Dr Wong’s voice comes over the phone, “you need to get fitted for a boot and it will be three to six weeks” so shocked I can’t talk, just silence!
One night I am out sailing my PATRIK 91 Foilboard with a F4 foil and GUNSAILS GSR 8.6m, awesome gear. The wind is a nice fresh Nor Easter. I see 49er crew come blasting down the harbour. These guys have come out of MHYC so I presume they are Olympic wankers so it’s my mission to take these motherfuckers down! I sail over and gybe on to starboard to line them up. But they straight away drop their kite and disengage. Arseholes I think to myself, how dare they deny me my moment? I have blasted the 49ers in the past on my Formula gear and now with the foil I am supercharged. They round up and head for home but they are not getting away with it that easy. I round up and even though I am a fair bit downwind I gain on them and soon I am worried about getting into their dirty wind. I start to foot off to keep clear air and the speed winds right up, I haven’t experience speed like this on the foil before. I have only been training upwind and downwind but this could be fun, tight reaching could my thing. Anyway I am feeling pretty good blasting these 49ers and with nothing to worry about cause I am wearing an impact vest, helmet and googles! Yes goggles nothing could go wrong. But I start foil high, real high and them it happens I breach and then crash! I get thrown forward but my foot stays behind in the footstrap and gets twisted as it rips out. I surface to have a instance headache, I am fully conscience and notice my googles and been flung from my head, luckily they float and I swim after them, my neck is sore. I am super calm and make my way to the beach. I always calm myself down when I am in trouble ever since I got caught in a rip and dragged out as a 9yr old at Gerroa.
That night I wake at 2:30am and oh shit my foot is throbbing! The next day I go straight into a CT scan and two days later I get the bad news. I was starting think my neck is the main issue.
And that’s my current foiling crash story. Stay tuned for more LOL

The Hobie Polarized Sand and Sea Festival 27-28 Oct 2018.
This new event is a multi sport / community event. It looks very professional with many event tents and many beach / outdoor companies exhibiting in an event village. $7000 prize money was advertised. This event has huge potential to become Australia’s premier windsurfing event maybe even overtaking the Ledge to Lancilin as the main event here Downunder. There are a lot of things to get right before that kind of status. Following is my experience and my suggestions to make the event world class.

On Saturday I joined 7 other windsurfers and between 20 and 30 kiters for the 14km Downwinder in Jervis Bay.

Driving to the regatta I took a call from my team mate Max Gaubert to say the start time has been moved forward. Lucky I left Sydney at 8am as there was still time to make the start as Max picked up my timing chip. That saved me about one hour in driving to Huskinson rego tent and the back to the start beach. Normally we have a Notice of Race and then Sailing Instructions. Changes to the Sailing Instructions happen the night before and posted on an official notice board.
We were all consulted on the beach beforehand regarding the race run and we all agreed on the race rules so we all must take some responsibility in what was essentially was a complete mess of a race and start.
The new start time was to be 1pm with 1 minute warning. In hindsight this was not enough warning. Usually there is a warning signal and then the start sequence of 5, 4, 1 and go. Watches are sold with this and so you have chances to sync as least two times. Flags are used with sound signal. The International rules of Sailing have been perfected over decades.
We had a Rabbit start with a first mark further out. This mark was a bit upwind so we decided to not use it as some guys felt it would be a little difficult make the mark and so we decide to sail straight to the beach after crossing the start line. This decision made the start nonsensical in hindsight. The rabbit boats purpose is to get the sailors evenly and fairly onto the course but the rabbit drove upwind directly away from the finish. So if you waited upwind for the rabbit you would have lost time and further penalized with extra distance to sail.
There was some confusion about the first mark. Was it in or out of the course? I saw the committee go up towards it to fix the start situation by relocating the buoy and I thought stay with them to know what is going on. But I was wrong and I think now that this was probably the race starting. Some kiters came upwind to round the mark as well.  It was still not clear what was happening because sailors where all over the place. Max was sitting on the beach. He asked the Race officer, “has the race started!” yes! Was the reply and big credit to Max for winning the race from that position. When I realized we where racing the sailors were dots on the horizon. I did a longer course in about 11 minutes 20 seconds if I read the GPS right which is a cracking speed. I had the Patrik F-Race 140 and Gunsails GSR 9.2m.
At the finish Max and I went around the final mark but probably not many others. But considering the start confusion who really cares now.  Some leading guys had no way of knowing which was our timing mat on the beach out of the three finish gates! Yes this was a big event, many finishing gates! I saw guys run over the most southern mat so I was ok and sailed straight to it. The Kiters finished on the water. So racing the kites was never really going to work.
The kiters cannot do beach starts or run up the beach. The windsurfers should keep this spectacle.  A beach start while not perfect (windward sailors get fresh breeze) would have been a fairer start.
Another thing to ask of the organiser to increase the number of officials, particularly for safety. Sailing back I came across two surf skis. A lady was staying with a elderly man who was having a lot of trouble getting back into his craft. We managed to divert a charter vessel to him.

