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I still suck at Surfing

11/27/2012

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In a matter of two weeks Kiteboarding has gone from being the most anticipated Olympic Sport for 2016 to a temporary footnote. Kiteboarding has also lost it's title as the Fastest Sailing Vessel when over the weekend SailRocket smashed the Outright World Speed Sailing Record with an average of 65 Knots!! 
Blah Blah Blah I love going fast and I love playing in the Ocean. That is why I picked up a kite. Kiteboarding will most likely be in the Olympics some day and if we are smart and develop our gear in a more technical fashion then we can regain the Outright Record. But in the mean time it is so goddamn much fun to grab a kite and a board and go get wet. 
I have been so lucky since Thanksgiving to get in a number of great sessions with some great Friends. Saturday was a real treat. West NorthWest Winds around 30 Knots. Building 4-6' surf with a rising tide up in Aquinnah. When I got to Philbins the waves were looking a little smaller than I had anticipated but given the fact it was already blowing 30 I knew things would build quickly. I was really excited because I was finally getting a chance to try my 8 Meter Nemesis from BEST in the waves. I had ridden it for Speed and did 47 Knots on it on long 30 meter lines but I was excited to see what it would do with the shorter 20 meter lines and a surfboard under my feet. Right off the bat I was blown away with not only how quick it was to turn but also how steady the power was on it. Usually when you get below a 9M the power can get really jerky. Especially on shorter lines but this was not the case. 
For the next two and a half hours I chucked my goofy footed ass in and out of waves with reckless abandon. As I have stated many many times I suck at surfing but I think that Kite Surfing is easily one of the most fun and entertaining aspects of our sport and for some reason when I have a Kite pulling me around the surfing part gets a lot easier. So I have been working hard to develop what little skill I possess and I am happy with the way things are progressing. My "move" of choice for this session was to ride out at the surf goofy heelside then as the wave is pitching try my hardest to slash a rock solid toeside turn on the lip of the wave then carry my speed down into the wave. If I timed things right with my kite leading me and not getting too far back on my left foot then I would carry great speed down the wave and setup for that oh so gratifying bottom turn. It didn't happen very often but when it does and you feel all that power transferring and you see the wave curling up over your shoulder with the sunlight shining through it it makes the whole day worthwhile. No here is the point where my surfing skills often (but not always) fail me. This is the point where I would attempt the front side turn up off the lip. It's not easy as often times your weight is back a little from the bottom turn so you need to shift it forward and yet still be able to crank the turn off without losing wave, kite, control.....Everything. I love this joy of trying to learn something new, to take a constantly evolving formula and try and solve it in motion.
So yes I love speed, I will continue to focus on speed but as the winter storms keep rolling in and they keep producing some solid East Coast Chunk then yes I will keep going out and get beat up by Mother Ocean. 


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65 Knot Average??????

11/24/2012

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JUST IN FROM SAILROCKET:

Ok mental speeds!!! On the GT-31 gps 67.74 and an average 500m 65.37! Yihaaaaaaaaaa...
14:21:19 Today

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Be Thankful for SPeed

11/24/2012

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There has been a lot going on here on the Vineyard. I have had 65 members of my family here for Thanksgiving. It was my wife's birthday yesterday and in 5 days we are going to have our second child. There is an enormous amount to be thankful for and I am aware of it all.
Off of the Vineyard there is even more going on. Today SailRocket has an excellent forecast and is pushing for an Outright Speed Record over 60 Knots. I am intently watching their website and twitter account to see if they can do it.
Then of course we have Rob Douglas and Alex Caizergues who are still patiently waiting for the Mistral winds in France. Alex has built a very impressive trench right in the South of France and if they get the right forecast they could pull off record speeds. You can find more info of their record attempt on their Facebook Page and they also have great teaser video on Vimeo.
In the mean time there is a great video and article from New York Times journalist Erik Olsen on the whole subject. It was great to meet Erik while he was here on Martha's Vineyard covering the North American Speed Sailing Championships and it was great to see him interview my Father. Hopefully we will see more coverage like this of Speed Sailing in the next few years. 
This morning I will be watching to see what Paul Larsen and SailRocket can do as well as watching the wind build here on the Vineyard. 

