Pittwater Longboards

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Jethrow said..
So fess-up Belly, what boards have you got?

I got a bit confused thinking you had a Div II and an Equipe but I realized that's what BSN was after.

I have an Equipe (mate over here is looking for one) but Id like to have a D2 also

Perfect clear skies, total sunshine, and very crisp!
Arnie showed the way on the new Exocet 380, getting the best of the breeze early and recorded a peak board speed of 22knots.
Barto rigged a bit conservatively anticipating a continuation of the fresh morning breeze.
but it faded to 5kn with 15kn gusts; yes the 9.5 would have made for a more extended afternoon session.
I had some reasonable tests of my pointing and speed against some of the RPAYC's faster inshore racers on their last lap and then paced them back towards Newport. Returning to shore around 4pm with my forearms screaming for mercy.
Quite a reasonable 'work-out' after a 4 week break.

What a great day out on the water - looked really cold in the morning but was sunny and warm by 12.

First real test of new board (Exocet 380) - Top speed of 22.7 Knots in some chop.
Upwind, I was wondering if the board needed centreboard adjustments as the wind picked up but so far, the more wind and it just accelerates - 10-11 knots upwind. Really comfortable.

i'm looking forward to the return of the seabreeze! Things are becoming desperate when i find myself digging through my old gopro clips.. This winter business is no fun..

My decision to juggle my commitments and practice Raceboard on Friday 22nd rather than Sat/Sun paid off big time. Was a perfect arvo (1:30 to 5:00) with warm Nor Wester 5 to 20knots. Made it all the way to west end of Scotland Is with good practice in chop and swell.

Proposal for TeamDAC and other RaceBoarders to join us for informal race practice this Saturday 13 August. Most will launch from BYRA; Arnie & Barto usually from TaylorsPt; me from adjacent SaltPanWharf.
Details to be confirmed shortly.
ALL longboarders welcome (WOD's, Formula, Techno, etc)

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AyreForce1 said..
Proposal for TeamDAC and other RaceBoarders to join us for informal race practice this Saturday 13 August. Most will launch from BYRA; Arnie & Barto usually from TaylorsPt; me from adjacent SaltPanWharf.
Details to be confirmed shortly.
ALL longboarders welcome (WOD's, Formula, Techno, etc)

My apologies for late notice: Some are sailing TODAY Sunday 14th, meeting at Taylor's Pt. Hope some wind comes to the party!
D2 sailboarders are of course also very welcome.
[unfortunately I have other commitments]

So....! I've been terribly busy doing other things through winter. (mostly surfing! It's been sooo good this winter.) and I've just got onto the important business of getting some triangles happening for us all.


In the interests of transparency and, well just for everyone's interest, I'm pasting here the email I've sent off to the ASC. I might have a few facts a little skewed and I certainly mean no disrespect to the DAC or it's waters, I'm just trying to make a plausible realistic sounding case. A bit of sales speak I guess...

We'll see what bounces back soon hopefully.


ps: Have you all noticed the Pan Am and the Batwing Phantom in the 'Buy and Sell' section? (Haven't seen a single D2 I'm afraid Jethrow, maybe you'd go a raceboard as a stopgap?)

oh, and Seano: I haven't forgotten you, I thought it prudent to tackle the Formula hurdle as a separate event, that is if they can be brought on side for 'slow and well mannered' boards first.

------------------

Hi !

I am a lifelong sailor and Clareville resident, I grew up racing Manly Juniors and Flying 11's before progressing on to beach cats then larger multihulls and then traditional yachts.


I recently had a bit of a return to my teenage obsession and have been windsurfing longboards. Relatively slow and well mannered, centreboard, triangle racing capable longboard windsurfers. The board I ride is actually the same design as the ones raced in the 1988 and 1992 Olympics.



The number of people sailing this kind of board has obviously dropped dramatically, however they are out there if you're looking closely, and the numbers are currently having a little resurgence.
A small group of us have had some informal Pittwater races, we've simply called starts and finishes amongst ourselves as they happen, using available bouys and nav markers.





What we would really like to do would be do join up with a club who would be willing to start a windsurfer division during their regular weekly races.




Would the A.S.C. be interested?






