'Good on you' for yesterday.
Im hoping for a decent go today after Ive creatively fixed a worn out mast-track lever.
In zero wind I can achieve good progress by standing in front of the mast facing the stern, as though half way through a tack, with feet well apart firmly planted on each rail, and then rock the board by alternately pumping down with each leg. The centreboard and fin, arcing through the water, push the board forward; much the same as the 'peddle powered' Hobie kayak. And its way easier than air pumping!

AyreForce1 said..

In zero wind I can achieve good progress by standing in front of the mast facing the stern, as though half way through a tack, with feet well apart firmly planted on each rail, and then rock the board by alternately pumping down with each leg. The centreboard and fin, arcing through the water, push the board forward; much the same as the 'peddle powered' Hobie kayak. And its way easier than air pumping!

Hmmm... I thought I had tried that and decided it didn't work. Obviously I'm wrong there. I'll try it again. Thanks!

Heading out about noon today into 10-20kn southerly. All welcome
See you on Pittwater

Hooley Dooley, was that an actual race that we just had? Borderline I know but I'm going to claim it anyhow. There was a start, a top mark and a finish! Three boards!

Look out, there'll be no space to rig on the grass next time.

aus368 said..
Hi Pittwater crowd,

Are you up for The Peter Loft Marathon, a fundraising sailing race from the Bayview Yacht Racing Association at the southern end of the Pittwater up to and around Lion Island in Broken Bay and back. It is about a 20km course going around Lion Island.

http://www.byra.org.au/peter-loft-marathon/
www.byra.org.au/template/docs/Peter%20Loft%20Marathon.pdf

I think you will have a few visiting long boards coming for the race.
See you on the course!!

I'm in - 3kn to gusting 25kn, rain hail or shine. Really enjoy the test of a good long marathon.

Last years' only went to inside Barrenjoey Hd due to the sea/wave conditions beyond. I pumped my Windsurfer OneDesign downwind in the freshening south breeze to round the Barrenjoey mark about tenth - might have actually won that leg on VYC! But as the wind faded quickly on the work back so did my performance.
The results sheet erroneously listed me with a rating of 90! (supposedly faster than a 12' skiff?!) so I ended up well down the list.

However it would be good if we could give BYRA some guidance on the VYC rating for the International Raceboard Class in 9.5m2 and 8.5m2; D2/Lechner; Windsurfer OneDesign. Does anyone have some stats?

I hope to give it a practice run this coming Fri or Sat or Sun, in hopefully the currently forecast 10 to 20kn south. Would be nice to have a few practice partners such that we hang together for the Barrenjoey/West Hd to Lion Is portion.

aus368 said..
Hi Pittwater crowd,

Are you up for The Peter Loft Marathon, ....

I'm certainly keen! Having not done any official racing for quite some time, I'm entirely out of the loop as far as memberships and insurances are concerned. Can anyone tell me what I need to do to comply with the insurance requirements for this race? Also as an extension to that, does anyone know the various stuff I would have to comply with for the upcoming Worlds in Brissy?

aus368, are you connected with BYRA? I would be interested in talking to someone about the possibility of starting a Longboard windsurfer division in the regular BYRA schedule. It would no doubt be a small class to start but I also wouldn't be surprised if such a division grew at a steady pace over a year or two.

I'm about to rig up to get into this Southerly before it gets too testing for my novice Raceboard skills.
Was wanting to go around the Lion but that might be too adventurous - unless of course others join me
to practice for the BYRA Marathon Sunday 2 May.

Will any of you be heading out on Sunday?

Where do you launch from?

AdamAKC said...
Will any of you be heading out on Sunday?

Where do you launch from?

AdamKC,
Sorry for delayed response, hope you enjoyed the moderate SE winds yesterday. My repair to foredeck interfered with my desire to get out there.
Some launch from TaylorsPointRd; I launch from the SaltPanCk area. Down at the MonaVale southern end a good launch & rigging area is at BayviewPark opposite KingEdwardSt. SandPointLn at SandPt (southern PalmBeach) is also a good launch area. What type of sailboard do you have - in terms of ability to go upwind?

Adam,
We are keen for as many as possible to grow the Pittwater Longboarders 'club'. Maybe it should have been titled 'Pittwater Sailboarders' - but it appears to be working so we don't want to change our 'Topic' header.
From my experience, a Windsurfer OneDesign, in a moderate 10 to 15kn NEast or South breeze, takes about 2 hours (+/- 15min) to sail from Bayview to WestHd return.
The wind is of course quite variable along Pittwater's length; so it suits boards that have good upwind and downwind ability so you don't get stuck in a low wind area in an outgoing tide (especially up near the entrance headlannds).

Raceboard & D11 will be out about 3pm to 5pm today vicinity Scotland Is to StokesPt

Getting the jump on the potential for some organised racing next season, AyreForce and I have been talking through some of the possible options. I'm putting it out here to gauge the interest level.

I think that realistically, a continuance of the 'call it on the day depending on the weather' approach is doomed to stagnate and falter and never really have a chance of building. I think that a regular weekly race with a laid course, a starter, results etc.. is really the only way forward if we are to actually get races happening. Following on from that, the most direct and reliable path to this humble nirvana would be to jump on board with one of the existing sailing clubs in Pittwater.

Possibilities would be BYRA, Avalon Sailing Club, RPAYC, and perhaps even the Pittwater Cat Club.

I would personally strike RPA off as being a bit (erhem..) costly, and geared more towards other aspects. No worries.

Pittwater Cat Club is a very laid back and welcoming club, I've raced beach cats with them recently. Although we have only one hull, they might be interested despite some constitutional infringement. They race on Saturday's which clashes with The DAC so may not be the best choice. Other than that though....

BYRA and the ASC both race dinghy's around triangles on Sunday's, their membership fees are reasonable. Perhaps I'm mistaken but it's hard to imagine them turning away a new division that landed on their doorstep, if it showed promise of actually getting some patronage.


SO..... Who would be interested? I'd like to approach these two clubs with the idea. I'd really like to be able to say we have half a dozen interested sailors.

Guys? Girls? Now's the time. Speak up. yes/no thoughts/modifications praise/abuse...

Thanks Jethrow, all good input.

i'd be keen on the course in the main section of Pittwater for Sundays. The wind around Bayview might be a little too fluky for a formula board..

I'll in for the Peter Loft marathon tomorrow! Could be a good Raceboard fleet.