Ledge to Lancelin results / gossip

Anyone know where we see results ? ( apart from just the winners ?

Cheers, got it over on WA section , ta

its the party that is the interesting part

MOB, brilliant write up. Thanks.

Adam, bit of gloss-over with the lost gear part of the story

I was going to post my story but then realised I remember some of thurs and little bit of sunday arvo lol

I spent most of my time looking for this local Lano guy



but he was nowhere to be seen

I got to meet Patrik (without a "c"), I tell Proffit I voted for him and get a hug... the vibe is great.

It was another stinkin' hot one, not quite as hot as last year (my first attempt) but not far off. Perusal of 4 weather sites had the wind pegged as 12 - 18 from 2pm. Last year it came in stronger than expected then backed off. I had my 8.6m + large board tuned well and thought I was on the money when the wind came in at 12kts. 1pm, I de-rigged my 7.5m.

I was about to put my harness etc on when Snake says "I think it's picked up a bit". 25 mins to start and it had picked up to 18kts on the beach. Arrrggh. I see guys like Rowen starting to get medium gear ready. So I have to get a new board, rig a new sail in about 15 mins in scorching heat. I manage to get it done with enough time to catch my breath before the start.

I had registered early so at position 103 I was windward and behind the elites. Well worth it, coz as soon as the flag dropped the elites in front ran, dropped their boards, got lucky with a gust, and cleared the line.

First leg out, nicely powered and in control with my Patrik Freeride and Gaastra Matrix feeling great in ocean conditions, heaps easier than slalom gear. At times feeling so powered it's too much effort to fully sheet in, just need to relax, breathe and go for the long haul.

I make the first gybe, sweet! People falling off all around. Next leg is sooo broad, I have to go deeper on every wave face and bear up on the back of the next wave as the sail loses its power - hard work. I go deep past the inside marker and pull of the gybe.

Still well powered on the way out. People on race gear that got a naff start are wizzing by but I'm still thinking I'm in for a good finish under 50 mins. Nail the next outside gybe.

Next inside run is another very broad one. Wind is dropping as we come to the inside. I see people going well past the mark and follow but as I gybe there is NO wind and I fall in and struggle to water start. I finally get going and see a cray pot line too late - splat. Arrgghhh. I'm looking at the boat and thinking I should have gone deeper.

Finally get around the boat and start slogging out. I get on the plane and am nicely powered again for the last two thirds. I'm getting tired now and managing a potential cramp in my calf.

As I round the last outside mark, I realise the wind is dropping and the course is wayyy deep. Deep on the wave face, try and stay on the plane on the back of the wave. Harder and harder. Everyone is gybing to take a second bite - I drop the gybe and the wind is so light now I struggle to get going and my strength is leaving me.

I think I have gone far enough and make my final gybe. I struggle to get moving as the wind is now very light. I pump a bit on the swells but have to dog it for a good portion. I see lighter weight sailors whizzing past me and I'm getting tired and cranky

It's a slow ride into shore but I jag a gust and pass two sailors right at the end. I sprint to the finish to make sure that no one edges me out on the beach.

51 mins, ok for my second attempt. Stoked to just to finish really.

Love catching up with mates and swapping stories afterwards.

Thanks Snake for the ride back to Ledge. Thanks to all the volunteers. An EPIC adventure!!!

Could Aus 888 (seen this number one a brand new evo 7) share his feeling with the new sail?

Love the personalised accounts..

Good one Barn,
Did you make a special trip over from NSW or do you live in WA?
That's are fair bit of rig to be hanging onto , you must have well knackered by the end!
These stories are great , all the little tips and experiences are sure to get us LOC virgins frothing for next year

Thanks for the stories, keep them coming!

Always a great event! Well organised, great exposure for our sport and a challenging race.

Thanks to the organisers and special thanks to all the volunteers!

Here's how my race played out.
Always a rush at the start (will arrive earlier next time!). With the sound of popping masts in the heat I didn't want to rig until the last minute. It took ages to break through all the spectators and racers to get down to the water, with only enough time for one square run out and back and no time for tuning.

From position 217 (final row up the beach and at the Northern end) my race start was the worst I've had (my 5th year). A guy infront of me drifted down the beach with his feet up on his board waiting for the breeze which was killed by 150 8m sails upwind. Nothing I could do but wait...

Finally up and going, just got up to speed only to hit a cray pot line and go down with a heavy caterpault. All mixed up it took ages to get going again only to find the nose of my board smashed and that I was right at the back of the fleet. Just like I announced after my first LOC race, I will always use a weedy from now on!