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Testing Technological advances

11/20/2012

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You have to be impressed with the way that Team NEw Zealand has been able to implement a plan and carry it out. They are now testing on a daily basis with Luna Rossa. The AC72's might not be everyone's cup of tea but they are the most technologically advanced sailboats sailing today. 
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VEstas SailRocket World Record Run

11/18/2012

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SailRocket Takes Outright Speed Record

11/16/2012

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From Paul Larsen's Blog
"The title says it all. It's just soaking in now... with the Champagne.

Calling friends, team members... all are family tonight.

I'm sitting here with great French champagne all around and smiling people. VESTAS Sailrocket 2 sits outside on the lawn shivering lightly in the decreasing breeze. She has the noble composure of a race winning horse that struts around wondering what all the fuss is about.

We are downloading the TRIMBLE data now. The great thing is that the GPS we use out there is set for a 18 second average... but at 59 knots we might not need that long. It said we did a 59.01 knot average... The TRIMBLE should be higher. I will let you know here when I know.

I think I'll drink some more Pol Roger... and wait.

Christ... I'm buzzing and I know it is just going to get better. I will have this for life now. 

There it is 59.23 knot average fresh off the TRIMBLE. 62.53 peak.

Records subject to WSSRC ratification.

I'm signing out.

I have too many people to thank I don't know where to start.

I have to call mum and dad.

The happiest days!

Still more to come.

Paul.*******Walvis Bay, Namibia, 18:51********
Vestas SailRocket The new World Sailing Speed Record HOLDER! ...subject to ratification
*****59 KNOTS****
Reports coming out of Walvis Bay Namibia are that Vestas SailRocket just took the Outright World Speed Sailing Record. The Team is reporting a 59 Knot Average. www.sailrocket.com

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November is Speed Sailing Month

11/13/2012

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I am not sure if November is officially Speed Sailing Month but it sure does seem like this is the month that raises the bar. In the last 48 hours SailRocket has broken the 60 Knot barrier and Windsurfers have broken the 50 Knot barrier. Needless to say neither of these amazing feats have been enough to topple the Outright World Speed Sailing Record which still stands at 55.65 Knot Average but it certainly looks like people are knocking at the door. 
What's even more exciting to see is that Rob Douglas not resting on his laurels and today announced that he will be teaming up with Alex Caizergues for an Outright Record Attempt in the newly built trench outside Alex's hometown. Press Release Here 
This Record Attempt will be from November 15th-December 10th and if they get a good Mistral then they could possibly break the 60 Knot Average. 
Let's not forget that the Windsurfing portion of the Luderitz Speed Challenge is about to end which will then open that Trench up for the Kiters. Could Sebastian Cattelan finally reach his dream of taking down the Outright Record on HIS home trench? The windsurfers have proven it is a fast stretch of water. Water Texture looks good but is it too late in the year for Luderitz?
Keep checking back in as I will have more info in the coming days on everything.
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Antoine Albeau does over 50 Knots Windsurfing

11/13/2012

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BOOM - SailRocket 60 Knot Day Video

11/13/2012

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VESTAS  SAILROCKET VMAX OVER 61 KNOTS

11/13/2012

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FROM SAILROCKET BLOG 
http://www.sailrocket.com/blogs

Just in... 61 + knot peak speed and a 54. something average. Had to stop as the end was coming up fast.  Everything went into fast forward. I was saying " this is fast, this is fast" and then she took off again... "this is real f*****g fast"!!!

I thought we might have bagged the outright as well... as you would after hitting over 60 knots... but the average wasn't there... I think. We haven't downloaded the big TRIMBLE yet. Everyone is getting the data down now. We broke our own PB twice today... so that's 2 x triple rum and cokes in pint glasses... and of course the 60 knot bottle of champagne also falls. Happy days.

What a great relief.

I know the current world record is toast... hell, they can even raise it a bit if they want.

Life for VESTAS Sailrocket 2 starts at 60 knots. Today she walked on stage. She was beautiful to drive. Totally in control.

I got Helena to come down to the end of the course before I checked the speeds. I wanted her to be there. Unfortunately she had her phone in her drysuit pocket so that was the end of the Tweets.

Righto... lots to do.

The outright record remains to be beaten.

I'll let you all know the actual numbers when I know myself.

Happy days alright.

Nice work team... real nice.

Cheers from one beaming Australian in Namibia.

P

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