Awesome conditions for this morning's downwind run at the Southern Cross Sup Festival this morning. Everyone had a great time in arguably the best downwind conditions for a race this country has ever seen (I know it's a big call!!!) People were saying it was better than Maliko, and I got some wicked runs out there.
Here's what I can remember from the results.
Mens 14ft Open Class
1st Beau O'Brian ($2000)
2nd Kelly Margetts ($650)
3rd Sam Parker
Womens 14ft Open Class
1st Terrene Black ($1000)
2nd Molly Walker ($350)
3rd Sondra Purser
Men's 14ft Over 40's
1st Dave Kissane ($750)
Mens 12'6 Open Class
1st Pete Morgan
Womens 12'6 Open Class
1st Di Morrison
Congratulations to all the winners, and to Surfing NSW for a great and well run event.
I had the pleasure of battling for position with Dogman for half the race. So funny to hear him whooping and hollering on every wave. Until he lost his voice. Apparently his testicles got somehow lodged in his throat. Oh yes, the waves were that big. (smiley face)
Not sure where I finished today some where about 3/4 of the way through the field I think but I had wicked time it was so windy!!!! with some great runners and lots of smiling faces!!! great day super stoked I gave it a go!!!
Didn't think we were in for this when the decision was made to drive up from Vicco, but I'll take the perfect downwinder any day,was an awesome run with a good crew of us doing it all again mid arvo with plenty of board swapping mid run and again great condions but backing off from what we had during the race , thanks to the surfing nsw guys for all their event hardwork.
Thanks all for a great race. Now I know what they mean by chasing bumps downwind. Runners for 30 meters plus over and over again. Congratulations to the top guys. Once you rounded that windward mark you were gone.
Thanks to Surfing NSW and d'Albora Marina for hosting such a great race and being flexible considering the conditions .
Hope to have a rough video together in the next couple of days.
Scotty88 said... I assume the race kicked off from due west by the comments.
No we went north for about 1.3km then west.
I'm confused it was blowing 50 kph westerlies where were the dw runs coming from ? Was original start from One Mile to finish at marina ?
Did you take Casso's advice ?
All inside the bay Scotty. Course started at George Reserve, soldiers point. Headed north-northwest for 1.3km into the wind then a bouy turn and straight downwind to the marina. About 8.5km in total.
Ali Cat said... All inside the bay Scotty. Course started at George Reserve, soldiers point. Headed north-northwest for 1.3km into the wind then a bouy turn and straight downwind to the marina. About 8.5km in total.
That makes more sense and thanks for the reply Ali. I know the area well and agreed with Casso's post during the week and thought the best starting point was Taylor's Beach which wasn't too far off the mark. PT Woody through me off with heading North for 1.3 then west - bloody Victorians.
PS. Ditto to Camo comments above - Surfing NSW has set a new benchmark for state and national titles with a true festival atmosphere over the last 3 days. Kudos to the entire team.
It must have been awesome! I got back to my boat after the surfing to find a 24 hr eviction notice from Maritime NSW due the fact I was moored on a Police emergency mooring threatening to tow my yacht after 7 am Saturday. I wonder if the c$cks@ckers realised that Marine Rescue put me on the mooring 5 am Friday morning after a squal put me on the beach? I would have got off anchor and used a mooring, but I was expecting something like the notice to occur so stayed at anchor.
After getting the notice I finally decided it was time to sail to a public Marine Parks courtesy mooring just as the westerly hit Friday night. This mooring was a lot more exposed than the Police one. So much that I put up my mizzen sail to stabalise the boat and take presure off the mooring. The wind got that strong around midnight that my mizzen boom fractured with a bang.
I might have paddled to shore and gave the race a go Saturday morning, but conditions were still too perilous to leave the boat unattended.
Wow, you guys and girls who did the race must have had fun. That wind kept gusting up to 30 knots till after midday. I was looking at the seas breaking over my bow thinking how much fun you all must have been having. God I am envious!
Ali Cat said... All inside the bay Scotty. Course started at George Reserve, soldiers point. Headed north-northwest for 1.3km into the wind then a bouy turn and straight downwind to the marina. About 8.5km in total.
That makes more sense and thanks for the reply Ali. I know the area well and agreed with Casso's post during the week and thought the best starting point was Taylor's Beach which wasn't too far off the mark. PT Woody through me off with heading North for 1.3 then west - bloody Victorians.
We have a saying: Anything on the far side of the Yarra is west.
Ali Cat said... All inside the bay Scotty. Course started at George Reserve, soldiers point. Headed north-northwest for 1.3km into the wind then a bouy turn and straight downwind to the marina. About 8.5km in total.
That makes more sense and thanks for the reply Ali. I know the area well and agreed with Casso's post during the week and thought the best starting point was Taylor's Beach which wasn't too far off the mark. PT Woody through me off with heading North for 1.3 then west - bloody Victorians.
We have a saying: Anything on the far side of the Yarra is west.
and also in vic we have another saying "west is best"
Ali Cat said... All inside the bay Scotty. Course started at George Reserve, soldiers point. Headed north-northwest for 1.3km into the wind then a bouy turn and straight downwind to the marina. About 8.5km in total.
That makes more sense and thanks for the reply Ali. I know the area well and agreed with Casso's post during the week and thought the best starting point was Taylor's Beach which wasn't too far off the mark. PT Woody through me off with heading North for 1.3 then west - bloody Victorians.
We have a saying: Anything on the far side of the Yarra is west.
What time did the race start ? I reckon you had a low tide which would help with the runs as it gets quite shallow in parts.
Surfing NSW have just put up a great video of the downwinder on their Face Book page. It really shows how much wind there was. The event is still on today so somebody was busy last night.
Great to see the event supported by so many out of towners. Can't remember doing 3 days of racing like that before - feeling real sore and jaded today. The cruisy afternoon social downwinder / board swapping thing (about 12-15 paddlers) was a great way to wrap up the day
What a great couple of days
So disappointed I had to miss the downwind run
Any way congrats to surfing nsw great event again
yeeeew.
Ps the Lennox boys won the drinking prize
Even though Andy is off the drink!
rahams said... What a great couple of days
So disappointed I had to miss the downwind run
Any way congrats to surfing nsw great event again
yeeeew.
Ps the Lennox boys won the drinking prize
Even though Andy is off the drink!
YER YER NOEL!!!!!!
but how went home early and left the drinking stakes wide open for a little puppy from minnie water to shine on thru and take the crown........it was a dirty job but someone had to do it
thx to surfing nsw for putting on a great event
that downwinder was epic
was great to see so many happy smiling faces and put a face to the avatar of a heap of breezers
cant wait for next year bigger badder than eva