May 2012

Wow, I new it was a while since my last blog but didn't realise it was almost a month. Not good but I will give my excuses below. 1, I have been busy Signing up for Luderitz speed vent has taken over everything. There is a lot to organise but I am getting through the list. The new Starboard Isonic W44 has been ordered and will arrive late August. I plan to take out the W49 and W44. Tom is working on new sails for the attempt, speed specials in 4.8, 5.0, 5.25, 5.5 and a new low aspect 6.0. I'll take a 6.6 with me as well just in case the weather isn't extreme. 2, We have had some good sailing. Nothing extreme but some good 7.3m days and a fully lit 6.6 day on my W54 speed board. On top of that if it's not windy I am running my usual 3 mile route then jumping in the pool for a mile swim. Tom Tom has been updated with african maps, new Hot Sails T's and Hoodies printed and sent out to the team. Next is to get a sports energy supplement brand on side. I reckon that the windy days will be long drawn out affairs. I know Anders got in 30 runs in one day last year but he was the only windsurfer using the canal, I am not sure how many windsurfers will be there this year but obviously you can only sail one way and will be picked up at the end and driven back to the start. I presume we will only get one run every 20 - 30 minutes. Still lots on the check list to do.

APRIL SPEED

Nice sail at Pembroke Bay on Wednesday. 7.3 gps Hotsails with 90 ltr Starboard Isonic and Black Project R35.

I set the sail with a tiny bit more downhaul and a bit more outhaul than last month when I was on the same kit. Definately faster but the wind direction was too broad and a bit of chop on the course. Everything is coming together nicely for the World Record attempt in Namibia.

Top speed 38.54 knots.

Guernsey Video

First attempts at Filming from Pierre. Learnt a lot already.

PS Play it loud!




www.vimeo.com/38439749

March speed

First session of the year, really needed it. Soooo frustrating watching the times from La Franqui. Guernsey has only one boat a week to France at the moment on a Friday, I would rather have a 3 - 4 day trip then a whole week.

Today was gusty 7.3 to 8m weather. Pierre came down and filmed so we will post that later. I told him I was looking for high 38's maximum runs, I ended up with a peak of 40.02 knots. Not bad to say how gusty Pembroke is in offshore winds. You have 3 areas of wind, west of the bay where you start has gusts which will get you up and going then a lull which hopefully you get through then another 50m area of strong wind, another lull then 70m of strong wind to the East of the bay. It's always the same, doesn't matter what wind strength. A bit of luck and you get through with an alright speed.

I never felt fully lit across the bay, really nice to see 40 knots come up. The 7.3 can easily average 40 in the right conditions.

2012

Just a quick update on whats been happening and what the plans are for 2012.

The days are lengthening, almost into March and I have missed two of the best speedsailing days in the last 10 years. That is the big frustrating news.

Over Christmas I had a stomach bug, won't go into details but loose would be a good description. It meant I missed some good wavesailing in Guernsey but also the speed session in the beginning of Jan. Jan 21st session, my wife organised our wedding anniversary meal. I did think about jumping on a plane to West Kirby but thinking was all I could do if I wanted to stay married.

Best to look forward. 2012 will see me compete on the European Speed Tour also there is talk of a World Championships (in a hot place, although every year there is talk. It is very difficult in the current economic state to get the funding for events, the minimum needed for a World Champs is $50 000.00.

West Kirby is always on my mind and I am desperate to get back up there. 2011 really showed me the speeds that I can reach and spurred me on to go for the World Record.

La Franqui is also on my mind but I need a driving companion for that one. Driving down to the South of France for an event my myself is no problem, you have a base and your van is safe on the beach with all the other competitors. Driving down, leaving your van on the beach by itself and going out sailing isn't so good, I love the French but like anywhere things can go missing and do.

I have also enquired about getting an invite to Lurditz for a 500m record attempt, I let you know if anything goes ahead.

Looks like a busy year, apart from competing the 2013 Hot Sails GPS'S are close to completion and will need a blast. Everything else stays the same, Chinnook are the best booms and extensions on the market, Black Project Fins are the best on the market, Starboard are the best on the market and Billabong makes me look sexy!

Foot Straps

Just thought I would clarify the foot strap situation as you must think I am a bit of a chump not to check before I went.

