Allison crossing Bass Strait? Gear? - Page 2

29th March 2009, 12:58 PM

Great effort Allison, all the best for a future attempt.

I will be sure to be following, along with a lot of yachties and windsurfers around the country and world next time.

It must have been bloody hard trying to hang onto a formula sail in those sort of conditions. Also considering it appeared to be a bit beam on, must have really loaded everything up. Bass strait can be challenging on a 50 footer, let alone a formula board with a 9.5!

Would a smaller sail and something like a free-ride board have made it easier? Although I guess you were expecting only around 20 knots?

AlexWind · 29th March 2009, 06:18 PM

Respect!!!

29th March 2009, 07:57 PM

cramping and hypothermia !! I bet
I cant get the video here at work, was it a formula board??
I remember taking my old Starboard Formula 155 when i first got it out into lake Superior Canada for an impromptu long distance sail round some islands a few miles out , with a 7.4 sail.
the further i went out the higher the wind , it got maybe 25-30 knots.
Water close to shore, was bathing suit warm , but as one sails out into Lake Superior the wate gets cold and is the most dangerous aspect. Around 3 celcius year round!
The 1st leg was slightly upwind round a few islands. I was fighting the frizzbee effect ( ie:flying the hull and this was one of the early formula designs not so wide by todays standards)
After rounding the islands it was a deep broad reach , running dead down wind if i could as that was the best VMG, but not a good idea.
New on a formula hull without a chicken strap( the original 155 did not have one) DDW is catapult central, very trying to say the least and exhausting/
After a bit, I jumped in the water just to save my forearms ( a harness useless DDW)and even with a thick steamer the water was freezing.
So i got back up continued.
I broke a harness line on the way back.
Now i only sailed maybe 15 miles, and i was "done like dinner"
Now go across the bass straight!
WOW
that piece of water is inherently dangerous even with proper preparation . It has killed many experienced yachtsman, and sunk many boats.
In a small way i can imagine what kind of challenge you did Allison
.Job well done!!!

Erik Loots · 29th March 2009, 09:06 PM

Wooww impressive!!! I also would get cramps with a 9.5 m2!!

Cheers,

Erik

Darko_Z · 30th March 2009, 02:10 AM

Congratulations to Allison!

It is amazing, to windsurf 35 kn wind on open sea and big waves with 9.5m sail. I weigh 90kg and I usually use 5m sail for 30kn wind.

Guy Cribb and Antoine Albeau were using slalom gear for crossing the channel. Guy Cribb was using 110 Mistral Slalom board with 5.8m North Sails Ram and Antoine Albeau was on 6.7m NP RS Racing and 111 Starboard iSonic. Both of them have encountered similar problems as Allison. I guess problem are big waves, they block the wind and you can’t get clear wind to sail.

Perhaps it would be easier to use kite for such crossings as Kirsty Jones did, she completed the 140 miles from the Canary Islands to Morocco with kite.

Del Carpenter · 30th March 2009, 03:12 AM

Thank you, Allison, for being an inspiration.

Remi · 30th March 2009, 04:50 AM

Hi Allison,

Great great effort and big congratulations, 9,5 in this conditions means a lot of respect!!!!

All the best

2nd April 2009, 11:47 AM

I think the jist of it was: overpowered for the first few hours and slogging for an extra nine, ie. the wind dropped or the extreme wind gradient caused by big swell made planing impossible(?). People seem to be citing Kristy Jone's kite crossing to morocco, a minimum 120 km distance, the bass strait is more like 240 km across, and from watching the youtube video, conditions seemed a bit more manageable for Jones.You'll get it next time Allison.
All that reaching with forumula equipment? I'd be toast.

3rd April 2009, 06:06 AM

the wind was strong
she cramped up and couldn't continue

if anything she could have used a smaller board and sail

sailing314 · 4th April 2009, 07:27 PM

You are my hero Allison! Great job! There are some tough long distance races on SF Bay but nothing like the Bass Straight...wow! Respect!

