Brent in Qld forum posts in last 60 days

Show Edits
Reply in Topic: The Funny Images Thread
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
22 May 2026 6:21am

Reply in Topic: AC2027
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
21 May 2026 8:41am
Just hoping ETNZ aren't going to be late with the AUS kit like they were with the French obligations during the last cup in Barcelona.


Reply in Topic: SailGP Perth
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
20 May 2026 12:34pm
2027 SailGP calendar

Jan/Feb: Season opener in Hong Kong and a Perth, Australia event.
Apr-July: Stops include San Francisco, Bermuda, Halifax, and New York.
Aug-Dec: European legs in Germany and Spain, followed by Italy, Rio, Dubai, and the Grand Final.

sailgp.com/general/2027/calendar/
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
18 May 2026 8:31pm
I belted the FK out of a rear box. Promptly forgot then couldn't figure out why I kept getting salt in/around the vent. Then saw the smallest bit of salt in a box screw hole when the board had been in the sun while rigging.

1. Placed the board upside down in the sun with the box level
2. filled the box with fresh water
3. and sure enough... when she was hot enough a steady stream of air started bubbling from the box.

Result=installed a new box and no more salt crystals.
Reply in Topic: AC2027
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
15 May 2026 4:00pm

Reply in Topic: capping immigration etc
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
15 May 2026 10:03am
^^ No. The best program on SBS is the Saturday night ones where people in strange countries make documentaries with old cameras.
Reply in Topic: AC2027
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
Reply in Topic: AC2027
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
13 May 2026 6:18am
Rumours of an AUS challenge of the next cup in 2027. Given the racing happens mid-next year, it would be a minor miracle getting to the start line.
www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/2026/05/12/australia-returning-to-the-americas-cup/
Reply in Topic: SailGP Perth
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
11 May 2026 6:01am
Reply in Topic: SailGP Perth
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
10 May 2026 8:19am
-K75qmcaFzY25Y
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
8 May 2026 2:37pm
We spend so much time in the water during summer that some of us are starting to develop extraordinary skills that keep us entertained during winter.


Reply in Topic: The Funny Images Thread
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
8 May 2026 7:32am



Reply in Topic: The Funny Images Thread
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
7 May 2026 5:15pm



Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
7 May 2026 7:35am
sheddweller said..


sprayblaze said..
Reading behind the lines means that carbon laminates maybe lighter and bells and whistles in the beginning, but over time strecth. If you buy a 150 cm wave sails after using it 20 times it ends up 154 cm which might not be bothering fore some people despite spending a fortune.





Does this amount of stretch happen? Have you observed it?



To add... after 3 seasons my sails are still rigging on the same numbers. The only thing I've replaced on my rigs is rope. If there's any stretching, it's pretty negligible.
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
7 May 2026 6:55am
My 2022-23 carbon Blade pros are lasting really well. I wave sail and get beat up like most in WA who hang out in waves. I'd normally be buying some new sails after 3 seasons but don't need to with this quiver. I'm perfectly happy to do the 2026-27 season and see what they look like.

As for the feel etc... I'll be dropping a sail with my next lot ie 1 less sail from 4.5-5.7. The extended range that some are dubious about undeniably exists in my opinion, might go 4.7, 5.3, 5.7 unless Ben comes up with more genius stuff. I reckon the top end control is where the gains mostly are followed by being extremely tunable. For me there's far less thinking about what to rig on any given day, I like being powered so I am probably sailing bigger than I used to.

There's a case for using std sails in lesser used or smaller sizes... maybe.... but for one, I haven't found a downside to the Severne carbon wave sails after 3 pretty solid seasons out west.
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
6 May 2026 12:27pm
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
1 May 2026 11:21am
Ai will undoubtedly be another pivotal change to humanities trajectory. How do we in Australia deal with it? It's always wise to reflect on how we got here and who we are as we move deeper into the 21st century.

