Then buy a gps and join the GTC!!!!!

I can't believe how much I've improved in the last 18mths, and I've been windsurfing for 26 years, and I'm 48yo. I've lost weight too From mid 90's kg to high 80's kg.

Just ask anyone who's in the Challenge if they've improved since joining.

Not to mention the heap of friends and social networking I now have, having lived in WA for 15 years, have got to know more people in last 18mths than my whole 15 years put together.

The thing about windsurfing is that it is a very technical sport, and gps gives you an objective measure of evrything you are doing except freestyle/jumps. You can windsurf for years without improving. Improvement helps you to sail better, enjoy more and have less accidents/fall ins etc, more time on water enjoying.

fullmoon said...

You are right on there Hardie.It does give you some points to start from and after the initial dissapointment when you actually can see how slow you were going it is a steady climb upwards to your rightful position on the speed tables.
The other catagories slowly suck you in also AND the number of members who can gybe like pros now is through the roof .(check out the alpha 500 scores for Jan 08 and dec 08)

Yes, after you see how slow you are going, you're no longer satisfied with just sailing and then can go out and buy more expensive and temperamental equipment that performs its best in higher winds, leading to more winds that aren't good enough.

Yesterday I was at Rodd Point. Spoke to a guy who was heavier than me and had a 6.7m and what appeared to be a JP Super Sport 126. He told me not even the gusts were enough anymore, but said I'd be OK with the bigger board. By the time I finished rigging he was coming in. I went out on the Kona One and a 7.5m to find I was overpowered. Adjusted the downhaul and outhaul then sailed for over two hours before it finally got too light for me. Sure, that person would have been going faster than me, but I wouldn't trade that for time on the water in Sydney.

All I'm trying to say is while there are positives to using a GPS to improve, I believe the down side is it encourages us not to be satisfied with what we have. I prefer not to have a GPS as I really don't want to own (or pay for) 3 boards and 5 sails because the GPS tells me I'm not good enough. Neither do I want to drive extra distance to more ideal spots as I won't be going fast enough for long enough at Rodd Point (or wherever the minimum winds to plane are).

[Yes I know I'll be red-thumbed for this, but that won't change the truth from my perspective.]

Nobody,

I don't think too many NSW sailors take the GPS Challenge too seriously in regards to getting the best speeds and results. If we did we would be disheartened and disillusioned. We rarely have the conditions here and when we do most of us have to work. So only the best can take full advantage in regards to fitness, technique, equipment and abilities.

I on the other hand record my results and am happy to have a record of my sailing. Hell, I sometimes record sessions when I did not get planing and just bobbed around for a couple of hours. Its a record of sailing, especially with tracks downloaded to Google Earth. I for one take real pleasure seeing where I've sailed, especially if I've done a bit more than just sailed back and forth. It would be great to have the tracks of a full day's sail up a river and back or over the bay, around the headland and circumnavigating an island on a light day of 5 to 10 knots.

If you are out on the Kona for a few hours you will rack up a fair few kms which is an important category in the challenge.

I've achieved my best time (not that fast) on a hand me down 12 year old sail that cost me nix, using a mast of about the same age. That was on a day if you were on a One Design and half sheeted in you would have been sailing at 25+ knots.

I think a little perspective is all that is needed, you don't have to sail with a GPS every time you go out. Like any sport sometimes you lose a little confidence and things seem to go backwards, take it off go have some fun, put it back on when your mates prod you.
I believe that my windsurfing and fitness have improved with the GTC as a method of motivation, just need to get over the injuries .
The 40knt club is a great thing to shoot for but going down to Navara and damaging your gear or yourself is probably not the intention of the GTC. You really need the help of a crab to guide you through the maze.

The fun I get is seeing speeds at my local and comparing them.
Anyone hitting 32-36's at Lucky bay is right up there, amongst the chop, the snot, the jellies and the other occasional windsurfer this is really hard to do.

Anyone hitting 32-33's at Scab's is just toooooo good.

I value the advice I get from my team and others I meet, I think I have learnt something new every time I head down the beach and improved with it.

I hear the stories of the guys in Vic helping out the WA people venturing over for a shot at the point. I hope we can do the same if they venture over to Smelville.

The only twit I have encountered in all this was at Point Walter, I unpacked my gear started setting it up and he commented how I would be unable to make use of it because of my ability, a real w..k.r. Had never seen the person before and can only assume he was not part of any team

I really like the GTC and the people behind it.

I am looking forward to the changes that Neb's has lined up for us and another year of highs and no bloody Elmo's.

Bring on 2009

Harrow said...

If it will help me improve my gybing, I'll buy three !!!

What do you think the Alpha 500 category is about, it's a technical and objective ananlysis of your gybing!!!!!!!

Harrow, it will improve it I for one have taken a new tack and elected to just concentrate on learning how to gybe, and bugger the straight line speed stuff for a while. Gybes equals better skills and improves distance one can sail

IMO the more and faster the transitions, the faster one learns and improves.

I find fast tacking/gybing improves straight sailing and overall confidence in sailors too.