Southern Cross Sup Festival Downwinder

Awesome conditions for this morning's downwind run at the Southern Cross Sup Festival this morning. Everyone had a great time in arguably the best downwind conditions for a race this country has ever seen (I know it's a big call!!!) People were saying it was better than Maliko, and I got some wicked runs out there.

Here's what I can remember from the results.

Mens 14ft Open Class
1st Beau O'Brian ($2000)
2nd Kelly Margetts ($650)
3rd Sam Parker

Womens 14ft Open Class
1st Terrene Black ($1000)
2nd Molly Walker ($350)
3rd Sondra Purser

Men's 14ft Over 40's
1st Dave Kissane ($750)

Mens 12'6 Open Class
1st Pete Morgan

Womens 12'6 Open Class
1st Di Morrison

Congratulations to all the winners, and to Surfing NSW for a great and well run event.

I had the pleasure of battling for position with Dogman for half the race. So funny to hear him whooping and hollering on every wave. Until he lost his voice. Apparently his testicles got somehow lodged in his throat. Oh yes, the waves were that big. (smiley face)

I assume the race kicked off from due west by the comments.

Didn't think we were in for this when the decision was made to drive up from Vicco, but I'll take the perfect downwinder any day,was an awesome run with a good crew of us doing it all again mid arvo with plenty of board swapping mid run and again great condions but backing off from what we had during the race , thanks to the surfing nsw guys for all their event hardwork.

And some pics from the second run we did late in afternoon. The wind had died away to about half what it was earlier but still good fun.

It must have been awesome! I got back to my boat after the surfing to find a 24 hr eviction notice from Maritime NSW due the fact I was moored on a Police emergency mooring threatening to tow my yacht after 7 am Saturday. I wonder if the c$cks@ckers realised that Marine Rescue put me on the mooring 5 am Friday morning after a squal put me on the beach? I would have got off anchor and used a mooring, but I was expecting something like the notice to occur so stayed at anchor.

After getting the notice I finally decided it was time to sail to a public Marine Parks courtesy mooring just as the westerly hit Friday night. This mooring was a lot more exposed than the Police one. So much that I put up my mizzen sail to stabalise the boat and take presure off the mooring. The wind got that strong around midnight that my mizzen boom fractured with a bang.

I might have paddled to shore and gave the race a go Saturday morning, but conditions were still too perilous to leave the boat unattended.

Wow, you guys and girls who did the race must have had fun. That wind kept gusting up to 30 knots till after midday. I was looking at the seas breaking over my bow thinking how much fun you all must have been having. God I am envious!

I am not sure why no one else has commented but Sam P didnt win, I think there needed to be swabs surely he was nobbled?????

Great to see the event supported by so many out of towners. Can't remember doing 3 days of racing like that before - feeling real sore and jaded today. The cruisy afternoon social downwinder / board swapping thing (about 12-15 paddlers) was a great way to wrap up the day

Conditions looked insane! Now i'm spewing i didn't go :( Well done everyone

Hey Guys,
I had my GPS on for this one!!

connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/183290412