evets (21500km):
3476 days ago Albany Chipanna way JP54SP RSREIII 6.2 24 MXR
Measured 16 to 21 kts and forecast to build so decided on gentle sail on the 6.2. Twas typical frontal up and down, at the end whil I was derigging it gusted some more measured 33kts with 31 sustained for a while ( then 13 kts after a short while). Suffice to say the 6.2 was sometimes to big.
Never felt in enuf control to gybe and cocked up the only 2 I really tried. Great fun either way, the speed runs were way beond comfortable with the chop. Five sailors out at one point, Shane has been sailing less than a year and did brilliantly today, hope he gets a GPS soon ços he is both hooked and a natural GPSer.
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fangy (22667km):
3476 days ago One year and 2600kms later the time has come to celebrate one year in GPSTC. I foremost want to say thank you to all of you in GPSTC world. What I have got out of this goes much further and deeper than rediscovering and reigniting a passion for windsurfing I thought had passed or at least dwindled to a small flame.
For a start I can write oodles of stuff that I don’t have to worry about whether its going to result in a lawsuit or a professional complaint. I can indulge my sense of humour. Unfortunately for my team mates they have borne the brunt of it, but I can say with some degree of confidence that I have sledged someone in every state of Australia. There is a milestone to be proud of right there.
I do really like reading posts from around the country on those days where the holes in the cheese align and the stoke from those that got amongst it is absolutely palpable. I may not have been there, but I feed off their joy as if it was my own. We have all been there when the endorphins come-a-rushin’ after a session or even a gybe or speed run. I reckon for me that emotional high is contagious.
I really like the GPSTC sense of community. So this applies to all of you who have nothing better to do on a Sunday night than read this little self indulgent post. That inclusiveness is not easy for an introvert like me to easily experience, but as a result of a bit of a gamble on my part by putting it about a bit, I have reaped a harvest of connections with a community like I never have before. When I first started I was more than happy to sail by myself, partly because of my ineptitude but also because I didn’t know any different. Now, I am still happy to sail by myself, but nothing beats a session with your mates, both male and female, where you come off the water and feed off one another’ s personal highs and achievements. I am by nature a competitive spirit, but I am only competing against myself, there is no barrier for me to rejoice in another’s pb wherever it may lie on the spectrum compared to me.
I love the lack of red thumbs. Only because I reckon I would be consumed by jealousy by the fact Sausage would only have to post something and his own highly trained team of red thumbers that he has cultivated would leave me in a distant second place. Its hard to compete with that sort of dedication to a cause.
Soapbox moment - Seabreeze get rid of anonymous red thumbs!
So if everyone is feeling the love at the moment I am going to name and shame a few special people. Windxstasy - was the first contact I had with the wider windsurfing community. She has a deep humanity, ability to connect and a gorgeous spirit. Plus, a fabulous ability with art in her chosen medium of glass. If any of you ever get the chance, have a gander at her work, it is beautiful. Manbra mobbers - inclusiveness, espirit de corps, shared knowledge, experience and encouragement from Day 1. Day 365 nothing has changed. They have, without blinking, selflessly done things for me at various times and simply shrugged it off. The best team I have ever been a part of. Decrepit - is the driving force behind my descent into the abyss of GPSTC. Mike and I go back 20 odd years now and he still has not managed to come up with a reason why he should not be fixing my stuff when I smash it up or making me a new fin when required. Infallibly thoughtful,considerate, generous and simply a great mate to have. Hardie - obviously in the bigger picture, one the founders of the whole GPSTC community deserves massive kudos. However, for me on a more personal level, a thank you of any sort will probably never be enough. I owe Joe more than I can express. So as inadequate as it is, the most profound Thank You to you Joe.
So that’s my anniversary post. A special post not in the least because I managed to be sincere the whole way through and not sledge anyone. So a PB for me as well.
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