Stuey,
Maybe the cheaper model could be called the "pennytraitor".
Any idea on lead time?
Regards,
Scott
For those interested in this event - I have just received Indemnity forms from SEQ, we will be required to fill this out before racing.
Entry is on the day - once I have more information I will post it.
As anyone that reads Ke Nalu (www.kenalu.com) or spends time on the Standup Zone would know, I'm getting more and more interested in distance paddling and ocean racing. I've been training this last month for the "Battle of the Paddle" at Doheny Beach in California, using a GPS, and I've been pretty disappointed at what I've found so far. I bought both a Starboard 12'2" and a Point, thinking I'd make a decision about which board to use after spending time on them. The 12'2" was a bargain ($800 US) because it's a discontinued model, the Point I paid $2000 for. My assumption was that the Point would be substantially faster than the 12'2" even at my weight (248) and I'd train with both but probably race the Point. So far the 12'2" smokes the Point.
Both boards are designed by Mark Raaphorst. The 12'2" is the shape of Mark's original SUP board--the Ku Nalu, which was also the first SUP board I bought. Tough board to learn on (26" wide) but fast. I still have my Ku Nalu, but it's on Maui (live there half the year, the other half in Portland, Oregon).
I'm really interested in the Penetrator. I paddled Mark's F18 last year, and it has a somewhat similar hull shape and is designed for flat water. I noticed the initial tippyness but easy recovery, just the opposite of a surfboard.
I'm finding a GPS to be invaluable for this kind of paddling. It helps you tune your position on the board, tune your stroke, and monitor improvement. Here's my most recent recording--a 14 mile paddle that ended with a 4.5 mile sprint. I had to delete the last segment (lap 3) because my GPS stayed on when I drove to lunch. Fifty miles an hour really screws up the scale.
Incidentally, racing is ALWAYS about money. I race cars as a hobby, and it's absolutely the case there (and makes SUP boards looks positively cheap), but whether it's bicycles, rollerskates, boats, planes, cars or motorscooters, speed costs either money or time plus skill, and time plus skill is money.
It's occasionally frustrating, but in the long term it doesn't matter, never does. A guy that buys his way to the front pays for development that benefits every racer. Thank God for 'em. And if you're good enough you get a sponsor and take them on head to head, and that's just all the sweeter.
No matter what, it still takes drive and guts to win at almost anything.
G'day Bill...All this is very interesting to me and I would also be a little pissed off if I was in your position.
I hope Stuey makes a comment about this...I'd also like to hear from any others that have the Starboard Point..In fact I just heard that an old mate of mine might have one and I might ask him if I can borrow it..I'm sure he would let me.
After the last couple of down winders in the last couple of days I know exactly were I stand paddling against my mate Dave that joined me on both days.
I will know instantly how my new Naish Glide (when I get it) compares to what I've been using even though I don't expect a huge improvement I do expect at least some.
DJ
Hi Bill, I'm interested in what you say about the 12-2. Do you have any theories on why it is so fast compared to the Point, is it just width or rocker, rail shape?? What an amazing shape Mark R created so early in the evolution of SUP, very fast, great to windsurf, great to surf (if you are Cammar!) and now an absolute bargain. By the way, your energy and "go" for this sport is fantastic, specially for a hmm... mature guy with a bung shoulder.
Hi Bill, great to see you here on the forum, I've been following Ke Nalu for ages and your input on the Zone also. I'm sure Bob's stories and adventures would go down well here too 
you'll have to have a word with him and get him to visit..
Anyway, welcome 
Hi there Bill, as what JonathanC said i'm interested too in what your saying about the 12'2 as there has been a few here in oz going cheap but not really going. This downwinder stat's you've produced now might give some people a very cheap dowinder option. Look forward to hearing more.
Cheers
Champ
Here is a link to the Maui Paddleboard site www.mauipaddleboard.com which has the rules used for the last 3 paddle events run in HAWAII. I have copied the catagories below,
# Categories:
* Stock Paddleboard (12’ – no weight limit, no rudders)
* Unlimited Paddleboard (over 12' long Up to 13’ Long Stand-Up Board with no Rudder)
* UL Stand-Up Board (over 13’ long) Any Style
* Stand-Up paddlers must remain standing at all times (no knees), even in the Harbo
JB
I just picked up a Dale Chapman DC16 (ex demo) , I also checked out his new DC16 these really are beautiful full carbon boards and really well priced at $3,000 +gst with the full rudder system and only weigh 12kg.
