning buoy like last time?
Yep, the famous RPS Party Island [ as featured at countless Merimbula Classics]
will be the inside turn marker [ and judging platform] as well as being a mobile refreshment stand. Some of one of our generous sponsor's products will be available for competitors who need rehydration during the race!
NOTE.....these are strictly refreshments and are NOT PERFORMANCE ENHANCING!
This is roughly the course as plotted this morning with an artist's rendering of the aforementioned RPS party island.
Hard to believe that the water can be that clear, especially given how it's been the past 3 months.
PT, did you touch up that shot??
Actually, I could start to see the sea floor further out when I paddled yesterday morning.
I went out this morning, water is really clear, good that its getting back to normal? and quite warm about 20 degrees, I heard the yarra river referred to as the "upside down river" hence the colour, so there must be lots of sediment on the bay's floor ready to be stirred up if conditions turn, hopefully the wind is kind on Sunday, anything under 35 knots would be good
Beach rd is closed Sunday morning from 6am-11 for the triathlon from South rd Brighton to the clock tower at Black Rock, take alternative route
Hey, thanks for bringing this to my attention.
Weird, I've been riding Beach Rd during the week and didn't see any signs.
No Problem.
For those of you heading to Black Rock from the north, the easiest way to enter Half Moon Bay car park is to head north to south via Bluff rd, turn right at the clocktower/roundabout and head north back to Half Moon Bay via Beach rd.
Note: the turnaround point for the triathalon is Red Bluff st.
Weather forecast for the mid-morning look good!
Forecast for Saturday until midnight
Winds: Light winds tending southeast to southwesterly up to 10 knots around midday then becoming southwesterly 10 to 15 knots during the afternoon. Winds tending west to southwesterly up to 10 knots later in the evening. Seas: Below 0.5 metres.
See You All bright and early
Can't seem to find any reference to the road closure on VicRoads website. Damn triathletes. I don't know how anyone manages to live in the bayside suburbs with all the road closures. And even on a day when there's no event, Beach Rd is clogged with cyclists. Why can't they just stay out of MY way? 
IMPORTANT: Due to Triathlon and Road Closures further than expected, please enter Half Moon Bay Via "Arkaringa Cresent" all cars will be let through to the sailing club by marshals...
Results for RPS/Starboard Flatwater Series Rd 2
Mother Nature has thrown just about everything at us this season, so it was no suprise that the weather went from an absolutely perfect summer's day on Saturday [ see DJ's previous pix] to a grey, cool, rainy Sunday morning. To further add to our woes, Beach rd was closed off further than anticipated due to a triathalon and effectively blocked beach access to competitors. What was next?? Well, because of the road closure, the yachties were running late, so not long after our mass start the yachties were sailing in and around us, which made for some close, tactical paddling!
Almost 30 competitors lined up for Round 2, which despite the weather and quite a few regulars being away, proved to be a decent turnout.
There were good numbers spread across both the Open and 12'6" categories. The bolt from the gun saw Rupert Lancashire take the lead with Cam Hosking in pursuit. In the ultra-competitive 12'6" class, Chris Sal had to paddle hard to hold off Paul Harrington [ most improved 2010/11] and a hard-charging Brendan Boxall.
The course was shortened to around 400m and meant there were lot's of turns and even a short downwind leg. The lap scorers [ Dan and myself] were kept busy, as the field constantly lapped the course.
After a demanding 45 mins of racing, the results were as follows.
Open
1/ Rupert Lancashire / Naish
2/ Cam Hosking / Naish
3/ Paul Nottage / SIC
4/ Christian Parsons / Naish
5/ Andrew Hocking / Starboard
6/ Leon Blachos / Hobie
12'6"
1/ Chris Sal / Fanatic
2/ Paul Harrington / Starboard
3/ Brendan Boxall / Naish
4/ Al Fairlie / Fanatic
5/ Michael Jenkins / Mitchell
6/ Jonathon Cowcher / Starboard
Ladies
1/ Rea Haare / Naish
2/ Jean Ringrose Coyne / Starboard
3/ Jaselyn O'Sullivan / Fanatic
Over 50's
1/ Michael Jenkins
2/ David Petersen
3/ Jonathon Cowcher
Jnrs
1/ Jon Kale / Naish
2/ Wiil "Da Man" Slator / Starboard
Thanks to our main sponsor Starboard as well as Half Moon Bay SLSC for the use of the foreshore/beach area for the start and the use of the bouys to lay the course.
Hope to see a return to some decent weather for the concluding race [Rd 3] back at Half Moon Bay on Sunday March 27th.
Mass Start, first lap
Tim's first short course race
Jean, giving it her all
Jono "Junior" Kale
Leon on his new Hobie
Mick and Al sparring
DJ, colour co-ordinated
Tight in the 12'6" category
Brenny flexing
Rupert powering to a win
Very cold and very busy race officials
heh rps,
just an update,just for the record, al beat me and dj was to polite to pass and by the way the smiley face should be on all other categories other than the over 50's, cause it aint no laughin matter being over 50
!
Mike, you need to remind DJ that gentleman or not, he was standing on 4 and half feet extra board.
By the way, regarding the smiley face next to the Over 50s - Warwick asked what that division should be called - Veterans? Masters? I suggested cranky old bastards but he wouldn't listen to me.
Any chance of posting the full results boards Warwick? Wouldn't mind knowing how the field fell... no pun intended...
Hey Teeps,
being a short course race, it was pretty hectic counting laps for the various classes, let alone men's, ladies, jnrs and veterans.
But, for the final race [ Sun March 27th], I thought of introducing a criterium style format, whereby after the 60 mins have elapsed, everyone goes hard for another lap to decide final placings.
Just a thought, as there was a gaggle of paddlers closely positioned last race that were hard to separate.
Warwick, just challenge Teeps to come up with a technological solution before the 2011/12 season.
looks like wednesday morning will be ok conditions for a paddle at the rock, if its mild maybe up to green point and back, are you in?