29th March 2009, 07:57 PM	#13
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	formula offshore in swell. cramping and hypothermia !! I bet I cant get the video here at work, was it a formula board?? I remember taking my old Starboard Formula 155 when i first got it out into lake Superior Canada for an impromptu long distance sail round some islands a few miles out , with a 7.4 sail. the further i went out the higher the wind , it got maybe 25-30 knots. Water close to shore, was bathing suit warm , but as one sails out into Lake Superior the wate gets cold and is the most dangerous aspect. Around 3 celcius year round! The 1st leg was slightly upwind round a few islands. I was fighting the frizzbee effect ( ie:flying the hull and this was one of the early formula designs not so wide by todays standards) After rounding the islands it was a deep broad reach , running dead down wind if i could as that was the best VMG, but not a good idea. New on a formula hull without a chicken strap( the original 155 did not have one) DDW is catapult central, very trying to say the least and exhausting/ After a bit, I jumped in the water just to save my forearms ( a harness useless DDW)and even with a thick steamer the water was freezing. So i got back up continued. I broke a harness line on the way back. Now i only sailed maybe 15 miles, and i was "done like dinner" Now go across the bass straight! WOW that piece of water is inherently dangerous even with proper preparation . It has killed many experienced yachtsman, and sunk many boats. In a small way i can imagine what kind of challenge you did Allison .Job well done!!!

30th March 2009, 02:10 AM	#15
Darko_Z Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 34	Congratulations Congratulations to Allison! It is amazing, to windsurf 35 kn wind on open sea and big waves with 9.5m sail. I weigh 90kg and I usually use 5m sail for 30kn wind. Guy Cribb and Antoine Albeau were using slalom gear for crossing the channel. Guy Cribb was using 110 Mistral Slalom board with 5.8m North Sails Ram and Antoine Albeau was on 6.7m NP RS Racing and 111 Starboard iSonic. Both of them have encountered similar problems as Allison. I guess problem are big waves, they block the wind and you can’t get clear wind to sail. Perhaps it would be easier to use kite for such crossings as Kirsty Jones did, she completed the 140 miles from the Canary Islands to Morocco with kite.

30th March 2009, 04:50 AM	#17
Remi STARBOARD DEVELOPMENT Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Thailand Posts: 2,342	Hi Allison, Great great effort and big congratulations, 9,5 in this conditions means a lot of respect!!!! All the best __________________ Rémi Can answer if you have any questions on this following boards : Carve 111, 121, 131, 141, 151 & 161 Futura 93, 101, 111, 121, 131 & 141. iSonic 80, 87, 90, 97, 107, 110, 117, 127 & 137 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. UltraSonic 147 Formula Experience One Design Phantom Race 377/320 To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Phantom 295 : To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Formula 167 & 167 Wide : To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Racing Serinity Cat Concept To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

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29th March 2009, 12:58 PM	#11
Ryan Guest Posts: n/a	Great effort Allison, all the best for a future attempt. I will be sure to be following, along with a lot of yachties and windsurfers around the country and world next time. It must have been bloody hard trying to hang onto a formula sail in those sort of conditions. Also considering it appeared to be a bit beam on, must have really loaded everything up. Bass strait can be challenging on a 50 footer, let alone a formula board with a 9.5! Would a smaller sail and something like a free-ride board have made it easier? Although I guess you were expecting only around 20 knots?

29th March 2009, 06:18 PM	#12
AlexWind Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 166	Respect!!!

29th March 2009, 09:06 PM	#14
Erik Loots Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: The Netherlands, Alkmaar Posts: 109	Wooww impressive!!! I also would get cramps with a 9.5 m2!! Cheers, Erik

30th March 2009, 03:12 AM	#16
Del Carpenter Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 105	Thank you, Allison, for being an inspiration.

2nd April 2009, 11:47 AM	#18
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	I think the jist of it was: overpowered for the first few hours and slogging for an extra nine, ie. the wind dropped or the extreme wind gradient caused by big swell made planing impossible(?). People seem to be citing Kristy Jone's kite crossing to morocco, a minimum 120 km distance, the bass strait is more like 240 km across, and from watching the youtube video, conditions seemed a bit more manageable for Jones.You'll get it next time Allison. All that reaching with forumula equipment? I'd be toast.

3rd April 2009, 06:06 AM	#19
Unregistered Guest Posts: n/a	the wind was strong she cramped up and couldn't continue if anything she could have used a smaller board and sail

4th April 2009, 07:27 PM	#20
sailing314 New Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 2	You are my hero Allison! Great job! There are some tough long distance races on SF Bay but nothing like the Bass Straight...wow! Respect!