My board will be used this weekend at the sunny coast and then it's all mine.So I'm in for the next race on the 25th on the Goldie.
For those interested in this thread and the question about Bills Starboard Point here is a reply from Mark Raaphorst (the guy who designed the board).
DJ
Good to see that there is so much curiosity and enthusisam about point-to-point stand-up paddle boarding.
Regarding the use of GPS - it is a great tool for training, and recording your distance and speed on any given session. But to use it to compare one board speed to another, my feeling is that there are so many variables out there - wind, current and swell, not to mention conditioning of the paddler to get an accurate read on board comparison.
In my experience, the best way to compare 2 or more boards is to get 2 paddlers of equal or similar ability, to paddle together. Using The Point board as the constant, one guy rides The Point while the other paddles a diffeernt board alongside him. Do the same course again with The Point paddler still on his board and the second guy trying out yet a different board. If, for example, The Point is ahead on each run then it's a decent guess that that is the fastest board of the 3 being compared.
As a shaper accepting a custom order, the #1 question I pose is "In what conditions would you like the board to perform best in?" My #2 question is "Are you a fun-loving weekend warrior wanting a competitive edge when you are out there or are you seriously looking to win races?" Other serious considerations are the ability and size of the paddler. I often have to shape a board that will perform best in a variety of conditions. The Point was born with the Maliko Gulch run as it's training ground. The Maliko run is a straight downwind run with an average of 17 knots at your back. Swell size ranges from 5'-15'. These are conditions considered to be very rough in a lot of other parts of the world. Now, one must wonder - does The Point only work in these extreme conditions? The answer is no. It performs well in flat water. Can a faster board for just flat water be designed? Yes it can. Will a board like that be comfortable and fun on a Maliko run? Probably not. The Point weight limit is 215lbs. Its volume will hold a bigger person yet the glide will be much more limited. Basically, the lighter a person, the less friction between the board and the water. That is not to say that there aren't boards out there for the bigger guys, you just need the right one for you. On the flip side of that idea is that the heavier person is often stronger and so can put more torque behind his blade.
For some people the steering system is like an acquired taste: it is a great tool once you learn how best to use it to your advantage. Its greatest asset is that it makes your board more maneuverable. Look at the rudder as a correction tool, not a power-steering device. One way to assure that you are not creating resistance and slowing your board down, is knowing how to use the steering sytem correctly. Once you catch a swell, you can use it more radically because you already have inertia. On the flats however, use the foot pedal lightly to help keep you in a straight line on course. Cross-breeze and current will have less effect because you can paddle on both sides instead of being forced to paddle on one side.
One last note: the "sweet spot" on any board changes depending on the rider and also on the conditions. There is always a certain amount of "dancing" to be done when stand-up paddling. For each rider it can be figured out by the one and only true measure: WATER TIME. So in closing.....less blog time and more paddle time :-)
Have a great time out there - Mark
The heavily muscled paddler grunted and dug deep, 1,2,3 strokes and his trunk-like legs take over, they'll be in control for the next couple of minutes as his purpose built craft glides into the unruly, storm charged southerly swell. His surfer instincts are ruling now and he allows a small smile escape his rock-like jaw at the look of fascination on the faces of the crew of an inbound freighter heading for the Bribie Passage, mountain man actually passed them to seaward and the ships horn blew an appreciative blast. When not in the troughs the upper points of Noosas' topography would fleetingly show in the distance and though a long way off he still anticipated rounding the corner and quite possibly riding the one swell from outer Granite to Main Beach. Who is this giant of a human? It could be you, me or her for that matter but let's just call this fictional character, me! The gorgeous Angelina dropped me at Mooloolaba roughly 30 kms and just under 2 hours ago, it's been a good run and I imagine I'll have to hang on Main Beach awaiting my pick-up, which is cool even though I'll have to deal with the crowd of onlookers, asking questions and gawking at my massive equipment!
