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The Breakwater to Beacon Kiteboarding Race.

For more than 25 years it has been one of Australia’s longest running and biggest windsurfing events.  The annual SHQ Breakwater to Beacon was run in January as usual, but on Sunday 17 February, for the first time ever, SHQ and Sandringham Yacht Club hosted the first ever Breakwater to Beacon for Kites!

It was the first ever B2B Kiteboarding Race and what a turn out!  Twenty-three keen kiteboarders of all levels registered and the conditions were perfect.  We ordered 20-22knots South/South South Westerly wind with clear skies and in true B2B fashion it arrived just in time for the 4pm start!

The race is as demanding as it is simple: a straight line from Sandringham Beach to the Fawkner Beacon in the middle of Port Phillip Bay, and back.  With only one turn, it is a test of outright speed and stamina and, inevitably, all competitors finish with a story to tell.

Sandringham Yacht club did a fantastic job of setting the course and briefing the riders on the starting sequence, which was great considering that there were a lot of new racers!

Hudson Godfrey-Smith led the pack showing his years of racing and Kiteboarding experience.  Hudson dominated the course setting a record time of 17 minutes and 4 seconds on the 13km race around Fawkner Beacon!!

Ejder Ginyol (Turkish World Cup Racer and SHQ instructor) was close behind finishing in 18min 17sec. In third was David Trewern with 18min 29sec! 

The twin-tip and surfboard riders had a great battle making it to the mark slightly upwind and flying back on a broad reach in the choppy conditions.  We are looking forward to these guys catching the racing bug and coming back faster next year! 

The lucky draw prizes included some Cabrinha goodies and a brand new  Cabrinha Race board!  All you had to do is register to be with a chance to win!   Congratulations to the winners!

Well done and big thanks to all the riders and supporters.  It wouldn't be possible without the support of SYC and the hard work from the SHQ crew. 

See you all next year!

You can also view the full photo album of the event on facebook by clicking this link. 

Full results as follows:

• Hudson Godfrey-Smith ; 17m4sec

• Ejder Ginyol ; 18min17sec

• David Trewern ; 18min29sec

• James Neeson ; 20min10sec

• Ben Morrison ; 21min08sec

• Andrew Picker ; 21min22sec

• Natalie Clarke ; 22min28sec

• Berni Wendland ; 23min18sec

• Darius Sweeney ; 23min20sec

• Simon Axmann ; 25min50sec

• Michael Scaife ; 26min01sec

• Mark Watson ; 27min24sec

• Stuart Quintal ; 27min40sec

• David Flockart ; 28min10sec

• Ludacris Ermisch ; 28min15sec

• Devid Platt ; 29min15sec

• Shawn Hodges ; 29min27sec

• Jon Fedje ; 32min35sec

• Campbell Miller ; 34min48sec

• Frank Dowthwaile ; 37min20sec

• Robert Pignolet ; NA

• Jacob Doble ; NA

• Rui Lim; NA

Breakwater to Beacon - Where and when!

Breakwater to Beacon Kite Race, This sunday! Further event info below:

• Yachting Australia insurance is provided with your SYC Day Pass entry fee.
• Register any time up to 2pm on the day at the SYC Boating Office and collect your Numbered Rashy (which needs to be returned after the race).
• The race briefing is at 3pm at the beach on the left side of Jetty Road.
• Course Racing for race boards will start at 2pm so come check out the action before the big race!

Original event release below:

The famous Breakwater to Beacon marathon race is coming this Sunday, 16 February… but this time, it’s for KITES!

• No equipment restrictions… ride any kite, any board.

• No divisions… first person across the line wins.

• Lucky draw prizes including a brand new CABRINHA RACE BOARD with fins!

• Only $15 entry + $5 BBQ and drinks after.*

• Course racing starts at 2pm.  Marathon race starts at 3pm.

• The event is presented by Sandringham Yacht Club and SHQ Boardsports.

• Register online at https://www.topyachtsoftware.com/db/otb/entry_menu.php?EventID=77 and sign-in on the day from 12 - 2pm.

