I have not been practising my philosophy nor good psychology lately, I have been too obsessed with the speed read out on my gps, and have spoilt a few sessions of great windsurfing.

I've been doing blistering runs, full of adrenalin rush and looking down at my gps and becoming disappointed because my speed read out didn't have a higher speed reading. This is stupid and detrimental to windsurfing. I (we) need to soak up the rush and pleasure of the moment first, then look at the speed to learn how that peformance rated from a speed perspective and if there is anything to learn from a technique/windsurfing perspective, then enjoy the next run.

Becoming fixated/obsessed with speed read outs is a recipe for disappointment. PB's are the icing on the cake, not the cake, the cake is the enjoyment of windsurfing.

A case in point, last night my aquapack was all fogged up, and I couldn't read the gps display, and I had a great sail, just enjoying the feeling of it all. The speeds weren't all that great but I enjoyed that session more...than when my speeds were higher, getting disappointed coz I wasn't cracking pb's every run?

Will this old fat bastarrd ever learn to practice what he preaches

I remember a fine chap from the crab cruncher bunch, telling me soo long ago.
What ever you do, don’t look til your on the lawn having a breather, just have fun and get the feel. Plenty of time to check out speeds and adjustments between rest stops. If you don’t follow this then you will get frustrated while out there and bust up yourself or the kit.
Have followed this religiously, and have had fun each session.
When I cracked 30knots, first time I found out at a rest stop, like he said I would. I then cracked 33 shortly into next session (some 20 minutes later,) but didn’t know til I downloaded card when I got home
.

That is no way to talk about the red one, bonded fluff

lao shi said...

I agree, Hardie.
Got in to the same place myself before I busted GPS. A few sessions without it got the feeling back. I am trying to balance ocean sailing with the GPS otherwise my OCD comes out.[}:)]

The dreaded OCD

sick_em_rex said...

I agree, my last sail was without gps due to a breakage and whilst I was anxious about not knowing what speeds I was doing, I at least wasn't obsessed with looking at the screen after every run.
I'm about to undergo a knee reconstruction though so next time I'm on the water the LAST thing I'll be worried about is how fast I'm going. More like thank god, I'm going again!....

Good luck with the Reco!!!

sick_em_rex said...

I'm about to undergo a knee reconstruction

Thats a pretty drastic measure just to go faster isnt it?????

are they inserting the GPS directly into your knee???





ps: good luck with the recon

Hey Hardie,to stop the fogging put a few water crystalls into the case. To stop you looking at the dial start night sailing You,ll be too busy looking for noah to worry about anything else

I fully agree with you hardie
I went through that phase earlier this year before i realised challenge is not just about speed, theres alphas, NM, distance and the hour too, best thing for me was when work dragged me away for 4 months to tropical areas full of snapping handbags etc so no sailing, have loved every session i have had back in the last two weeks

firiebob said...

OK I'll bite, what's in da hell is a OCD

OCD is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, part of it grabs you when you start obsessing at things like looking at your gps all the time.

Didn't look once today, had a brilliant sail, and set a PB, got to enjoy it all over again at home

hardie said...

firiebob said...

OK I'll bite, what's in da hell is a OCD

OCD is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, part of it grabs you when you start obsessing at things like looking at your gps all the time.

Didn't look once today, had a brilliant sail, and set a PB, got to enjoy it all over again at home

There ya go Hardie, Its more fun yarning with mates at end of session, then getting home, download and bingo, something to brag about at start of next session
Oh, and congats on the PB

I always wear a GPS , but dont obsess about it. I lost my foretrex a few weeks ago, and then I sailed with the team without a GPS, and had a great sail. I've got a GT-31 now, and will always wear it but I want to have fun too. Something that really surprised me is that my B&J sailing and gybing in overpowered conditions has really improved, all beacuse of the GPS thing, I have a much better idea of how to sail in these conditions, and bearing away before a gybe in strong winds makes gybing a lot easier So if u dont obsess, its all good, let the therapy begin Hardie

I cannot be obsessed because my incessant thinking and talking about windsurfing is the same as the general public. At least that section of the public I socialise with...... commonly known as the Mandurah mob, Swan river mob, pinnas etc.

I just had a week up Gerro way and strapped the gps on twice I had a few runs over powered on my 5.8 koncept down the reef at Corro's so smooth,doing blistering speeds. The GPS had flat battery.But it was one of the best sails i've had on the speed gear
I usually don't look at the screen untill i've finished sailing for the day.
Maybe the odd peek.

evets said...

I cannot be obsessed because my incessant thinking and talking about windsurfing is the same as the general public. At least that section of the public I socialise with...... commonly known as the Mandurah mob, Swan river mob, pinnas etc.

Yep, same here work think I am a zyloom always keen on talking about this and that with windsurfing blather[}:)]