Moffits Down Hill Race

Clarky, there are some pictures of the Starboard Point on this link www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=39109.

HI Clarky,

This is the Starboard Point 14'8" at the moment which was shaped by Mark Raaphorst. He's the guy from SIC on Maui who designed and shaped the F16 and the board that Dave Kalama's on in the photo. Looks a bit like in Hawaii his shapes are winning alot at the moment but then I don't think anyone who over there has a Penetrator so who knows how that comparison would pan out.

Anyway the rocker is fairly strong from about 1.4m back through to the nose. Back from there the rocker is almost flat but still there and very gradual. When you have a closer look at the shaping in it you can see how so much time and effort must go in to getting it all balanced and sorted. A lot more complex than you'd think but fun to give it a bash.






Cheers,

Sam.

Nice looking board that one.

Back to the original topic..just wanted to say thanks Woogie for organising with the OC1 series for SUP to be included. Good to see someone actually "walking the walk" instead of just "talking the talk" and as a result helping us all out and giving us the opportunity to actually race.

I'm sure one day there will be a SUP Long Distance Series in Australia and I can see Kia Kaha as the company to have the initiative to set it up and run it professionally and safely.

I too was interested in competing in the 20/9 race but also don't have the regulation board so I guess I'll paddle out on my 11"2' and watch everyone go by instead. Thanks again for your work in setting this up.

G'day all, my name is Stuey Campbell. In conjunction with Woogie Marsh and Laguna Bay I concieved, designed and built the Penetrator. I will be logging on to this site regularly to keep you updated and to answer any and all questions you may have in regard to ocean racing sups. I make damn fine surfin' sups as well but they don't really float my boat (no pun intended), they're too easy. Now 16 plus feet of gleaming carbon fibre aquatic rocket and you have my attention, though with 18'9" of the brand new Penetrator 572 lurking evily in my shaping bay even the old 16 looks kinda wussy!
Before making comment or answering any questions it's probably pertinent that I fill you in with some of my credentials. I'm 47 yrs old and at age 12 I created my first surfboard, for the less mathematically addept that's 35 years of dedication to my craft. During the past 3 1/2 decades, I've skipped back and forth between surfboards and my second love, racing yachts and while my pocket says stick with the boats my heart keeps drawing me back to the boards. Though after 20,000 handshapes covering the entire spectrum and given the state of the surfboard industry these days my feet, or rather hands, were beginning to get itchy (again, no pun intended). So, when a year or so ago Woogie began talking of ocean racing stand-ups I was all ears. Upon scouring the net I was surprised at what I saw. The available O.R. Sups were predominately Hawaiian and with all due respect to my amazement they went against virtually everything I know and have learnt. No. 1 for open ocean or still water paddling for that matter you DO NOT want or need a planing hull, I don't care what you think but even Laird Hamilton on 'roids couldn't paddle any sort of board onto the plane. The only way ones working at it's optimum is when you actually pick up a runner which even in ideal conditions is only about 5% of the time so for the remaining 95% you are waisting your time and energy dragging an inefficient hull around the ocean! OC1s, Oc2s, racing skis and still water kayaks are shaped as they are for a reason and it's certainly not to paddle slowly! Therein lies the key, the less resistance a hull has the quicker it will paddle, the quicker it paddles the easier it will pick up runners and the longer it will stay on them, this was the cornerstone on which the Penetrator was created. Forget your flat bottoms, concaves and channels, they all have their place in the sea but it's definetly not on paddlecraft. Rocker, planshape, volume and distribution all play vital roles but have little or no relation to surfboard dynamics in fact the most efficient rail is more like a modern shortboard rail turned upside down!
There's plenty more, I've only just brushed the surface but I think I've given you enough to absorb for the moment. As I said the Penetrator 572 is underway, we are now taking orders and at almost 19' I'm calling a 30% speed increase over the 16', damn it, the thing looks positively scary and I think we'll actually have to strap woogie to it........P.S. Love your site, Ben Dover, that moniker's a bit suss but I like your style, John I dig your carbon porn-star mo and everyone else, try to comprehend what it is that the good people who are passionate enough to write in are trying to say before you start raggin' em'. Now hit me with your questions, over and out......Stuey C

Clarky,

About time you joined up.

So have you got permission from your employer to make this new board ??

Am keen to get some decent swell on the new 9'6 so call and lets do it.

Did you get some good ones on your new 10'?

Piros still has no board so he can come and look after the towels/keys.

Wazza

Hey all the pro boards $2,500 + and above are great and they need the top guys riding them to push the development but Stuey, why don't you look at something around the 12 foot mark which retails around 2k or less so punters like me can get in to the sport before I realise I am already outgunned by someone with more dosh.

I think thats what us mere mortals are saying.

So bring on the glides and the JL distance etc and let the "i am so good, i am going to win at all cost cos I go an longer one" to someone else. I saw windsurfing racing go to bust and I was lucky enough to have my fair share of wins and still got sick and tired of all the hassle.

KISS means "keep it simple stupid".

Not keep it stupid simple.......

Hi Stuey, welcome to the forum.

I have a head start over most of others because I have seen the Penetrator in action and it certainly was impressive the way it picked up swells easily, much like a racing surf ski. I was chatting with the happy owner, I cannot remember his name, but I do remember he shaped the new Oxbow boards.

I suppose my first question is how accessible is the board for average paddlers? Its rounded hull doesn't look too easy to balance, especially for someone like me who is 188cm tall weighs 100kg.

What are the construction options? Can you specify you want it for cruising rather than racing?

Have you considered putting a sailboard sail on it? It looks a little like the Starboard Serenity sailboard.

Steve

It's been posted here before but I'll re post it for you..Maybe it's time for a new vid.. ..I'd love to see footage of it surfing runners.

DJ

Also..I have to add this great vid.

DJ

Hey Stuey
Great to hear your comments on your board, I totally agree with your thoughts on hull design. Is your new board going to have any steering system and how many does it sleep in the cabin. Thanks for your offer of technical advisor, it would be a huge help and piece of mind to have your input.

For those with a death wish Tweed river bar could be the place to go tomorrow if the wind co-operates. Just don't lose your board on the outgoing tide or you'll be in New Zealand for lunch.