Thought this might be cool to hear others stories/photos of a session still stuck in your mind. Or that one day that you'll never forget. Speed sailing or just a really good session you may have had. Would love to hear them! This has got me thinking about many many highlights from windsurfing all over the country and some of the best speed sailing locations. It's bloody hard to name one.
like:
With Cam and the opportunity to sail Michaelmans Cay (that was epic!)
Breaking 40knots ( Finally after 39.9kts downloaded, 5 times in a row, 5 different sessions)
To Sandy point (big Sunday) as 60kg boy and scared just standing there in 60knots of wind!
And Henty River, Tas, any trip there is a mission in itself!
For me it'd be an unplanned trip to Lake George. With Dad. I still Remember Hamma on the phone. Saying if we could get to his place. I need to take you boys to the Lake. It's on! Dads ute was brand new but had done the clutch. We were stuck in port Augusta. Bored and waiting days for parts and warranty. (As far as mum knew we were still in Augusta sitting there! Haha) So with that we bailed the ute and somehow hired another ute to get down to Hammas. A trip of a lifetime at the lake for a few days. It's a trip I'll never ever forget. This place was just being put on the radar in my eyes as one of the best GPS sailing locations at the time. I have never ever seen a place before glassy flat as far as the eye could see. But wait it had 30plus knots on it. What a spin out that was! To this day I think that still was the the best year for the lake for water levels/seaweed/wind in 2012, That I have sailed in. Shared this place with some great people all stoked with smiles and mind blown from sailing here. Jamie welcoming us to his backyard! You're a legend mate. And like you still say, dad still owes you that bourbon? Was it! Haha I'll never ever forget breaking the Aus Alpha record at the time. At 17years old. What a week it was there. Now still chasing my goal and more!
Share your highlight 
For me it's a toss up between Lake George and Lilacs.
Before my first trip to Lake George in 2013 I'd been stuck on 36kts, and at 68 years old, had an ambition to crack 70Km/Hr before I turned 70. Came fairly quickly, didn't take long to break the 36kt barrier with a 37, then a 38 that got me past 70km/hr, then a 39 that had me jumping around with a huge smile on my face.
On the way home to WA, Hardie gave the call to come to Albany as Evets had discovered a great speed run there.
So booked into Lilacs Cottages, right on the water front with a huge lawn rigging area, magic! Had a great session there and beat my Lake George 39 by a fraction of a knot. But the great attraction of Lilacs is the NM run, and we didn't try it that session as the locals thought it too short!
But now it has a 40kt run to it's name and I managed a 35NM last year.
It's very hard to single out the one best epic session, but a Lake George trip is just special, not only the Lake and it's sailing, the meeting of other GPSTC sailors, and the friendships that come from it.
Another event from that first LG trip springs to mind. Herby coming in saying his GPS was doing strange things, all the numbers were scrolling round. The reaction when we told him he'd cracked 30kts was classic!
He had speed genie set to 30 and had never seen the screen scrolling before.
Its similar for me Mike, Lilacs or Lake George.
Once past 40, I started looking at the other categories and was keen to get 27kt + Hour and Alpha categories. I'm not particularly nimble on my feet, so was stoked to finally crack a 27kt alpha this year at Lilacs and also my 2nd 27kt hour in the same session. A couple of weeks later I got a 38kt nauty in stormy conditions. That was pretty memorable too.
Did a road trip to Lake George with Johnski and Slugger in 2019 which was a memorable experience too. The wind wasn't particularly good, we actually got skunked in the end, but for some reason I have very fond memories of the trip. The craziness of driving 2 days non-stop to get there, Beachport being such a nice little town, lovely water to sail on, friendly sailors sharing the vibe, beers and meals at the local pub after, just being away on holidays with the lads, all made for a positive experience for me. I want to go back, but nail the wind a bit better this time
Yes it must be LG for most of us. I have been there 8 years in a row, and the most memorable was the first time in 2014. I think I was the first from NSW to get there, didn't know anybody, drove to the spit by myself, first run and I hit the sandbar and smashed my boom ! The place was incredible for the remoteness, the landscapes, the power of the wind. Lucky the next day I met Jamie and PJ and got a lot of good advice. Then Sammy came all the way from WA !
