Formula or isonic 155 for max speed ?

[mark h]

Now that most of the proper high speed winds have left the UK & wont re-appear till the autum, a few of us are trying to climb the GPS-Speeding.com Formula rankings. Although they are basically course racing boards, formula boards are real quick (and fun) of the wind. Today, I'v added a formula session at GPS-SS for 5 x 10'sec average @ 29.2 knots, max display 30.5k & software max @ 31.3 knots. Not fast compaired to speed or slalom boards but on a 100cm wide board, the sensations are like a zillion miles per hour and it is fast enough to put me 3rd in the formual rankings (did a cart-wheel in the garden when I worked it out). Keep't switching between a C3 E 67cm & a Select Ultra 58cm, neither where right for this day. So I'v just bought a Deb 63cm tonight to make sure I'm covered for the next formula session. I had 32 knots on the dial last year, but was'nt using GPS-SS then, so I cant prove it. I'm confident that these boards could, on the right day do 33/34 knots. Only problem is that, to do these sort of speeds, you need low to mid twenty knot winds & you could be on something much smaller/sleeker so it means missing out on a good slalom board session. Today, I could have been hitting mid 30's on my Sonic 100/7.6m Warp, but I did'nt take it with me to avoid temptation as the formula rankings was on my mind.

Cheers

[Ian Fox]

Hi Mark,

That's definitely good going - and also highlights the very real difference between peak "top speed" and speeds over 500m , 10 Sec or 5 x 10 GPS speed.

Based on what we have seen from good FW guys in good FW conditions (for GPS speed) anything near a "30kts" 5 x 10s GPSSS is plenty fast in FW terms.

There's no doubt the Formula speed rankings can be a very valid comp, one of the reasons it was introduced and supported in the first place was it really opens up the "competitive" conditions to just about anywhere (especially as a lot more water around the world is a lot more flatter at 20 kts windspeed than at 40..).

Also a lot more guys with access to Formula equipment than specialised speed gear.

Chers ~ Ian

PS : Same problem for me ; my FType has been hanging around dry for nearly 2 years now for that GPSSS mission, it never ever got near a run on anything like half decent conditions in favor of smaller, sleeker equipment.

[Hardie]

Hey Foxey,

Sorry about stealing your line!!!!

GPS is an amazing tool, allows you to be more scientific.

I realize now that I was way over estimating how fast I was travelling before I got one. Even now when I sail with a GPS, I tend to way over estimate how fast I'm going in very choppy conditions....... It'll go something like this..... "WOW that must have been at least 35 knots, looks down at GPS 30.66.... No way that must be wrong!!!, and then bugger, how do guys do 40knots in chop?".

The other thing with gps it allows you to measure a variety of aspects of windsurfing: On our GPS Teams Comp in OZ, www.gpsteamchallenge.com.au we are using: 2 sec peak; 5x10 sec average; NM; 1 hour' Alpha 500; and Distance travelled. Each category requires it's own technique and discipline, and is a great learning tool.

Hardie