Industry News and Reader Feedback

Hi
Sorry for the long break but I needed a rest from the blog and we have had pretty good winds so I am really tired at night.  

Eric Kaminga e-mailed me following my post on safety and our need to take more care on the water. Eric was sailing on Lauwersmeer in Holland in some quite low temperatures but with good winds.  One other sailor joined him and after a while, went down.  His mast foot broke like Andy's and he had to swim with his equipment for 40(ish) minutes.  Eric helped him to get back and then spent some time and energy getting warmth back into the guy's body.  In the meantime another sailor had launched but after some time Eric noticed that this new guy must have gone down as well.  Exhausted from his recent efforts with the frozen guy, Eric dragged himself back onto the water to look for the second sailor.  He discovered him lying in the water at the far side of the lake.  He had crashed, felt his neck pop and had lost the use of one of his arms. (This is turning into a long story)

Anyway Eric and the injured guy tried in vain to get him back on to his board - no luck.  Eric's kit (Manta+Ka) was a bit easier than the sailor's so they swapped and the wounded guy was able to start and sail back with crooked neck and paralysed arm.  Eric helped him to de-rig and the guy managed to drive home.  Long story short he got home from where he was rushed to hospital.  It was discovered that he had fractured a neck vertebra - (4 screws in the bone and months of physio ahead to re-gain the use of his arm).

This all demonstrates once again the need for us to pay more attention to safety when we sail.  Thank
goodness Eric was there to help both of these guys.

Here is a shot of Eric at full tilt.  Nice wind/water conditions - it is easy to see why the Netherlands produces so many top windsurfers.



Speaking of top Dutch sailors, I note that Ben vd Steen has left Starboard to join Tabou.  This brings him completely into the Gaastra/Tabou stable.  2014 will be an interesting year.  His Manta sizes are going to be 61, 71 and 85.  Nice!

In the meantime Peter Volwater recently clocked over 44 knots on the open sea on a stock slalom board.  He recons that he was totally in control and comfortable.  Awesome!

I wanted to show you a new sail from Vandal but it is late and the camera is in the car.  The guys were here shooting the 2015 prototypes which include a 2 cam model called the Mission.  Ellie took some pictures of this and I will will include them in the next post.

Cheers




          

Industry News

Hi
Some industry news.  Peter Volwater has left Fanatic and joined Starboard.  He has also left Avanti Sails to join Ka. Peter is a fantastic competitor and journeyman windsurfer and this makes it really bad for any brand he leaves.  It is equally good for any brand he joins so bad luck Avanti and Fanatic - good luck Ka and Starboard!  I look forward with interest to this year's PWA slalom racing.  Ka produces magical sails so this marriage could be really interesting.

With Peter's leaving, Fanatic's slalom stable starts to look a bit bare.  I note that Pierre Mortefon is still there and Matteo Iachino has joined but those are the only two stars.  I guess that Matteo has a history with Daniel Aeberli from Dan's F2 days so that move makes sense to me.

They recently ran the Lancelin Ocean Classic in Australia.  I'm sure that most of you know about this race but for those of you who do not - it is a 25 km ocean race from Ledge Point to Lancelin, Western Oz.  An awesome event which attracts some big names.  Look at the results in the table below.  When Bjorn comes fifth you know that heavy hitters were on the water.
         

What is also evident from the results is the capability of Starboard Isonics.  Positions one through six - all Isonics!  Anyone with any doubts about how good these boards are - look at this result board.


2014 Lancelin Ocean Classic Marathon Results:

1. Steve Allen (iSonic 117)
2. Isaac Devries (iSonic 130)
3. Peter Volwater (iSonic 107)
4. Jesper Orth (iSonic 117)
5. Björn Dunkerbeck (iSonic 130)
6. Daniel Engdahl (iSonic 117)
7. Luke Matthews
8. Leo Sharpe (iSonic 117)
9. Jonah Desforges (iSonic 107)
10. Ben Proffitt
11. Steven Stratfold
12. Chris Lockwood
13. Shane O'Neill (iSonic 117)
14. Matt Holder (iSonic 107)
15. Chris Adamson
16. Scott McKercher (Futura 111)
17. Ash Nicol (iSonic 101)
18. Ben Newson
19. Philip Köster (iSonic 110)
20. Adam Passmore

Locally we have the downwind dash coming up soon.  It is always interesting to look at the fins of the internationals in this race so I shall be at the start having a look.  I don't think that I will participate but we'll see on the day.