Though the above is just fictional it gave me substancial wood just writing it and for those of you who fail to get a similar reaction, I'd check your pulse! This is what downwind Sup is all about, no hassles, no crowds, just you, your ability and the ocean and in a time when the sign of a man is not taking sugar in your frappacino I find this extremely refreshing. This sport is about to take off, jump on it!
Hey Stuey...Here's a sneak peak at the new F18..Just thought you may be interested.
I'm looking forward to seeing pics of your newie.
DJ
Congrats guys...Did you each paddle with a kid on the board..
Here's a great vid showing these big boards charging in big swells..Note how far back he's standing on the board.
DJ
The conditions certainly were crappy and the three paddlers who braved it went unreal. Woogie on a 16' Penetrator, Stuart was on a C4 Vortice and did a great job getting off the beach with it. The shore dump was huge. And the bravest girl in town, Donalee on a 12'6" Laird. Although it took several attempts to get off the beach..she did it ! She rocked up not realising you were surposed to have a 14' board and the officials let her race anyhow which was great. She had a support boat follow her at the back of the field and she even managed to finish ahead of a high profile OC1 paddler. Woggie said, "It was really tough out there, not much fun". So hopefully we will have more paddlers at the next race. 
Oliver..I never said the girl on the Laird beat the guy on the Vortice?? I said she just came in ahead of the last two OC1 (outrigger canoe one man) paddlers and I praised her as one of the girls she beat on the outrigger is an excellent world class, ex-world champion. For that I give Donalee credit. The times are above of the three competitors and show the Vortice at 1 hr 18min and the Laird at 1hr 42 mins.
I totally agree that there should be more divisions including a 12'5" and under stock, a 14'5" and under and an over 14' unlimited and I'm sure that one day that's the way it will be. I would have loved to have raced my 11'2" yesterday believe me.
The problem is we are currently "piggy backing" on an outrigger series who don't need to include us and except us into there series. They are a completely different association. The only similarity is we both use carbon fibre paddles made by the same manufacturers.
The outrigger association don't have the manpower and escort boats to cater for a bunch of SUP paddlers who would be coming in over an hour or two hours behind their last outrigger competitors. Even if the SUP left first you still need escort boats, lead boats and officials to go with the SUP. Until we break away and create our own series and association, unfortunately we will have to adhere by their rules and requirements.
I don't think $$ and "Rich Wallys", as they've been called last week, have anything to do with not having an open 12' Stock division included. It's volunteers and officials or the lack of them that's effecting what's going on up here. There were only 2 escort boats yesterday and about 6 officials and the field as it was, was spread out with over 1.5 hrs between the first outrigger and the last SUP. There were over 6 outriggers "cleaned up" on a reef break near the finish and all escort boats had to come and assist them leaving no-one following or watching the last 30 competitors in rough seas.
I think everyone here is getting way too caught up on "this board and that board" and "he has more money than me so he will beat me". I agree that's racing is probably 80% muscle/engine. And don't forget a huge heart. I witnessed that in outriggers for over 18 years. Some guys will win on no matter what you give them, how old or how cheap it cost. They are just bloddy talented athletes. Let's see beyond the equipment and division arguement and who "must" have more money and look at Who, When and How we are ALL going to work together to create "The Australian Stand Up Paddlers Association" with our own races, series, escort boats, officials, presidents, bouys, treasurers, bank accounts, state championships, rules etc etc etc. Now THAT all takes a ****load of $$$$. Until then we will just have to keep "piggy backing".
Sorry to sound so grumpy everyone...I'm probably pre menstrual !!!!
great post Aussiewahine after being involved with different sporting clubs associations for a long time its the voulinteers you need to give up their time and in this day and age thats prety hard to do as most of us dont have that much free time to spare.But whats stopping keen suppers to just organise a fun race on our 12 and under boards through the medium of a forum like this one.You dont have to race for a prize just the fun of it.Maybee a short race like curumbin to burleigh and back.Then have a barbie and a few beers.
congrats to woogie, stuart and donalee for having a go
nice to see that they let donalee paddle on a non ocean racing sup
and she beat a few oc1 crew on the way
nice work donalee
PS who votes this topic the best read since ben dover and the melbourne crews "WAR AGAINST" flat water VS wave riders
this forum rocks
