Anyone have any psychic insight into where exactly the racing and surfing events will be held in Port Macquarie in August? Which beach(es) will be the most likely event site?
The surfing will be based at Town Beach with Lighthouse, Bonny Hills and North Haven beaches as backups. The Technical Race will probably be at Town Beach. Not sure about the Marathon Race though.
hey casso, did they do downwind for the marathon last year or is this year the first racing year?
I can't see them running it to or from Queens Beach/Point Plomer. Anything north of town is a bit of a mission to get to with a ferry to cross the river and then unsealed roads and 4wd tracks along the coast.
North Haven (20km) or Bonny Hills (15km) to Lighthouse Beach is probably the best option and either run could work ok in a S-SW or N-NE wind. Not sure what you could do in a strong SE (except maybe paddle on one side most of the way!)
Hey Paul, here's what it looks line (based on Google Earth). It's about 13km along the river from the freeway bridge to the river mouth. The river won't be a 'downwind' paddle in any direction and the banks/floodplain are flat and low offering little protection from wind from any direction, except right near the mouth.
So I guess the only protection the river offers is in a strong westerly, it would prevent anyone being blown to Peru. Although even then, we might need a big tuna net from one side of the river mouth to the other. 
I don't think the river there offers any better options than the ocean so lets hope they keep the race outside.
No-one can guarantee we'll get the right direction wind for the day, but almost everyone going has raced in sidewinds headwinds or no wind before. It's not necessarily what we want, but i'd still prefer to paddle 20km in a crosswind again (like the doctor) than move it into the river.
Interesting to see what other's thought on this are?
Bonny Hills to Light House beach in S/SW about 14klms or reverse in Nth or N/NW may work!!
North Haven to Lighthouse beach looks the goods. That would have to be an amazing run if it had enough South in the wind.
Looks like it would be worth the effort to do the run from Point Plimmer if it was northerly. Maybe start at Crescent even and make it 27km.
Sam.
No but downwind is always better than upwind or crosswind, especially over 16 - 20km.
Does it need to be downwind??????? YES
Its like asking;
Does it need to be fun or an absoulte pain in the ass..........
Hi guys,
In the next competitor info email we will have the course options for different winds.
Surfing wise - As Andrew has stated.
Surfing NSW
All will be down wind.
Going over all logistics of the event right now.
North Wind = Plumber to town beach.
South Wind = Lake cathie to town beach
East Wind = Potentially ocean start to Town Beach
West Wind = Within the river Rocks ferry to West Port Park
All still to be confirmed.
No worries about that will ensure downwind.
Surfing NSW
Dumb question:
What's the board class? Is it 14 for the marathon race and 12'6" for technical?
They should make it all 12'6 the same as the ISA worlds.
Why have a qualifying race on 14ft if they have to race 12'6 at worlds?
Maybe these are only the divisions that are eligible for world games and hence why they are advertising them. There could possibly be those races at the nationals to crown Aussie champs but that is as far as they go.
Having said that we have only had over 40's divisions in surfing and mot racing of any form at any of the WA state rounds.
Can someone please post again or direct me to the number of spots per state per sex, per event that have been assigned.
Yes the Over 40s in the the two races was agreed upon subsequent to this poster being circulated.