Speaking of Fanatic - Dan and Craig have been on the water developing the 2015 Falcons.  I think that they have finished with the 2015 Hawks and most of the Falcon sizes.  The size that Dan is struggling with is the Falcon 140litre.  He is battling to improve on the 2014 shape and watching Dan and Craig over the weekend, I can understand why.  This 2014 140l Falcon is fantastic. It jumps onto the plane instantly and just flies over the chop.  Astonishing for a board of this size and a real problem for the designer looking for improvements.  This all means two things: If you have a 2014 Falcon 140 you have something special.  If you buy a 2015 Falcon 140 it will be really special.  (I think that the new volume will be 135 or 136 litres.)

Andy has commented on my previous post regarding my "Hardcore GPS" quiver.  He quite rightly points out that for true GPS sailing you need a speed board.  I acknowledge this but my intention was to provide real world, open water options.  If you are a flat water speed sailor you will have the necessary specialist gear.

That is all for now
Talk to you soon    
   

Ideal Windsurfing Quiver Re-visited

Hi  Some time back I discussed options for an ideal windsurfing equipment quiver. My thinking on this topic changes from time to time so I thought I'd share some of my latest thinking with you.  Here are three suggested quivers for three slightly different slalom blasters.  I copied this table from a spreadsheet and it does not pull across very well so please excuse the alignment problems. IDEAL QUIVER IF ALL EXISTING EQUIPMENT LOST, MONEY, SPACE ETC - NO CONCERN
QUIVER 1 - SOFT, EASY,FAST
BOARDS
		VOL/WD		FINS
TABOU 3S		96/61		31+33
TABOU 3S		116/66		33+35
STARBOARD FUTURA		121/73		39+43
AHD SL2		132/80		47
SAILS
		SIZE		MASTS		BOOMS - CHINOOK PRO 1 CBN
AVANTI VIPER		5.0		AVANTI SPINE 400		150 - 200
GAASTRA CROSS		5.6		GAASTRA GOLD RDM 430		150 - 200
GAASTRA CROSS		6.4		GAASTRA GOLD RDM 430		160 - 226
NORTH E-TYPE		7.3		SAILWORKS LIGHTSTICK 460		160 - 226
NORTH S-TYPE		7.8		FIBERSPAR 7000 460		180 - 246
QUIVER 2 - HARDER,FASTER (POTENTIALLY)
BOARDS
		VOL/WD		FINS
STARBOARD FUTURA		93/61		31+35
STARBOARD FUTURA		101/66		33+37
STARBOARD FUTURA		121/73		39+43
FANATIC FALCON		140/85		48
SAILS
		SIZE		MASTS		BOOMS - CHINOOK PRO 1 CBN
SAILWORKS HUCKER		4.8		NORTH AERO 400		150 - 200
SAILWORKS HUCKER		5.6		NORTH AERO 430		150 - 200
SAILWORKS HUCKER		6.6		SAILWORKS LIGHTSTICK 460		160 - 226
NORTH E-TYPE		7.3		SAILWORKS LIGHTSTICK 460		160 - 226
SAILWORKS NX		8.2		SAILWORKS LIGHTSTICK 490		180 - 246
QUIVER 3 - HARDCORE GPS
BOARDS
		VOL/WD		FINS
TABOU 3S		96/61		31+33
TABOU MANTA		116/71		39 + 42
TABOU MANTA		128/81		45
FANATIC FALCON		140/85		48
SAILS
		SIZE		MASTS		BOOMS - CHINOOK PRO 1 CBN
SAILWORKS HUCKER		4.8		NORTH AERO 400		150 - 200
SAILWORKS HUCKER		5.6		NORTH AERO 430		150 - 200
KA KONCEPT		6.6		KA SDM 100% 430		160 - 226
KA KONCEPT		7.5		KA SDM 100% 460		160 - 226
KA KONCEPT Talk to you soon with some industry news		8.5		KA SDM 100% 490		180 - 246

Going Away

Hi

I will be away from my computer for a few days.  To those of you communicating with me by e-mail - please be patient.  I will get back to you next week.

Good winds
Phil