Rob Jones on his way to the 40 knot club.

The 5^th round of the Irish Speed Sailing Championships is due to take place this weekend Nov 24^th/25^th (Rollover 2). We are monitoring the forecasts and will keep you up to date as the week goes on. The initial forecast is looking changeable, so fingers crossed it will improve closer to the weekend.

This is an early warning and NOT official notice of race, we will continue to monitor the forecast and will send out an official Go/No-Go or call on the rollover by Thursday evening (Nov 22^nd).

The event will be run based on GPS times, in order to compete you will need to use a GPS tracker that allows tracks to be downloaded, recommended devices include the Navi GT31 & GT11 as well as the Garmin Foretrex 201′s, other devices may be used if they are included in the recommended list on GPS-Speedsurfing.com and you have the relevant cables to download the data. (http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=item&item=gpsdevice).

If you haven’t got a GPS, don’t worry, we have a limited number of spare one’s that can be shared out so everyone can have a go. However we would recommend that you look to purchase your own. The GPS units are great training aids and are not specifically for windsurfing but also very useful for hikers and cyclists etc. This year as well as using GPS devices for Speed events they will also be used in the Irish Slalom Series to show Race Replay’s and for use in race tactics training sessions.

As in 2011 we will have a split fleet, all will race at the same time, however the results will be split out depending on whether you are using speed/race/slalom or freeride/wave equipment. Further guidelines will be available on our website (www.IrishSpeedSurfing.com)

All competitors must be members of the IWA in order to adhere to the insurance requirements; entry forms will be available at the race site on the morning of the event.

So why not get yourself prepared and try to come down and give it a go.

More info will follow in the next day or two.

The 5^th round of the Irish Speed Sailing Championships is due to take place this weekend Nov 17^th/18^st (Rollover 1). We are monitoring the forecasts and will keep you up to date as the week goes on. The initial forecast is looking changeable, so fingers crossed it will improve closer to the weekend

This is an early warning and NOT official notice of race, we will continue to monitor the forecast and will send out an official Go/No-Go or call on the rollover by Thursday evening (Nov 15^th).

Oisin van Gelderen Speedsailing at Burrow Beach

The event will be run based on GPS times, in order to compete you will need to use a GPS tracker that allows tracks to be downloaded, recommended devices include the Navi GT31 & GT11 as well as the Garmin Foretrex 201′s, other devices may be used if they are included in the recommended list on GPS-Speedsurfing.com and you have the relevant cables to download the data. (http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=item&item=gpsdevice).

If you haven’t got a GPS, don’t worry, we have a limited number of spare one’s that can be shared out so everyone can have a go. However we would recommend that you look to purchase your own. The GPS units are great training aids and are not specifically for windsurfing but also very useful for hikers and cyclists etc. This year as well as using GPS devices for Speed events they will also be used in the Irish Slalom Series to show Race Replay’s and for use in race tactics training sessions.

As in 2011 we will have a split fleet, all will race at the same time, however the results will be split out depending on whether you are using speed/race/slalom or freeride/wave equipment. Further guidelines will be available on our website (www.IrishSpeedSurfing.com)

All competitors must be members of the IWA in order to adhere to the insurance requirements; entry forms will be available at the race site on the morning of the event.

So why not get yourself prepared and try to come down and give it a go.

More info will follow in the next day or two.

Our updated website will be launching soon and should provide a feast of information on Speedsailing, equipment and setups as well as some of the best locations in the country for speed sailing.

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Whilst windsurfers from the UK and farther afield are descending on Hayling Island for NWF this weekend, over in Ireland the third round of the Irish Speed Sailing Championships may be kicking off too.