At this stage I have 5 sailors that have expressed an interest to join the club and attend races regularly. All are capable experienced adult sailors. I have very little doubt that more will join and perhaps even travel some distance to be involved if a fleet starts to build, although it may be a bit halting initially.




As far as I know, the only other club running comparable longboard windsurfing races in Sydney is the Dobroyd Aquatic Club. They get up to 20 sailors weekly through the season, some of them traveling from up here to attend. It's worth mentioning that as a sailing venue Pittwater is so far ahead of Dobroyd that it is almost not funny.
Additionally the Raceboard world titles are to be held this coming November at RQYS (Queensland) and there are plenty of guys looking to get as much racing training in as possible which might give the division a little startup boost right when it needs it.


So... Is the ASC interested?


Kind Regards, Mikey Floyd

Saltyheaven,
At the NSW Windsurfing meeting on Tuesday I agreed to act as representative for the 'Pittwater' group. I said I would go with BYRA because it's the closest arrival location for all those driving from south and west etc. I certainly will not allow us to be restricted to sail south of Scotland Is. The 'senior' classes sail north of the island in any favourable winds; and I'm pretty sure as a combined fleet with Avalon & RPAYC. I'm assuming that we should be able to work out our own courses if we're not happy with theirs.
I agree that (as you suggested in our message chat) it might not hurt to canvas both clubs.
However, apparently to be covered by some of the organisational aspects of the AWA Insurance, the club has to affiliate itself with the AWA with payment of a $150 fee (which is waived for the first joining year). I guess if we can encourage enough to join with us, we can collectively cover that fee if the club is reluctant.
So I will complete the email I drafted lunchtime yesterday - and let's see how we are received.
I'm happy to go with either - but I think those from St George and DAC etc would prefer BYRA - also because parking at or near ASC is minimal.

Best regards (hope you have a chance to join us on perfect Pittwater this arvo),
AF1

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AyreForce1 said...

aus381 said...
Friday Arvo is looking nice. Aiming to go out about 2pm from Taylors Point up to Palm Beach and back a few times.

I'm in 4 Shore! The Lion or bust!
It's goanna B purrrfect

This arvo (from 3pm) was a typical Pittwater north/norwest plus some rain induced squall. Occasional 5kt patches but generally perhaps 10 to 15, with gusts to 20 kn+ between West Hd & Lion Is. Only made it half way to the Lion; but it was a blast on starboard tack with the swells rolling in from the east, and the board nicely on the edge to cut through the wind waves heading in the opposite direction. Wind eased off with rain visible in the distance down the Hawkesbury. Turned downwind but had to gybe in the middle of a heavy squall running out of room approaching West Hd but duffed the gybe. Had a lot of difficulty getting the rig back up and pulling it away through the strong gusts. Had some good blasts on the way back home, arriving at SaltPan at 5:15

Hmmm no replies. That's worriesome.

BYRA and Avalon are open to the inclusion of a longboard fleet - it now comes down to how many are prepared to sign up, and the cost of membership for perhaps a once a month hosting of an 'open longboard' Sunday racing. However as this 2016/2017 summer AusRaceboard program does not have many weekends left for additional events; it may result in just a few say 'trial /demonstration events' in preparation for say a 5 or 7 race series 2017/2018.

I enjoyed another good arvo session on Pittwater on Tuesday into a light but freshening N/NE. 1505-ish leaving SaltPan and gybing at 1630 about 200m south of LionIs; back to shore at 1735. Only a handful of yachts, and two 29ers out - mostly had it to myself.

Had perhaps too awesome a day yesterday; 12:30 to 15:40 ; was feeling very smashed afterwards:

Yes, we'll it was a tad on the fresh side for my weight with the 8.5m.

15:30 to 17:45
SaltPan to south of RMYC; back down to ScotIs; up to near RPAYC; down to TaylorsPt &upwind to near RPAYC x2; down to LongnosePt; back upwind to Salt Pan.

Declined the early offer of assistance from the kind WaterPolice. Probably had 45 mins of trying to water start & up hauling after numerous back slams & failed tacks and gybes. But no damage - just longer arms & deflated ego.

Hoping to test my race boarding in 20 to 25kn+ with a Bic 6.8 and NP Hellcat 7.2 tomorrow. Need to make the 'small rig' decision. 2 weeks to the big regatta and still procrastinating over the kit!