Windsurfing New Zealand [WNZ HOME] [ WINDSURF N.Z. HOME]	Hosted by wiNZurf

THE NEW ZEALAND WINDSURFING ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 1996

Welcome to the 96/97 season! As Wendy noted in the last NZWA newsletter, I’ve stepped in to help out and free Wendy up for the more important tasks, although she’s still been pretty busy providing me with much of the material for this issue. This issue is very much ad-hoc on my part (including the name!), and I’d more than welcome contributions, criticism and suggestions (all constructive and physically possible please!). Much of the material which has arrived concerns safety on the water, an important theme at this time of the year when many of us get out the gear which has been moldering away all winter and rush out on to the water without checking equipment and forgetting the "winter overhaul" we resolved to do at the end of last summer. I recently had a lucky "break" when, after sailing alone around Wellington Harbour for a couple of hours I returned to the beach and collected my windsurfing instructors kit before sailing out to offer assistance to a novice who had got into difficulties. He made it back alone, I broke my boom and if I hadn’t had my kit which allowed a jury rigged return to the beach I would have faced an hour or so’s swim in freezing weather. I think there was a message there for me! Check out the calendar and start planning your holidays now. Take a look at the Instructors Courses, I recommend them as worthwhile even if you only plan to teach your friends. For NZWA matters contact Wendy at the address shown, for matters related to the newsletter you can contact me directly. Good sailing.

Bruce Spedding, 56 Pembroke Road, Northland, Wellington. Ph 64+4+4759236/Fax 64+4+4756135, email: bruce@winzurf.co.nz, URL:http://www.winzurf.co.nz

NATIONAL NEWS

ATA CARNETS

Don’t know what they are? Neither did I, seems that the Wellington Chamber of Commerce administers the ATA Carnet system, which covers the temporary exportation of goods in and out of New Zealand. Essentially it’s a system which takes the hassle out of traveling overseas with goods of significant value. For more information contact them on 04-472-2725

Certificate in Sports Studies

The Certificate in Sport Studies programme runs full time for two years. It is for serious athletes who have the desire and ability to be the best in their sport. It is the only education programme in New Zealand whose aim is to improve students Sport Performance while studying toward a future career. The programme has been running for over seven years and has included a number of well known New Zealand athletes as well as outstanding young developing talent. Currently the programme caters for 100 students in a wide variety of team and individual sports. Application forms from NZWA or Waikato Polytechnic, Private Bag HN3060, Hamilton 2020. Preferred date was 30 August, so don’t delay!

N.Z. Water Safety Council Press Release

Titled "SIGNIFICANT DECREASE IN DROWNINGS CONTINUES", it notes that for the year so far the total drowning have decreased by nearly 50% on 1980, but warns that people should not become complacent around water. 1980 had 132 drownings, 1996 has had 67 so far (windsurfing has one drowning attributed in 1982). Also significant in all the stats is the fact that the second highest figure (after Immersion Accidents, whatever they are) is attributed to Road Vehicles, so just because you’ve finished sailing for the day don’t mean it’s over!

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE "MAORI SPORTS TO THE YEAR 2000"

The Scholarship will be awarded on the night of the MDC Maori Sports Awards in one lump

sum and will be decided by the Maori Sports Awards Charitable Trust Inc, under the following guidelines:

• The athlete must be under the age of 20 as of the 31st December of the year of the Award and on our database.

• To identify talented Maori sports people.

• To keep the momentum of promoting talented Maori sports people in operation, so that there is a new "pathway' and "direction" for them to seek.

• To ensure that our talented Maori sports people are given every possible assistance to achieving their desired goals.

• To ultimately have a database of all Maori sporting athletes who are potentially capable of competing at Olympic level by the Year 1997.

• To ultimately have a high percentage of Maori sports people competing at the Olympics in the Year 2000 - Sydney, Australia.

Nomination/Application forms are available from the NZWA Secretary.

Grant Beck has been nominated by Barbara Kendall for this years Coach of the Year Award. Grant has coached both the Kendalls to a total of four medals, 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze. Keep your fingers crossed!

The NZWA has been notified of the status of two research proposals put forward on our behalf for funding by the NZ Sports Foundation. The two needs cited by NZWA are;

Stress effects on knees and other parts of the body from jarring in rough windsurfing conditions and ways to strengthen knees and exercises/ techniques to avoid/overcome them, (Needed: Strength and conditioning prescriptions, Recommended: Rob Nicholson, University of Otago), and To come up with a formula for the body weigh/height: sail area ratio, which denotes most efficient performance, in various wind speeds and water conditions. (Needed: Review of literature, Contact Peter Lester, NZ Yachting).

