With 40 knots having now been beaten in every Australian state, and by some 38 sailors with 2 second peaks, is it time to admit that 40 really isn't that quick any more?
Yesterday we had Mr Love down at the Pit describing his 40 knot average as a "crappy day", and it seems we are seeing 45 knot peaks with monotonous regularity!
Looks to me like the heat in Australian speed sailing has been turned up a few notches in 2009.
and in WA... 41 is the new 40
its a shame we have such good conditions in Perth regularly, but none of us have the ability to capitalise on it. The guys in SA and Vic seem to be doing it tough. Great speeds for such crap conditions guys. You should come over here- who knows how fast you would go then... 
[}:)] 
[}:)]
I agree Ado , the Pit crew got a 45kn 2 sec average for the team and not a PB anywhere. Just another ho hum day it seems.....
The guys at Sandy seem to be getting 45knts regularly but have they reached the limit of the current equipment?
Can't remember seeing to many 46+knot peaks(apart from that old dude)in recent times.
"Is 45 knots the new 40?" ... seems that way for those of us with good conditions.
Though I think the advancement in sail design has made the differance in the regularity of 45 peaks in not great conditions, compared to the day I did my 5x10 PB. It just seems easier to get to 45 every now and again, only thing thats changed is the sail, still using same board, mast, style of fin.
The hard part is getting the right conditions that allow one to consistently repeat a great run.
Try living in f***** Sydney!!!!!!!!!
Then again the top Cockies seem to be able to do it. Oh woe
If and when I ever get to 40 then the rest is not just gravy, its friggin' gold!!!!!!!
See what happens in October at the Pit.
Just remember....
A PB's a PB whether it's +40 or Sub 30
It's all about pushing your own boundaries not someone elses
Just to clarify guy,s I didn't say it was crap conditions yesterday, the other boys did great. I was beating myself up as I truelly did sail crap and should have gone faster, I had the gear and conditions to do it.
Yep, 40 knot average is bloody great and this time last year I would have been doing cartwheels over it, but the bar has certainly been raised and I guess I have raised my expectations along with it.
Everybody is going so quick it is amazing, just fantastic and it really inspires me to keep pushing.
Short answer is yes.
Long answer: what we need to go even faster is 35-40knots of wind that lasts for more than half an hour. Check all the recent posts from the PIT and you'll find the days are at most 30knots. Sometimes, we get the odd 35knot squall or it's ridiculous, like the storm in April. Remember, they wait for 40-50knot days at the Trench and we manage respectable speeds in sub 30knot days. As I said in a post recently, when I got back into this sport after 15 years, I had no idea I would be hitting 45 knots. Now that I can do that in 30 knots of wind with a 5.0m sail, can't wait to see what I can do in 35-40 knots of wind with a 4.4m! I have not once spun out, tail walked, catapulted or just plain stacked at the Pit whilst on the speed run, except for when I initiate a gybe at 38-39 knots and am not totally committed. Sounds easy doesn't it. But I just want to feel like I'm pushing my equipment and so far, I have only managed that once or twice in a couple of runs in over a year!
Anyway this is what the sport's all about. What it feels like for each of us. To me, the speed is secondary to the feeling, and I haven't really felt maxed out or physically challenged yet, unlike the wavesailing or marathon slalom racing or ocean freesailing I've done. 
Nah what I'm saying is your PB is your PB it's a target to exceed.
The SP crew are pushing their boundaries chasing what to us seem to be amazing speeds, we push ours in different conditions, we're slower, but does that mean we don't push as hard?
Don't worry about what other people do in other locations as there's bugger all you can do about it unless we travel regularly to these spots.
Go harder than you can whenever, wherever you can!
The Best you do for today is the target to beat tomorow
The Sandy Point speed strip is one of, if not THE best speed strip in the world. It is very accessible and has 40 knots + conditions at least a dozen times a year.
In the last few years I have seen at least a dozen guys get the right gear, experience and confidence together to regularly top 40 knots averages.
In 2004, I was over the moon to crack the 40 knots barrier just for a peak speed. This was on a 3.7m wave sail and a '90's 14" speed board with an 15 year old 10" symmetrical slalom fin. In short order we got modern small (5m and 4.4m) speed/slalom sails and some purpose designed Time Machine fins. Suddenly, 40 knots was repeatable on a regular basis and the 5 x 10 sec 40 average was attainable. Shortly after that came a big step forward in fast, easy to sail production speed boards and speeds started creeping up into the mid 40's with a few outstanding sailors pushing the high 40's on a regular basis.
It is still quite a milestone and an achievement to crack a 40 average, and still a significant feather in your cap to do a 40 knots 500m, even here. To get 40 knots peak speeds anywhere else in the country is a very worthy achievement indeed! I reckon the next best spot to watch at the moment is the newly exposed channels in SA!
There are about half a dozen Sandy Point regulars, and probably a similar number of interstate visitors who now have a very good chance of a 45 knots average given an exceptional Sandy Point day (apart from Chris and Mal who are already there). This is still a very big goal, certainly for me, and I would not really have believed it was a realistic dream a even a year ago. Now I think it might be, given a really good WSW day with consistent 35 -40 knots winds. I also think that two or three Aussies who are already have high 40's are a very real chance of joining Chris with 50 knot peaks if all the stars align on a perfect day. Now that really would be sumpthin'!!
And anyone who comes to Sandy and cracks 40 knots for the first time still gets a lot of respect from me, thats for sure. Remember, the Sandy regulars have a 5 or 6 year head start, and we still get quite a kick out of a 40 knots run.
And just in case any of you guys are wondering, the difference in the feeling of speed between 40 knots and 45 knots still blows my mind!! I still can't imagine what 50 would feel like!
35 knots is the new 30 from where I'm standing at present, although it would be lovely to get 40knots in this year that I turn 40 (which is about as much chance as having sex with a supermodel onboard the space shuttle orbiting the earth)
It's all relative, I don't think any of the Pit Crew would be any more excited doing a 45 as I was getting a 36 the other week, talk about cartwheeks 
Besides aiming for a 40 my next big target is just a 33 at Yorkeys, I kid you not 
But back on track as AUS1111 said, 45 is definitely the new 40, one day 50 will be the new 45, bring it on
Fair enough OceanBlue, but I didn't say anything about the GPSTC.
The point is that the boundaries seem to have been pushed so far this year, including by the discovery of new and exciting spots, that the benchmark for "Elite" or whatever you want to call it, has been raised significantly.
I reckon that is really exciting and congratulate those who are doing it - they are showing us all what is possible and giving us more to strive for.
Even in the last two weeks we have seen at least two nautical miles that we wouldn't have dreamed of; Hamma's 38 in a new speed spot, and Jesper's blistering 34 in open water!
It's just great stuff!
Its all relative to were you sail. I want to get a 42 ave at the Pit, but I,d also be over the moon with a 34 ave at Inverloch in the confused chop. Its about pushing the limit and not f@#king up Its just for fun ya know
There are heaps of capable sailors who would run over 40knots the only thing that is stopping them is the lack of a flat water and wind.
Guys who can sail near to or at 40knots in open water are truely talented because it takes alot of skill and confidence to keep it all together.
When i went up to Burrum this year there were a few guys there who have never sailed in flat water and they looked right at home.
Hi AUS 1111, I think you mean Hamma did a 38 at Grundy's. I am the one who doesn't check that his GPS is working before attempting a NM[}:)]