When the race is fair and safe it will grow. So here is my list for competitors and the Event committee. This is my opinion other attendees may have more to add or a different view.

Competitors

• Bring a big sail, you really need to set your spinnaker for these downwind legs. You don’t need a big fin for deep downwind sailing, I had a 43cm Zfin. Big boards (80cm to 85cm) are fast and you don’t want to fall of the plane at all.
• get there early

Organising committee

• Invite the windsurfing community early so it does not clash with any other events. NSW has events most weekends and we have club racing in 6 clubs every weekend.
• Advertise for many or all windsurfing disciplines.  Slalom, Foil, Formula, Raceboard, Windsurfer One Design, Olympic class and Bic Techno. Consider freestyle exhibition.
• Set longer courses and appropriate courses for each class.
• Use the international rules of sailing for start sequence and communicating with sailors for change of schedule.
• Provide safety inflatable boats to shadow the fleet for the marathon.
• Start sailors from the beach. first registered gets the most upwind position. make the first leg a long beam reach.

 

16th Dec 2017 - Heat 3 Formula v Foil
Forecast was for moderate to fresh NE but in the end by my own observation it is only 5 to 10 knots.
In the morning it was a super hot day at Marmong Point Sailing Club! Overcast and looking like rain or even thunderstorms but eventually the cloud and haze cleared up and the wind fills in from the east after about a five hour long wait onshore.
We have about 20 sailors challenging, of which about half a dozen are foiling.
Race 1
The pin end is favoured and Glen Morrell is well positioned to win the start. Glen is riding a foil. I position myself badly and get stuck with the committee boat and some boards to leeward of me but eventually find myself on the line. When the gun goes nobody is really going, Glen has space to leeward and gets away and I go straight after him but as soon as I start pumping my calf muscle start to cramp! Never had that before, it is going to be a though day! I look over my shoulder to see Brett Morris is also going well to windward of me. Rick Murray clears himself from traffic and gets going well upwind. It is the usual formula suspects and now add Glen on foil who has made very good progress mastering foiling since Heat 1 Formula v Foil event back in October. The conditions are marginal and often we have to bear away to nearly beam reach angle but stiil trying to go upwind just to keep the board going. It is also hard to link up from puff to puff.
Brett, Glen and myself are neck and neck around the course. Coming up to the last top mark Glen and I tack before a puff finishes but we are below the lay line. Brett continues and picks up new wind to round the mark with two less tacks and this is the moment when Brett wins the race. I don’t follow Brett down to the finish but choose a different route hoping for a miracle and then I cannot get going after my gybe as I am on the lighter side of the course but somehow I manage to hold off glen for second. Glen and I both drift over the line in very little wind.
The Race Officer moves the committee boat windward for the second race to square up the line. The wind is slowly coming around to the NorEast and very slightly above marginal planing wind strength now. However in the last minute of the sequence the wind shifts more left and the pin end is hugely favoured again and Brett is perfectly positioned for it to win the start. I am thinking dam is it over already as the rest of us probably cannot even lay the pin end of the line. Glen over my shoulder tacks onto the now lifting port tack and I follow him immediately. It ends up been a stroke of genius and Glen and I get away from the fleet and we are racing each other for the win. I hold him all the way till the last gybe where he sails faster and deeper to the bottom mark and Glen takes the win. I pushed hard and pumped hard and I picked the lay lines perfect and planed the whole race but it is not enough! Rick gets 3rd in front of Brett.
Before this regatta I thought the foils had a edge in super light conditions only, but now I think as the wind increased Glen was definitely still powering and maybe even more so. We need to do it all again and test more but foils are definitely real now.
Max Gaubert and I are working hard bringing the premium French foils into Australia. Windsurfing is on the cusp of entering the age of performance foiling!! Exciting times ahead!!
For the Formula guys I would say Formula sailing is still to remain for some time as a disciple for the big and strong. I find formula very enjoyable and challenge and a beautiful and safe way to get all around picturesque Sydney Harbour. 
Next events are the Ledge to Lancelin for the lucky ones able to make the trip over and the Downunder pro for Raceboard and Formula fleets at Royal Queensland.
Regards Justin Lord