Around the REGIONS

The Wellington Windsurfing Association has bought a new boat to aid racing, unfortunately it hasn’t helped the weather, which has managed to skunk most of the Winter Series. Longboard racing will commence on the 28^th of September, 1.30pm at the Muritai Yacht Club (on Saturdays) and the Plimmerton Boating Club on the 29^th at 9.00am (an Sundays thereafter). AGM/BBQ is to be held at WildWinds shop, 6pm 23^rd Sept.

WHAT: Aaron MacIntosh coaching weekend, predominantly longboard technique but of value to anyone interested in performance tuning and tactics.

WHERE: Paremata Boating Club, Wellington.

WHEN: 4^th/5^th October

HOW MUCH: Prices are not fixed yet, but it is hoped with sponsorship (any offers?) to make it around $50 for students (weekend) and $150 for "mature" or late enrolling sailors.

ALSO: On the Saturday night Aaron will be talking at the Plimmerton Boat Club about the Olympics and other events, including videos. There will be a cover charge of about $5-$7.50, plus bring some food!

WHO: Contact Matthew Wood, Ph (04) 233127

The Canterbury Windsurfing Association reports a successful Mid Winter dinner with 25 members and friends attending. They also gave formal notice of the AGM which will discuss among other things the possible affiliation with the Canterbury Yachting Assn. A windsurfing trend which is also noted in several newsletters from overseas organisations, and is on the agenda for the NZWA. Also featured in their issue of Tacks & Jibes is a comment on the state of windsurfing in Maui, which may be reprinted in a subsequent issue, but basically paints a pretty sad picture of the decline of the windsurfing capital.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A Western Australia Board Sailing Assn. Newsletter received recently feature an interview with Willie Blaauw, sail designer for Gaastra. One of the questions was; We saw you at a few of the circuit events last summer - was this just for interest or were you looking for new talent, just supporting your sailors or was it that you were just keeping your eye on the work of the one they call Bugsy?

WB: I go to the events to help our team and observe new designs in action. Bugs is a friend and I was surprised, happily, to see him able to find the time to compete.

from the IFCA Newsletter:

WINDSURFING TAKES OFF

PWA and IFCA share a new mission This is the Press release that went out, recently, world wide jointly from the PWA and IFCA.

The Executives of the International Funboard Class Association and the Professional Windsurfers Association have resolved to work together to promote and organise the sport of windsurf racing, especially high wind (Funboard) racing.

The two Associations feel that their objectives and respective strengths are complementary and that the interests of the sport would be best served by closer co-operation.

It is the intention of both parties to translate this understanding into a work programme which will embrace :

• an agreed set of complementary objectives

• a angle set of rules, modified to cover all racing from World Cup to National Championship series

• clear links between both Associations in the competition structure to offer a visible ladder to World Tour participation to the National Association / grassroots member

• a combined training programme for Judges and Race Officers / Directors

the coordination of event calendars to avow clashes and consciously to foster links between the two Associations A first step has been the allocation of five places into all

From the USWA

No way to write a travelogue

Everyone who windsurfs has experienced the frustration of wind that can't be used. It's more frustrating than no wind at all. There's a place like this on Mobile Bay near the Battleship Alabama that no one sails because of seaweed, trash, and alligators. One day last spring three sailors could stand it no longer - they just had to try. They had a great time but can't seem to generate much interest in others. Maybe it's their list of advice: DO bring a radical weed fin, DO NOT come off of a plane, DO NOT fall off of your board, DO NOT blow any maneuver, DO NOT turn in the same place every time, DO NOT sail near things that look like logs in the water.

Also from the USWA - We're Watching

William Eddy of the Iowa Windsurfing Association sounds like an analytical kind of guy. He has become a Weather Channel junkie and tracked their predictions off and on over the past three years. The results showed wind being less than predicted 52% of the time, as predicted 37%, and more than predicted ll%. Our conclusions? Don't make any serious wagers and always take your book to the beach. (Ed’s note. The NZ Met. Service have said that they must err on the side of caution to avoid sailors being caught unexpectedly high winds, this just confirms that practice is not restricted to NZ!).

And finally … A two page article titled "RESCUE K-I-T, when help is not on the way" has in it’s acknowledgments "Special thanks to the Wellington Windsurfing Association (New Zealand),…". They’re doing more than drinking our beer there!

RESCUE K-I-T

Snap, crackle, or pop. Then one of those "time stands still" instants in which your brain slowly acknowledges that awful truth the rest of this day is not going to work out quite the way you planned. so what made that unnatural, life-altering sound? Mast? Boom? Downhaul? Fin? Body part?

