new websites + race announcements

First a couple of new websites:

1) Kanaha Kai has a new website where the store manager Juan has set up a blog.

2) A couple of young Maui sailors (Craig and Griffin) have launched their wave sailing only website.

And now a couple of race announcements:

2008 Maui GPS V-Max Speed Challenge Series Announcement

First, I received this.

The 2008 Maui Vmax competition is a GPS speed-sailing competition that will have two concurrent events. Their will be a Speed Ladder running all year and a Speed Series consisting of six Speed Meetings. The Speed Meetings will score points to count towards an overall series champion. The Speed ladder is an open event which will score only the single highest speed.

Dates for Speed Meetings (subject to change).
Sunday May 25
Sunday June 29
Sunday July 13
Sunday August 31
Sunday Sept 21
Sunday Oct. 19

The Speed meetings may be cancelled 24hours in advance if the conditions look unfavourable. Please check the website or call on the day if in doubt.

Minimum winds - 15 knots on the course or at the discretion of the Race Director.

Make-up days - in the event a Speed meeting is cancelled there may be a make-up date. This date will be announced at least five days in advance and will be a Sunday before October 19th.

Sanctioned devices- ONLY data collected by a GT-11 GPS unit will be used to score results. ONLY GPS Results software shall be used to record results. We have these available for purchase.

Speed Ladder
Single fastest 100m speed as recorded by GT-11 GPS and results verified by the Race Director using GPS results software (interpolation on). Tracks must be saved and sent to the Race Director Tom Hammerton via e-mail (tom@ocean7design.com) or the GPS delivered in person at the Hot Sails Maui loft (96 Amala Place, Kahului) when available.

Speed Meeting (Series)
The top three 100m speeds as recorded by GT-11 GPS averaged and results verified by the Race Director using GPS results software (interpolation on) will be used for the day's result. The competitors will be ranked in order from fastest to slowest using the average of their three fastest 100m speeds. If the course is open for less than three hours the average of two highest speeds will be used, unless the course is open for less than two hours in which case only the single highest speed will be used, unless the course is open less than one hour in which case the Speed meeting will be abandoned with no results scoring for the series. In the case of abandonment results will still be accepted for the Speed Ladder. The highest speed will automatically be entered into the Speed Ladder. Points will be awarded for each Speed meeting to count towards an overall series champion. The series winner will have the most points after discards are taken into consideration. There will be two discards unless only four or less speed meetings are held in which case there will be only one discard.

The first 10 places of each division will score points.

Series sponsor Hot Sails Maui (www.hotsailsmaui.com)

For more details or to reserve/purchase a GPS unit please contact the race director at: speed@Mauivmax.com
_
Erik Beale/Tom Hammerton/Marc Lefebvre
http://www.mauispeed.com/


This morning I received this:

Maui Vmax Speed Meeting this Sunday May 25th

Aloha all,

The gods of speed appear to be smiling on us. Despite light winds all week the forecast is bumping up the winds for Sunday. There is a good chance we will see racing conditions.

The minimum windspeed for an official speed meeting is 15 knots or 17mph. If the wind on Sunday is consistently less than this but sailable we will have fun races instead which will not score points for the series.

The course will be open from 12:00 to 4:00pm if conditions permit.

I will do a skippers meeting and presentation on the GT-11 GPS unit at 11:00am followed by registration.

There is no charge for participation in the Maui Vmax. However a GT-11 GPS unit is required. If you do not own one you can purchase one from us with an modified Aquapac ready to go for $199. There will also be a limited number of GPS units available for rent. $20 for 1 hour of water time or $35 for 2 hours of water time. Units may be shared.

Please e-mail Tom at tom@ocean7design.com to reserve GPS units for purchase. The rental units will be available on a first come first served basis.

WARNING: The tide is low in the morning and the lower reef should not be sailed.

See you sunday!

Tom Hammerton - Race director and timekeeper.