Sometimes I wish I could stop time in those moments.
Most memorable session would have to be SE at Cox Bank, Moreton Bay.
Slogged, body dragged and waded up wind to the Bank approx 1km at dawn in 8-12 knots with Mikey and Macey. On arrival pulled out of backpack breakfast wrapped in foil and Vacuum packed Hot Bacon, egg and chilli relish Turkish Bread rolls 
The look on their faces was priceless. As we had our fill the wind came in, steady 20 knots for the next couple of hours 
That said 2020 LG trip was filled some great sessions with so many great sailors where I managed to fill 22 spots in top 5
GPSTC scores. There 20 days and sailed 18, pub meal every night!! And forever the greatest peanut gallery on Earth, Firie Bob as your neighbour...
Who knows what Huey will throw our way next?
Highlights?
Far too many to choose between!
It seems like the last 17 years of GPS inspired windsurfing has been one massive adventure after another.
All the magic places I have been. All the wonderful people I have met. All the thrashings and exhilaration I have had.
From the earliest days at Sandy Point to Lake George, Primbee, Budgiwoi, Mallcoota, Marlow, Westernport Bay, Swan Bay, A45, Sharkbait etc. Some epic trips to Western Australia, to the legendary Mandura weed speed runs, Albany, and the remote wilds of Shark Bay. Some of the very best people you could hope to meet and share stories and experiences with along the way.
Having the great privilege of going on The Great Adventure to Luderitz, Namibia in great company, with the help of so many wonderful people in our community.
It's all just been one great big highlight to me. My life has been immeasurably enriched by so many of the friends I made and shared the journey with, and I hope this continues for many years to come.
Let the journey and adventures continue.
One of my best memories is windsurfing around the San Francisco bay area, launching from Larkspur Landing and blasting past San Quentin Prison up to Richmond Bridge dodging the occasional ferry was surreal, nice flattish water and heap of great crew from all round the world. Sailing at Berkeley was an experience, you had to launch off a pontoon but having Alcatraz and the Golden Gate bridge in the back ground was awesome.
Here I am again, talking to myself, with my back to the wind. I can't seem to get this song out of my head...but it's keeping me company. I reach for my harness lines to get some more seaweed off. Not sure why I bother, something to do I suppose.
I'm about 500m from shore and the small chop is lapping about half way up to my knee. This is as deep as it will get. From here towards the trees it just gets gradually shallower and smoother.
The wind could safely be called a gale. Most sensible people are cursing this weather and hunkered down inside where it's warm and dry, but no, Mr Speedsailer had to sneak out of bed early and get here for sunrise. I hadn't slept anyway as the house was shaking on its foundations. I'd been listening to the gusts as they roared through the trees and was picturing what it'd be like at Primbee.
Well, now I knew. ridiculously cold and miserable with wind blown spray clouds...just how I like it!!!!!
I spin the cylinder of my revolver and try to beach start. I've mistimed it and a shuddering gust blows through, backwinding the rig onto my helmet. I grit my teeth and just hang on until it passes. By now my board has flipped, so I have to reset and wait for another chance.. maybe on a lull this time.
I spin the cylinder again and this time get both feet into the straps just as I get snotted by another gust. I'm barely moving, so I struggle to keep the nose out of the wind and get some power down. I slowly feel the centre of effort sort itself out as I come onto the plane.
Just on a beam reach now, running parallel to the shore. I hit some smoother water and quickly get up to speed. I know I need to be going at least 35kts before I hit one of the big gusts, otherwise I won't be able to manage that power or bear away. I cock the hammer with my eyes fixed about 100m ahead of me.
When I see the white gust cloud, I'm both smiling and ****ting myself at the same time. There's a clear line where the water goes from choppy into a maelstrom. The top of the small chop is just being ripped off into a mist about waist high. I know I need to slingshot just before I hit this mess.
