Congrats on the PB's Tom & Stew!

Well done on the pb,s Stew and Tom!

Yeah Micky, other teams call us the "East Coast Marauders" because we cover from South West Rocks down to the Central Coast. Bloody big area, and probably room for a few teams (rather than one) given the distribution of members and the large area.

In the end I dont mind at all, and I certainly understand why you guys down south would want your own team being so far south and away from the MNC and also due to you guys having so many sailors down there now too.

I guess the upside is that it would create some very freindly competition if we did some inter-team days like we did with the roaches last season. That was a fun gathering for sure. Each team would have at least one killer spot locally - southerners have Canton, Forter has Booti Booti, and the Northerners have Harrys and Queens.

The only downside for you splinter groups is that we Northerners would have to start charging an entry fee to Harrys, but we would offer a decent concession for an annual pass 

Hi all, I understand I am a new born in this whole thing but I reckon Mick's call on a Central Coast and a Forster team makes sense from what I've seen of other teams which are more localised. And from what I have experienced today with a chunk of Central Coast Marauders sailing together added a great team vibe. Mind you it was great when I got to sail with Mark Jordan the other week.

If it was going to happen it needs to happen before next year starts? 

As long as I can go sailing I'm stoked, and Mick you got me into this awesome sport so what you say goes for me. Is there any pros or cons in having 2 factions to the team?

Where do I get a team shirt? Do they come in size Massive? 

No just smoke.

Well-Done Wayne / Paul & Bill on your PB's

Opening your presents earily I see!

Nice sessions Marauders!

Good team effort everyeone. I was meant to add my times in for today, though after today's efforts, it's all turned to custard.

Arrival at Lake Burley Griffin (ACT) around 3.00pm to find it going off. Tossing up between the 6.7 or the 5.5 which is still brand new even though it is close to 10 years old. Rigged the 6.7 flat, strapped the 87L PD onto it and proceeded to head for the water. At that point, the wind had died down a little. Managed 1 run at half speed, before turning into a submarine captain again, so came in and switched to the Falcon 113. Proceeded to bob around for another 2 hrs and watched the wind disappear further till it was back to about 5 kts.

Sailed one run on a bullet gust, and read 28kts on the GPS, which lasted about 3 seconds. Bobbed back to the car with anger management issues.

Ready to upload the track, and no track present on the GPS. Card was locked, possibly due to re-inserting it into the device last time.

All in all, nice to be on the water in the 36degrees we had here, not happy with the days efforts though.

Things to note:

1 - ensure GPS card is not locked

2 - Ensure that newly bought fins have been fitted to all boards.

3 - Ensure all gear is put back into its place, ready for next time (need to find the shorty now which is in the house somewhere)

4 - move to and sail on the coast!

Hi Chris,

Unlock your card. Go to Data Logger Menu click save to card. Now your data is saved on your card.

You can then upload that file to KA 72.

Cheers!

Hi Mick,

As usual there are always two sides to every proposal.

I do like the idea of a CC Marauders team, as we do like to feel unique and rarely go to Foster or Port for a sail.

However, it is good to be in a big, strong team that has such a good vibe. It would be a shame to lose that (potentially). Could we make the team name "Marauders" instead of "Mid-North Coast Marauders"?

Or could there be a sub-section for the CC Marauders? Just some thoughts...

Cheers lads.

Perhaps worth floating the idea of a breakaway club Mick, but I think there are many advantages for us Central Coast guys to belong to a club that extends north through Port Stephens, Forster to Port Macquarie. Not the least of which is the social aspect. The geographical breadth of this club is good for all of us. We travel to the other locations for weekends or holidays and we've got local contacts. Friendly windsurfers who are only too pleased to welcome us to their best sailing spots, give us all sorts of local advice and probably help if we've got problems.

Windsurfing used to be a more social sport in the days when I was racing, with 100+ people turning up for events. For the last 15 years it's been a small Formula Board scene until the GPS Team Challenge. GPS sailing has brought us windsurfers together again with renewed enthusiasm from those of us who have stayed with the sport for decades, and a fresh enthusiasm from those who now have a reason to get back into it, and of course there are new recruits, something we haven't seen for years. So I'm all for extending our connections and alliances rather than forming small closed competitive teams. We all want to go faster but the social part of it is more important than any local clubs speed results. 

- Paul Davies        

Well said , gps is the best thing that has happened in a long time , iam already planning my trips down your way this winter

First of all congrats to Bill, Tom,Paul, Stew and Wayno on their PB's. Good stuff fellas! Big weekend turnout as well.

 If I could weigh in and give my thoughts on the discussion. I certainly can see Mick's point of view. The team is quite big (47 I think) There would be nothing wrong with even halving that number to make up a team.

     An advantage would be it would be easier for individuals to get the odd Jelly Bean. It would be less of a load for Mark, our Team Captain to manage fewer members.The whole idea of GPS Challenge is competition. Challenge each other and yourselves in a positive way. There is no doubt that as Paul  says that the social aspect is what entices people to the Challenge. That need not be limited to being physically there. Of course, as being part of the Challenge we all like to share our knowledge of local spots and give advice, because we all share something in common. A passion for windsurfing.

     Being in separate teams need not take that away. Everywhere you travel and sail, it's the same with the other windsurfers you meet. An understanding and friendliness that's unique in this sport.You can tell by how much this team has grown. So, I think that for that continued growth, having a "Sister/Brother" Marauders team would not be a bad thing. Certainley the 'come sail at our spot' friendly meets will continue that theme and we may be able improve the after sail social side, EG meal and drinks/ entertainment for afters and trips away.

I will continue to sail with the Marauders for my own pleasure.

That's it.     Good luck to those making the break. Cheers Everyone!