My mate and I just had a little a training duel in Sydney Harbour.  Brett was foiling and I was on a Raceboard. The wind recordings were 15 to 20 knots gusting to 27 and 28 knots W WSW. It felt windy on the harbour and I thought to myself it blows in harder I am going to have a real bastard of a time getting home across the heads to Manly. We meet up at Rose Bay and first sailed upwind. Brett was footing pretty fast I was climbing upwind with my centreboard down.  We separated a bit and it was unclear who was in front in terms of VMG. Brett was definitely faster through the water. When he tacked I tacked. Brett used the full width of the harbour and I stayed in the channel as I felt the wind was better. Brett got parked in his tack and took a little while to get foiling again. I was powering along and Brett pass behind and to leeward of me so at this point the Raceboard was in front!! Then the Ships Pilot Boat passes in front of me, this boat produces a nice wave and I was able to get on its wake with good wind. I was sailing fast with great height as a result. As we got up to Double Bay Brett speed was very good but he was a fair way down to leeward.  Brett’s tack was good, we were now going to cross! I got a lift so the angles started looking good for me. Everything was going perfect for me but then I got a knock and Brett was lifting and the angles started to change and slowly it turned in Bretts favour. At the end of the upwind Brett crosses my in front by about 3 to 5 boat lengths. Pretty close but I said to Brett, ‘I think the foil was much faster’ I said this knowing that I had had good breeze and a nice wake to ride upwind and Brett went a bit close to Bradleys head in his first tack losing the wind.
Upwind - Foil 1  RB 0
It was difficult holding our rigs in the wind and chatting.
I said, ‘go Downwind?’ and Brett said, ‘these are insane, they go straight downwind’ or words something like that.
Heading downwind on port I was planning but not super fast. Brett was going low. I saw strong wind to the left and was sailing high to get to it. I got in the gust first and was lit up big time, the RB had more speed for sure but again we were now separated and in different wind. I held the gust all the way past Bradleys Head and then gybed. My gybe was bad but surprisingly when we came to cross I was still in it and perhaps in front. Then Brett had a crash so I’m claiming the downwind.
Foil 1 RB 1
I then said to Brett, Í better go home’
Brett followed me for a little bit. For sure the RB was quicker downwind in high wind and we were both on the same angle and same wind!
Summing up, the foil looked super cool. Sometimes Brett was going fast and only had the hull just out of the water. It looked safe this way. I thought the foil would have been clearly faster so I was a little surprised! I think I expect a lot of the foil, to be on par with a moth or foiling kite.  If Brett had been on his Formula board I reckon he would have got me comfortably so in terms of performance the foiling is getting there but not there yet in my opinion. Maybe foiling is more a lighter wind thing. We had foils before in Rush Randle's time but they never prove to be faster back then, I feel this time it is different
Hopefully on the weekend we can test more by matching up all the course racing windsurfers, a Formula Board with a 12m sail and foil and a RB in light winds and even a Lechner if possible.  Stayed tuned.
Regards Justin Lord
​
Brett was riding a Kerr foil and current NP sail. I was on Exocet RB and LORD Racing RB Sail

