May I suggest the best time for speed at GB is in the months of September,October & November. These are when the northerlies blow. If its a true SE direction there is very little room. For it to work this time of year it would have to be a good ESE or E, otherwise a S might be the go.
Hi Maximus,
the windiest time of year in QLD is feb through april. typically we get 25-30 knot SE winds. unfortunately this would have to be the worst season i can remember. the worst part is we are over half way through the season and still not a drop of wind. it's now been something like 7 weekends in a row without wind over 15 knots. all very sad really. plus today was the 12 month aniversary of cyclone larry i believe. this time last year we were all struggling to hold down 4.7m sails.
I know you sail caloundra very often but i believe that the speed run is great on a SE. it's just you need to sail the northern end of the bank nad not the southern end where the runs are short. on the weekend just gone a couple of us were planing down at the northern end paralell to the bank but couldn't get goin at the southern end. the wind was SE and ESE.
Thanks to everyone for sticking in there and coming again to join in with the fun.
unfortunately we were bitterly dissapointed as we watched a freshening 20knot SE forecast turn into a 6-8 knot doldrum. more to the point, nowhere has received any winds of late and we are all very keen for the traditional winds to return. the positive is that it has to blow soon. And the certainty is that we won't be giving up on the event.
On the weekend the decission was taken to hold off this coming weekend due to the State Titles, Tabou wave event and National Wave titles being run. We will be looking towards the weekend in a fortnight's time.
We had an impromptu vote and decided that we would only go ahead with the event when we have a definate forecast of over 20 knots. so when next the forecasters predict winds in that range sand those fins. Caloundra wind and Surf and myself have also bought a speed camera allowing us to get more mobile with the event.
we also decided that if the weekend in a fortnights time doesn't show good winds the event will be moved. at the top of the list is the train on the goldcoast.
Another decision was also taken to make the next attempt for the speed event a combined meet with the WindWanderers. due to the unbelievable lack of wind the WindWanderers haven't had a meet since december. even those that can make it out mid week have seen numerous 20 knots forecasts dissapear.
however, if we play the odds game we must get something soon. ever the optimist, Gestalt!
Dammit,
That's the first time the magic eight ball has been wrong. Huey can be fickle sometimes!
Keep up the good work organising these meets Gestalt, the stars will line up eventually 
have a windwanderers meet at green island and hold the comp then.
if you want a good blow then thats where you'll get it....
c ya at tabou.
yep troppo see you there.
looks like you're bringing the wind with you after all. 
Gee Justin, Thats a big statement that Feb to Apr is the windiest time of year in BNE/SE Qld.
I would have said sep to dec are the windy months - especially for Seabreeze based effects as these are the months where the water temperature vs land temperature delta is the greatest - providing the greatest 'driving force'
See the wind roses the BOM produce at http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/climate/cgi_bin_scripts/windrose_selector.cgi.
These are an interesting analysis and you can look at them month by month.
I support you decision to hold off on the comp until there is a solid 20-25 knot forecast - but maybe not the decision on location.
Have a look at the fast times that have been posted on GPS-Speedusrfing or ask Vando where the quickest spots in a SE are.
In Qld - the spots I have sailed that are the fastest in a SE (all tide dependent are)
1. Vic Point - off Coochiemudlo - ( mid to low tide )(If there is enough wind - it can be a bit sheltered)
2. Manly - there is a nice flat spot on the right tide. (Vando has a 36+ there) (mid tide)
3. Wello - starting up in the mangrove banks and running down wind.
I've never had a good sail at Caloundra - runs too short or square (feels fast but really isn't) and the train - only sailed it a few times so I won't comment.
- J
Hey J.
I've been a big fan of the wind roses etc from the BOM. handy stuff for planning events. plus there is a new section http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/ this has a lot more locations then the typical wind roses and paints a better picture.
i agree if you look at the brisbane chart for 3pm then nov etc are the windy months. well windy as far as consistant seabreezes go. but believe that it is in general prety even between nov-dec and feb-april.
but, if you look at the other locations in the database and compare against the wind rose diagrams it becomes more obvious that feb march is when it really blows. especially if you are looking for winds in the 35knot+ category. Mostly (other than some of the northerlies) these winds are from the SE or S.
So we are chasing, southerly busters, cyclones, east coast lows etc. all occuring at this time of year.
One thing that i did notice after going back over the charts again is just how windy January is.
location wise i think most agree that VP is fast. plus it's my home spot and i sail there most weekends when it's windy. however for a speed event it has poor access when it comes to radar etc.
the train is very fast also. my quickest times on the formula kit have been done there. mostly in summer i sail the train or VP.