Oisin van Gelderen Speedsailing at Burrow Beach

The third round of the Irish Speed Sailing Championships is due to take place this weekend September 8^th/9^th. We are monitoring the forecasts and will keep you up to date as the week goes on. The initial forecast is looking good, so fingers crossed it will stay as is for the weekend

This is an early warning and NOT official notice of race, we will continue to monitor the forecast and will send out an official Go/No-Go or call on the rollover by Thursday evening the 6^th

The event will be run based on GPS times, in order to compete you will need to use a GPS tracker that allows tracks to be downloaded, recommended devices include the Navi GT31 & GT11 as well as the Garmin Foretrex 201′s, other devices may be used if they are included in the recommended list on GPS-Speedsurfing.com and you have the relevant cables to download the data. (http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=item&item=gpsdevice).

If you haven’t got a GPS, don’t worry, we have a limited number of spare one’s that can be shared out so everyone can have a go. However we would recommend that you look to purchase your own. The GPS units are great training aids and are not specifically for windsurfing but also very useful for hikers and cyclists etc. This year as well as using GPS devices for Speed events they will also be used in the Irish Slalom Series to show Race Replay’s and for use in race tactics training sessions.

As in 2011 we will have a split fleet, all will race at the same time, however the results will be split out depending on whether you are using speed/race/slalom or freeride/wave equipment. Further guidelines will be available on our website (www.IrishSpeedSurfing.com)

All competitors must be members of the IWA in order to adhere to the insurance requirements; entry forms will be available at the race site on the morning of the event.

This October we celebrate the event’s 40th anniversary; the fun starts on Saturday the 6th and ends on Friday the 12th with a prize-giving ceremony. To celebrate this milestone in the event’s history, remember to dig out and bring along your old sailing equipment. You never know, that old Speed Needle and Dacron sail from the 1980′s may prove to be a winning combination!

Weymouth Speedweek 2012

Today’s competitors comprise kite boarders, sail boarders and boaters. They compete over a 500m course laid out in Portland Harbour. The number of courses and their positions can vary each day according to the prevailing and anticipated wind conditions. Each course has a start line and each competitor is free to choose their best angle to maximise their speed. Each competitor’s run is now accurately measured by GPS with the recorded GPS data processed each day to generate the results for each of the competition classes. Competitors are also free to put in as many runs as they can; on a windy day, the course can be a constant buzz as the competitors relentlessly charge up and down to find the best wind.

Sailing fast is not simply about sailing in strong winds; whilst strong winds provide the basis for a fast run, a sailor’s ability to sail efficiently and consistently is highly important. Sailing fast in less-than-perfect winds presents an opportunity to demonstrate a sailor’s skill and judgement.

Weymouth Speed Week is a unique event. All sailors with an interest in speed sailing are invited to compete and there are no restrictions upon the craft you may sail – experimental craft are particularly welcome. There are, in fact, few rules to who can compete; so long as your craft is wind-powered, it is eligible. The event has attracted some of the world’s top professional and record-holding sailors over the years. The event allows first-time competitors to compete with professionals on the same course – not something normally offered by other events.

Online entry is now open, and spaces are filling up quickly! A very small amount of two day entrances remain, check the speedweek website to enter now http://www.weymouthspeedweek.com/

The Boards ‘How was it for you?’ forum is always a brilliant place to catch up and share on water stories with others, and here’s some further news of what’s been happening on UK shores.

Down in the south west Starboard/Tushingham rider and Boards columnist, Will Rogers scored some brilliant freestyle conditions at Torpoint.

Will Rogers. Image by Julia Slack.

Will Rogers. Image by Julia Slack.

Will Rogers. Image by Julia Slack.

For more on Will head to his Tushingham Team Page and check out his columns and more on Boards.

Over at Portland harbour, as well as Sail for Gold coming to a close, Pete Young set a very impressive average speed of 40.12knots over 500m. Pete was already part of the elite 40knot club at Weymouth, alongside Kev Greeneslade and Nick Dempsey, but he now sets the bar even higher with his average speed breaking 40knots too.

Check out Pete’s speeds on the GPS speedsurfing website. Pete’s photo is courtesy of Griff Halliwell and thank you to Lea Spencer of Red Surf Bus.

