It seems like everywhere you turn these days there is an argument between different classes in sailing. In the America's Cup it is Multihull Vs. Monohull. In the Olympics it's Windsurfing Vs. Kiteboarding. Everyone has an opinion and everyone wants to voice it. But what is amazing to see is the level of efficiency that is coming out of all aspects of sailing. Currently, we have the 2012 North American Speed Sailing Championships Invitational happening out on Martha's Vineyard. This is a battle between some of today’s fastest sailors and as you would expect, there is an ongoing argument.
Which Board is faster? As we all watched Rob Douglas take the Outright World Speed Sailing Record in 2010, we all agreed the asymmetric Speed Board was the fastest craft on the water; oh wait, no we didn't all agree. But that discussion aside the numbers didn't lie. Rob's Speed Board built by MikesLab was hands down the fastest thing on the water. And it remains that way today. However, as the 2012 NASSCI has been going on for the last 9 days we have learned something...Course Boards are freakin' fast! To date the NASSCI has encountered winds no greater than 25 Knots and to date Rob has won all but two of the races on...you guessed it a "Course Board." Now this is not your average Course board it is a highly customized board that is narrower, has a flatter rocker line and significantly smaller fins and he rides the proverbial shit out of it. But the craziest thing about it is that his peak speed on it has been 44 Knots!
When we started the event, the organizers set a minimum speed of 35 knots. That meant that if two riders didn't lay down two runs of 35 knots or more on the 250 meter course, then the heat didn't count. This was an attempt to keep this a specialized speed event that was intent on only racing the fastest boards in the fastest conditions. The inherent thinking was that in 20 Knots or less a Course Board was faster and in 20 knots or more a Speed Board was faster. But what we have seen is the evolution of the Course Boards and that threshold has been bumped from 20 knots of wind to probably closer to 23 knots.
So with the potential of Hurricane Sandy introducing herself to the Northeast and the definite possibility of some good winds early next week the question remains...Which board is Faster?
No matter what side of the arguments you are on; Multihull, Monohull, Windsurfer, Kiteboarder you have to agree that the sport is evolving at a rapid pace and the efficiencies of our crafts are increasingly more dynamic. What remains to bee seen is how will the sport adapt and take advantage; who knows, but either way it's going to be exciting.
TUNE in Sunday for LIVE coverage of the Racing at www.bestkiteboarding.com/nassci
Which Board is faster? As we all watched Rob Douglas take the Outright World Speed Sailing Record in 2010, we all agreed the asymmetric Speed Board was the fastest craft on the water; oh wait, no we didn't all agree. But that discussion aside the numbers didn't lie. Rob's Speed Board built by MikesLab was hands down the fastest thing on the water. And it remains that way today. However, as the 2012 NASSCI has been going on for the last 9 days we have learned something...Course Boards are freakin' fast! To date the NASSCI has encountered winds no greater than 25 Knots and to date Rob has won all but two of the races on...you guessed it a "Course Board." Now this is not your average Course board it is a highly customized board that is narrower, has a flatter rocker line and significantly smaller fins and he rides the proverbial shit out of it. But the craziest thing about it is that his peak speed on it has been 44 Knots!
When we started the event, the organizers set a minimum speed of 35 knots. That meant that if two riders didn't lay down two runs of 35 knots or more on the 250 meter course, then the heat didn't count. This was an attempt to keep this a specialized speed event that was intent on only racing the fastest boards in the fastest conditions. The inherent thinking was that in 20 Knots or less a Course Board was faster and in 20 knots or more a Speed Board was faster. But what we have seen is the evolution of the Course Boards and that threshold has been bumped from 20 knots of wind to probably closer to 23 knots.
So with the potential of Hurricane Sandy introducing herself to the Northeast and the definite possibility of some good winds early next week the question remains...Which board is Faster?
No matter what side of the arguments you are on; Multihull, Monohull, Windsurfer, Kiteboarder you have to agree that the sport is evolving at a rapid pace and the efficiencies of our crafts are increasingly more dynamic. What remains to bee seen is how will the sport adapt and take advantage; who knows, but either way it's going to be exciting.
TUNE in Sunday for LIVE coverage of the Racing at www.bestkiteboarding.com/nassci
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