I take a slow breath and pull the trigger. I drop down lower to the water in anticipation of the hit. Luckily I'm already doing about 37kts as the gust stands me up but I'm able to wrestle it down without backing off.
I'm only running a 17cm fin, so I know I can't keep too much weight on the back foot. I keep bearing away as the water gets smoother. I'm still accelerating but I know I've only got another 10 seconds until I need to bail. The trees are getting closer but the good speed and smooth water keep me locked in for just--that--little--bit-longer!!!!
At the end of a run I normally crank hard upwind to wash off speed.....but I've left it too late. I'm already scraping through the sandy weed at over 40kts, if I dig my heels in now I'll catch the bottom for sure.
I instinctively let go of my rig and lay back like a snow angel, feet still in the straps. BAM!!!
When the violence stops I'm lying on my side, but thankfully still in one piece. I see my rig about 10m away, almost in the reeds. I stand up a bit dazed and look down. I have to laugh as the water doesn't even reach my ankle bone.
Why do I keep coming back to this Russian Roulette?
Select to expand quoteJetlag said..
Why do I keep coming back to this Russian Roulette?
That is indeed the million $ question.
One answer is that those few moments of exhilaration at top speed are so intensely satisfying, that we just cant resist the urge to do it again and again.
Thanks Jetlag. Very well written, and encapsulates beautifully what so many of us can intimately relate to.
Select to expand quoteJetlag said..
Here I am again, talking to myself, with my back to the wind. I can't seem to get this song out of my head...but it's keeping me company. I reach for my harness lines to get some more seaweed off. Not sure why I bother, something to do I suppose.
I'm about 500m from shore and the small chop is lapping about half way up to my knee. This is as deep as it will get. From here towards the trees it just gets gradually shallower and smoother.
The wind could safely be called a gale. Most sensible people are cursing this weather and hunkered down inside where it's warm and dry, but no, Mr Speedsailer had to sneak out of bed early and get here for sunrise. I hadn't slept anyway as the house was shaking on its foundations. I'd been listening to the gusts as they roared through the trees and was picturing what it'd be like at Primbee.
Well, now I knew. ridiculously cold and miserable with wind blown spray clouds...just how I like it!!!!!
I spin the cylinder of my revolver and try to beach start. I've mistimed it and a shuddering gust blows through, backwinding the rig onto my helmet. I grit my teeth and just hang on until it passes. By now my board has flipped, so I have to reset and wait for another chance.. maybe on a lull this time.
I spin the cylinder again and this time get both feet into the straps just as I get snotted by another gust. I'm barely moving, so I struggle to keep the nose out of the wind and get some power down. I slowly feel the centre of effort sort itself out as I come onto the plane.
Just on a beam reach now, running parallel to the shore. I hit some smoother water and quickly get up to speed. I know I need to be going at least 35kts before I hit one of the big gusts, otherwise I won't be able to manage that power or bear away. I cock the hammer with my eyes fixed about 100m ahead of me.
When I see the white gust cloud, I'm both smiling and ****ting myself at the same time. There's a clear line where the water goes from choppy into a maelstrom. The top of the small chop is just being ripped off into a mist about waist high. I know I need to slingshot just before I hit this mess.
I take a slow breath and pull the trigger. I drop down lower to the water in anticipation of the hit. Luckily I'm already doing about 37kts as the gust stands me up but I'm able to wrestle it down without backing off.
I'm only running a 17cm fin, so I know I can't keep too much weight on the back foot. I keep bearing away as the water gets smoother. I'm still accelerating but I know I've only got another 10 seconds until I need to bail. The trees are getting closer but the good speed and smooth water keep me locked in for just--that--little--bit-longer!!!!
At the end of a run I normally crank hard upwind to wash off speed.....but I've left it too late. I'm already scraping through the sandy weed at over 40kts, if I dig my heels in now I'll catch the bottom for sure.
I instinctively let go of my rig and lay back like a snow angel, feet still in the straps. BAM!!!
