Mega Cat Mega Speed

Mega Speed is a bit tongue in cheek, but I am proud of some of the speeds I recorded while racing the Mega Cat in gusty 15-20 knot winds last Sunday. It was only my third time ever on the board but all my years sailing imco made it pretty easy to get back onto a planing longboard after almost a decade away from them.

The course for Sunday at the Dam Jam was a 2 lap figure 8. I attached a picture of my gps track from one of the races. During these races I got to a top speed of 25.4 knots and had a best alpha-500 jibe at 17.4 knots. The Mega Cat jibed incredibly well and it was very nice for carrying speed through the turn.

Here's a link to my gps results at the speedsurfing site:
http://www.gps-speedsurfing.com/default.aspx?mnu=user&val=78764&uid=2116

Arden, EL-11

Day 2 at Dam Jam

We had another fantastic day of racing at Dam Jam, running four slalom races on a figure 8 course. Winds were about 15-25+ through the morning and the skippers meeting but diminished a bit and got more gusty as the wind veered south as racing approached.

I rigged a 7.5 to go on my isonic121 and put on a big fin to help with the lulls. The first race started during the largest lull we saw all day so I schlogged for the first leg but finally got going at the jibe mark. The puff was short lived because I was back to schlogging for most of the second leg as well. 3rd leg (of 4) the wind finally filled in a bit so I was able to make up some ground especially by working through the lulls to stay on a plane until the next puff. Managed to pull put a 3rd place I think.

To deal with the large lulls on the course and shifting wind conditions I decided to grab the Mega Cat longboard for the next race. I didn't make the change-over quick enough and ended up a bit late for the start. I got caught up with the fleet on leg two, but ended up losing time again when I fell off the board while trying to adjust the mast position...more familiarity with the board will help avoid this. I think I finished in the middle of the pack.

The next two races I was able to get my act together and be ready on time. It was fun sailing the longboard all powered up through the slalom course. Pulled off two bullets and was able to wrap up the regatta title.

Arden, EL-11

Inside Command Central

The main post for the race committee is a large Iowa State themed bus. I got to visit the inside of this party bus.

End of Day 1 at Dam Jam

Done with racing today. More tomorrow. Pic of Mike Fox with my brother, Adam.

We did 3 races after lunch. I was late for the start of R4 but clawed back to get within a couple of feet of Don to finish 2nd. R5 I fell on the inside jibe while in a comfortable lead - doh - and Adam capitalized on it to take the win with me in 2nd again.

Last race, R6, most the fleet went to the right but Peter Hartwhich went towards the launch on the left and murdered us upwind. He ran away with the win after that. My Dad, Wayne, rounded the top mark in 2nd by going left early with Peter but faded through the rest of the course. Adam and I split tacks on the last upwind with him getting the better of it, finishing 2nd with me feet behind in 3rd.

I think I am in first place right now and Adam and Don are probably 2 and 3 in some order and Robin and Peter are probably 4 and 5.

Arden, EL-11

First Day at the Dam Jam

We woke up to rain at the Dam Jam, but that went away by 9:30 and then the sun came out and the wind filled in. We did three races this morning in about 10-15 mph winds. I felt pretty good on the Mega Cat and won the first race with some room to spare but had to eke out races 2 & 3 as Robin and Don were right in there.

Kona fleet made it's debut for MOWIND and had 9 racers. Nice tight racing in that fleet. Looks like fun.

We came in to break for lunch and are headed back out soon. I attached some pictures of the launch, command central, and some of the sailors.

Arden, EL-11

2011 Race Year has Started

The 2011 MOWIND Race Series has started. I was the Race Committee for the Walleye Wagatta in Fond du Lac this weekend. Check out the regatta report on the MOWIND web site.

This coming weekend I am headed to Des Moines, IA (Saylorville Lake) for the annual Dam Jam regatta. This will be the first regatta I will race in this year so I am looking forward to it. I am borrowing an old Fanatic Mega Cat from Kevin at Windpower Windsurfing right now, and had a chance to sail it for the first time this afternoon. It went pretty well but it was a good idea to sail it before the race. It could use some touch-up on the nonskid near the middle of the board so that I don't slip around as much. It was also good to get used to way the mast track and centerboard work. It will be fun to sail a raceboard this weekend especially since Adam will also be on one too. He picked up a Superlight2 a few weeks ago and used it for the first time at Walleye last weekend.

Here are some pictures of the Mega Cat and Adam's Superlight2.

Superlight2 on top of the Mega Cat. Notice the thicker nose of the Cat and thicker tail on the Superlight2

I fixed up the Cat on the right. The one on the left needs some repairs to the deck so went back in the Windpower shed for now.

Lots of longboards...

The Mega Cat has some vee ahead of the centerboard and more rocker than the Superlight2. This picture is from before we put in the new gasket on the Superlight2. Adam said the new gasket worked well this weekend. You can get new material for repairing a worn out gasket at Windpower.

The Mega Cat centerboard alongside Superlight2 centerboard (black) and original Superlight centerboard (white)

All for now.

- Arden