Sunday looking the go for sure that's not even paddling just get blown there good luck on those skinny boards this could be smoken Think there's a option for the best day this year I am sure Deans onto it

I know what you mean Scotty, often when it gets up around the high 30's the breeze doesn't kick in very strong.
However Sunday certainly looks like the pick to me, I hope they are flexible, it was rather frustrating at the Nat's that they couldn't change days around.
I am sure they would like to get the race out of the way on Saturday and that's what things would be in place for, I guess it is just a case of how hard it is to change things with permits, barges etc.

Catch lots of right hand runs early let the lefts go or you will not make the midway mark Or put a rudder in your 14 before the weekend

stimo said..

Catch lots of right hand runs early let the lefts go or you will not make the midway mark Or put a rudder in your 14 before the weekend

Going right will be a nice change for once.

The call for Sunday will be much easier to make this time Angie, Dean has been actively advising late Sunday nite fly outs and most people I know have booked late flights Sunday, so it's more likely to be a real option this year.

However, I think the option would only be taken if Sat was a complete dud and even a delayed start time wouldn't improve things. Calling a Sunday is very risky, then you have no other options if the forecast turns out to be wrong, the race then has to run in whatever conditions eventuate. At least the Fremantle Doctor is pretty consistent, unlike a lot of other race locations.

Even if Sunday turns out a big Southerly and you still race Saturday, think about the fun to be had running the coastline Sunday if you're up to it providing you didn't over do the beers Saturday nite. see ya there.

And don't forget it's fundamentally a surfski race, still fun for the ski's in lighter wind and probably heaps less stressful to manage 400 people on the water in 20 knots than it would be in 30 knots. I'd love the stronger wind but completely understand if it ends up on Saturday despite Sunday being the better day from our perspective. There are heaps of local casual surfski paddlers out there that IMO, would be in all sorts of trouble if it was really full on. I'd be astonished if they made it Sunday...

Lucky Dean is calm, wouldn't wish organising the event on my worst enemy! Two times I've done it the organisation has been faultless from my perspective.

Just wish I'd started training before last weekend

Well said Jonathan, I agree 100%.

Yeah, point taken Paul. Not enough experience with the surf ski scene to know what they would do. Just know that 30knots for support boats would be bloody difficult and any rescues from a ski very tricky.
I do downwind in a ski and when it's all going well in big conditions its an absolute blast but in short steep stuff in strong wind if you fall in its very hard to control 6+m of boat to align it with the waves and get back in. Obviously a breeze for the pro guys but for the mom and pop weekend ski paddlers that Im sure make up a large part of the group out there a potential nightmare. A ski taking off and tumbling through the air in big wind is a whole lot scarier than a sup. On a sup even if you lose your paddle you can lie or kneel on the board and prone paddle, there just aren't those options on a ski.
Not trying to suggest it should be a 'nanny' race and I'd much rather 30knots too, just trying to put myself in the race directors shoes, um thongs...

stimo said...



Sunday looking the go for sure that's not even paddling just get blown there good luck on those skinny boards this could be smoken Think there's a option for the best day this year I am sure Deans onto

Go for the day it's hottest early at rotto[ as the breeze kicks in hard at Rotto on those days. Don't bet against the forecast changing !

Good luck everybody. Down south so not at beach this year. Sat looks a better call.

Forecast for Saturday 18 January
Winds: Southerly 10 to 15 knots tending east to southeasterly during the
morning then tending southerly 15 to 25 knots during the day. Seas: 1 to 1.5
metres, increasing to 2 metres during the afternoon or evening. Swell:
Southwesterly 1.5 to 2 metres, decreasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning.

Forecast for Sunday 19 January
Winds: East to southeasterly 15 to 20 knots turning southerly 20 to 30 knots
during the morning then tending southeasterly 20 to 25 knots during the
evening. Seas: 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 2 to 3 metres during the
afternoon. Swell: Southwesterly 1 to 1.5 metres, increasing to 1.5 to 2 metres
along the coastal fringe during the evening.

Anyone have any updates on the SUP start time? All's quiet on the OceanPaddler site....

We'll have a few mid-race updates on SUPracer.com. I'm not in Perth so I'll just be getting updates phoned in from the lead boats.

www.SUPracer.com/2014-doctor-results/

Jake and Beau took an early lead round the first marker followed by Jacko and Sam.

Pic from Ocean Paddler right before the start...

Just got a few mid race updates. Still Beau in the lead while Karla is out front for the women.

More details here:

www.SUPracer.com/2014-doctor-results/

Jake Jensen WINS The Doctor 2014

Just crossed the line about 300 metres ahead of Beau, after pulling away in the closing stages.

More updates: www.SUPracer.com/2014-doctor-results/

Karla just won the women's race. Sounds like it was a pretty good battle most of the way between her and Ang.