The GPS Team Challenge has just got their 220th registration yesterday, and many more are welcome. There are 30 teams Australia wide, and new teams are also welcome.

Why would you want to join?

Here are some reasons.

Great prizes for just registering and posting a session:

A new Board from Thommen1 randomly drawn in Nov 08
A new KA Koncept Speed Sail randomly drawn in Nov 08
A new Boom from Hydrodynamix randomly drawn in Nov 08, and monthly encouragement awards.
Several new Fins from Choco Fins randomly drawn in Nov 08
Seabreeze sms alert vouchers drawn monthly

You get to have Fun, heaps of fun sailing all year round

Improvement, you get an objective measure to see yourself improve your skills and speeds

Ranking, rank yourself against your peers, we have a great data base across 6 categories with an overall ranking and many filters to make yourself look good!

Friendships, join a team make new friends, it's like a being a member of windsurfing club, all the benefits with little hassle

Promote windsurfing

Meet people from other teams

Make and visit new friends interstate

Awards, trophies, medals

Community, be part of the greater windsurfing community

Parties and BBQ's

Windsurfing Blogs, keep a diary of your windsurfing

Are there any other reasons? Sounds like you'd be mad not to be part of it???

and......registering is totally free

Remember this is about the enhancement of windsurfing and increased participation, relationship building, and no-one makes any money out of it!! It's just for fun and enjoyment!!

Check it out at: www.gpsteamchallenge.com.au

Registration forms can be got here:www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=28011

So what's it cost to get a GPS that can be used? And is it really techno to download data etc. If I wander over to the GPS Forum will I find the answers there?

Thanks Nebbs, might give it a go. Might be scary to see how slow I'm going when I think I'm going fast.

easty said...

Thanks Nebbs, might give it a go. Might be scary to see how slow I'm going when I think I'm going fast.

Hey if a beginner like me can join and post scores (low as they may be) I am sure you will do fine.

Although watch out.. I am buying have just bought Red's 95lt Sonic by the weekend I hope. If I can manage the jump between the 155lt Go and the new board, hopefully I will post more respectable speeds.

Yep, just spent the best part of an hour cruising around the speedies forum, and found it interesting and enlightening on a few different aspects. (I was wondering how to find the threads on GPSs and software, when for the first time ever I noticed the forum filter up the top right of screen, clicked on it, and lo and behold there's a list of topics, including what I was after.) Looks like there's enough info there to solve any problems.
My problem though is I'm tossing up wether to buy a new mast I'll need for big winter winds, a new sail from a seabreeze seller which would replace my old mainly summer sail, or the good gps gear. I'd really just like to know what my max speed was, plus record tracks on Google Earth. I have a Gecko 201 (which toddler has hidden somewhere around house and I haven't found for a few months) and an e-trek (in PNG but should get it back some time this year). I am supposing either of those would suit my windsurfing GPS requirements, so I might buy the mast. If the sail is still there next spring I'll buy it then.

Thanks Hardie. Just need to find it, probably have to pull apart the toilet s-bend.
So can I post the max speed as recorded by the Geko on the forum? I know it's not as accurate as the GT-11, or as meaningful as the 10 sec readings etc. But for what I want, yeah just a basic indication of how fast I'm really going would be nice. When I start seeing 45+ knots I'll get a GT-11

easty, use the display speed of the geko for the 2 second. The display on the Garmins is also doppler. The software trackpoints are where the error is..it gets less the longer the time frame.

Windforce also sell Aquapacs if you want to upgrade to a Navi. The $49 Aquapac price Nebbian quoted from JohnnyAppleseed and Pressdigital is for 206 models which wont fit the Navi (OK for Geko).
These two dealers sell the 208 model good for the Navi for $70... which is the same price as Windforce.

I think Snides knows of a slightly cheaper Aquapac dealer in Perth but I don't know the name.

i wanna join but no one else wants to make a team with me in australind!

i dont wanna join a team in perth or mandurah tho.

yoyo said...

easty, use the display speed of the geko for the 2 second. The display on the Garmins is also doppler. The software trackpoints are where the error is..it gets less the longer the time frame.