NOW what? Your very life may depend on figuring out the correct what and them may not be much time for figuring nor many options to figure about. The obvious best choice is to do as much of the figuring as possible before you need it. Of course reality doesn't always fit into theory's neat little niches but "be prepared" is still sound advice.

DESPERATE SALE:

1 x Fanatic Mega Cat. Complete with centreboard, fin and mast -base. All in excellent condition - $1,500

Art Carbon Masts, All sizes - $200 ea.

Ph Terry Vernon 025 817 188

Wind, water, sun, and sand are all key ingredients for destruction of fiberglass, mylar, carbon fiber, aluminium, and rope. Prevention is what you do before you leave the show. It's so easy to do but also so easy to forget. Write yourself reminders if you have to. Modern equipment continues to improve but it still won't last forever.

Prevention also includes an honest assessment of your physical and environmental conditions-Are you cold, dehydrated, exhausted, hungry? Is the weather changing? What's the tide or current doing? Recognize when you need to take a rest. Don't be seduced into "one last reach" when you're close to the limit of your body or your equipment size.

More and more sailors are carrying a rescue kit. It is generally best to carry this on your person just in case all your parts separate. A kit could contain nylon cord for towing, rigging line for repairs, a screwdriver, a knife, a whistle, flares, a quarter for the phone booth. Knowing a few appropriate knots to tie with that line is also important. Practice the bowline, sheet bend, clove hitch, and figure eight next time you're hanging out. Find a knot book, keep it by the TV with some line.

But one day it can happen and there you are with a problem-staying with the flotation that your board provides is the absolute highest priority of all. We all should know this. Getting help is second, limping in alone is third. If you need help, make it obvious. Wave your arms, be visible, use that whistle, focus on the closest possible helper until you get a response from them.

Towing another sail board is a challenge. The board being towed should be tied near the nose with the other end of the line attached to the tower's back foot strap or spreader bar. some will argue that attaching to the bar makes it easier controlthe towblg board. Be sure to use a slip knot in case it needs to be disengaged quickly.

You may be faced with deciding whether to de-rig, ditch the rig, or let the rig act as a sea anchor. There may not be much time for analysing, and recognising when to let go of a thousand dollars worth of gear is tough. If you have time always try for a fix. If de-rigging is your best option, some parts of the operation are easier while straddling the board, some while in the water. Lash loose things like mast bases to your spreader or footstraps. Remove and shorten your booms, roll the sat around your mast with the battens parallel to it, put this all on top of the booms, and use the outhaul to secure it. Lay on the lumpy mass and start to paddle.

Theories abound for on the water fixes. Here are some suggestions. For a broken fin try to snug your harness to the back of tour board, spreader bar across the foostrap. If you have an A- or an E-box board and you only broke off the screw tab, try sliding the fin into the slot backwards. Get up smoothly and keep moving forward to keep the fin pushed into place with water resistance. It is possible to sail some boards without a fin but it would really help to have had some recent practice sailing backwards. You won't be able to hock in and a broad reach will be the best you can achieve but you’ll be moving in the right direction.

If your mast breaks at or above the boom, take the top hair of the mast out of the sleeve-Turn it upside down and stick the point into the open broken end of the bottom how. Re-rig the sail without much downhaul. Fold the excess sail over and tie it off. If the mast breaks below the boom, loosen all lines and try to slide the top half (tip down) into the sleeve with the bottom half. Lash the halves together ( and tie off the excess sail.

If one arm of your boom breaks and it's the side you need, you'll be glad you practised that clew-first sailing. If you can't make that work you'll have to stop and reverse the boom so the good side is on the tack you need. If the entire boom breaks, a rope boom can be improvised from outhaul, inhaul, and harness fines. Rig the thickest ones where your hands will be. spread your arms to make it work. Now you'll understand the importance of rigid booms.

A broken universal means a serious balancing act or using the downhaul to tie up to the remaining pieces as well as possible. A bootie or mast pad can be used to try to protect the board but some deck repairs are probably going to be necessary

Be aware of what's happening to you while you're trying to accomplish any of this and recognize when there's really no alternative but ditching the rig and saving yourself. Remove any usable lines or parts but remember, although it may be your favorite sail (or mast or boom or whatever) they still make this that stuff and you'll find away to get another one.

Obviously many of these theories will work better on a reservoir in Iowa during 6.0 conditions than they will when the Gorge is blowing 3.0. But it's just plan smart to be aware of some of the options before you actually need them.

Louise Wilson Noyes

Ed. note: This article is to encourage prevention, preparation, and discussion about potential problems. Special thanks to the Wellington Windsurfing Association (New Zealand), Brian Schurton, Kevin Young, Adam Durand, Stu Hill, Maui Meyer.