Now, that waffle over.
guess what. sunday is looking the goods.
so we are preparing for this weekend coming.
we still have all the usual stuff lined up. demo KA gear, NXS boards, prizes etc.
but this time we have our own speed camera. 
pete and i went halves in one.
oops, i should have also added,
this sunday (april fools day) we will try caloundra one last time.
i'll post again thursday night with confirmation. lets hope it doesn't turn out to be april fools hey.
Justin
see the following
www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=15519&uid=346
Vando clocked a 5x10 of 36+ knots off Manly - I can't recall somewhere else in QLD that such a 5 x 10 has been recorded - this is consistently fast speed.
I got down late and cracked a 32 - that quote "felt like suicide" so his 5 x 10s runs >36 is awesome. Otherwise I was in the 29's in v. gusty conditions.
We can debate the wind all we want but the botton line is that you need to be prepared for what Qld was to offer. In Qld there is an 'optimum' wind in the 22-25 knot range (steady) that allows for good speed. When it gets too strong - it can get too hairy to go really fast.
If the forecast remains good for the weekend I may head up to Caloundra.
If the tide is right then VP may be the go!.
- Justin
vando has also done a 36 at caloundra. but i think vando does 36's everywhere he sails.
hope to see you up at caloundra. we'll put everyone on the same stretch of water in the same wind strength and have heaps of fun. and for those without a gps device we have the radar gun.
all we need is good wind.
quote:
Originally posted by Gestalt
oops, i should have also added,
this sunday (april fools day) we will try caloundra one last time.
i'll post again thursday night with confirmation. lets hope it doesn't turn out to be april fools hey.
hi nebbian,
bugger, now it's early friday morning.... damn. yes. all go for the speed meet on sunday the 1st of april.
i have updated the windwanderers website too...... www.windwanderers.com
plus sent out the latest club newsletter. hey, you might be able to help. my email keeps telling my i have to many recipients on the email list. i've tried bcc and to->. seems my isp or macafee or something thinks i am spamming...
any tips?
yes, we have a lot of members now. 60 something. 
another 8 in the last 4 weeks.
Awesome! Hope the stars stay in alignment...
Regarding emailing, it's probably your ISP, if you're really feeling lucky you might be able to set up a distribution list using CPanel, otherwise you've got to send them out piecemeal.
(I didn't receive a windwanderers update at least, I'm pretty sure I should be on the list somewhere).
Looking forward to that big southerly coming through
yeah. bugger, i'll split the dist list.
i did get a bounce back saying your addy is not valid?
cheers for the help...
check the forecast on seabreeze.
How's it lookin for tomorrow justin? Today didn't seem to bring the forcast 20-25kts..
I received 6 newsletter emails so if anyone is short of one just let me know
This arvo was 20knots-ish at wello, hope this wind stays in for tomorrow.
well guys fingers crossed.
all the forecasters are still saying wind for tomorrow. seems it didn't really get to the sunny coast today and is moving through up there now. should still be something around tomorrow. seems better in the morning than late arvo so getting there early might pay off.
but only time will tell. 
ahh the newsletters. some got none, some got 2 some got 6. 
got it sorted now. was due to the numbers on the list.
another quick update.
just got off the phone with the guys from up the coast.
we will bring signon forward to 9.30am
Sorry couldnt resist as April fools day and all. But it is already looking better than yesterday. Good idea to bring the sign on earlier Justin, we may end up with another day like last monday where i used my 4.7m sail and it was 25 gusting to 38knots!
quote:you are joking arnt you kel.
Originally posted by ka72
Wakey wakey boys It is already blowing 30 knots up here
Great day, good wind, body is now starting to go stiff in all the wrong places, get me the nurofen. Thanks to Justin and Pete at Caloundra wind and surf. Next stop Elliott Heads
what a day.
thanks to KA, Caloundra wind and surf and everyone for joining in.
we had about 18 competitors and 30 plus people sailing on the day.
i'll type up a report with some photos and post it tomorrow night.
but quickly,
wind was 15-25 knots S -SE with maybe a few 30knot puffs coming through.
the very good guys were absolutely motoring in conditions that tested everyone. (choppy)....
had a blast today. cheers all!
another quick update.
was just informed of a couple of the peak speeds from the day. not averages however.
MK - 37kn
Pierre - 36kn
Vando - 36kn
nice one mk......
Thanks for a great event justin and for putting up with my bitching and moaning about how bad caloundra is... guess I cant complain now.