When the violence stops I'm lying on my side, but thankfully still in one piece. I see my rig about 10m away, almost in the reeds. I stand up a bit dazed and look down. I have to laugh as the water doesn't even reach my ankle bone.
Why do I keep coming back to this Russian Roulette?
Brilliant!
There's heaps. Joining GPSTC for sure. Burrum Windfest. Moving to WA and being made welcome, being shown local sailing spots and given speed sailing mentoring by the local speed sailing legends. The first time I sailed glass at Point Grey with 20+ knots of wind over it-unbelievable. My first 30 knot run at Stanley in Tas. A dead smooth NM at Albany. And of course Lake George. Most of all It's been the great friendships made all around Australia.
Most remarkable day.... 13 november 2012, the day Anders Bringdal first broke the 50knots at 500 meters in Luderitz, new world record and Antoine beat him a few runs later with a 51 knots.... i was very lucky to be right on this spot at this magic moment, i felt the sensation all over, at the end i was allowed to do a small run myself (not an official competitor, but did some video stuff) and made one perfect run in low wind, hitting 40+ knots.......
Onboard October 2009 long weekend at Beachport. Jimbob taking me and Dave Mossop 4WD'ing in his 1996 RAV4 (with his son's surf board on the roof). Before this day, I envisioned a 4WD in 1st gear slowly driving over a rocky road. But JB, rewrote this concept.
Most significant memory: We reach the rim of a sandy bluff. In it, was a Buggy race. Spectators were standing around the rim of this bluff. The convo went something like:
JB: "...yeah, they do this every year"
me: "Hmm Cool"
JB: "Wanna go down and have a look ?"
me: "ok"
So, down we go at some crazy decline and speed. We get to the bottom and enter the track. A Race Marshall hails us. JB pulls up next to him:
Marshall: "WTF are you doing mate ?, this is a race !!!"
JB: "That's ok. I'm a local !"
I'm a local......
and so we drive away. I look back at this poor marshall and his jaw is dropped. Meanwhile, the spectators on the rim are expressing their love to us for ruining their race.
Many many many more memories of that day. After about 3 hours in the dunes, I was that emotionally drained. After we dropped Dave back at this spit. I wasn't capable of talking anymore. I think I grunted a farewell to JB when he dropped me off at Surfer's beach. It was such a amazingly funny 4WD trip. Good times for sure. Thanks JB for that amazing experience
January 2020 Liptons WA
Just before lunch I trod on a piece of glass and cut my foot. If the forecast had not been so exceptional I might have decided not to soak my cut foot in the estuary all afternoon, but I threw caution to the wind (literally) and went sailing anyway.
My previous PB was 34.999 set in Dec 2016. I had managed high 34s numerous times since then but had not been able to crack the 35 knot barrier. Today I told myself I would be happy with 34. First run 35.5! Good bye 35 knots! On my next run I also did close to 35.5 and so I thought I could be onto a 5X PB as well. Then came a couple of 36 knot runs, so I kept going in the hope of a 35 knot 5X. I managed 5 runs in excess of my previous 2 sec PB including 3 in the 36's.
2 sec -36.68, 36.52, 36.42, 35.51, 35.45
5X - 35.8, 35.22, 35.18, 34.91, 34.75
Select to expand quoteWindxtasy said..
January 2020 Liptons WA
>>>
Yes great day Anita, I remember that, it's when I lost my motion.
Don't think I mentioned Pt Grey, how could I leave it out, the day of my PB alpha was probably the best water I've ever sailed in. weed well below the surface like LG but seemed like a lot of oil on the surface, had my 5.8 up so it wasn't honking, but I was getting up to 30kts square, that just doesn't happen for me.
Maui trip in 1992 with my first windsurfing in real waves.
Sailing Mast and a half Margaret river.
Doing 6 bottom turns wavesailing on an epic day at Avalon mandurah.
Many glorious camping holidays at Coronation Beach Geraldton.
Camping at Corros on a big swell day and doing 11 jumps in a row sailing out
My first ever 40kts at Cheese Graters, Lake Preston, Myalup.
