I personally liked the multiple 30min events.
reasons:
1 - When wind is not perfect, it is easier to get in a 30min session and get a result.
2 - Opportunity to change gear, get food and water, have a chat and do it again. (without being exhausted)
3 - I would probably only do 1 x 1hr race in a day, where multiple races appeals to me. (more social I guess?)
4 - I think it is better for the young kids to have shorter races and more of them?
5 - 1 hour is really hard!!! ;-)

Some other points:
GPS units - The GT31 is a dinosaur! Not waterproof, not even made anymore.... There has to be a simpler solution?
I heard there is a simple phone app we can use now? Surely technology has caught up to GPS sailing?

In my view, the availability of a cheap and available GPS unit is the main factor holding back participation.

Looking forward to summer..Cheers

Thanks for the feedback Brett, Milsy and Dean. Keep it coming!

Not to be a stickler for detail but the gps5 system was developed at the Burrum Windfest first. First time in the world as it happens.

we call it the Rashie Division and the leader wears a yellow and green rashie.

no guesses for where we got the idea from which I adapted into the current scoring system.

sick_em_rex said..
I vote no use of formula gear for use in a GPS event and maybe even a cap on max sail size to try and keep things even for people.

i'm with you all the way there with the sail size rexy, it mite give me the edge on larko in the light winds

Sounds good James. Thanks for all your work last seasons GPS days. The wind limit ensures that Formula boards will never finish in top spots, but at least if you weigh 130 kg you can still sail around in whatever gear you have, without putting and being miserable. I know of a few sailors that have only one smallish slalom board and a formula board as this is their setup and don't really get going to around 18 knots on their slalom gear.

slalomfreak said..

As is,its pretty straight forward and enjoyable.
Add more categories if you like but keep the 30 min time limit on each race.

Bugger 30 mins, how about 10 min sessions. Unless it's a consistent wind day or your using big gear I would find it hard to stay on the plane for a good part of a 30 min session in Botany Bay at least. I tried it on my 8m during the botany sessions and was probably planing for about 60% to 70 of the time. Maybe I better lose some weight or hope for a better season this year. :)

we we may need another category for poster with biggest chip on their shoulder. Keep it light, we're all a friendly bunch us windsurfers.

Mobydisc said..
Based on the forecast we are going to have an El Niño summer we should experience stronger seabreezes over 2015/2016 than we have had for a few years. So hopefully these days will be blessed with sunny and windy days.

Amen

jamesf said..
Thanks for the feedback Brett, Milsy and Dean. Keep it coming!

Ah now I know who milsy posted as..

Please keep the comments coming.
Marmong Point Sailing Club is running the GPS and State Slalom.
We are a club and a team Murray, James and Myself are the people that will be at the events running it as a team and the people responsible for making it happen.
Note there are many others in our club and in Australia that also do work to get permits etc.
I personally have put months of work into this season for everybody to enjoy.
We do it so we can race as we enjoy sailing with people in great locations.
James has put this out there so YOU the sailor that will come to an event will give us feedback of what you want.
We came up with the 30 min races when most other states are doing 1hr. We did this as a team decision to encourage any sailor of any ability to sail together at the same place and time.
What I am reading from this forum is you like this. Personally I like having the option of 1 hr but we only did ½ events last year and it di worked well.
Yes we can’t all win but the GPS should not be looked upon in this way but as “the spirit of fun” sail together against the best and go hard.
Have a beer and a laugh at the end of the day.
But noted last year the top 3 were super close and myself and Remi tied so there had To be a count back it doesn’t get any closer than that.
Marmong started the GPS 2 years ago and from that we then included it, last year into the state series.
Last year we had 50 different sailors compete over the 4 GPS weekends. This tells us we are doing something correct.
Please don’t have a go at individuals and people that put their time and love into the sport especially if you don’t race so don’t really now what’s going on.
But please give us open and honest feedback to help improve what was a successful year last year and what we want to make bigger and better this year.

Half hour sessions sounds good to me as well sailing flat out for an hour is tough but is also more vulnerable to wind fluctuations.

My 2 bobs worth is do the half hour winner and also a 2 second winner just to recognise who was fastest on the day.

Teams might also be fun.

sick_em_rex said..
I vote no use of formula gear for use in a GPS event and maybe even a cap on max sail size to try and keep things even for people.

What Andrew says make a lot of sense, but it all depends on who you are trying to attract to the event.

ATM the feeling in the beach is that its just another event for the usual racing crowd so most people (even though they already have a GPS unit strapped on their arm) go out and do their own thing.

Just say'n

I've said this before but I know it's not really that feasable- some sort of handicap system would make me keener to compete as I know I'll be bottom of the pack at the moment..Qld seem to have some sort of handicap so why can't we do some.. Mat would the system you came up with work?
If some sort of handicapping system was in if you sailed well on the day it would be acknowledged in the results..At the moment even if the top sailors have an average day they'll still win. I still wouldn't stand a chance but it would even the playing field a bit.

Keen to head down to the Forster meet. Will be good to see some of the locals and many other keen sailors. No input for race ideas for me- sorry James. I'm just happy to get wet and have a yarn

MattDowse said..
I have a idea for a handicap system!
If you add up all your 5 best
2sec peak
5x10
hr
alpha
NM
Then divide by 5 will give you a score!
The sailor with the highest score is scratch!
So for example
Byron 166.66
Sue 127.39
So Byron has to beat Sue by 39.27 when the 5 scores (2sec, 5x10, hr, alpha,NM) are added up on the day.
I have been working on a spreed sheet to do this easily.
Just a idea!

Boom!
Cheers Matt

MattDowse said..
I have a idea for a handicap system!
If you add up all your 5 best
2sec peak
5x10
hr
alpha
NM
Then divide by 5 will give you a score!
The sailor with the highest score is scratch!
So for example
Byron 166.66
Sue 127.39
So Byron has to beat Sue by 39.27 when the 5 scores (2sec, 5x10, hr, alpha,NM) are added up on the day.
I have been working on a spreed sheet to do this easily.
Just a idea!

Great idea Matt!