NEW PATRIK DIETHELM WEB SITE

http://www.patrikdiethelm.com/index.php/crew/team

Above is the link to the new Patrik Diethelm website featuring this happy chappy.

SPEED 2013

It has seemed like forever but we're finally getting there. Some of the new sails have arrived and it coincided with a nice North Easterly force 5. Under powered on the Neil Pryde Evo 7m2 but great fun. 1st time on the Patrick Diethelm 110 as well. I used my Black Project R37.5 which felt a little big, I'll swap it for my R35 next time. The board feels great, plenty of volume for me in light winds and definitely no need to go any bigger unless the Speed World Cup starts up again and I have to race on 9.5m2 sails.

My sail quiver is now 5.4, 5.8, 6.4, 7.0, 7.8. Any bigger and it would only be for world cup racing. Board wise - PD custom 41, PD Speed 43, PD Speed 53 and PD Slalom 110. Fins - Black Project X35 to X55 and Type R, Type RS.

Looking forward to posting some top speeds soon and Luderitz is creaping up fast.

Thanks to all my partners, Patrik Diethelm Boards, Neil Pryde Sails, Black Project Fins, Billabong Wetsuits, Chinook booms, Aurigny Airlines, GsyPhoto.com

NEW KIT

Almost there, the boards have arrived, wave sails have arrived, most of the race sails are on their way ( 5.4m - 7.0m ) It means that I'll be able to get some speed tuning in soon . The picture above is my first with a gro pro harness mount. More to come.

PATRIK DIETHELM BOARDS

New boards just in.

I have the PD speed 53 and 43 with a custom 41 on the way for my 2013 Luderitz speed challenge.

Beautiful boards, the finish is the best I have seen. Can't wait to get out on them. More pics to follow when my new sails turn up.

BOARDS

I would like to thank Starboard for their support over the last 4 years, 2013 is definitely turning out to be a year of change.

2013 has seen a lot of changes for my sailing career and now I can confirm another, I have joined the PATRIK windsurf team.

I met Patrik for the first time last year in Luderitz. Not only is he a fantastic shaper but also one of the fastest sailors in the world. Together we will design a custom speed board for me to take on Luderitz 2013. Patriks knowledge is second to none and his input will help me achieve my goals.

I will be sailing PATRIK production slalom and speed boards leading up to Luderitz.

Check out the PATRIK site here http://www.patrikdiethelm.com/

As soon as the new kit arrives I post some pictures.

2013 What happening

Big change this year.

I would like to thank HotSails Maui for the past 4 years, it has been great fun helping with the design of the GPS sails and we have had some great results including 2nd place 2010 World Speed Tour and breaking the 50 knot barrier with 50.20 knots.

Time to move on though and with the World and European tours drying up Speed sailing has become all about maximum speed and that means Luderitz.

I have joined the Neil Pryde team for 2013 and will be concentrating solely on preparing for Luderitz. When my sails arrive and if there are good conditions forecast for West Kirby or La Franqui then I'll be on my way to post a GPS Speedsurfing time.

There are a few other events that I would have liked to go to like Le Defi but timing wise with equipment this won't be possible.

At the moment it's a case of staying fit, loosing a few pounds, getting out on the SUP and in the waves until I can start to tune my gear.

You have to be 100% with everything before travelling out to Namibia and although my results last year were good they aren't where I want them.

To turn up in Luderitz and nail it all by yourself is a hard task. Last year there were a lot of mini teams going on, not all on exactly the same gear but sharing some of the setup, the same board or fin or sail or Nationality. All very friendly but that sort of feeding off each other with fin size, sail setting etc helps a lot.

With one Luderitz trip under my belt the amount you learn is huge and I plan to put that to good effect this year.

Why always January

The year started really well. SUP and wavesailing lots of training feeling great then, as seems to be the norm with me, ILLNESS.

Its been almost a month now with a flu type virus are can't shift. Catherine has is, Jacques is off school with it. I think as one of us is getting better the others infect us again. I'm getting really pissed off with it!

That my rant over with. Doesn't help seeing speed times being posted from West Kirby, I'll be there soon I am sure. Lots of new testing needed to be done shortly.