Lucky if you can go half as fast in 30knots, Wind swept swell and chop from the gusts make full speed runs impossible, becomes more like MotoX and really hard work!

Hey Johnno, help me out here.

How can the race be quicker in 15knots compared to 30knots?

Is this because you're not edging upwind in lighter conditions, given the race is kinda downwind on a SW.

Cheers,

Any recommendations on twin tips vs surfboards for the crossing. Also, what size kites are people using?

The official message to competitors has been emailed to you and is reproduced below for ease...

ALL SYSTEMS * GO * FOR THE 2013 LIGHTHOUSE TO LEIGHTON

RACE DAY EVE UPDATE!

The race management team have reviewed the wind forecasts for tomorrow from the Bureau and will proceed with staging the 2013 Lighthouse to Leighton. All details are as per the race manual, which you have previously received via the link at the website, www.lighthouse2leighton.com.au

PLEASE READ! OPTION TO WITHDRAW!

The forecast wind for the afternoon is scheduled to be 15 to 20 knots. Ideal for big boards and big kites. Please, in the interest of safety for you, your fellow competitors and our safety boat teams we are asking all competitors who are questioning themselves that is their equipment right for these conditions, to withdraw.

You will still receive your numbered rash vest and event t shirt. Why withdraw? To encourage only the competitors with the right equipment to race and we reduce the likelihood of you being needed to be rescued.

If you do voluntarily withdraw you will be GUARANTEED a place in the 2014 race (to be paid for at the time of registration). PLEASE DO CONSIDER THIS OPTION AS A REAL ALTERNATIVE TO BEING RESCUED ON THE DAY BECAUSE YOUR KITE IS TOO SMALL.

19KMS IS A LONG KITE HOME ON THE WRONG EQUIPMENT!

MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION TONIGHT.

TO WITHDRAW PLEASE EMAIL: tim.turner@yjs.com.au ASAP.

To a safe and successful race.

Regards,


Tim Turner

"If the wind is forecast to be lower than the required 15 knots at Leighton the race may be postponed until Sunday 15th December"

If you proceed with the race and the conditions outlined in your competitors manual aren't adhered to you will be not only be contravening the isaf rules & regulations but also your insurance policy and making the race look like an absolute joke that's only being held to keep the internationals in town happy.

Poor form imo

Willy Weather is showing 16.5 knots at 2pm and 17.5 knots at 3pm at Leighton Beach tomorrow, so its forecast above 15 knots. Slightly higher at Rottnest and in-between so its within the rules I think.

Now you can flame me.... I'm on a 137cm TT with a 12m kite. When its above 15 knots I usually have a consistently good time..... although I'm considering/borderline withdrawing, the email sowed seeds of doubt... but for now, I'm in.

Good luck to everyone, esp. my favorites from WA.

I know I would make it across on my 7 rebel and a SB............what's all the fuss about

Im still in but ****
I was confident before your email TIM.
Im riding A 12m C Kite on a Surfboard, is it safe for me to compete? Forecast looks Marginal?
BIG Kites = ??????

Lets not get carried away. This is by far the best organized event and Tim will do the right thing by everyone. Sure we will get the 15 knots

Havent heard how/what went down today yet
BUT
I reckon Tims decision was not only a classically classy one but also one which was totally justified considering the reported wind readings I can see here.
It was a line-ball decision yesterday. Looked like it would be right on the seesaw of around the magical 15kts.
Way too close to possibly cancel what is the public & general kiters highlight of the most high profile kite event ever staged in WA.
(well due cred to the Freestyle Jam as well - the public love that stuff)

Making this back-out option was a stroke of genius. Allowing those casual thrill seeker kiters - the ones without the serious lightwind kit - the option to backout with a guarantee of a possbly far better (and safer for all) run next year.
It would also have made the decision to let it go ahead easier if - as it turned out - the call was touch & go. Knowing that those who may struggle or fail in marginal wind were able to back out would make the decision to GO a more likely option.

My congrats to Tim (again this year) & to Claire & her super professional team at "Project 3" for pulling off WAs first ever large scale world class event.
You guys rock!

And I just heard - Marvin 1st across the line. Man you are a legend. Can imagine how stoked you will be beating that field. Yeew great work.

Congrats to all. Glad you got a kiteable wind.

Unfortunately not a mention on either ABC or channel 7 news ( didn't see the other channels). Couldn't make it to the beach and would have liked to have seen some footage of what, besides the Ashes series, was the biggest event on in WA today.
Surely bigger than unicycle champs and women's gridiron.

I retract my previous critical comments, good call Tim the day went flawlessly and was an awesome event. I should've trained harder, thanks to everyone that makes this great event run as well as it does.

L2L said..

Re: Spots for ladies this year, we do in fact have 11 racing this year. Yes, 2 were donated to WACK to support youth and female participation in the sport in WA, as they asked and asked early!

Interestingly, the first 3 editions of the L2L we have only ever received, I recall, about 5 to 7 entries each year, hence the guarantee of 10 spots! If we didn't do this, the likelihood (through random/ probability) would be even less ladies getting a spot. 20 female entries this year is a 185% increase in interested participation, which can only be a good thing. In 2015 we can look to increase this, or, subject to feedback, there can be no gender split, EVERYONE goes in the same draw... Thoughts peeps?!

I've not been specifically asked why the race is limited to 110 people, but the main reason is * resources and safety * that is the size and scale of what we achieve given the available beach at Rottnest Island to launch, as well as (available) safety boat ratios to name but a few challenges. Yes multiple starts are a possibility, but then the whole spectacle of what makes the race * open * and unique * disappears!

Please, believe me it is an epic challenge to pull the multiple stakeholders together, so 110 (and, in fact likely 115 this year, subject to insurance approval, yes an extra 5 spots!!!), is right now the right number to keep the race as good as it is! Sorry if you missed out this year on a spot.

This race has always had a lot of interest even when run back in 2004 (unlucky that year the wind did not hit the coast) anyway in my opinion the ballot system is not the ideal way to secure the final race starters. A round of lead up time trial races should be held so that racers need to qualify making it fair that if you are genuinely one of the fastest 100 boarders in qualifying then you will be racing.

A highly competitive racer could go into the ballot year after year and never get drawn out to race. Super unfair to them. I may be wrong but please explain to me how you can guarantee some one who really wants to do well and even spends a lot of fun tickets getting that perfect board ready to race will definitely get in the race and not just "miss out"?

You don't see Formula1 race drivers all put their names into a hat and hope their name gets drawn out for the starting grid - you need to work at in qualifying to secure you position?? Just saying

Call me crazy but does any one else think the same - maybe it is just me.

Bring on Ledge to Lancelin Jan 2014 - this one sorts out the boy racers from the ocean racers "if we can see the markers this year (I am sure that will be sorted though)

Who were the pro photographers there, besides Rick Pryce?

Great event Tim and team. It went like clockwork from a user perspective.

Are the results posted anywhere?

Looking forwardto next year's race!