NZWA INSTRUCTORS COURSE INFORMATION

Nth Island. Courses:

1 - 5 December 1996, Rotorua Windsurf School, Hannah's Bay, Rotorua.

2 - 16 January 1997, Pt Chevalier Windsurf School, Pt Chevalier Sailing Club

Sth Island. Courses:

1 - 28 November 1996, Vauxhall Yacht Club, Dunedin

2 - 5 December 1996, East Coast Windsurf School, Christchurch

3 - 12 December 1996, Cromwell College, Cromwell.

Master Instructors:

Nth Isl. - Ken Kingsbury (07 345 5327)

Sth Isl. - Matthew Wood (04 233 1327)

Cost: $350

INTRODUCTION

The course, which is based on the RYA teaching system, is intensive and is designed to train candidates to an international level of skill in windsurfing instruction and school management. By the end of the course, candidates will know how to teach a group of beginners to get going on a windsurfer within two hours, and will have the knowledge to run a windsurfing school efficiently and safely. They will also hold an NZWA Instructors certificate and ID. Badge which will recommend them as a suitable instructor to any national or international windsurfing school.

PREREQUISITES FOR THE COURSE

Before enrolling in the NZWA Instructors Course, the candidates must:

1. be at least 18 years of age (ie. certificates will not be issued until 18th birthday),

2. hold a current first aid certificate,

3. have competent long-board handling skills,

4. have reasonable knowledge of safe powerboat operation.

DURING THE COURSE

Model students will be present for candidates to teach. Progress will be continually assessed with the use of a video camera as candidates learn the following skills:

1. Competent teaching on simulator and water,

2. Effective communication in a variety of situations,

3. Use of different aids on water, boat, board etc,

4. Expertise in windsurfing skill and seamanship,

5. Handling of a powerboat in a variety of conditions,

6. Maintenance of safety.

THE QUALIFIED NZWA INSTRUCTOR

To become qualified, the candidate must:

1. pass the Instructors practical exam,

2. gain an 80% pass or over in the Instructors Theory exam,

3. have become a safety conscious and knowledgeable instructor.

IF CANDIDATES FAIL TO COMPLETE ALL REQUIREMENTS, they will have one year in which to complete that requirement.

Once qualified, Instructors will receive a certificate and an identification badge. They shall be able to issue NZWA Competence Certificates and are encouraged to keep a personal diary or logbook to keep up to date with innovation in equipment or technique. They will have a responsibility to promote the image of windsurfing as a healthy and safe sport.

TO MAINTAIN QUALIFICATION

NZWA Instructors will be required to renew their qualification every three years, by participating as an assistant during one full day at a current Instructors Course. Reminders will be sent to NZWA Instructors whose qualification is due to expire informing them of upcoming courses. New NZWA Instructors Manuals and other relevant information will be issued at a minimal cost ($25).

WHAT TO BRING TO THE COURSE

1. A wetsuit

2. Rain and wind proof clothing

3. A belt bag containing: 6m towline, whistle, penknife, triangular bandage and dayglow flag. Candidates who fail to bring complete contents of their belt bag will not be issued with certificates!

4. Note book, pen and pad

5. Instructors Manual (to be issued on enrolment), and familiarity of the manual

6. A pre-prepared 10 min. lecture aimed at beginners. The topic will be designated upon enrolment.

7. Two passport size photos (for NZWA Instructor ID badge and records)

8. Proof of First Aid Certificate

9. Remainder of course fee - $300.

PLEASE COMPLETE THE FORM AT THE END OF THIS NEWSLETTER AND RETURN TO NZWA

AT LEAST ONE MONTH PRIOR TO THE COURSE

International Event Calendar (so far) - more details available from NZWA

To:

If you would like to advertise in our newsletter, our rates are as follows:

$20 1/4 A4 $35 1/2 A4 $50 3/4 A4 $60 full A4

Our newsletter is issued every two months and is circulated to all individual members and affiliated windsurfing clubs (who display the newsletter on club notice-boards), as well as associated organisations within New Zealand and 12 International Windsurfing Associations

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NZWA INSTRUCTORS COURSE ENROLMENT FORM

^{Yes, I would like to become an NZWA Instructor!}

Please tick which course you are enrolling for:

Name:_________________________________Age:_____________________

Address:________________________________________________________

Phone:_____________________(H)____________________(W)

Name of Windsurfing School (if any)_________________________________

Years of Windsurfing Experience:____________________________________

First Aid Certificate: Yes / No Expiry Date:___________________________

I enclose $50 enrolment fee, Signed:__________________________________

WELL DONE BARBARA AND AARON!

Windsurfing NZ