From here it was just a game of catch-up. Managed to land about 1/2 of the gybes. My board speed was no good, but at least I could head deeper than most with the old narrow board which is where I made up the places. Got directly to every mark except south passage where I had to add a short seaward leg to get through the buoys.

My sail size was about right, but could have done with a bit more downhaul given more time at the start. My lack of fitness was a problem as I found myself feathering the power to have a rest every now and then.

Seeing my GPS numbers there is a lot of room for improvement! 45th across the line and 15th in open. 41:52. Bring on 2016 LOC!

Starboard Sonic 295; Ram 7.8; Gorge Gear 36

My first time back since my age started with a '3'. It now starts with a '5' ..... but was full of confidence armed with a Taboo Speedster and 8.6 Severne Overdrive setup, backed up by antique Pryde V8 7.5 and Race 6.5 rigged on the beach. Also been sailing a fair bit for first time in 12+years. No need to hear briefing as done it all before...

All ready in good time and all going to plan until need a (routine..not race nerves!) dump (latrine not wave) and wait 15 minutes for use of the lonely crapper. Now pushed for time I'm out for the tune up run on the 8.6 and decide its too much for my 76kg frame.
10 minutes later I'm in full blown panick boom change mode, followed by wandering through the pack shouting 180! ... 180!... with 20+kgs of kit in hand. Made it to start posi exhausted with untried sail with about 15 secs to spare.

I remember from probably 8 or so previous races, not to get carried away and make sure planing in clear wind before thinking about back strap. All goes well and I'm powered up heading for first mark about mid field. Probably about half way when realise me and the bloke infront are heading for the police? (Recue? Decoy?) Boat, rest of field another 10 degrees offwind heading for the first crayboat marker. The extra offwind has my V8 (wind range 17 - 17.5 knots) maxed and I am catching a few bu wondering when the bomb will go off.

A word about Speedster deck pads. They rise up in the middle so arthritic people with no ankle flexibility dont need to extend this joint ... I see this as a plus. The down side is that, after a 4km full on downwind leg, you need a downhaul winch (or in fairness loose straps) to get the back foot out. Having neither I struggled big time to get the foot out and went in for a well earned rest at the first mark.

A further word about fin size. My 40cm carbon weedy was too big for radical downwind in 18 knots and the back leg was in no mood to bend to absorb the chop by tthe time it came to turning. I wonder what it looks like when you're 6ft 2 inch and trying to gybe with perfrctly straight legs.... the potracter gybe?

Much the same for the next 3 marks, ample and well needed rest and harness line adjustment time at the marks. They do need to be foreward...I'll just use a bilateral one one the mast next year. Despite agony and exhaustion, i was having the absolute ultimate adrenalin rush and wondering where the hell I'd been for the past 12 years!

By about mark 5 the wind had come off a little, could smell the pub and started taking feet out of straps a good 300m before the boats. Managed to make the remaining gybes but wished I'd listenned to the briefing, seemed to be the only bloke gybing past the boat outside the gates, planed past a few on the run through south passage and ran up the beach as if for the sheep station to finish 80/220 in 51.45.

This is a magnificent iconic WA event which every windsurfer should attempt at least once... if only to prove to yourself that you (still) have it.

lessons for next year...this is a serious reminder list... wild horses wouldnt keep me away...next year

1. Have a crap before 10am
2. Loosen footstraps to facilitate both insertion AND removal of foot
3. Smaller fin OR learn to squat 200kgs
4 Even more, longer, deeper downwind practice
5. Get really, really fit. Fit isnt nearly enough.
6 Aim for the magical 45 minutes, top 50?

Thanks to Stuart ans later Dave and Ian for great company. Thanks to the Pinaroo boys for the post race assistance and to all involved inorganising this wonderful event.

Living in WA without windsurfing would be like living in the Alps without a pair of skis!

Great tales of heroic deeds!

I'm all revved up to have a go now........got a year to get fit by the sound of things

Went for a sail this week, talked up my ambitions to do l to l with sailing mate , went out , didn't pull one gybe , struggled, had a couple of good runs, but realising I have a LOT of work to do, here's to pre season

Cheers Stevie, getting fit seems to be key and of course making gybes is going to help. I think I will spend the rest of this seasons sailing doing gybes and doing as much sailing off the wind as possible. I'll leave the fitness side to the mountain bike in winter and then start of next season really try to get some long down winder runs in. All in all my motivation will be that fact that after doing ledge to Lano I WILL be a better sailor.