Gday everyone,
Heat 4 of the NSW GPS series is coming up on Saturday 23rd January (or Sunday as a reserve day), on Lake Macquarie (2 hrs drive from Sydney). The series is generously sponsored by The Windsurfing Shed, Boab Boat Hire and Wicked Promotional Products.
Where
- Lake Macquarie - either Coal Point (Nor-east wind) or Marmong Point (Southerly wind)
When
- Saturday 23rd January (with Sunday as a backup if forecast looks bad - final call made on Thursday night)
- Registration 11am-Noon
- Briefing 12noon
- Sailing period 12:30pm onwards (wind dependent)
- Series Awards presentation - Trophy (freerace) and Prize (handicap) and beer/snacks at end of the day
How Much
- Single day entry is $30, for those who haven't already signed up for the series - everyone who competes get a free series T-shirt!
- Pay in cash at rego, or do an electronic deposit to: Marmong Point Sailing Club, BSB 062827, Acct 00901519 - Please put your name in the Reference field so we know who has paid
- Thanks to those people who have already paid for the series, we'll have a list of names at rego.
What are the sailing conditions?
- Lake conditions vary a lot depending on wind strength,.from relatively smooth downwind of the "sand islands" to larger chop / rolling swell in the middle.
- A weed fin shouldn't be required for sailing the majority of the lake.
What kind of GPS can be used?
- Locosys GT11, GT31, GW52
- Canmore units which can export a FIT file
- Sorry but the GPSLogit app is currently NOT approved for the event (See GPSTC site)
- If your device requires a cable/cradle to download the files, please bring it along so I can get your data. Or you can email me the file when you get home.
Whats a GPS freerace event? How is it scored?
- Basically, everyone goes sailing, then at the end of the day hand me your GPS and we will crunch the numbers in the software to find out everyones results
- This year we will have two divisions, Freerace and Handicap
- Freerace is determined by who can sail the furthest distance (ie highest average speed) during a defined 30 minute session (eg 2:30-3pm). Conditions permitting we will run two or more of these 30 minute sessions each day. This is the same format as last season.
- Handicap takes into account all of your sailing during the calendar day, and compares it against your GPSTC top 5 results for 2sec, 5x10, Alpha and NM. The person closest to their top 5 average is the winner.
What kind of support have the sponsors provided?
- The Windsurfing Shed contributed towards costs of the t-shirts and supplied prizes for winners
- Boab Boat Hire provided us with discounts on boat hire for the Sanctuary Point GPS and Slalom State Championships event
- Wicked Promotional Products provided the series t-shirts at heavily discounted prices
- Also, Adam Craven from Stormriders handmade some excellent trophies for the Freerace series winners
Remember to check back here on Thursday night for final details of location / start times etc.
Looking forward to seeing lots of people up here in Lake Macquarie next weekend.
Here are the current series standings for Freerace and Handicap, after 3 races. Remember, after this weekend, everyone will be able to discard/drop their worst result.
Heres the link to last season's event at Coal Point, with photos etc. Fingers crossed for another great day!
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/New-South-Wales/GPS-Freerace-4-Saturday-7th-March-Coal-Point/
GREEN LIGHT FOR SATURDAY AT MARMONG POINT!
Multiple forecasts are now aligning to show a nice 15-20 southerly change coming across Lake Macquarie on Saturday. This means we will race from Marmong Point (next to the sailing club on George St).
The timing of the front is still a bit unsure, so we are bringing forward the rego/briefing and first possible start by an hour in case it comes through earlier.
UPDATED TIMING:
- Registration 10:30-11am
- Briefing 11am
- Sailing period 11:30am onwards (wind dependent)
- Series Awards presentation - Trophy (freerace) and Prize (handicap) and beer/snacks at end of the day
We will also put on a BBQ - timing dependent on wind conditions.
Please make sure you charge your GPS beforehand, and also check the SD card is installed in your GT31 and not left in your computer at home :)
A few shots of slalom sailing at Marmong in a southerly are below to whet your appetite.
See you Saturday morning!
Thanks James it is looking good Marmong is brilliant in a southerly.
Please note we will be running the Marmong rescue boat for people.
We have hot shower and as James said we will put on a free sausage sizzle.
See you there please don't be late as southerly coming early be prepared for a great day.
Positions up for grabs as there will be a drop from this regatta.
Are the showers single???? or more of a group thing?????
Im confident in guessing a group thing.........
Hopefully get a good turn out, looks like a nice forecast,
I'm coming, and hopefully some other WoiBoi's will come as well..........
Thanks for organizing James, Byron, Muzz and Co.
It has been a great freerace series
Well done to all involved
Look forward to catching up Milsy. There's just one shower, and it has a lock on the door so you'll be safe!
