Happy new year sailors, continuing on with the good news Queensland windsurfing theme of the week.
Freerace is back from break and we are hoping that we get some wind either this weekend Sunday the 19th or next weekend Sunday 26th for round 4.
Round 4 is scheduled for Mooloolaba, but the likely hood of a decent NE wind now is looking unlikely, so if it's a S/SE/E wind we will be racing at Lake Cootharaba.
Check out the website for all the information on Freerace, how it works, some GPS computer replays and now a photo gallery also, http://www.freeracequeensland.com/about-dates.html
We are watching this low pressure forming up the coast, hopefully it might head south and put a squeeze on for some decent wind, to early to say at this point.
Up dates also on Facebook also, so make sure you have us 'liked' on that also , just click the Blue FB logo on the front page of the website to get there.
We are basically at the 'halfway' point of the series, so its wide open for anyone to take it out.
Generally it's pretty much the lake as the boundary which means you can search for a spot where you think its best for you, move about if need be to work with wind as or if it changes.
On the lake we would only need to have a defined 'box' if there is say another sailing race that we may want to stay clear of.
The GPS computer program used is adjusted on the day to match the given parameters given.
Looks like the passing low has fizzed on us. Fickle breezes at best so no Freerace this weekend, onwards and upwards for wind next weekend.
Freerace Round 4 is looking more than possible for this Sunday
at Lake Cootharaba with a decent SE forecast on the go, its too early to call it yet, but it's looking good, times will be same as in the past 12.00 sign on, and Race early afternoon pending wind.
Updates will be here and on FaceBook.
Some photo's of previous rounds are on the Gallery of the website. http://www.freeracequeensland.com/about-dates.html
If your only seeing the Freerace info for the first time, the basic concept is 1Hr of windy sailing where you sail with a bunch of sailors on the same patch of water at the same time, the person who covers the most distance during that time is the winner, so you don't need to be the fastest sailor for 2 or 5 seconds...you need to be the most consistent in speed over 1Hr, the results are logged, calculated and mapped via GT31 GPS devices (the club has some spares, PM us here if you need one). The hour can be a relaxing sail or hard core all depends on how hard you push yourself and your gear, much like GPS sailing you are pushing yourself to achieve, but with Freerace you are also measuring yourself against others sailors competing in exactly the same conditions as yourself, its a very equal playing field.
More info about Freerace can be found here.www.freeracequeensland.com/home.html
Freerace Queensland is Windwanderes Qld Event.
Australia is looking a corker for wind!
Just to add to the festivities, here is an additional bit of fun, apparently Bryn is sponsoring!
The inaugural windsurfing dash across the Lake and back for beer.
Starting at Boreen Point crossing the Lake to touch dry land and back to Boreen Point to collect your beer.
1st a carton
2nd a six pack
3rd one beer.
Approx commencement time 3pm by hooter or whenever we decide!
Monday is also looking windy, so good opportunity to camp the night.
Looks great for tomorrows Freerace, sign on from 12.00pm race start anytime from 1.00pm.
Added to the event the inaugural 'dashnback' for beer.
.. basically across the lake, grab an Australia Flag from shore (there is 3 of) and get it back to Boreen point, winner 1 x Ctn corona, 2nd 6 pack , 3rd a beer! 
probably start about 3.00pm
If you haven't done a Freerace event before this is a great chance, if it does blow strong it may be free wave or bump and jump stuff that does the deed.
Drinks and presentations at the SAILING CLUB afterwards, there is BBQ at the sailing club that racers will be able to use should they wish to bring their dinner for a BBQ dinner etc, we may sizzle a few snags at the end of the day also.
Staytuned to FB for any updates in the morning , otherwise we will see you there.
Base for today'
s
action will be the Lake Cootharaba Sailing Club, so come upstairs for sign on/off and drinks after, should hep with providing some shelter from the wind for any non sailing people in your party also.
Freerace and Beer dash will start from the main beach near the club.
BIGBlow at the Lake today, made for very testing conditions, on equipment and sailors, Wold Champ Brad Anderson showed the way averaging over 25Knts for the hour which is an awesome effort.
Uni's were broken, ropes frayed, bodies bruised 
but everyone had a blast, pretty sure Mark and Rob came in next but we will post full results and the famous computer replay shortly.
Interesting to note that most sailors thought that had sailed 'faster' than previous round in Dec which was also quite windy...in actual fact..most were a tad slower over the hour...so I guess that shows its a great test sailing on the edge for the full hour in windy conditions, and your never really as quick as you may think, especially in non butter smooth water!
Thanks again to our prize sponsors today including ,Goodtime at the Gabba & Severne Sails
---and the Beer Dash? Went south to Brisbane also!
Here is the updated results ladder for the series as it stands, getting tight at the top, last few rounds will determine how things end up, Brad Anderson has bolted after a late start and is heading to the top quickly.
Brad clocked an average of 25.167Knts over the hour, Mark Mikanovic 23.735 and Rob Humphris 22.866 all extremely quick in the tough conditions.
Some smoother and good wind is looking good for Sunday, so here's hoping.
The top 10 Sailors have clocked nearly 900km in Freerace Km's so far!
One of the great things about the Freerace concept is that your never out of the game, a bad start, fall, rig adjustment or even just take a break! None of these things mean its race over, there is time to catch up and make up lost time...The current leader (Jonesy) had a gear malfunction at the start that cost a couple of minutes of going nowhere, but after tying the worst granny knot was able to claw back through the pack to sneak into 5th.
If you haven't tried Freerace before this weekend is a great chance in the smoother more sheltered waters of Lake Weyba.