Windforce also sell Aquapacs if you want to upgrade to a Navi. The $49 Aquapac price Nebbian quoted from JohnnyAppleseed and Pressdigital is for 206 models which wont fit the Navi (OK for Geko).
These two dealers sell the 208 model good for the Navi for $70... which is the same price as Windforce.

I think Snides knows of a slightly cheaper Aquapac dealer in Perth but I don't know the name.

I bought a Pacqua from Whitworths. It cost me $30 and fits my Navi GT11 easily. I could also put a mobile phone in there if I wanted.

Get involved. If there are any Sydney north side or Central Coast sailors interested, please contact me and you can try my GPS. We have a team, the Pittwater Punters that needs more members so if you enjoy it, then join us. This long weekend doesn't look too bad for sailing, especially with green arrows on Sunday!

yoyo said...

Don't they leak Mobydisc? Heard of someone walking around with his gps floating around in one of these like a goldfish in a bowl.

My Paqua is going fine and it has had a few knocks too. I have heard some people also put their GPS in a zip lock bag before they put it in their Paqua just in case.

I would have to be crazy not to join up !!!! ????????? If I get one to wear on my arm, i'll have ,....FIVE gps's.....too many ?????( boat one's)

easty said...

Thanks Hardie. Just need to find it, probably have to pull apart the toilet s-bend.
So can I post the max speed as recorded by the Geko on the forum? I know it's not as accurate as the GT-11, or as meaningful as the 10 sec readings etc. But for what I want, yeah just a basic indication of how fast I'm really going would be nice. When I start seeing 45+ knots I'll get a GT-11

As Hards said, the 201 will be fine, worry about a GT31 if the 201 dies.
Download RealSpeed, Aussie software, to get all the speed data you need or want.
Join the Tassie Speed Seekers team, it'll be fun Easty.
If you drag your GPS file into Google Earth, you can see where you sailed, how far up and down the coast or off shore you went. Same as bush walking etc.

Just do it, you're only up for the cost of a bag, too easy.

nebbian said...

Around $250 or so to get a useable system.

You can get the GPS here for $190:
http://www.windforce.com.au/web/index.php/GPS/Locosys-GPS-GT-11/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=53&category_id=193&flypage=shop.flypage#12296;=en&page=shop.product_details&product_id=1040&vmcchk=1

Then you need an aquapak for between $40-70:
[Edit: Link removed as it wasn't the right one for the NAVI, see posts below]

And an SD card ($9)
www.shopbot.com.au/default.asp?orderby=&p1=0&p2=50&kw=Sandisk+1GB+SD+card&position=search


So around $250 all up.

It isn't techo to download data, once you're set up... To get set up however requires a bit of effort on your part to understand everything.

If you've got a mate who's into GPS then he can give you the drum, otherwise ask on here and we'll sort you out.

in addition to this as listed by Nebbs, you will need the software to go on the computer so you can analyse your tracks.
As i understand it, if you are using the garmins you can download for free the program gps action replay which will be suitable for .gpx files(also need free program G7 to Win).
how ever if you buy the navi you will need to BUY the software either from -REALSPEED (great aussi product)
-gps ACTION REPLAY PRO (Great french product that is loaded with features)
or gps RESULTS (also great piece of work)
i am not aware if you can get for free, software to analyse tracks created by the navi
at this stage....does anyone know if this still the case?

hello mobydisc,
they look like a great product..i tested them by folding them over three times(think this was the instructions) then clipping the buckle.then i squeased them between 2 flat palms and all of them expelled air.
i also witnessed a guy at hardies with 1 on his arm and the navi was swimming around in water inside the bag!!! i recalled slowboat and i both showed alarm when we saw it....
i think under a static test(no pressure)a lunch zip lock bag is fine how ever a crash or fall can exert a higher force or pressure on the bag i would imagine..good luck with the pac sounds like you got a good one.