The Starboard straps in 2009 / 2010 were too small for my feet, just could get them to expand. The 2011 starboard straps I got for my slalom boards and W54 were great, no problem making them big enough. I then got the 2011 W49 and presumed the straps would be the same, a bit tough the first time you get in to them but then they stretch and are ok. The straps looked identical but after I extended them they wouldn't expand to fit. Don't know why.

I have now fitted some Hot Sails Maui straps on, cosy slipper type comfort, ideal for the 50 knot barrier.

West Kirby 7th Dec 2011

Where to begin, probably best at the beginning I suppose. As I am starting writing this I am already thinking what a moaning old git I am but you'll have to put up with me, I'll say it as it is. Flew up Tuesday night. I wanted to be fresh and ready for a long session on the water Wednesday and fly back Wed night. Booked into the Greasby Premier Inn at 8pm, scampi and chips, watched half of Transformers on tv then tried to get sleep ready for sailing. You would think that after all this time that falling a sleep would be easy but when your passionate about something the adrenaline/excitement gets going and all you can think about is bombing down that wall at over 40 knots. Woke up early, breakfast at 8am and straight off to the lake. Steve Thorp and Jacques Van de Haut are already back in the car park after a few runs, its freezing. The course is very broad, the start is flat but the word is as you progress down the course the chop get horrendous / unsailable. It's windy Jacques and Steve are on 5m sails, I rig my HotSails GPS 5.5m stick my new Black Project type x 40 in the Starboard Isonic 49. This is the first time I have sailed the board, sail or fin but it's blowing 41 knots steady gusting 53 and down the wall the chop is 30cm high. PERFECT! The type X's come in 35, 40 or 45 sizes, this isn't their actual size this corresponds to the speeds each is designed for. I opted for the 40 as I wanted a bit more grip when I got into the chop. In the car park it was cold but I was taken aback when I got into the water, freezing. Gloves, neoprene hood and boots all needed. I only had neoprene shoes and after one run could feel the base of my feet. Ant Baker lent me a pair of ripped booties which helped for another couple of runs. After my last run I only noticed that my heel was hanging out of the boot when I got back to the car park and looked down, I could feel them at all. Another time after a wipe out I was lying dazed in the water thinking it was weird that I could feel the pressure of the back foot strap but my feet were sinking to the bottom of the lake, how can that be when I have the board attached to me, I sat up in the water and realised the board wasn't there at all it was floating away. The other problem I had was I could get my foot straps big enough and ended up sailing down the course feeling like I could be ripped out of them at any stage. (that's the moaning out of the way) From the car park it was a reach up to the northern start of the wall, then open the throttle. Unbelievable acceleration, watching others bear away they had 7 seconds from the start to when they sheeted out and slowed down because of the chop, I'll post some picture or you can check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omZVNSkdH_Y All day sailors were putting in a run then coming back to the car park waiting for the wind to swing to the West and hope the water would flatten off. It never happened WNW is too broad for West Kirby, too much chop. I ended up completing six runs, all over 42 knots 10 second speeds except the last 2 and all over 44 knots max. One run did stand out however 49.43 Knots maximum 46 knots 10 sec on one gps and 49.62 knots / 46.52 10 sec on the other. I new it was fast because it hurt a lot when I crashed at the end of the run. Today I am back in Guernsey and taking ibuprofen. My left hip is really hurting. Summary- It's all about learning, board rig fin combo were perfect, I have to change foot straps and get a decent pair of booties. The wind angle was perfect for big speeds but West Kirby won't have flat water in that direction. As soon as you were hitting 49 knots the chop was 30 cm high, you couldn't slow down and I crashed after every run. I was pushing hard though. Great to get 49.5 knots max when averaging out my two gps's, one of the fastest speed ever reached on a windsurfer. Believe it or not sailing at 49 isn't as scary as you would think, it's all about being in control. You can be out of control at 36 knots and its as bad. The board rig and fin has been pushed to levels I dreamed about, it's all possible. This isn't what could be my fastest set up. With canal type flat water, 44 cm board, smaller fin I don't see why I can't go faster. I have a idea of the speed possible but won't publish it, I'd rather prove it.