• * No other membership/insurance is needed.  You do not need to be a member of a yacht club/Yachting Australia or Kiteboarding Australia/KBV to participate in this event.

We hope to see you all there!!

Cruise to the Cerberus SUP Event. This sunday!!

SHQ’s 7th, yes 7th, annual Cruise to the Cerberus SUP event is on this Sunday, 16 February.  If past years are anything to go by, it’s a great day for family and social paddlers.  Yes, elite level paddlers battle it out for the top positions on the race course but the real winner is the person with the biggest smile!  Regardless of equipment and experience, come down for a fun day at Sandringham, including Kids’ Racing, Social Paddle (The Cruise), a Teams Relay Race, loads of demos, great prizes and the classic SHQ BBQ on the lawn.

Don’t forget: As the Gold Sponsor for the SUP Vic 2013/14 Season, SHQ will draw the winner of the JP-Australia SUP board raffle at the presentation BBQ on Sunday!

Details are below.

• What: SHQ Cruise to the Cerberus presented by SUP Vic
• Where: Abbott Street Beach, Sandringham (Jetty Road)
• When: Sunday, 16 February
• Registration time: 8-9am
• Briefing: 9:15am
• Race Start: 9:45am
• Kids Race and Social Paddle: 11am
• Relay Racing: 12 noon
• Presentation BBQ: 12:30pm
• Massive Demo Range: 10am-2pm
• Entry Fee: $20 including BBQ
• SUP Vic day membership: $10
• SUP Vic annual memberships: $40 adult / $20 junior under 18 / $80 family

Divisions:

The Breakwater to Beacon - FOR KITES!

The famous Breakwater to Beacon marathon race is coming this Sunday, 16 February… but this time, it’s for KITES!!

• No equipment restrictions… ride any kite, any board.
• No divisions… first person across the line wins.
• Lucky draw prizes including a brand new CABRINHA RACE BOARD with fins!
• Only $15 entry + $5 BBQ and drinks after.*
• Course racing starts at 2pm.  Marathon race starts at 3pm.
• The event is presented by Sandringham Yacht Club and SHQ Boardsports.

Register online at https://www.topyachtsoftware.com/db/otb/entry_menu.php?EventID=77 and sign-in on the day from 12 - 2pm.

* No other membership/insurance is needed.  You do not need to be a member of a yacht club/Yachting Australia or Kiteboarding Australia/KBV to participate in this event.

The forecast looks awesome!! See you all there....

The SHQ Team. 

2014 SHQ Breakwater to Beacon Windsurf Race!!!

The 2013/14 Breakwater to Beacon will definitely go down as a memorable event, despite more than a few hiccups we ended up with perfect weather, a new course and a new winner for the 25th Event.  

This year we had our fair share of obstacles thrown at us, seemingly trying to stop the event from happening.  Firstly we were left short staffed to run the event after our star windsurfer and all round nice guy Tim Clarke decided to get a real job as an engineer.  Then 3 days before the event Hampton Lifesaving club had to pull out of their boat support.  Two days before the event the jet ski blew a head-gasket and could not be repaired in time then on the day our main support boat and the boat we were going to use for the mark busted it's anchor winch as we were about to head out to the beacon.  

This left our planned 4 boat safety fleet in tatters with only one rubber dinghy left, heroically helmed by James Neeson.  Rather than cancel the event we decided that we couldn't let the 23knots of summer sunny wind perfection go begging so we opted for a safety compromise and decided to set the mark about half way to the beacon and do two laps.

.

You're invite to a variety of awesome demos this weekend!

SHQ Sandy Point Melbourne Cup - Video 2013!

Yet another great SHQ Sandy Point Melbourne Cup!

This video showcases the action over Saturday and Sunday. Fun SUP conditions on Saturday before a cranking 30 knot South Westerly on Sunday - great jumping conditions for the wave crew and simultaneously Shallow Inlet was going off!

Thanks to Rob Pignolet for the video footage and to all of the sponsors - SHQ Boardsports, NeilPryde, and Techniice!

For a full event report read here.