Would love to get a PM from the couple of red thumbers to hear their thoughts and some constructive suggestions for next season.
Catch everyone tomorrow.
Hey sounds gd & the forecast isn't to bad. any1 got a spare 7.5 7.8 just incase
it only gets to 15kts. hope to see heaps there in the morn all keen to hav a gd
days sailing.
Forecast looking better again this afternoon. Will definitely be worth the drive from Sydney for those who are undecided.
Forecast looking better again this afternoon. Will definitely be worth the drive from Sydney for those who are undecided.
Where is this forecast chart from?
Wow, what an amazing series this has been. Totally scored with wind at every event. Bummer I missed the Sydney one but I can't complain. Can't thank James, Byron and Muzz enough for all the organising they have done. Special thanks to all the sponsors especially Remi and also to all the helpers at the events.
Congrats Byron on taking out the day and series win and well done to Remi and Justin. You 3 guys are a class above the rest of us and we have some serious work to do if we are ever going to catch up to you. BUT, it's all good fun and that's what everyone was having today.
Let's hope we get even more people involved next season and continue to grow this incredible sport of ours.
GPS round 4 and last of the series.
WOW what a perfect day 25 knots south nicely powered up with 6.6 and a 90l board great spot Marmong realy shine today apart from the rain in the face in race 2 LOL.
You can go a lot faster in flat water if you know how to go fast in chop.
Thanks to all who came great turn out it was great to see so many on the water all just drag racing each other having fun.
Sailing different locations , meeting and talking with new windsurfers in a laid back format is what we are trying to do.
Thanks to the sponsors the Windsurfing Shed and Wicked promotional products and MPSC who have made this series a success and of course all the people who attended who with out people attending it wont happen.
Great to see everyone today. Thanks for being part of it, I really enjoyed sailing together with everybody. The most boards I have seen on the shore at Marmong ever I think.
Congratulations to the event winners
Freerace (best average speed over 30 min races)
1st - Byron McIlveen
2nd - Remi Dunoyer
3rd - Justin Lord
Handicap (sailed closest to personal bests in 2sec, 5x10, Alpha, NM)
1st - Mick Saunders
2nd - Remi Dunoyer
3rd - James Farley
This was the final GPS Heat of the series. So overall series results were:
Freerace
1st - Byron McIlveen
2nd - Remi Dunoyer
3rd - Justin Lord
Handicap
1st - James Farley
2nd - Adam Craven
3rd - Murray Towndrow
Very glad the wind was favourable for you guys , looks like a great day and a lot of fun , congratulations to all the winners and everyone who had a go .
Great day, Great series
Thank to NSW racing for supporting GPS sailing
Thanks to Byron, James and Muzz.....You two look a lot alike,
Thanks to Remi, the windsurfing shed, Thanks to Adam Craven, and thanks to Andrew Donavan for the sweet t-shirts
Me and Matty had a great time at both Bot and Marmong
Well done to Tibor, Bruce, rusty, Sue
Had a sweet chat with Rustys brother, thanks man, your very interesting guy
Congrats to Byron, Remi and Justin
Congrats to James, Adam and Murrary
All really good sailors, good luck for the future
Thanks heaps to Big Matty, motivating me and dragging me along, it was really enjoyable hanging out and sailing with you man....hey, Your no Troy, but keep practising man.........................
Cheers Hendo for your comments & yes congratulations & many thanks to James, Byron & the Marmong crew for taking the reins with the series this season. GPS has been an outstanding success this year & it is a credit to the club & it's leadership, for well and truly plugging the formate into the scene here in NSW. GPS/Freerace is definitely here to stay now and that's down to the efforts of these guys. Personally, I'm very much looking forward to it happening all again next season.
I also enjoyed hanging out and having a blast with the guys. I'll be ready for next season, GPS freerace seems like fun as not only are you racing everyone else, you're trying to better you PBs which is an added bonus. What I did notice is that I need to be a lot faster so bring on winter practice.......well done to all the winners.....
Great day had buy all, I only broke a batten but that's not hard to fix.
gd to see every 1 there carnt wait for next series, hopfully I can b at all
the rounds next season & b a bit closer to the front guys, can only hope.
wow I came 4th on handicap, keep that system, works gd.
wide brim?
could be me. I missed the start of heat 2 because of that trip to the dunny! LOL
I always leave something
Sorry to drag up this older topic, but I've finally gotten around to putting together the replay video from the Freerace event held in late January.
The GPS videos are from the KA72 Freerace software, then the action sequence photos were kindly taken by Mari Barrios.
Thanks again to everyone who was part of this, and hope to see even more of you on the water next season.
Well done James that's amazing.
Thanks every one who participated everyone with a GPS please come and be a part of the fun next season.
Planing next season has allready started.