ok, i have to say i'm super excited that the good people at the paradise point sailing club have opened their doors to let us join their sunday racing.
i've been in discussions with paul who hatched the idea and basically it is a traditional sailing triangle course with boat start with one board limit and max 8m sail size.
anyway basically this is going to be a flexible format in the early stages and i would recommend everyone just dust off their old boards with centreboards and lets see what fun we can have! 
WINDSURFING COURSE RACES
In conjunction with and run through
PARADISE POINT SAILING CLUB
Come & try sailboard course racing-
When Sunday 12:00pm
On water race start @ 1:00PM
Starting: Sunday 3oth January 2011.
Where: PPSC, South side, Ephram Island Bridge.
Course will be run around a traditional style yachting course race with on water start and regular yachting rules applied.
Maximum/ minimum wind limits at the discretion of the race committee.
Point score series.
Further enquiries: Paul- 0414 407604 John-0407145397
Intention:
Not intended as an equipment race- older long boards welcome and encouraged. Nominal sail limit of 8 sqM.
One board series limit (do not want to get in the situation where people are swapping and changing their boards from week to week- obviously if someone buys a suitable race board from that point on then there will be provision made for this as an option.
Personal floatation is mandatory under club charter.
Race fees applicable (payable to the Paradise Point Sailing Club)- sign on/ sign off required.
At this stage rules are being developed to suit sailors so flexibility is encouraged- try to keep to a minimum.
Handicap system- yet to be devised- to be used for establishing race results.
Depending on interest and participation- may look at weight classes or sail size divisions in the future.
so guys and girls, get your stuff together and give this club some support.
after all what do you have to lose?
I'm keen as longs as its "One Design" or as close as possible to it.
Wouldn't want to see it become an "Arms Race". So I like your idea of limiting the equipment some how.
I would rather race Wallies than formula.
Any other thoughts?
Ian
Great idea
Could you confirm that people can sail their mast track equipped Stand Up PAddle Boards
Yeah, I'll give it a crack!!
Not too sure about the old boards. Is a "Tiga racing" ( big long thing with a centre board and loads of footspaps the go)? I might be able to get hold of one.
hmmm, might be time to see what is for sale on ebay... don't think my wave board will cut it somehow.
this is a great development....getting involved with a yacht club is very smart...good luck guys. NSW has a few clubs that support race-boards, WOD etc, and they are really successful, especially the mid-week fun course racing after work....
Congratulations Greenleader. It is a good move both for the windsurfers and for the sailing club. Half the fun is at the bar after the race. You can race the boats as much as the other sailboards. It will be nice not to be the only Queenslander racing longboards.
I wouldn't worry about equipment restrictions. Unless you go to a one design what ever you choose will handicap someone. The raceboard class rules have 8.5m for women and 9.5 for men. I recomend sticking with that and use personal handicaping to keep the fun factor in.
Longboards have always been welcome to join in the course racing at Lake Cootharaba Sailing club so feel free to join us any time. I will certainly make a point of coming to some of your races.
my kids have a JP 160 funster with a centreboard - I have never sailed it! - does anyone know if they will go upwind well enough to get around a course? - or are they a bit fat and round for all that sort of thing?
The JP funster and other wide beginer boards should get you around the course but don't give you a very good upwind angle so they are much slower upwind than the longboards with large centreboards.
The sail size you use will of course also have a bearing, as well as individual skill and weight.
The club can always set a shorter course or fewer laps for slower boards so don't let that stop you joining the fun.
Well, new to the forum, thanks to greenleader, 2 at paradise point today, Tiga race and mistral- no set racing today, kicks off next week. I had a good dinosaur sail around the broadwater. Just a bit of light weight longboard sparring- all good!
Great to hear. I can report that I have now got a Pro-Am 250 proudly newly purchased for $55!! It is missing the centreboard unfortunately. Greenleader has helped me get the mast base pin right to use but the original track is working perfectly (it still has the original fin). I have also got a 1980s era 8m NP Alpha Warp Speed!!! (keep out of my way ) Just putting together a mast and boom for this. So, should be out there soon.
Need to say that again! A Pro-Am 250 
Photos coming soon...
Would that be the old Steve McGeary white "Speed ProAm 250"? Great old race board- had one of those many years ago- are you still chasing a centre board? Might know where there is one for the following model- might not be too hard to make fit. Was and original factory item.
Yes, that's right a Speed Sailboards Pro-Am 250! Is it good? Sounds good to me.
I don't really know much about them as I am way too young.
There is an impressive amount of footstraps though. I haven't tried it yet, but I am wondering why we ever moved into shortboards.
I would appreciate any help with the centreboard. It is a pretty narrow slot and can be racked back.
I owned one in about 1990- very fast, very strong board. The following model, the SR250 was silver/ grey in colour and was a slight improvement over the pro-am 250. The SR250 went on to win the Australian Raceboard class title in the hands of a guy called Dave Pitchford. It was well and truelly a match for the F2 Lightening and Mistrals of the day and, longboard wise, things do not appear to have moved very much since then. I will call the guy who has the centre board and see what I can find out for you- it was mine, I gave it to this other guy about 5 wks ago. You have got yourself a fast, class raceboard that will go through the water very well. Hope to see you up there this sunday.
One race down- the remainder of the series to go- weekly event- only 2 turned up for week one- anyone else out there going to give it a go- not as much speed, but a lot more interesting than out there and back, out there and back! PM me if you want any more details.
Nothing to do with old stock at surf fx- it has come from me because I get tired of the 'out there and back' scene. The club wants it to work as well- so if you think you are a good sailor, why not try it- see how fast you get around a course in variable conditions instead of just doin your own thing?
It is on again this Sunday- and a few more to follow- so anyone out there feel up to the challenge?
It is on again this Sunday- and a few more to follow- so anyone out there feel up to the challenge?