On Thursday the event was cancelled as the weather took a turn for the worst. I was working on my computer in my place which i fully sealed the windows and doors one storey up and yet the water penetrated halfway across the floor. Then the power went out and i noticed i had nearly run out of food. So i did a little drive down to the shop to stock up but the whole town was out of power. There was minor flooding in the streets however unbeknownst to me this water may have damaged my car! The weather calmed down and i packed up ready to leave for home. I checked for road closures drove around to say goodbye but couldn't find many sailors. I guessed they had evacuated already.
I drove out burrum heads roads but got turned around and given a new route. On toowoom rd i saw warter up ahead. I went through some shallow water to get to a farm entrance to do a 3 point turn. I heard a groaning come from the car. When i was ready to reverse out of the driveway to car shut down! I rang roadside assist they were short staffed as the government told everybody to go home but i dont think they meant essential services to go home. I had to explain about 5 times my location i wasnt feeling confident. Eventually they rang back saying a tow truck could not get to me. I said all sorts of cars are going past me and the water is rising all around me. They road i came in on now had shallow water going over it completely. They said they could try the ses. I said no i safe enough just check with tow truck companies again. I then rand dennis Winstanlanley just in case i was going to need rescuing. Eventually a towtruck came later in the night. And took my car to a mechanic and me to a motel. I was starving by now! It was actually quite a scary moment a realise afterwards and gave me a small insight to those who are really suffering from this massive far reaching storm.
I wrote this on my mobile phones cracked screen , pretty hard
Now i am in hervey bay waiting for the car report. Hopefully i will be home soon to my family.

​China trip
It was a short 4 day busy trip to China for me and my son. We were there to meet our manufacturer for our 9.5m RB design.
The first day we meet the owner of the sail making factory. Straight away I was relieved to see the factory. He built the facility himself, it is huge! Purpose built for sail making. Inside I couldn’t count the amount of laser cutters and the sewing machines.  Until now I have been using a CAD/CAM wheel cutter. The accuracy has to be mm perfect.
The factory has downsized, they have turned away the big customers/jobs in favour of more boutique type businesses like me. They prefer to have a small high quality workforce. Finding expert seamstresses is hard they tell me. 
 
SAIL DETAILS
 
Warranty
They give a 2 year manufacturer’s warranty and fully stand behind their products. They are totally confident in this.
They fully check the product before it is packaged. It has to made as agreed.  Then there is wear and tear, how long should a sail last? For me I want a sail that can win the World Championship built strong enough to handle a storm.  Once I’m onto a good thing I want it to last and last but I don’t want the sail to be over designed and heavy. All these things need to be considered.
 
Luff pocket
The expert Sailmakers in the factory have suggested I use mast sleeve material in the luff pocket  instead of X-Ply for increased wear and tear. I did notice rolling and unrolling the sail the X-Ply was less agreeable to this action. So I have agreed to this change but only for the leading edge and not the whole luff pocket.
 
Camber Inducers
I am considering changing the cams to roller cams. Roller cams rotate well. Gun sails use them in their world cup racing sails. The factory have their own roller cams I would just need to adjust the luff pocket. Actually a big job.
 
Battens
Battens are critical. I have used a range of suppliers to make the battens and I tried many combinations. We will recreate the battens using their in house batten fabrication and this will need to be tested. After market batten detail may suit some sailors.
 
Mast protector.
I favour having no mast protector as I think it is more racing. We are going to trial a removable mast protector so you board has protection for training days.
 
Colours
The range of colours is vast in this loft and all dimension Polyant and screen printing is available also. I few people have given me feedback with regards to colours. Some want to not draw attention to them selves on the start line which I understand and some want to make windsurfing fully visible with all the fun of colours. What do you think? The factory has agreed to special one of orders for those sailors that insist on their own colour scheme.
 
Sail Bag
I will go for max colour on this one. :-)
 
So I have decided given all these changes I will pay to make another prototype by their hand. This will be version 5. This will add 2 to 3 weeks hopefully less before production starts. I apologize for the delay.
 
Any updates I will post to this blog. Please contact me with any feedback.
Regards Justin