Please send me a PM if you would be *seriously* interested in a retro equipment speed challenge? You will be supplied with 2 boards and 2 rigs from 1992 ish. Everyone will:
(1) buy-in for an entry fee
(2) share around the gear a week at a time - period depends upon the number of entrants, but you should get two or three randomly assigned weeks spread over the year
(3) upload data with honesty (and I am thinking a witness required for the sesh)
(4) drop off gear as allocated so the next person can get it for their week - no 'whinge whinge I got delayed at Lilacs blah blah'.
(5) win $$$$$$ for best 2sec and best alpha (cos early 1990's boards are pretty fast as we know, but gybe it? Well.... :)
Also seeking a helpful person to assist with maintaining records and maybe be avail for gear swaps if I can not assist.
(EDIT - you need to have a GPS and use the GPSTC site, I am running it not holding hands as I don't speed sail, nor like computers 
)
Just some extra thoughts on this proposal. Given most guys sail at the same spots on the highest wind days, I wonder whether the gear can be shared amongst the competitors on that day, and some how have each run verified visually by someone else on the water at the end of the run?
^ I can't see how to fairly administer that. The retired guy with quids will win as he is there every time it blows. The guy with a job and family etc etc won't get enough opportunity. Randomized weeks that you know about well in advance makes it fairer.
So far no PM's so maybe its dumb. If that is the case maybe we do send the stuff to the speed spots once or twice and see who is in ..... but its not as interesting if there is 4 blokes and you win $50....
Firstly, its impossible to make GPS speedsailing fair. Secondly your concept is a very interesting idea. Thirdly, interesting ideas need to be tested in a market, and the market decides how interesting and motivated people are about the idea. If the market rejects the idea, doesnt make the idea bad or wrong, just not suited to the market at this moment in time?
My initial thought was what a fun and interesting idea. That you havent had any private messages got me thinking more deeply about the GPS community and how it operates and possible reasons people havent responded??.
My observations of the speedsailing community are as follows: On a day when its windy and conditions are ideal, people want to be on their fastest gear to see if they can push the limits, and equipment wise this usually means their best, latest and most expensive gear, and behaviour wise, this is to spend the best speedsailing window chasing their goals for that day on their best gear. . The GPS itself doesnt care what your riding it just measures your position every second, which can then be used to determine your speed. Be hard to see someone giving up precious time and energy in ideal conditions to sail older less efficient gear.
I'm thinking maybe on an ideal day at Fangies (Coodanup), or Lilacs (Albany where the easterly can blow all day and night) someone brings the vintage gear down and those with energy and interest take it for a couple of speed runs? Maybe a prize at the end of the day for the person who makes it go fastest. Hard to see a cash prize motivating people unless it was substantial. Then there's how do you handicap it to make it fair? Lets say 20 people entered at $100 each, with a cash prize of $2000. I wouldnt enter if I had to compete against Chris lockwood, Stroppo, Doddi, Woody etc. Bragging rights is usually a motivator in this community.
Maybe someone can come up with another version of how this idea could work.
Just a thought. Are competitors expected to use fins from the that era as well? I am thinking using some of those fins in the weed here will be exciting to watch.
No
fins supplied but you can do what you want for conditions
that's only fair
board and rig the only mandated stuff
I was sort of interested because I have an 80's Wright Designs speed/slalom board that I could drag out of the shed. But I have a bad feeling about using it with modern sails and non existent US box delta fins. Then I noticed boards are supplied. Still interested in the concept though.
I have nightmares about going downwind fast on old boards. They tend to trip[ over at the slightest provocation. If you're used to them, doesn't happen as often, but still scary. I came straight from a wave board and had a couple of nasty wipeouts.
Great idea....but my feeling is the fairest GPS comps are like the annual Cervantes one, where everyone is at the same place on the same day so we don't have wind-chasers skewing the results.
Would be great to have a round-robin series at various locations (River, Safety Bay, Coods etc) and could incorporate a vintage class. If there's people like me, there's heaps of 90's boards stashed in sheds to use or could buy one or use a loan board as already suggested.
I like the round robin idea. I was also interested in a spot comp like they do on KA72, until I realised the organisation levels required. GPSTC keeps it simple. The results will always be "skewed": wrong place, wrong state, wrong day, wrong time of day, wrong gear, wrong haircut, wrong Brekky.. It comes with the territory of keeping the organisation levels to a minimum. I don't see it as a problem, those that are frothing for an awesome sesh don't mind driving to get one. You put in the effort, you get the reward. 
Cervantes GPS comp uses KA72 and competitors log into and results recorded in Groups, so looks pretty straightforward to set up with little administration required, I presume.
Dunkerbeck used to run competitions on GPS Speed Surfing. They worked quite well. People could upload detail about the vintage equipment used on the day. People could cheat, but who would bother.
Select to expand quoteremery said..
Dunkerbeck used to run competitions on GPS Speed Surfing. They worked quite well. People could upload detail about the vintage equipment used on the day. People could cheat, but who would bother.
That could work well as another option, especially being able to provide detail on gear in profile or add as a note. Personally, I would use old and new gear on the day for a bit of fun. I think it just needs to be a vintage board and could use new sail as old sails are less likely to have survived and it's all about the board anyway.
Folks the whole idea is everyone on same stuff, same two boards and genuine 1992 sails and masts that are brand new which is a pretty cool idea....... AND nobody has to drag the stuff all over the State to other events (who may not want the inclusion)
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
Folks the whole idea is everyone on same stuff, same two boards and genuine 1992 sails and masts that are brand new which is a pretty cool idea....... AND nobody has to drag the stuff all over the State to other events (who may not want the inclusion)
So gear pre-1992 is the cut-off?
Edit: Oh ok, I realise its not about gear that people have in the shed, its supplied equipment. That's ok, still sounds like fun.
