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| Stopping and also checking the speed line |
Time to
conclude this years Karpathos speed event. It is the 5th year and my 11th week
on the island. Karpathos proved once again to a very reliable place when you
want offshore wind during fixed dates. I is not many places in the world with
7-9 Bft every day from the same angle and with no rolling sea etc. Also the
service that we have with airport pick up, storage and rescue is unique.
This year
we where less Swedes that participated, but instead more Dutch and Ukrainian
sailors joined the event. We really had a great time together. If you want to
know more about the event and how it turned out, you can read here Karpathosspeed.com
Some reflections
about my own sailing
I have got a lot more used to the spot than the years before. This year my pulse almost never rose at all. And I did not find the place gusty on the upwind at all. It was extremely easy to sail every day. About 800km during 14 days in a row, with speeds around 38-42 knots everyday.
This year
both Daniel and myself used our sessions to practice and trim for Luderitz. The
difference compared to other years is that we used smaller boards, sails and
assy fins. And I also did practice to stop from 39-40 knots on 25 metres many
times.
The boards
that I brought this year where Carbon Art SP44, SP48, SL55 and SP60. I do not
want to write bad about any fin-brands, but on the good side I must say that I
am surprised how well the Gasoil Assy fin worked both upwind and downwind on
the SP44. I tried a lot to trim the new SP48 but struggled with the fins.
Daniel had better flow with this board than I. Maybe a better fin and also the board
size suited his weight better than for me. Hard to say, but I will try to find
more carbon fins in sizes 26-28 with medium lift.
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| SP44 and Loft 6,3 high wind trimmed |
Maybe the
whole combo has got a lot better year by year. Because neither Daniel nor
myself had any problems with catapults or any serious spinouts. Balance is the
word! I feel I am writing a lot of positive bullshit above, pushing my sponsors
etc. Sorry if you feel that, what can I say more than that Daniel and Markus E
where also very pleased with their sails from NP and Simmer!
Next year I
will NOT bring the 7,8 rig and a lot of G10 fins will also be left home.
I made a
little video from this year that explains why we keep on visiting the Island of
Karpathos. It is the reliable offshore wind, but also the fantastic town
Pigadia, the food and all the nice people we meet. The Greeks but also all
others that are visiting the island every year.
from Karpathos with love from Anders BQ on Vimeo.
