GPS-Speedsurfing


We have just had an epic day at Sandy Point to kick off the annual Speed Fortnight. People came in from all over the country for both the even and the promise of a sensational forecast. We had 40-60 knots of wind on the course all day with hardly a letup. This was the most consistently strong wind I can remember since the Speed event in 1989. Definitely consistenty stronger than the epic Speedweek day in 2004. Of the 30 or so sailors, maybe 8-10 made a run down the course. only five or six managed a decent speed and only about three of these was able to record a 5 x 10sec average. The sensation of the day was Craig Spottiswood who was the only sailor who really looked comfortable to me. Spotty recorded a sensational peak speed of 50.01 Knots and his GT-31 GPS. and a 10 sec run of 47.75. Even more impressive was his 500m speed of 48.709 Knots!! This 500m would have to be in the top few all time for a windsurfer. Tony Wynhoven also posted some sensational speeds. and looked almost as comfortable as Spotty doing multiple runs over 47 knots. Chris Lockwood looked to be struggling with sails too large, but got it together towards the end. Keep an eye on the posts. The averages may not be too good for those of us that did not get 5 runs, but a few of us broke PB's with just 2 or 3 runs anyhow. There are sure to be a few record claims as well. :-)

JEALOUS ........ Excellent folks, so very jealous over this side of the BIG POND lol Seen all the footage and pics on Seabreeze.... Looks awesome cant wait to see what comes next Hook in Strap in and Hang on folks.... D

"Spotty recorded a sensational peak speed of 50.01 Knots and his GT-31 GPS. and a 10 sec run of 47.75. Even more impressive was his 500m speed of 48.709 Knots!!" Spotty has defied the laws of physics if he recorded those times, considering 500 m take around 20 seconds at that speed, how did he manage to have a slower 10 second speed of 47.75 knots? All dues to Spotty he's an animal for handling those conditions and conquering them, way to go maaate!

Andrew... sounds like a brilliant day for all... just hope that storm hits us next... keen to see the results come up but correct me here.... might just of been a slip of your pen but if Spotty's 10 second was 47.75 how the hang did he crack a 48 knot 500?.... the 10 has to be faster Congrats Tony and all the boys for holding it together in what sounds like epic conditions Chris

Hi Guys, the 47.75 10 sec was actually mine. Spotty's was over 49 !!!!!!! Spotty is god. cheers Tony

JEALOUS ........ too You lucky lucky luck lucky dudes, we only wish for winds like that here in the UK, and a good stretch of water. top sailing for you guys, got any footage of the event?? would love to see it....

Congrats guys, sounds like you all had an awsome day there. Itching to get out speedsailing myself as soon as we get enough wind. Looking forward to hearing more from you guys Alastair IRL-250

Yeah. Thanks Kean. It was Spottys 5 x 10 that is 47.755 His best 10 seconds was 49.046

Congratulations Craig - Absolutely amazing speeds. I guess once verified it'll be straight to the top of the pile for Spotty. Psst - Aussies 1, 2 and 3. Come on the rest of the world, pull your socks up ;-)

Huge congratulations to all the aussie sailors on your efforts, Craigs and Tony's Speeds are sensational. Must have been the most fantastic as well as scary feeling facing those conditions which only come round every few years or so.. Is there more to come, I'm sure there is. Antoine and Finian..? Where were you!!!

Respect for these awesome times! Congrats from a jealous guy ;)

http://www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=55570&whichpage=2 Video and Photos

Although very heavy conditions.. I 'only' see 5 postings. For instance, I thought that Chris Lockwood was also there? Concratulations for everybody who experienced these conditions personally on or off the water. Must have been a magnificent ride/view.

Hi Luc, There was about 40 sailors there but only 3 of us managed the 5 runs. Chris had an off day and avereged around 44 .? Andrew Daff and a few others posted times but only managed a few runs. It WAS hugely windy and most were struggling to get down the run on 4.4's.... cheers Tony

Incredibly well done Craig and Tony. Unreal speeds in insane conditions. The thing that impresses me most about Sandy point is that you have such amazing consistency in your runs. The Delta between the max, 10 sec and 500m is so small. That is the mark of a truly exceptional spot. I am sure that with the experience gained in this session a 50knot 500m is on the horison soon. Guys that have not sailed with real intent in these conditions have no idea how much hard work it takes. Slogging back upwind with a weight jacket, being sandblasted and still having the engergy and presence of mind to think about what you have to do to make the most of the conditions takes a special breed of man. Respect!! Brian: First the Tri Nations and then the Ashes.... At least some Aussies are getting things right. Its not over till its over Mate

Hennie, Yeah I'm a windsurfing and rugby tragic and unfortunately haven't had much to gloat about recently (Brisbane test excluded).....that was until last Sunday. Please allow me this little indulgence of basking in the glory of another Australian's triumph and I promise I won't gloat again until we beat SA in NZ in 2011 unless as you mentioned above, an Aussie gets a 50kn 500m. ;-) PS - No doubt you would have been up there with the SP boys if you were given the chance to sail on Sunday as well.

Well done Craig, top effort.

For me, it wasn't an issue of getting down the run - that was relatively easy - just sheet in and hang on. The trouble was walking back into the 50knot sandstorm, in soft mushy sand and getting more exhausted with each walk! Well done to the guys that managed more than three long return walks!

For those interested in the conditions on the day, I've popped the days wind graph from Wilsons Promontory (about 30km SSE of Sandy Point) and pressure/wind charts onto the web at: http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/~awatkins/spottysunday.html

GPS TOP 10 2024
1	Vincent Valkenaers	87,90
2	Hans Kreisel	87,08
3	Dirk Doppenberg	83,34
4	Tim Joosten	83,24
5	Tim Humphreys	82,54
6	Jacques van der Hout	82,12
7	Rolf de Ruiter	81,84
8	Patrick Oberlender	81,34
9	Wouter van Hilst	80,73
10	Matthew York	80,63
	..More..

Maand top 10
1	Vincent Valkenaers	86,64
2	Tim Joosten	83,24
3	Hans Kreisel	82,94
4	Tim Humphreys	82,54
5	Jacques van der Hout	82,12
6	Wouter van Hilst	80,73
7	Matthew York	80,63
8	Johnny Tuijn	79,39
9	Orjan Zandvliet	78,80
10	Brendan Lorho	78,45
	..More..

De laatste sessies
1	Giannis Reglis	57,25
2	Robin Gosselaar	48,53
3	Matthijs Pos	47,89
4	Blanckaert Peter	34,34
5	Marco Bruijnzeel	51,14
6	Harm Jaap de Witt	56,10
7	Dennis Klaaijsen	68,47
8	Aaron van den Elsen	45,90
9	Rudie van der Weij	54,75
10	Laurent Fesquet	76,79
11	Marcel Mulder	51,01
12	Michael George	74,59
13	Dieter Dejonghe	45,44
14	Jan Goudbeek	55,25
15	Arjan Vos	43,17
16	Arjan Vos	45,65
17	Arjan Vos	45,46
18	Arjan Vos	47,28
19	Peter van Dijke	61,33
20	Lotte van den Toorn	59,60
	..More..

Laatst behaalde PR's
1	Jenna Gibson	72,72
2	Lotte van den Toorn	59,60
3	Brendan Foley	29,26
4	Sebastiaan Penninga	59,01
5	Martin Henning	50,48
6	Mika Henning	53,09
7	Giorgio Pesenti	48,38
8	Joost Serrarens	56,07
9	Twan Suntjens	55,88
10	Christophe Pomier	53,29