DunkO said...

sick_em_rex said...

sboardcrazy said...

AUS4 said...

sboardcrazy said...
So was everyone on slalom gear or some on Formula and others slalom? If so how did you handicap people?

This is slalom Sue, max board width 85cm. sail max 10m, no formula and no handicap.

With the light winds I thought the formula boards would have been out..

Again, this is SLALOM not Formula. You wouldn't use a 4WD in a Formual 1 race just because it got wet.

A couple of years back I was watching the slalom nationals at dolls point. The wind went light and guys grabbed formula boards and were winning the races. Have the rules been modified since then to stop this?

So formula boards can be a smart move in slalom racing if conditions are very marginal and allowed.

That was 6 years ago and that was one guy who was not listed in the results.
SLALOM max board width 85cm. sail max 10m, no formula and no handicap.

www.windsurfing.org/files/2008/Slalom-Nationals2008-Results.pdf

4 years ago

Fairly certain I saw Sam with the formula. And that chick that went over to tassie.

I remember because he was the only face I new due to him working in the shop.

Could be wrong but saw a few. I didn't quite get it as I thought it was meant to be slalom.

me personally Bruce, I wasn't planing at all, was going to struggle to make the mark anyway and thought I may as well turn while I still could and bobble back to shore. I was fortunate that I hooked a gust that I carried all the way back to shore while most of the others grovelled for the next 15-30 minutes coming in. All this while trying to avoid masses of thick weed accumulating on their fins. All credit to Tibor though, he did a great job. Just wish I had a bigger sail.

Yes, l remember that race too. Things have changed since then.
The rules are like Rick said and there is no place for formula though one could use an old 85cm wide formula if there was one in existence?!
This weekend I have used a 80cm wide board and a 8.6m sail. So, there was room for more/larger gear yet l got around the course. Of course, sometimes you have to work for the money. Pump a bit more, watch the wind, think ahead! Thats part of racing otherwise, you can just sail back and forth at your own pace which is also right if thats all you want?!?
Otherwise, I am a bit disappointed about the cancellation of the last race as there was enough breeze for planing just that the wind has changed directions so, some people may have had to put in a tack to the finish. Byron has finished with a 7.6m sail and not a big board...... so???....yes, a bit more effort!!!

It was certainly a good day for either light sailors or big gear, nothing in between. I only had a 7.6 and 110ltr board and had to pump my way down the course from the 2nd race and couldn't even hook in by the 3rd race, so not much more effort I could have put in. The freesail before the racing was good though in 15knots, unfortunately it dropped to 10 by the second race. I think the right call was made on the 3rd race as there where only 3 people out of 15 planing by that stage. That is slalom racing though, and when it is blowing it can be great fun! Such a pity the forecast didn't hold.

I really enjoyed the day regardless of waiting for the wind. Great to see so many new faces...I think the Slalom format has real potential to grow if people are prepared to support it and try something new and fun.

There are some rules...
12knot is minimum.
85cm wide board max.
10m sail max...

In a perfect world we will have heats, so you end up racing people of similar speeds and skills (which is always the most fun)...
If it is your first time then just pay the $20 entry fee on the day...After that we need you to support a local club to get Public Liability Insurance and a sail number. This is great value and helps support windsurfing going forward....Cheers