Other states can do their own initiatives!!
OK for all you doubters or people interested in having a go, WE'll set up a day where you can wear one of the latest GPS's, get you on some speed gear and you can just get a taste for it!!
Yesterday was one one of the best days windsurfing in my 25 years in this great sport, and I've had the most incredible windsurfing life, it was the most exhilirating feeling you can imagine, I don't have a better memory, probably better than Sandy Point because so much scarier, and more difficult, flying over chop at high speed , getting airborne and controlling it, you really know you're alive!! (getting involved in gps-speedsailing, getting the right equipment, and great advice from people like Slowboat, means that at 47 a middleaged man can have the most exhilirating feeling of his life) It is one of life's great thrills!!!!!
Anyone interested, can't set a date coz we need conditions, anyone up for it?
I see your posts and this sounds pretty cool - I'm keen as mustard to give it a go
Select to expand quoteNotWal said...
HALLELULIAH
I'll have what he's having
hmmm... nothing posted in the GPS speed sessions thread.
It's called adrenalin!!!!!!!!!
Just posted a brief note, too much on, but While I have some time, Just totally awesome, it's like you are skating on the edge of life and death, and to survive it is the biggest high I've ever had!!!!!! The new Missile just rocks, it wants to keep going faster, and when things get ugly it just behaves itself, the Gaastra Vapour 5m just stayed rock solid, never even had to think about it, and Slowboats Light feet advice , I'll have to post that!!!!!!
Man I am pumped!!!!!!! .........Still!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Slowboat gave me permission to share this, hope enough people get to read it, or I'll post somewhere else:
"light feet means trying to keep weight off the tail. This does not mean you cant load the fin. There is an optimal fin pressure/speed that balances with the rig power- its not something you can easily quantify but you can feel it when you find the speed "groove". Basically you want the fin to be running at its maximum lift/drag angle _when_ the sail is generating enough forward power to overcome that fin drag. Deep off the wind, generally the lower the fin load the lower the total drag and thats what you are looking for. On a tighter course, more fin pressure is required. With downward pressure on the back foot, you only need enough to keep the board in the water. Load it too hard and the board will try to follow the chop and make things uncomfortable...
The other trick, when you go into a gust, try to squeeze the power on, not force it. This means anticipating the gust, and if necessary sheeting out a little just before it hits. The reason is that the apparent wind will swing back suddenly, which suddenly increases the sails effective angle of attack. If you are already at the limit, it will stall if you lock it. The fin load increases dramatically in this case and so does the drag. Again this comes with practice and feel"
Select to expand quote
Slowboat gave me permission to share this, hope enough people get to read it, or I'll post somewhere else:
"light feet means trying to keep weight off the tail. This does not mean you cant load the fin. There is an optimal fin pressure/speed that balances with the rig power- its not something you can easily quantify but you can feel it when you find the speed "groove". Basically you want the fin to be running at its maximum lift/drag angle _when_ the sail is generating enough forward power to overcome that fin drag. Deep off the wind, generally the lower the fin load the lower the total drag and thats what you are looking for. On a tighter course, more fin pressure is required. With downward pressure on the back foot, you only need enough to keep the board in the water. Load it too hard and the board will try to follow the chop and make things uncomfortable...
The other trick, when you go into a gust, try to squeeze the power on, not force it. This means anticipating the gust, and if necessary sheeting out a little just before it hits. The reason is that the apparent wind will swing back suddenly, which suddenly increases the sails effective angle of attack. If you are already at the limit, it will stall if you lock it. The fin load increases dramatically in this case and so does the drag. Again this comes with practice and feel"
ahhhhhhhhh! the meaning of life
and you just told everyone
be prepared for a barrage of 40knot avererages on the GTC site!!!
Hmmmm... Think I'm gonna have to put some telltales on my sail...
Has anyone done this before?
