Oh no!!
What happend to the wind???????
I hope the forecast is wrong and the 4knot peak SSW turns into 35 knot + SW
If the forecast stays like this maybe Kato and I should bring out the tandem beast and split the winners cheque.... Whadda ya reckon Craig?
Maybe avoid the shouts of derision after Kato posts peak speed of 5 knots by letting Friday sailors submit their tracks? As an extra event with large beer prize.
Or a fishing competition? A week ago 2 boys came in from the central mouth with 10kg of salmon. Dam near sinking their little canoe !!
[}:)]. Let the Banter begin.
Inverloch Speed Invitational - Event Wrap
It is a 'speed' that doesn't really seem to be particularly significant by modern day standards, when we are mostly concerned by the 50 knot barrier. Whilst the world speed record has fallen many times in this modern era of GPS speed sailing. There is one record that has stood proud, laughing at those trying to challenge it's superiority. Until now, that is... but more on this later.
This year's Inverloch Speed Invitational was particularly successful, with winds at excellent angles to the speed course, sand bars and tides cooperating: it was the perfect set up. IWC events are famed for wild and wacky inventions as well as bribery and corruption of judges. But this was a SPEED event. Speed sailing is like an obsession.
Early on Saturday morning the registered combatants gathered at registration eyeing each other off and sussing out the competition. Once it came to rigging and fine tuning of craft it was evident that this was a serious competition. Fins, and sails were chosen meticulously for the gusty conditions and it was evident very early that correct choice of gear for the conditions at hand would be pivotal to overall standings & results at the end of the day. For some, how they thought they might break the record I will never know. Still good on them for trying and putting their lives in the hands of the unknown, as they sort of sped down the speed course with gritted teeth.
The Combatants & Competition
Being the first year of this event, hopes were high but expectations realistic and we were very pleased with a great turnout. 14 registered participants, not only was windsurfing supremo Craig 'Spotty' Spottiswood present, but former world record holder Craig 'Kato' Hollins was on hand to offer very much needed advice on how to go fast. (It is harder than you think you know!). A special mention must also go to West Australian Darryl Griffiths for making the trip over for his first ever IWC event. Also present, a great turn out from the Southerly Busters, the Connewarre Cremasters and another Pit Crew member John Rohrsheim also made a showing.
The competition was hot on the water with just 3 knots separating the field, in fact 0.29 kts was the difference between first and third!!! With the changing tide's current running at 5-6kts in places a sound strategy was required to make the most of the conditions on hand.
“Enough already”, I hear you say. Just tell us the results!!!
Well the conditions as I mentioned earlier were gusty... wind gusts from 0-5 knots.
Results
1st John Rohrsheim (7.80 knots 5 x 10 average, Gear: 8.5 Koncept and Starboard SUP)
2nd Dan Poynton (7.64 knots 5 x 10 average, Gear Windsurfer One Design)
3rd Craig Spottiswood (7.51 knots 5 x 10 average, Gear 8.5 Koncept and Starboard SUP)
Nearest the Pin winner
Brett Denning: Nominated speed 5.5kts, recorded speed 5.31 kts. Difference: 0.19kts.
And what of the record I mentioned earlier, while yet to be ratified, I am very confident that we have got this record. Without a doubt this must be the slowest time ever required to win a speed sailing event, 7.8kts. While we are on the topic another significant event that surely is a first... Spotty using an 8.5 Koncept, beaten by a windsurfer one design.
In summary a fantastic event that we will definitely run again next year. Many thanks to Dom at the ITA for his support and the provision of prize money for the event. Our thanks also extend to the other event sponsors, RPS, SHQ & Ocean Peak for the plethora of prizes that meant, unlike in Vegas, here at Inverloch everyone leaves a winner, and as always thanks to Jodi – Whitecaps Photography, for coming down and being our photographer.
For those that complained about my guarantee of wind on the event poster... there was wind, just not much of it.
Dan
In true IWC style the conditions did not dampen our moomba attitude to having fun. It was great to see 4 or 5 sailors in the 40 kt club get out and mix it up with the rest of the field. Lots of laughs as the 30 yo Wally's boards showed a few of the newer models how it could be done.
The only sad news was that The Connewarre Cremasters where trying to put bail together after the police locked them up for graffiting a few cars and the local beaches with a phallic symbol. Red was heard mumbling something about its our GPS team's logo and look up Cremaster in your medical dictionary as he was carted away
The IWC organising committe of Dan, Mick, Simon, Pete, Marcus and Rob you all did a powerhouse of work - well done
To our artistic sculpture Glen(from the dark side) - the trophies where superb.
Massive thanks to the IWC organising committee - all of you did a great job in putting together such a well oiled event and adjusting to the conditions that were dealt. Looking forward to next year.
So John can we have a pic of the winning trophy in its rightful place on your office desk!
Shame wind wasn't strong enough but a great weekend regardless. Lovely to catch up with everyone xx
Posted some pics online inc the presentation dinner and there will be more to come shortly, here are a few my favs....
Jodi :)
Helps if I post a link :)
www.whitecapsphotography.com/apps/photos/album?albumid=11668834
So let me guess........speed boards are around 2.3metres long so this was the Hobbit class competitor photo or otherwise that's Gulliver on the left..................
Hey Sausage longboards ruled this weekend. Could not have planned it better. 2 weekends beforehand 47 kts, 1 weekend beforehand 20 kts, the weekend of it 5 kts next weekend 30 kts. Gotta love this sport
all my life i've been ridiculed because "i'm lacking in length"! now the long board brigade are mocking me as well!
I think at the time of showing off my secret speed technique the GPS was registering 3 kts 
Even with the lack of wind it looks like IWC created another successfull event, well done!!
I was really looking forward to going, but baby Ash took priority (who didn't see that coming )
Giddy up for next year,
I hope I'm invited!!
Ha! The better speed of NextG at Inverloch lets me look at individual pics from the slideshow full size.
Slower satellite connection at home bombs out after couple cm, even from stopped slideshow.
So everybody has a faster connection than me, it seems.
Don't tell Jodie that "oil painting" blowups go fro 300 bucks in the local cafes.
We would have to be content with an occasional blog from Moweee!
OK Old Salty - took me a while getting around to this but here's the photo. Trophy looks fantastic especially when the sun catches the thin edges of the fin!!
People that don't know windsurfing - seriously - "No its not a big sharks tooth!"
Poor unenlightened general public - get a real life - get into windsurfing!