Happy weekend breezers

Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
30 Apr 2026 9:37am
TWCustom said..
A new board from us costs about 3200 USD. My idea is that a rich guy can purchase a new one when he wants by returning the old one and pay half price for the new board. Then we fix the old board and sell it for half price.

We can do this since carbon repairable an infinite number of times and the breathable foam always stays light. 2-300g extra for an 85L board when it is repaired the first time. Subsequent repairs/accidents ads no more weight in the foam. So the board lives forever. This is not some plan, we are doing it now.

For everyone else with traditional foam boards I suggest you drill holes. It is real easy and all boards both production and custom boards are over-engineered. Remember the holes are there also to make it possible at all to dry up the traditional foam. If you can save 200g, you want it. Strip paint and sand to carbon. Use epoxy+carbon powder instead. That is 150g. Replace all pads. That saves 100g. Use FCS II Skindog 18cm (7 inch) aircore fins always. They are US and superlight. If you can, replace thrusters with FCS/Future boxes. The white ones they are 20g and use aircore fins her too. Never use 4 fins. The FCS/Future box (yes two-brands-in-one) are strengthened with to 10mm divinicell plates, maybe 8cm across. These get very strong when glued in with microspheres reaching the top deck.

About the hip-harness. It costs nothing and the patent is there just to stop industry stealing it. So images of converted old harnesses on our old website does make me loose any sleep. All you need is a little rope and the longest harness lines you can find. Your old board and rig really improves. And remember, seat harnesses are really bad. The hook is actually still to high. It should point exactly to Trochanter Major. Google it and good luck.

We make light boards and go out with info so as to kill windfoiling and kiting. We really don't like them on our waves.

enjoy
// Thomas - from the other side


Never use 4 fins? You sir, are the devil.
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
28 Apr 2026 7:23pm
Love is wise.

Hatred is foolish.

Everything else is noise. Except the hatred of Collingwood and brussel sprouts.
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
28 Apr 2026 6:29am
I regularly use a 370 on an older 2017-18 4.5 Blade, think the luff says 403cm. It works with 32-34cm on the extension and I wouldn't want any less downhaul. Goes better with a 400 if I'm honest with myself.

Could be OK if 4.7 is your light-wind sail but might be pushing the limits of a 36cm extension if you're heading out in waves of consequence or need to crank up the downhaul.
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
27 Apr 2026 7:12pm
Chris 249 said..

mathew said..
But big boats aren't weight-constrained so they can use suitable construction techniques.

Windsurf gear is extremely weight-constrained, which limits what we can do to have effective bonding.




Umm, sorry, what? Some big racing boats are arguably more weight-restrained than windsurfers. Supermaxis, for example, have no weight controls and huge budgets so the lighter the construction, the better. Many other classes of big boats arguably have more weight constraints and high tech than boards.

Even where the actual weight is restricted by weight limits, the big boat guys can still spend huge sums in reducing hull weight. More than 30 years ago I was standing on a set of carbon fibre Nomex core pre-preg floorboards that sat over the top of a ton or so of internal ballast, When you put that sort of tech into something sitting 10cm above lead, you're clearly optimising weight distribution.

Would any serious big racing boat be built of thick soft foam and the layups we use in boards? They've been into pre-preg Nomex for decades now.


As an ex-AC builder and having built plenty of other racing/aerospace parts, I can confirm the level of paranoia around weight saving is very real and borderline absurd at times. But you can't deny the results when you get it right, weight savings = top line performance.

Durability and cost of course are very different conversations. Then there's the human factors involved in getting the most out of nice lightweight kit without destroying it with brute force and ignorance.
Reply in Topic: SailGP Perth
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
26 Apr 2026 7:40am
Sensational final day for Aus in Rio taking out every race including the final a few weeks ago. Bermuda in 10 days.

www.sail-world.com/news/295532/Kiwis-score-own-goal-on-Auckland-SailGP-hosting

Looks like no SailGP in Auckland next year due to NZ government funding plug being pulled. Akl mayor is fuming as contracts are in place for 2027. The word is Sydney might also be dropped next year due to ongoing scheduling issues for the harbour. Melbourne, Hobart?
Reply in Topic: The Funny Images Thread
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
24 Apr 2026 6:46pm



Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
24 Apr 2026 3:00pm
If you're worried about dissimilar metals sh!tting themselves, a couple of drops of Duralac works a treat. Even use it when putting similar metals together in a salty environment. Helps hold the nuts/bolts in place and can always get the buggers undone.
www.amisales.com.au/how-to-prevent-galvanic-corrosion
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
23 Apr 2026 5:19pm
Gestalt said..
Footstrap plugs getting evolution. Will use these on my next build because it ditches the silly screw issues. First photo from sanded. not sure how the Flikka ones work in the second image.. does anyone know.. are they held in by the sandwich?










The welded plate things have been around for a while. Big Head fittings or similar are used extensively in the marine game. Technifast in the UK also do a really good range. I'd assume those square corners in the image would be rounded off prior to installation. Rules of point loading 101...

The Bigheads are normally placed into the laminate late-ish during the construction sequence and mostly used on parts created from female moulds. As example, if the top of the Bighead is to be flush with the exterior of the finished job, you de-core and bring the inside and outside skins together in the local area while the part's in the mould. Next there's local reinforcement placed in way of the Bighead then it's glued into place. Lastly its bonded over with a cover laminate. Structural laminating complete at this stage. Once the part is released the service hole is opened and lightly re-taped using a bottom tap to clean out any glue. Finally its countersunk to keep the laminate back from the edge entry so you get metal on metal threading.

Guess you can tell I've done 1000s of these... Mostly on high performance yachts and anything pre-preg.

www.ecfibreglasssupplies.co.uk/bighead-inserts-and-fasteners?srsltid=AfmBOoq8oGZHhsFmTW4PCGs8EF_L4ZS2OQArpqEtFvddcFebwtwd1esQ


Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
22 Apr 2026 6:26am
Interesting. Hypothetically a question might be, are we increasing or decreasing our chances of long-term survival with our current decisions and actions?








cammd said..
Would a nuclear war between the super powers wipe out humanity. I assume remote places won't get bombed. It would just be like a Mad Max post apocalyptic world.





If the nuclear war was drawn out,say more than a couple of sizable war heads, earthly life as we know it would not fare well. The building nuclear winter would seriously screw us over, do a search on 'the effects of a nuclear war' for some very sobbering details. Certainly the doomsday preppers and Armageddon cults would get to see their hell on Earth.

Here's an interesting discussion on the topic.


Reply in Topic: How did we get here
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
17 Apr 2026 6:53pm
So we've discussed how we got here. Reckon I've found out how to get there, happy weekend breezers.


Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
16 Apr 2026 3:22pm
An article about Raven. Ground breaking vessel.

Why the World’s fastest superyacht (Baltic 111 Raven) has a speed limit share.google/4lmt1PCEoMvdaT0Ex
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
15 Apr 2026 7:51pm
Lived in WA from 88-01. Rolled into town thinking of sailing a season after my first visit with the Americas Cup in 87. Stayed. Went overseas ending up in SE Qld for 20ish yrs, learnt how to float and ride on stbd tack. Kids finally flew the coup so moved back to Fremantle in 22. Have always and am still sailing as much as possible.

If the primary reason for moving West is sailing, it's a no brainer. Good crew, lots of options to get on the water for all the iterations of watersports and you'll start smiling as you wear out gear at an alarming rate.

Tips? Take a few bite sized trips to suss the place out before committing. There's work if you have to (wages are generally lower here), housing market's a pain like elsewhere and Emu export is a very ordinary beer. Outside of that it's like anything in life, it's what you make of it.

For my part, the pace and quality of life is hard to match and have found myself happily melting into the landscape.
Reply in Topic: SailGP Perth
Brent in Qld
Brent in Qld
WA
1475 posts
WA, 1475 posts
13 Apr 2026 5:52am
-76dZdDK0Txh
Return To Classic site 😭
Or... let us know if a problem, so we can tweak! 😅