Pete Young at Portland

Further afield some more incredible speeds have been posted on GPS speedsurfing on the 8th June too, with Hans Kreisel setting a new GPS World Record 10 sec run of 48.83 knots and Jurjen van der Noord taking the record for 5 x 10 sec run to 48.4 knots.

The series is run with a theory of: ‘fixed date/flexible location’, which is decided at the last minute to ensure getting the best wind on a designated weekend. With a run of NE winds for over a week though, there was no debating which spot would be chosen: Burrow Beach in Dublin, which is one of Ireland’s fastest speed courses. Burrow had already produced the goods on a few occasions in April, and Sunday 29th May was no exception, with 25-35 knots of wind blowing down the course across mirror flat water.

Oisín's GPS tracks on the Burrow Beach Speed course

Leading the charge from the very start, was BOARDS Magazine’s Spring/Summer Annual editor – Oisín van Gelderen, who set the pace with a 44+knot run on his first time down the course. The Irish Champion knows this local spot like the back of his hand, and wasted no time in getting on the water to try and catch the ideal gust.
Using a combination of 5.5 and 4.7m Pryde RS Racing sails on his JP Speed 45, Oisín clocked 6 runs peaking over 44 knots, and a dozen more over 42s and 43s. His highest peak of 44.75knots gave him the event win, and bodes well for the rest of the years rankings.

Oisín tells us the story:
“I’m getting tired of hearing myself saying this, but the course was ALMOST perfect. The run was unbelievably flat as usual in Burrow, but the angle was still a little square, meaning we only had the really broad run at the end of the course for about 5 seconds. Down there though, just as you wind up to 44+ knots, you run out of water in a scary heartbeat, and stopping is an issue. With the wind fully NE (we had N-NE), I’m convinced the course is even faster… but hey, thats speedsailing. 50% of the art of going fast is being motivated and on the case to hunt down the ideal place and time to sail. Thats how you improve your PBs.”

Oisin van Gelderen Speedsailing at Burrow Beach

And as if to prove the point, two very unlikely faces to be seen in this part of Ireland – but certainly no strangers to strong winds – Rob Jones and Jamie Knox made the trip up from Brandon Bay to trade mast-high atlantic swell for snooker table flat-water. Both sailors were keen to break the elusive 40 knot barrier, and like many, knew that Burrow could be the place to try and achieve this. Following Oisín’s tips on how to sail the course – Rob was getting closer – with every run breaking his PB, and getting agonisingly closer to 40. Eventually the magic started to happen, and 40 was gone, and soon 41+.

Job done, and Rob’s speeds gave him 3rd overall for the event.

Rob Jones on his way to the 40 knot club.

Dublin local and Speed Championships organiser – Steve Flanagan, also looked at home on the Burrow course, with a top speed of 42.59knots giving him second overall for the event. A number of other competitors also had their fastest ever days – Cormac O’Brien joined the 40 knot club, while Gildas Bechet & Jamie Knox also broke their personal records, and went home tired but with a big smile on their faces – vowing to return the next time more prepared and ready for battle.
Commiserations must go to Burrow local Guy Molyneaux, who crashed hard at the end of the course and broke his board, extension and two ribs. OUCH :/
Get well soon Guy !

Steve Flanagan Speedsailing at Burrow Beach

VIDEO:
To see how flat the course at Burrow Beach is, have a look at Oisín’s video of the day here:

RESULTS:

Irish Speedsailing Results - Round 2 - 29th April 2012

GALLERY:
For a full gallery of pictures from the event, you can check out these great shots from: Eoghan Redmond

For more information on windsurfing in Ireland, see: www.windsurfing.ie

More at www.speedsailing.com / www.quayside-windsurfers.com

3 November 2011: The wind lived up to the incredible forecast blew super strong on Monday (up to 55 knots), this created too much chop towards the end of the course though, so it was difficult to record fast speeds.

