Posted on GPS-Kitesurfing:

To all concerned.

There is a major oversight here that nobody has picked up on.

The reason for the high GPS 500M speed from Alex compared to the WSSRC 500 is due to the curve of the run. The curved 500 is shorter than the straight 500 that is measured from transit points, the traditional method since the beginning of speed.

In the past, a rider of any vessel was penalized from running away from a straight course by going a farther distance and of course we all like to bear away from the wind to get faster.

So, in essence, there is an unfair advantage from the boats using GPS timing compared to the camera timing currently used by smaller craft. This is possibly how L'Hydroptere achieved the nautical mile record.

In the future, all GPS times on this site and the windsurfing should have pre-designated start and finish waypoints that are a straight 500 meters and then we are comparing apples with apples and not oranges. The same with the nautical mile. You will see the times get slower.

I also think that 'any' 500 meters is an advantage over a 'fixed' 500 meters. I can assure you all that if I was wearing a GPS unit on my last record run that my GPS 500 speed would have been much higher because I was super fast 100M before the camera and slowed down at the end.

We are talking knots of difference. The GPS movement is great but it is adding a lot of confusion and dilution to the WSSRC records.

I am in favour of Manu and Alex's attitude towards the WSSRC and that the GPS unit for the moment is 'practice' and for fun on kiters and windsurfers. 50-knots over 500 on a gps is not the same as 50-knots over 500 from cameras and a WSSRC commissioner. It is as simple as that and Luderitz proved that there are huge differences between these two entities.

I also want to say; how many times do you think the 100 M athletics world record was broken in practice in the last 30-years? My research tells me quite a few times but you never heard anybody claiming it unless it was done at an official world cup or championship event.

I hope that this info clears up a few misunderstandings and congratulations to all the Luderitz kiters for their good times.

Regards, Finian

As long as records are kept of the run and it falls within accepted error levels for the measuring device then it will be hard to refute the speeds. As devices are now available to test the gps I would pursue that course of action and have the gps units certified as well. I would position units at the start and finish of the course area to record data to establish the error levels for the day and use at least two units while sailing to measure my speed. I would also seek to have the analysis software I use certified to ensure it's accuracy. The gps units I use also measure at 5hz so there would be more data to ensure the accuracy of the gps fixes. If all these procedures are followed it would be very hard to refute any 50 knot run.
Roo

Certainly not the Garmin or the NAVi.

what finian's trying to say is that yooz guys will never be as good as him so chuck them gps things away and learn to windsurf proppa like ricardo

actually, i thought 500m was 500m no matter how you sailed it?? or does it always have to be as the crow flies?

quote:

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Originally posted by Haircut

what finian's trying to say is that yooz guys will never be as good as him so chuck them gps things away and learn to windsurf proppa like ricardo

actually, i thought 500m was 500m no matter how you sailed it?? or does it always have to be as the crow flies?

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Those who can, loop.
Those who can't, strap on a GPS

Finian raises some good points, but if we're not going to adopt new technology when it turns out to be better then we may as well stick to stopwatches and a tin can telephone for our speed runs...

Yep,Good one Hair cut.
It has to be as the crow flies!
I couldn't imagine the big Fin man getting worried about too much.
We'll just have to try harder

You also have to remember Finian never posted that session on GPSSS. It was a publicity stunt by the GPSSS crew, they strapped a gps onto his arm and downloaded the data to launch their site. Finian has never had a session posted since. Slowy has been posting since the start, the stir it caused when he bested Finian's speed was quite intense, GPSSS ended up with no alternative other than to post his times. Maybe Finian has grown tired of all the manipulation that has gone on by the GPSSS crew and feels uncomfortbale others are approaching his times. At the end of the day he holds the record, but records are made to be broken. My bet is on the boats to be first to break it, you have to admire Hydroptere running out in open water at such insane speeds. Watch the video to get an impression of what they are up against. www.hydroptere.com/index.php4?lang=EN