Speed board volume

Interesting findings today when I measured the volume of my 43 and 41cm speed boards. Always wondered how big my custom Patrik Diethelm​ 41 was compared to the Patrik production 43.

The 41 is 233cm long compared to the 43 which is 228cm.

I haven't used the 41cm in Luderitz during the past two years because the wind hasn't been great and I have been on the "bigger" 43cm.

Bigger turns out not to be entirely true. I constructed a plywood box 2.445m x 60cm x 14cm, filled it up and then pushed my speed boards under the water. The amount of water they displaced then tells me their volume.

The 43cm, to my workings, displaced 54 litres of water and the 41 displaced 58 litres.

Knocked down

Can't believe I have an ear infection. Started Friday and was painful all weekend, now it just feels blocked.

Training was really going well, every day up to a couple of hours in the pool or gym. Starting to get ready for the NWF speed contest in Weymouth.

 http://nationalwatersportsfestival.com/all-events/nwf-speed/

Can't wait, should be a lot of fun.

Lots of new kit to tweak before then though. Hope it warms up a bit and I can get out on the new slalom sails. Waves are going to have to take a back seat.

Grande Cru Classe

I have now been sailing for 36 years.

The first picture is from 1989, I had already been sailing for 11 years. I had been Guernsey Wave sailing champion and Slalom champion. Speed hadn't come into the picture yet. The second form 2013, same bay, same wave.

The third picture is from 1994 ish in St Marie de la Mer, my fourth year of speed and already an equal 4th place finish in the 1992 overall standings. The fourth is from Luderitz 2014, by this time I have had a second place in the 2010 overall standings and sailed over 50 knots.

I might be blowing my own trumpet here but I think I'm getting better at windsurfing !!

Bjorn recently stated that to be competitive in PWA wave sailing 35 is the maximum age. I would agree with that, you don't see many over 35 year olds double looping. 

Bjorn has just retired from Slalom at the age of 46, that has got to be the limit. 

What about speed? In the overall 5 x 10 sec GPS standings 9 out of the top 15 are over 40, most closer to 50 or above. Personally I think you can be competitive at speed records up until 55. Speed contest I think you are going to struggle past 50. 

All good news for us oldies!

Sail size / board size / fin size

Got asked yesterday what equipment setups do I use. It differs from training, competition training and competition.

I use Patrik Diethelm boards, Neil Pryde Evo 7 sails and Black Project Fins

Competition

Board                            Sails                              Fins
PD 135                     9.5 & 8.6                           R45
PD 110                       8.6, 7.8, 7.0                      R35
PD SPEED 52         7.8, 7.0, 6.4, 5.8           RS28,  RS26, S29 & S26.5
PD SPEED 43            6.4, 5.8, 5.4                   X50, X55
PD SPEED 41              5.8, 5.4                           X55

Training

PD 135                      9.5 & 8.6                 R45 & R47.5
PD 110                        8.6, 7.8, 7.0                   R37 & R35
PD FSW 102                   6.4                                 RS30
PD SPEED 52          7.8, 7.0, 6.4, 5.8            RS28,  RS26, S29 & S26.5
PD SPEED 43              6.4, 5.8, 5.4                   X40, X45

I try and get away with the smallest fin I can. Instead of changing fin as the wind picks up I would probably change board and fin. Once I have found the right fin for the board it rarely changes with the exception of the PD 52 which has the most options with fin type.

The sails cross over a lot and I have always options.

2015 Waves

Waves in Guernsey have been pumping and it looks like we have a hell of week ahead

BACK IN THE WAVES

Big week ahead !

http://www.windfinder.com/forecast/Guernsey

Looks like a huge week ahead for Guernsey.

We have NW winds at the moment which is blowing swell straight into Vazon. The forecast is keep blowing then swing westerly and increase.

This could be all time big!

Westerly winds are cross onshore at Vazon, not great for down the line but definitely the direction for huge swell. Maybe one frontside bottom turn then backside riding back to the beach.

Huge air here we come