The day I did 10+ 26kt alphas at Alphaland Peel Estuary
The day I cracked 5 x 10sec 40kts at Liptons bay, Mandurah
The glorious 2 x 37 kt NM runs at Lilacs Albany.
The first time I cracked 40kts at Lake George,
The Lake George Day where my first run was 40kts something I'd always wanted to do.
The day I did my most 40kt runs in a session at lake George.
Michaelmas Cay Reef Cairns Charter Boat with Cammy and the windsurfing crew from around Australia
The many Shark Bay Trips discovering new spots with Sammy, Doddi, Decrep and the boys
Early days windsurfing Wilson Inlet near Venus bay and also Inverloch
Sailing Sandy Point
Sailing in Tasmania and the great hospitality of Anthony P
And maybe best of all meeting the best friends of my life who shared my passion for Windsurfing
The Traveling to FNQ and the friendship and hospitality of Cammy
Travelling to SA and the friendship and hospitality of Anthony H, and Jamie
My Victorian trips and the friendships and hospitality of Graig H and Andrew D
Great thread Izaak, I still remember your first trip to the Pit and going Go Carting and trap shooting when there was no wind. No home invasions at your place.
It's made me think about what are the stories or highlights of a 35yr journey standing on a sailboard. I guess for me it's in a few parts, pre GPS and post GPSTC. That first feel/buzz of sailing off the beach on the old Dufor Sun, it was my two sports of sailing and surfing rolled into one. Still remember that day and I still enjoy jumping onto the old stuff, just not the crappy sails.
The first short board and launching into chop jumps.. It just like flying. I once set up for a jump at Invy not realising that a mate was on the inside, launched.. looked down to spot the landing only to see the top of Nic mast drift past the board. Luckily it was a great jump..460 masts on everything in those days. 
Slalom racing... and trying to keep up with all the gun sailors. Ian Fox, Byron Marsh, Daffy, Ben, Brendon N and Tony W... The only one I could catch was Tony..gybing wasn't his strong suit but I could never pass him. My first speed event was a 2 person race at the Pit. First past the buoy wins with a clock face start. Drew Mal Wright is the first race..Lost 2nd race...Tony Wynhoven...Lost. But that got me hooked into that endless chase with the numbers and some great friendships.
2004 Speedweed, possibly the first gps event in the world organized by Foxey using Garmin 201 watches. What a change from the Highwind carnival days of video timing and light beams. You could just sail, no set up, no set course. Just blast away and a little WA sailor did just that. Slowly just owned that day in 50/55 kt of wind, his grin just got wider and wider as his speeds increased. I ran a 3.7 Kaos on a Bic Allegro and survived. There some great video of Foxeys board flying through the air towards me as I sailed back up wind. It looks further away than it was.
Then the madness of the GPSTC...The best thing that has ever been. I never would have ventured up to Queensland, NSW, SA and WA and met this great community of nutters who all share the passion of windsurfing. Hardie and Ben take a bow, you made a family. You also made me into a distance sailor... You bastards!!!
But then I never forget the first night sail at Lake George. Lighthouse shining, the birds cackling in the distance and me on my own blasting across the lake. Epic day.
Then there was the trip to Tassie and back...4 yrs of trying...lots and lots of gym work...boat prep...crew prep..The best we did was 8 km on a great forecast only to have sea fog come in and kill the wind.
Would have loved to get it done but in the end it just wasn't meant to be. I hope someone will do the "there and back" one day.
Still some more adventures to come, records to chase and new toys to master.
Its been said before so many great Memories And being able to sail with my son for so many years a lot of proud moments too, I threw the little bugger in over his head a few times at big spots in big winds. It does make me feel good when I think about the time our Sponsors SHQ Fletcher and hutson asked as well mainly izaak to race the beach to beacon in Melbourne an iconic bay race Held for years That the great foxey had won the last six years straight (the other brand).