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Another race announcement I received:

Molokai Challenge Announcemement - Aug 16, 2008

YOUTH IN MOTION
PRESENTS
A Celebration of Youth Opportunities
Na 'Opio Hana Pa'a And the Molokai Challenge
Saturday 16th August 2008
Press Release for the Molokai Challenge
Want to call it a challenge? Then please let us define challenge.
A call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
Something that by its nature or character serves as a call to battle, contest, special effort, etc.: Space exploration offers a challenge to humankind.
-verb (used with object) To summon to a contest of skill, strength, etc.
-adjective Donated or given by a private, corporate, or government benefactor on condition that the recipient raise an additional specified amount from the public: a
challenge grant.
A race for charity is how we will run the Molokai Challenge for 2008. The date:
Saturday 16th August 2008. The location is to be determined. At this point, somewhere along the Ka'anapali Shoreline to Napili on Maui, Hawaii to finish up on Molokai, Hawaii. OPEN TO ALL NON MOTORIZED CRAFT, a challenge of endurance, strength and stamina. Why do we call it a challenge? A name that has been adopted over the years but ultimately the event is to challenge each of us on how we create the awareness to our Youth of the wonderful opportunities that are presented to our next generation.
Are you up for the challenge to bring awareness to the next level?
Are you up for the challenge to show our future generation, the leaders of our
society the possibilities of directions to take?
Are you up for the challenge to not only have some fun on this day but to test
your stamina, patience to the highest limits?
Are you up for the challenge to raise as much as you can for the youth or
organization that you want to inspire?
Are you up for the challenge to challenge yourself to see how far you can go in mind, body and spirit?
Are you up for the challenge to raise the bar?
If so then read on...

For 2008 the Molokai Challenge will be in this format:
Each contestant will form a team whether it is in pairs or how many are in the vessel that is to do the crossing.
Contestants who do not have teams will be given a list of names of other people
without a team so that they can contact to buddy up with and coordinate a team.
Each team will raise money above the entry fees and nominate a charity, youth group or individual that is in school for the money to be donated to.
50 % of the funds raised above the entry fee will go to a community fund on Molokai and to be distributed to the Molokai Youth groups.
50 % of the remaining funds to be given to the team's charity of choice.
The winning teams will also then collect an additional percentage of entry fee and or sponsorship money to be determined by the amount of entrants and/or sponsors to contribute to the Molokai fund and their team organization/individual of choice.

At this point we need funds for rescue, so we are asking teams to provide their own rescue unless we can secure a sponsor to step in and sponsor the rescue portion.
Each team will receive a small fuel budget to apply to their rescue. Small teams i.e. 2- 6 can buddy up with other teams for rescue. Each team will submit the name of their team rescue coordinator to work with the organizers to secure not just safety with in the event but to follow rescue guidelines and procedures that will apply to all teams.
The determination of the winning team will be calculated in the order of arrival and time on a point scoring system and the team with the lowest score and time wins their division.
There will be the grand prize of the fastest overall team time to make it across to Molokai out of all the divisions.
There will be several classes within the divisions:
All adults
Adults with at least one youth-under 18yrs
Youth category - under 18 years
Cruising Class
This is the class, that has no intentions to race for the grand prize but the
same format of fundraising will apply.
Divisions
Windsurfing
Kiteboarding
Sailboats with or without kites
Canoes with kites
Outrigger canoes
One Man Canoes
Paddle Boards
Stand up Paddle boards
Kayaks
All others
Start times
Start times will stagger by division from 6 am up until noon depending on the
categories and weather conditions.
Registration is open.
Help is needed to secure sponsors, coverage and as much publicity as possible.
Help is needed to organize on both Maui and Molokai
Help is needed for volunteers to chair the individual divisions
Accommodations are limited since the closing of Molokai Ranch so I suggest making reservations now, otherwise camping is available and shuttle transfers.

What is included in the entry fee?
Cost from now until May $135, after May the entry will increase up to the
maximum of $150
Ferry back to Maui, value $42.40
Transfers and shuttles on Molokai , value $15
Barge shipment to Molokai with spare clothes and camping gear , value $25
Barge shipment back to Maui, value $25 minimum depending on the size of the
equipment
Event jersey, value $20
Awards Banquet, value $25
Now do the math, cannot get much cheaper than this if you were to do this on
your own.
All inquiries: Please contact Clare Seeger Mawae at 808-553-4227 or 808-336-0946 or please email Clare at: clare@molokai-outdoors.com