I kept re-setting my alarm this morning and going back to sleep as I heard the heavy rain on the window.. It sounded more like hail.. Maybe it was hail.. It was freezing cold.. Blowing a gale and the rain was constantly pissing down but I still got up and headed down to St Kilda for the first SUP Clubs first race.. It was going to be two laps of a triangle corse for the wave board guys (and prone/knee paddlers) and four laps for the race board guys... and it was freezing.
Cam and I knew that we couldn't paddle our Jav's in the stormy conditions so I decided to try the 14' NSP and see how it goes and Cam was going to borrow the Catalina because it's more stable than the Jav because of its sunken deck.. I was dreading putting on my cold and damp wettie when Cam called and said that he'd run out of time to get the Cat and asked if he could use the NSP.. I thought great.. Yeah sure you can use it and I'll just take some pictures instead of freezing my arse off.. Sounds like a plan.
There was only a dozen or so paddlers crazy enough.. er.. I mean brave enough to do the race.. There was carnage at the start as a squall hit that was at least 30 knots and there were boards flying every where.. Chris got a good start on his 14' Glide and opened up a lead with Paul chasing him on his F16.. Where was Cam on the NSP?.. I look way down the beach and I see Cam getting blown towards Port Melb.. I watched as he fell and the light NSP flew through the air pulling Cam by his leggie.. Once up and going again (and way down wind) Cam chased after Chris and Paul and was almost half a lap behind them.
At about half race distance Paul caught and passed Chris.. and one lap later Cam had caught and passed Chris.. and soon also passed Paul.. Unbelievable.. In the end Cam had an easy win with Paul second with Chris close behind him.. Jean won the womens with an awesome effort in those conditions... Here's some pictures.
You were right to start with DJ, we must be a bit crazy,but nothing wrong with that hey, Thanks for the loan of the NSP, it went great in those conditions,be good to have another run on it in smoother conditions with the big glide fin, thanks to the sup bus crew, kind of, cheers.
dj, is that nsp really light? i think the one i tried was a proto because it wasn't light. if that board is a production and is a reasonable weight, that good news because i reckon its a pretty good board as a say 65/35, flatwater/ocean board cheers
ps i thought i saw a square tail nsp atthe race the other afternoon"
thanks sup club (chris and i think peter), had a fun morning except for the cold. Also thanks to all the people that showed up, it was great to meet new people and put face to breezes names. and the forcast for next week looks a bit warmer Partly cloudy. Isolated showers later in the day. Winds northerly averaging up to 40 km/h 10- 19
In fact it was Chris, Phil and Mick running the event today. Well done guys, it takes kahunas to go ahead with a race in those sort of conditions. Sorry I was such a wimp, but congrats to the 11 competitors who completed the course.
thanks, now i know their names sorry phil and mick, you 3 did a great job cheers
PTWoody said...
In fact it was Chris, Phil and Mick running the event today. Well done guys, it takes kahunas to go ahead with a race in those sort of conditions. Sorry I was such a wimp, but congrats to the 11 competitors who completed the course.
Nice work on the pics and writeup DJ, not sure how it snuck through the radar until now? Was a wicked and wild day to be out there but was great to get a solid paddle in anyway. Once again congrats to everyone that made it along!
,but nothing wrong with that hey
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,be good to have another run on it in smoother conditions with the big glide fin,
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