Today was the first race of the Fenn Cup Ocean Series. Only four SUPs (all Breezers) entered this race - probably due to the extremely tough conditions of a 30 knot cross course wind and zero swell.

Here are a few shots from the start (sorry about the quality, just taken from my phone)...

Simon Dodd walking away from his secret weapon:


Let's have a closer look at that:


Simon warming up in the atrocious conditions:


Pre-race briefing (L-R: Simon "NewcastleSUP" Dodd, Stuart "SUP Love" Murray, Sam "WindSurfnSnow" Parker, Pete "PMorgan1974" Morgan):


Get ready:


Go:


I couldn't hang around to see them finish the (about) 12km course from Fisherman's Beach to North Narrabeen then back to the Long Reef SLSC. I saw them going past Collaroy with Sam and Stuey neck and neck, Simon about 75m behind them and Pete about 75m behind Simon.

Good luck with that guys, better you than me. Let us know who won.

My 19'0 multihull came about out of curiousity, i was lucky enough to get my mates molokai test prone paddle board for $300 cut it down the guts and an extra $200 materials to finish it off. I am thinking of paddling this in the Hawkesbury Classic if the bugs can be ironed out. No doubt it has been the fastest board I have ever paddled in straight downwind conditons.

That paddle today was horrendous and I almost pulled out after the first mark when i found myself going backwards faster than i was going forwards. Sam made a good call by going a smaller board and to his credit he won the race. The wind was on the nose both ways???? pretty weird conditions and it was definitely hard to control that thing without a rudder and it all came to an end when rounding Long Reef headland where i blew up and it was game over.

Well done to Sam on the DC12'6, second was Stu on Vortice 14'0 and Pete on the Starboard 14'6.

Lacey's comments probably raise a good question about rules but with races being run by up to 4 different organisations it will be hard to get any consistancy until there is a national SUP organisation......

NewcastleSUP said...

it all came to an end when rounding Long Reef headland where i blew up and it was game over.

What happened Simon? That was so close to the end. Was the headwind just too strong at that point? Did you get a tow back in?

Casso said...

pmorgan1974 said...

hey I am a little sore ha

I bet you are!

Congratulations to all four of you. Amazing effort. Sam Parker - the kid's a machine.

Well done guys..... those conditions are really testing !!!!!!!!!
It looks like the wind is not easing it's getting stronger !

Boylos

NewcastleSUP said...

My 19'0 multihull came about out of curiousity, i was lucky enough to get my mates molokai test prone paddle board for $300 cut it down the guts and an extra $200 materials to finish it off. I am thinking of paddling this in the Hawkesbury Classic if the bugs can be ironed out. No doubt it has been the fastest board I have ever paddled in straight downwind conditons.

That paddle today was horrendous and I almost pulled out after the first mark when i found myself going backwards faster than i was going forwards. Sam made a good call by going a smaller board and to his credit he won the race. The wind was on the nose both ways???? pretty weird conditions and it was definitely hard to control that thing without a rudder and it all came to an end when rounding Long Reef headland where i blew up and it was game over.

Well done to Sam on the DC12'6, second was Stu on Vortice 14'0 and Pete on the Starboard 14'6.

Lacey's comments probably raise a good question about rules but with races being run by up to 4 different organisations it will be hard to get any consistancy until there is a national SUP organisation......

The worst bit was rounding Long Reef headland only to start going backwards with 30 knots straight in your face.I think the last kilometre took 30-45 minutes. Not fun and without doubt the nastiest SUP race I've done. I think I might start an only downwinder race policy.

Sam.

That's a huge effort in those conditions.....Well down boys there is nothing worse than punching into it.

Piros

BTW: Casso I like the new avatar.

I shot the entire ski race and have some video of some of the SUP guys, it's not in the official video i did for the series (although you do see some SUPs in the background and at the finish)

I'll post the SUP clips over the next few days.

Here is the official video showing the conditions on the day.
Of interest is how well the GoPros performed, they were tricked up and special modified, hard to tell the difference from the Main HD cam.



Cheers Rambo

Make sure you check out Guy Leech getting worked over on the Bommie, fantastic GoPro footage. Leechy was a good sport for allowing me to fit the GoPro and he describes the wipeout in an interview at the end of the video.

Cheers Rambo

In the top RH corner of the Leechy footage, you can see another guy just miss out getting smashed.

Back in Sydney again this weekend for the Lion Island race, with Jet ski this time.
Any SUP's in the Race?

Rambo

Thanks Rambo.. Great vid... There's no SUP in that vid though???

Just wondering.. Do you have any details or dates of the comps down this way (Victoria)

DJ

Just wondering (and I know nothing about downwind racing) but is there a reason 12 footers don't have a division in the longer downwind race?

I would be keen for that one but not so much doing laps around a bouy. I reckon more people would have a go at that one.

DJ, further up in the thread i mention no SUps in this Vid but i have some short clips of SUP footage from the event.

Check out the new Outlaw Series website, they are holding downwind races for all craft and divisions in Victoria. www.outlawpaddling.com/

Cheers Rambo

those events are not down wind hey, let us know when those clips are up mate. be good to see us getting punished ha. as long as you dont have any of me kneeling in submission in the long reef to beach leg...such pain