Interview from windsurfjournal:
With a top speed of 46.31 knots, Finian Maynard was a long way from failure during the Masters of Speed racing at Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer on the 3rd January. But, disappointed with his personal performance, KV-11 nevertheless talks us though a day that is clearly not one of his best speed racing memories…
"The last session on the canal was the worst of my career in terms of my personal performance. At every session in the past 4-years I have been at least two-knots faster than David Garrel and I was only 0.3 faster on this day so this made me know that I was slow, not that the others were fast. I made the wrong equipment choices, went on the run at the wrong moment with less wind (as I saw on the WJ video for example) and was prepared for the best moments to come at the end, not at the beginning. Everyone can have these days and I want to be back with a fast performance when the chance occurs again, hopefully over a WSSRC official 50. Until this barrier is broken, it is only practice for all of us and doesn't really count in my opinion."
How would the "others" feel knowing that they were not fast? sounds like sour grapes.
I for one am very greatful for finians post!
The thing is:- We are dragged into a competition with people in the speed sailing game,when most of the time we are playing with Huey!
Either way I think you've got to remember Finian is a top bloke and the fastest man on the planet.
After watching Antoine kick Finians arse by 2.60 seconds officially and seeing Antoine look at his GPS and punch the water I would say he has broken the 50 knot barrier like MVM and is just the most powerful windsurfer then Im a bad judge, which is probably a fair call.
Seriously, those guys are kicking freckle. I would like to see Slowey there and see how it pans out,
Fast is Fast
Respect to all those who push it.
Glad to see it's not just me who rig's the wrong kit for the conditions, at least he blamed himself.
I am not so sure Antoine has got any closer to 50 peak speed than Finian. That could also have been frustration at seeing 'only' 48 or 49!
I also think we would have heard about it if he saw 50. :-)
From the data we have seen, it could be speculated that both riders were hitting the dreaded cavitation wall at around the 48 knots mark.
Certainly a bit ungracious to say the others (Antione?) were 'slow'. But we need to remember that there are enormous pressures and ego's at stake....
that both riders were hitting the dreaded cavitation wall at around the 48 knots mark
SQ, Meaning fin cavitation, or is there another cavitation affect on the board as well?
mineral
To add weight to my thoughts, the video footage looks (to my untrained eye ;-) like they are still running a bit tighter than the ideal angle and they look to be pressuring the fins pretty hard which could give some support to my speculation.
A quote from Jim Drake from his musings in this years Starboard catalogue:
"What about stepping "Outside The Box" in the other direction - The high speed direction? Here again the conventional approach - in this case, high wind, small (special) sail,small board and special fin - has run into the side of "The Box", at about 50 knots. Even if not, it will shortly when the fin can no longer be kept from cavitating. But don't bet on "The Box" holding. The fins function can be transferred to a surface piercing cavitating inclined plane and the sails drive can be increased by lowering it's center of effort to the harness hook - borrowing from its cousins, the kite board and the kite. "Outside The Box" for sure but it will first appear on the pages of a Starboard catalogue"
It's great to see that one of the greatest windsurfing minds is thinking about the next step. I really look forward to getting my annual Starboard catalogues in the next few years! 
Have they detailed somewhere what gear they have used / are using in the canal or is this top secret ? Not much on MOS site
From what i read Finian was using a F2 prototype board 50 litres 33cm wide Deboichet 24cm fin and custom made NP RS Racing sails but looking at the video they look like the production sails.The first session at MOS his sail definetly looked different than the production models.
Antione used 5m RSR, proto 37 Starboard and 24 deboichet upwind.
Methinks Antoine has Finian spooked, this is the second time he has beaten him at the canal......not that it really counts according to Finny! Looking at all the runs there doesn't seem to be much evidence of cavitation as yet, the spray pattern off the boards will give a good indication of when it is occuring. If you look at Finny's tracks on GPSSS he was maxing out at approx 2.4 knots over his 500m average speed. In Antoine's case if he did the same, considering they were on similiar sails and fins, with a 500 of 47.69 he would have seen very close to 50 knots, if not over on his GPS display.
I feel the most sorry for David Garrel. Instead of Finian saying, "wow, David sure has improved" or something similar, he just bags him by saying he alwas beats him by 2 knots. I would have thought it would be easier for a guy to improve his speeds to the point where David is rather than Finian being able to improve his speed at least 2 knots faster than what Davids is at anytime.
Personally I hope the crew gathering in Southend for Dave Whites attempt kick arse over all the people sailing at the ditch (except for Antoine cause he seems like a nice bloke)
I never thought of that angle Andrew, I just assumed he was wrapped with what he saw.
He sure couldve been stroppy about NOT getting over 50.
Just from what I have been watching it just "looks" like Antoine is quicker.
Just breaking 40 would be a dream come true to me.
Geez, i dont know if it the translation or something, but Finian looks like a common or garden variety whinger to moi - check out his gps-speedsurfing post after getting 46.7 knots (you can also see the gear he was on for the gear-freaks)
www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=26206&uid=231
Matt have a look at the videos from the canal and study the spray pattern and rooster tail off the boards. In one instance a sailor spins out, freeze the frame and look what happens in the transition. As you have said yourself when cavitation starts to occur it will create a dramatic increase in drag (and also severely reduce lift.) The best indicator is the rooster tail as you can see from the video. Have a look at some of the tank test footage of sheet cavitation on fins, the dramatic increase in drag is evident, translated to the real world the energy escapes somewhere and this is what we see from the spray pattern off the boards, increase the drag and the spray increases dramatically. The best indicator of the transonic pressure wave you describe is from the LSR attempt in Nevada, there is a fantastic overhead shot that shows exactly what's happening.
anybody know what sort of foils they where using apart from deb proto's??
where they using 24cm pointer symmetrical's?
there has been a s..t load of development of foils lately in aus especially with fins leaning towards more rake,shorter lengths and assy designs,are the 'pro's keeping there eyes and ears open?
we dont want the designs of our home made,rehacked brush cutters to hit the speed sailing fraternity!
we dont want the designs of our home made,rehacked brush cutters to hit the speed sailing fraternity!
Remi i always knew RED was faster i have seen these boards before on the Euro sites but didn't know much about them.
Christophe Fiorentini is one of those crazy French crew. He's a good sailor himself and makes some nice boards. AA was testing a few of his boards at Walvis but in the end seemed to favour his old favourite custom from '05.
Also, although FM has been faster than most in the past, and is still officially the fastest, its also fair to say that a lot of guys have gotten faster in the past few years. With more interest in speed, and a better understanding of how to tune stuff for going fast. Finian was pretty consistent there for a while, but a few others (including AA) have stepped up to the plate (he smoked everyone at the '05 PSL worldcup- including fm, the day the record fell), and the ever punishing BD has kept the standard up and raised his own game yet again. PD has also stepped in after a couple of years dedicated to going fast. David Garrel is no slouch... when he's tuned he goes really fast. Fast enough to cause some upsets.
So the international speed scene is really a boiling pot at the moment. The boys have grown up a little and its no longer about making a buck so that filters down the players to those who are really into it. Its a really great atmosphere at the ISWC events for those thinking of joining in...