PS: A few of us are heading up to Burrum Heads from the second week in Feb.2014 for two weeks. (Good tides) Anyone wanting to come along, let me know soon. 65542424 

When I mentioned the social part of the GPS Speed Challenge I wasn't thinking about after sailing activities and clubby stuff. In my experience that can formalize what is now fun and stuff it up. If we want to socialize outside of sailing that will happen. I meant that this has brought more sailors to specfic locations and the friendly atmosphere is what we make of it. It's a good thing that we are now are sailing in numbers at speed locations and getting to talk before and after sailing rather than sailing scattered locations with the same two or three guys or sailing by yourself and perhaps mumbling a few comments to another windsurfer who turns up. Larger numbers of windsurfers at speed locations looks good for the sport and acts like a magnet for other recreational sailors. Who wants clubs? Next we would have paid memberships, club officials, regulations, rescue boats, lunches, dinners. Who wants a Sailing Club? In the old days windsurfing got associated with sailing clubs (and Formula still is). I've been there as a member, secretary and president. It was one of the things that stuffed up windsurfing as a recreational sport. No one should want it back.         

Maybe the guys whom wish to talk about forming their own CC team should rack of and do it  and stop talking it up in front of people who have the balls to bring it up as a genuine discussion. And to then not back it up with there same opinions at posting time? Mick has been pushed about this topic for ages by many different people and that is why he brought it up due to other members discussing it on the afternoon of 22-12 mmm now who was in the carpark?

The help I've been fortunite enough to recieve from most of you guy's has been awesome but one thing I do know about is backing up your words with actions, and if your in a team do all you can for that team. 

Mick and all true Marauders Merry Christmas and wish you all a great windy new year!

And I still would like to purchase a great big MID NORTH COAST MARAUDERS t shirt please and I had an idea that we get big yellow smilly face stickers for all team members sails and the smile says mid north coast maurauders when you are close to it but we will always know when your sailing who is a team mate? Thought that could be a fun topic for discussion?

Thanks Mick for raising this. Its a legitimate idea, and I support it. Some of the best fun I have had on the water is sailing with people from the Lake Mac and other teams. Teams dont matter. SaltyNic is right, the GPSTC is what makes this successful, not individual teams. The competition is good natured and always in the interests of stretching ones performance. Some of the best tips I have had are from members of others teams. I love sailing with Greg and Byron and others from Lake Mac and just as eagerly look at their results after a session. Like Nic, I will most likely never contribute a jelly bean to any team I'm in, but I love the comraderie, the vibe and the supportive natiure that the whole GPSTC thing brings. I dont think creating a CC team will change that at all. Why would a name get in the way? Lets not lose sight of why GPSTC is there, to promote the sport and its participation. If a team gets big, it means its working, and why not make it two teams? If that stopped guys coming down to sample the joys of Canton is SW, then someones attitude ain't right anymore. I drive an hour and half minimum to sail with the boys, Harro is a solid 4 hours for me, and I love it to death. I will happily pay the admission fee to get in..:-) I often comment on how localism is not present in windsurfing, which is what ruined surfing for me. So to me, teams dont matter. Make it logical and manageable, and to me it looks like a CC team is now viable and will add to the whole thing. Lets hope the success of GPSTC that has made the marauders so big, doesnt shoot itself in the foot. And if we want to start having beers after a session, count me in!!

Excuse a southern Roach popping in here but I definitely agree with Mick and others on this one.

You guys have a massive team (takes 5 minutes to read the posts) and being spread over such a large area its starting to make it hard to know where each section is actually from. The Cockies is still a quite large team but has many factions but we are still in one city. You blokes are spread over a pretty large chunk of NSW (in actuality its Central Coast to the border) so separate teams makes a huge bit of sense.

The social side of it will not change, this was proven last December when we had the weekend challenge at Booti Pt. It was a huge success. There are always going to be guys from different teams driving to different locations outside of their area. Its part of windsurfing and part of what makes our sport what it is. Jamie has hit it on the head, growing up on the northern beaches and big into localism, windsurfing surpasses all that and I know when me, Rexy, Mt etc turn up at Canton for a sesh we dont even think about our reception (well except for one or two) and know its always fun doing the blah blah bit onshore and then having a blast on the water. Its always a great experience going up or down the coast to sail different spots and meet and catch up with guys you know and meet on the day.

the GPSTC has been a massive thing for the sport and has brought many teams together, the more the merrier is a good thing. Good luck fellas, I reckon its a good thing!!!

Thanks Mark,

I think I have already buggered it by pushing too many buttons...needless to say, the file is no longer on the unit.

Cheers

Chris

I'm happy with the Marauders the way it is Mick but if the consensus was for a local team that would be OK with me too. Most of us think of you as the local Captain anyway.

Paul D.

Yeah i'm happy with the way it is.

Mick, Keep a Delta 19 or 21 aside for me. Thanks Paul D.

Hey Paul, just have the 20 left and 15's. Mark J will order some more soon.Try it out on Sunday and see what you think. Cmon Huey!!!!

Hi Mick, Will be using it in my 102 litre 66 wide JP Slalom ix with 7.1, 6.6, 6.0. The 20 might be the right size? What do you think? The 15 would be way to small even for the 6.0 wouldn't it? I like to be power the fin upwind (normally JP Weed 31), lifted windward rail, wind under the board etc. I guess with a Delta 20 I'm gonna have to feather it upwind like a wave board? Paul.

Hey Paul the delta fins go upwind well you just need to take the weight of your back foot. I find that if I take my back foot out of the strap and place it just in front of the back straps it works well and off the breeze they are Great! You do not notice the weed at all!

+1 Matt D on the deltas.Great fun in the right spots. Your next mission is to convince a jetski there is enough water for him too :-)