So to make it a big day that morning we got on a plane in Launceston With all our excess baggage and flew Melbourne . Picked up dropped off at the beach,rigged up sailed a couple of practice laps, a little lunch and lined up at the start With the who's who of Victorian windsurfers. We noted on our practice laps that the current was flowing across the beach and dragging you on to the beach so we decided to stay high round top mark so we could come down fast to the beach mark a plan. So we started foxey Straight to the lead izaak in about forth, the first mark foxey around smooth and heading straight to the beach mark,izaak with a blinder of a jib and moved to second and with this he stuck to the plan and went high, at about a k out he started to go for the mark foxy is starting to pinch to the mark,around the mark and izaak had made up the ground and was hard on foxey and like a good boy sitting in his blind spot and waiting for him look back,'eventually it got to much looked back and spin out. izaak went on to win , bit of a party and back on the plane.one big day, One proud dad day
Select to expand quoteanthony perkins said..
Its been said before so many great Memories And being able to sail with my son for so many years a lot of proud moments too, I threw the little bugger in over his head a few times at big spots in big winds. It does make me feel good when I think about the time our Sponsors SHQ Fletcher and hutson asked as well mainly izaak to race the beach to beacon in Melbourne an iconic bay race Held for years That the great foxey had won the last six years straight (the other brand).
So to make it a big day that morning we got on a plane in Launceston With all our excess baggage and flew Melbourne . Picked up dropped off at the beach,rigged up sailed a couple of practice laps, a little lunch and lined up at the start With the who's who of Victorian windsurfers. We noted on our practice laps that the current was flowing across the beach and dragging you on to the beach so we decided to stay high round top mark so we could come down fast to the beach mark a plan. So we started foxey Straight to the lead izaak in about forth, the first mark foxey around smooth and heading straight to the beach mark,izaak with a blinder of a jib and moved to second and with this he stuck to the plan and went high, at about a k out he started to go for the mark foxy is starting to pinch to the mark,around the mark and izaak had made up the ground and was hard on foxey and like a good boy sitting in his blind spot and waiting for him look back,'eventually it got to much looked back and spin out. izaak went on to win , bit of a party and back on the plane.one big day, One proud dad day
And 15 years in the sport myself. You still beat me
The best part of the last 35 years of sailing is the people I have met and the friends I have made over the years. Westerlies at marmong point when it was still a speed strip comes to mind also.
One interesting episode I had that relates to muscle memory and how strong it can be. I had a diabetic hypo one day while out on my bump and jump gear. It hit me very suddenly and stunned me like slap across the ear. It's difficult to describe a hypo exactly. You feel very disconnected from your body and your surroundings. This hypo was a decent one but not enough to make me pass out. I couldn't focus for more than a second however. The really weird thing is my muscle memory took over and I just keep sailing along till I reached shore. I maybe could have gybed but I wasn't about to try it lol.
Learning on a wally at Warnes Bay on Lake Macquarie in 1982
First short board season at Boyne Island / Tannum Sands in 1985
Qld Windsurfer titles at Eimeo Beach and Mackay to Airlie Marathon in 1987
Big Wednesday at Nobbies Beach in 1990
Rediscovering windsurfing again in 2010
Joining the GPSTC in 2013
First trip to Lake George in 2015
Sandy Point in a 30kt WSW in 2016
Riding logo high Manawa, Mauritius in 2017
First dawn patrol with the Three Amigos at Wellington point in 2018
Maui in 2019
Learning to foil in 2021
The common thread through all of these experiences are the lifetime friends met and the fantastic windsurfing community
Visiting Oz, sailing the fantastic spots like Fangyland, Lilacs, Lake George, and more. So many sessions that we'll always remember - first time through the lanes at Fangyland; Nina duck-diving (instead of duck jibing) into the weeds at Albany, and needing 20 minutes to get rid of the weeds again; and of course Lake George, in a "choppy" year (ha!).
Meeting tons on friendly and great GPSTC sailors - too many to mention.
There were a other memorable sessions in Germany, Italy, Tarifa, Corsica, the US, and other places, but WA and LG stand out. Can't wait for the next time!
