HF said..
Yes, Spotty was/is the only person to have a run filmed from the air. We never managed to get permission to film from a heli but did some from a light plane instead, not ideal but salvaged something.
Mick, not my smartest idea to lay down in the canal with guys flying past that close!
The fin did not let go just that the wind was very light, just enough to get in the straps at the start angle. By the time you turn the bend and get the usual burst of speed and are heading at 140-145 deg it is very easy to over sheet in that amount of wind especially if it's gusty or you get a lull. Pointing up is not an option, standing up/forward/sheeting out and bearing off a bit is all that's left. Was using 6.3, 74L, 18cm fin, Col had a very narrow window of opportunity to operate from the air that day, and the wind that was supposed to come in early came in later.
The wind this year has been very gusty, and with only 6 result days for us coming to the end of 4 weeks tells partly how I feel after what an effort to get here it has been. That said the competitors, people, the place and experience gained has been awesome, this place is a real challenge to get you and your gear sorted here, almost backwards in some respects. The run is deeper for starters and is not what we sail so much back home, what works well at home... stance, sail settings etc does not work as well here, more so with the lighter gustier conditions experienced at this years event.
So with around 15? competitors holding out on a forecast for this weekend that is changing all the time the word salvage sums it up somewhat, lets hope for us I can come away with at least a PB like the rest of the Aussies that have made it over this year.