Tuesday was better despite there being less wind as the water state was flatter. So a lot of lessons were learnt and action is being taken to correct this. More news to follow soon at www.luderitz-speed.com

Kevin Greenslade and Ant Baker

Euro Speed Tour organiser Pete Davis brings us the latest update from Weymouth Speed Week 2011…

Weymouth Speed Week - Monday 17th October 2011

Euro Speed Tour organiser Pete Davis reports from the first windy day of Weymouth Speed Week 2011…

On the 3rd day of Weymouth Speed Week, the final leg of the Euro Speed Tour, the competitors finally got to show how fast they were. The wind gradually built throughout the day but with a falling tide, chop built up later on which made it very interesting with the morning leaders having to try hard in the afternoon to hold their positions. If the event finished today the dark horse from Luxemburg, David Garrel would win the tour by a slim margin over Thorsten Mallon from Germany. In the UKWA fleet Kev Greenslade defends his title from last year in 1st place, Ant Baker trying for the double Slalom and Speed crowns in 2nd place and Martyn Ogier from Guernsey in 3rd place.

Here’s Dave White’s image gallery from the day…

More on the day at www.gps-speedsurfing.com

Ant Baker at Weymouth Speed Week 2010

Ant Baker of the Baker Academy has released details of his forthcoming Ultimate Speed and GPS Clinic during Weymouth Speed Week 2011

When: October 15-21 – 2-day option also available

Where: Weymouth Sailing Academy, Weymouth Harbour

Info: Weymouth Speed Week offers the perfect training ground for all who want to get that little bit more from their kit on the water. We will cover everything from equipment tuning to full-speed laydown gybes. I will be competing as well so we can all together get the speed we need to take the title!

Ant Baker at Weymouth Speed Week 2010

All levels of planing windsurfers are welcome, so whether your a pro or just started to go fast, this is for you.

Six out of the seven days will be coached for the full clinic, I will also have a few 2-day clinic spaces as well, so contact me for more info.

Costs: £175 for the 6 days / £80 for 2 days

Availability: 10 Spaces available – 8 left

Min Ability: Waterstart and stay upwind

More Information and bookings: info@baker-academy.com

Check out the new and improved Baker Academy website at www.baker-academy.com

Ant Baker at Weymouth Speed Week 2010

Navi GT31s

With UK speedsailors regularly lighting up the UK’s favourite strips and the incredible growth of GPS speedsailing globally, there’s never been a better time to find out just how fast you really can go. Pete Davis, with maybe a little help from our very own editor, shows you how to get your GPS unit singing…

You lot just don’t realise how lucky you are. Back in the day, getting the opportunity to just have a go at speedsailing was a nightmare. Before any would-be world record breakers could begin to thread their needles down a speed strip, they had to justify their place in a competition by entering pre-qualifying events. And if there was no wind or you didn’t know the right people, you didn’t get in. Period. Even the legendary Whitey had to pre-qualify for Weymouth in 1985, which he had to do on a longboard and with an average speed of 4 knots over 500m just to get a shot in the main event. (He recalls that painfully slow run being recorded for posterity, but cameraman Mark Minter got so bored by the halfway stage that he turned the camera upside-down!)

Combine all that palaver with organising events using an extremely expensive and temperamental video timing setup off the beach, and it’s a miracle that speedsailing ever got off the ground.

Thankfully, those days are well behind us, and speedsailing is now accessible to all. Much of this is, of course, down to technology – with modern GPS devices and online rankings it is now so easy to try speedsailing and see just how fast you really can go. It’s not all about being the fastest in the world or having dedicated speed kit, either. You can compare yourself against your mates on freeride kit at your local spot just for the bragging rights. Sure beats the hell out of just sailing up and down over the same stretch of water.

The recommended unit to have is the Navi / Genie GT31 with a 2GB SD card, which can store loads of data so nothing gets lost. Setting the unit up can be a bit daunting at first, but once it’s sorted you just strap it on your arm and go sailing.

Click here to read the BOARDS 267 GPS Set-Up article in full…