The inaugural jetty to jetty Freerace event, sponsored by Surf Connect is on this month.
1st Windy Sunday, check the poster for times to suit the tides.
It's approximately a 6k blast each way, and if the wind is right pretty much a straight reach there and back.
This is the final event of the Freerace Series this summer, results on the day will have a big impact on final positions of the series.
More importantly , Last Chance to win great prizes from, Severne, Starboard, Flying Objects, Black project.
Simply by entering the race you get a chance to be in the random draw after the race.
NOR and race confirmation will be based on forecast and left as late as possible, to ensure best chance of wind on the day.
Updates on Face Book, Here and SMS for those registered.
If you don't have a GPS you can still enter and battle out for bragging rights (and enter prize draw) for line honours/position.
It's also a great location for family/friends etc, with parks, shade, pool, café and heaps of parking
Not looking promising for Sunday, final call will be late tonight or Friday Morning.
Sorry guys, forecast not favourable for this Sunday , eyes towards next Sunday 19th 2pm, enjoy today's wind! 
Sadly a pretty ordinary forecast for wind this weekend, No Freerace this Sunday
Hopefully Third time lucky, fingers crossed for Sunday 26th.
Perhaps somebody could sell/burn/trash some kit next week to make the sacrifice that clearly the wind gods require! 
We are on 'alert' for this Sunday, Surf Connect Jetty to Jetty Freerace, with some decent chances of a SW blow, simply the reverse wind direction, may start a bit earlier (1.00pm) to get a lower tide (closer to the wind line) and better wind...wind be will get more consistent and stronger further on the run you go.
Needs to a good forecast plenty of wind to make it work...being an offshore direction should make for a flat fast run.
Just a reminder this is the last Race of the season, its a 'destination race' so first over the line etc, hopefully might attract a bunch of freesailors that don't own GPS units.
Also last chance to enter into the prize draw from Black Project Find, Flying Objects, Severne and Starboard.
Winds be fickle at this time of year so will update later in the week.
Select to expand quoteJohn340 said..
With the forecast offshore conditions, do you have a rescue boat?
Yes, on shore/off shore we have a Rescue boat with support crew, we have had a boat either on the water or stand bye at all Freeraces, standard practice.
Sandgate's boat is supplied with a big thanks to Padi and the team and Surf Connect.
Still looking really good for Sunday Jetty to Jetty, Sandgate 
Will post updates on Friday, with confirmed start time also, (around 12.00-1.00 most likely , with Mid tide ) W/SW very fluky winds so we will update again based on latest Friday BOM forecasts.
Fingers and toes crossed, Its On! 12.00 Sign on, race 1.00 /1.30, good winds still forecasted, no more updates unless a complete change of wind forecast in the next 24hrs.
Mid tide a bit of walk out but that ensures we start in better wind and also make the most of the wind which is forecasted to back of late in the afternoon, which is pretty typical of a W/SW.
Pdf's are a MUST for this event being open water, GPS are optional, would be great to have a heap of people with them as we can later load the files into the computer and it should look great on the computer replay, but essentially its a first there and back race, position/points/class all being calculated into the FR points table.
Great opportunity to simply drag race your mates there and back for bragging/beer rights!
It will be a spectacular sight if we can get a big bunch of sailors doing the race, Media releases are out so hopefully maybe some local press also bring your mates its all set to be a fun sail the more the better, rave your mates for a CTN.
The winds are offshore, so it's kind of like Qld's mini version of the Defi wind! Haha! please check your gear and safety systems.
There will be an IRB at the Woody Point end with a marker buoy, when they pull that Buoy up at around 1Hr after start, they will come back on a sweep to pick up and stragglers or broken gear sailors, if need be.
Padi at SurfConnect is putting on a Sausage Sizzle in the park afterwards also and the End of Season Prize draw so hang around, with prizes from STARBOARD, SEVERNE, FLYING OBJECTS, BLACK PROJECT.
For non windsurfers its a lovely spot also, park, pool, paths, café etc..so good spot to bring the tribe.
Lets make this one a big one, support the sponsors, organisers and the sport, before we all settle in to the SE Qld no wind winter pattern.
Enter on the day or preferably on line before hand via the Windwanderers Website.
Handy also if we could get an idea of numbers for Padi's catering/planning on the day also...simple 'like' or 'attend' on the FB site will help, thanks.
Select to expand quoteFreeraceQLD said..
Well what an afternoon! Winds smashed through with a 15 to anyone's guess top speed Westerly, some say 25+ others claim 35+ bit like the 'how big was the fish'!
Certainly was some big bullets that's for sure, but by mid afternoon it had dropped to nothing!
Some of the runs along Sandgate beach were super flat and fast in the early afternoon, and the as the tide changes the chop came into play around the bridge end, was a pretty spectacular site to see a bunch of sails blasting across the bay like that.
The wind direction, sailability and safety meant for some changes to the day, the Jetty just being too far off the wind in the offshore winds meant a couple of distance races were held to the channel markers on the bridge and back which was the right course/call or the conditions, some insane fast sailing combine with some decent old crashes made it all the more interesting, no one lost at sea, no injuries, although Jason's tour of Moreton bay wasn't on the plans for the day, and not sure where Clive went, think he got stuck talking to the troll under the bridge, big thanks to Morgans Family for participating and assisting with Photo's, Starts, and the occasional Jet Ski rescue!
We managed two races which was perfect as we have a 4 way tie for first! Brad Anderson and Dave Sandos 1st & 4th and Steve and Leo 2nd and 3rd respectively, all finishing with a score of 5! So the best way to sort it out would be to do it again next year!
As a racing and destination event site its got a lot of things going for it, facilities, parking, works in a variety of winds, no mud, in a SE wind the Jetty to Jetty will be a lot more achievable and importantly a great team of water crew at Surf Connect that help bring it all together.
There is a heap of photos on the Face Book site, www.facebook.com/freeraceq .
There were also some great prizes awarded for the season also, with Fin's from Black Project, Transit Harness from Flying Objects, and the big two..
A brand new NCX or Turbo sail from Severne and the Starboard Board prize won by Martin (more pics to follow) .
Winners not in attendance on the day that need to make contact, George Polak - Severne , Rob Vaughn & Hannu Viitakangas - Black Projects, if you won a prize please PM here so we can put you in touch with key persons to arrange goods.
Again a big thanks to Padi and the team at Surf Connect who helped make it happen with support, boats, sausages and lamingtons, Surf Connect have been keen supporters of the concept all the way, great place to get friends into Windsurfing with Bic beach learner kits available to hire right there on the beach. 
Well thanks to Freerace QLD and Starboard for my "major draw prize" of a brand new board for next season. Much appreciated to all the sponsors and organisers of the events throughout the season. The final round with offshore 30+knots at times (BOM recorded 37knot gust) was a truly fitting final round. It's great to be surrounded by some of the fastest windsurfers on the planet and watching them disappear is very humbling. Thanks again to all involved and hope next year can be bigger and better.
If you haven't given it a try and not sure - take it from me (being my first season) it's great fun to be on the same water with others trying to beat some of the best out there. There is no pressure and you can do your own thing. Then all talk about it back on shore which makes they day better again. It's about people coming together in a otherwise solo sport. Have met many great people so far and hope to meet more next year. Give it a go!
Cheers
Marty
I made a video of my run on the day. It's a bit long sorry but gives you a good idea on the conditions. Please select 720HD in the settings otherwise it looks crappy.
Cheers
Marty
