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Hi Everyone,
I'm new to the concept of Alpha racing as I've only just changed to a GT-31 with the software for alphas but I'm keen to get some good times since I enjoy my jibing.
Can anyone give any recommendations for good alpha speeds in terms of conditions, equipment etc.
I'm thinking a square course and using an 80/90 litre slalom board with 6m and 32 ish fin would be just about right so a bit of lift for upwind. Enter jibes around 33/34 knots?
How far downwind of original run can you finish?
What is a the Benchmark of a "Good" alpha time? 24 knots?
Hi Adam,
              Best to have a look at 'GPS team challenge' ......the Aussie competition.
They have a category for alpha and many of the competitors don't log on GPSSS.
Category is alpha 500 and you do 500 (250 in and out) metres with a gybe and returning to within 50 metres of your ingoing track.
Lots of fast alpha pilots on this site.
Very large differences between doppler and positional data on alpha readings and imho the differences are too large to make the competition anything other than fun. (ie last weekend....doppler 24.22.....pos 24.78) also GT11 reads very different to GT31 with both on the same arm......so only for fun.
Also on "Sea Breeze'' site (archives) you will find downloads of alpha runs.
Mal Wright's site, 'Intellimass' has info and downloads on Alpha, I believe alpha Mal's idea originally.
Happy gybing!
 Mike S
The following are the rankings in Australia from the www.gpsteamchallenge.com.au
1 Sam Doecke 27.95
2 Andrew Daff 27.9
3 Chris Dimond 27.43
4 Spotty 27.29
5 kato 26.79
6 Snides 26.58
7 Slowboat 26.57
8 Dan Engdahl 26.26
8 Kimba 26.26
10 Pierre Milutin 26.17
11 25 26.13
12 Vando 26.02
13 anthony perkins 25.77
14 Dave Morehead 25.42
15 Shelby 25.35
16 Simon Fyfe 25.33
17 Phillip Nott 25.26
18 Decrepit 25.1
19 Glynn Merritt 25.06
20 Chris Adamson 25.04
21 Steven Stratfold 25.02
22 Hamma 24.9
23 Isaac de Vries 24.89
24 Claude Lecoq 24.87
25 Terry A 24.78
26 Darryl 24.75
27 Glen 24.71
28 Stewart McKay 24.62
29 Scott Farley 24.59
30 Hardie 24.52
31 Allan Taylor 24.48
32 Tim Stockton 24.42
33 Snake 24.36
34 Mike Sinclair 24.35
35 B-rad 24.35
36 Darryl Meares 24.31
37 Mike Nelson 24.3
38 Carl Macdonald 24.19
39 Chad Silver 24.18
40 Jesper Orth 24.16
41 Le Sam 24.08
42 Adam 24.03
43 Matthew Robertson 23.98
44 Chris Ting 23.89
45 David Mossop 23.85
46 John Norton 23.8
47 Choco 23.78
48 lao shi 23.77
49 Sam Parker 23.74
50 Laff77 23.57
51 Bigdog 23.45
52 nebbian 23.43
53 Crasher 23.41
54 Bender 23.35
55 troppo 23.21
56 Stuart Allen 23.2
57 dr cam 23.12
58 Alex Kirk 23.07
59 Jet 23.01
60 schuurminator 22.98
61 Magnus 22.91
62 Pauly 22.79
63 Elmo 22.75
64 Mike Maguire 22.71
65 Andrew Nestor 22.67
66 Trevor Brown 22.64
67 man of 22.58
68 Stribo 22.55
69 JC 22.53
70 Ian Teakle 22.46
71 Ian Knight 22.45
72 Annika 22.38
73 Jordan 22.33
74 Firiebob 22.3
74 The Craw 22.3
76 red 22.26
76 John Rohrsheim 22.26
78 Bisek Brzoskowski 22.19
79 Stringer ßell 22.13
80 Izaak Perkins 22.11
81 John Critchley 22.09
82 Nelson 22.08
83 Nauli 22.08
84 Johno 22.08
85 richi 22.05
86 Ulf 22.05
87 Joe Belluzzo 22.04
88 Rolly 22.03
89 James Farrell 22.01
90 Ray Thorne 21.99
91 Steve Charles 21.93
92 Clint Ricetti 21.82
93 Michael Thomson 21.76
94 Geoff Ringe 21.7
95 Timbo 21.63
96 Patrick MacQuillan 21.59
97 Gadget 21.56
98 Chris Porter 21.5
99 evets 21.49
100 Norman Clarke 21.48
101 Baldy 21.42
102 Paul Moss 21.42
103 Ads72 21.34
104 Brayden Baker 21.28
105 Wayne Bowness 21.24
106 col 21.16
107 Windrider 21.13
108 jusav 21.12
109 Neil 21.11
110 Matthew Langer 21.03
111 David Flanagan 20.8
112 Ken Anning 20.78
113 craiggoo 20.7
114 Dave Mikanovic 20.65
115 Sausage 20.65
116 Nathan Bowness 20.52
117 Pointman 20.51
118 Graceman 20.5
119 Hooray 20.39
120 Grant Larkin 20.36
121 Sean Dayhew 20.33
122 sick_em_rex 20.3
123 David Savat 20.28
124 Knut 20.17
125 Daniel Aeberli 20.15
126 Boss Man 20.14
127 Brett Pattemore 20.12
128 Ben Kirk 20.09
129 Kel 19.98
130 Whitey 19.89
131 Craig Mann 19.84
132 Bear 19.83
133 Chris Reiffel 19.8
134 Ástríð 19.7
135 Tim Ford 19.59
136 James 19.52
137 Webby1 19.51
138 Samuel Brain 19.47
139 Thor 19.41
140 Ricky Hamood 19.41
141 Moi 19.36
142 easyrider12 19.34
143 Simon Fleetwood 19.15
144 tonyd 19.05
145 Justin Harvey 19.03
146 Julie Fyfe 19.03
147 Hardpole 18.99
148 Grumps 18.91
149 Dr Duck 18.8
150 Martin Royle 18.72
151 Waiting4wind 18.67
151 Jack 18.67
153 Bugs 18.66
154 oli2 18.59
155 Rowdy 18.56
156 Albert P. Jonsson 18.45
157 Richard CS 18.4
158 Binny 18.33
159 MartinJE 18.2
160 Pepe47 18.2
161 haggar 18.16
162 Chris Parkinson 18.1
163 Marcel 18.08
164 Herby 17.97
165 Martine Black 17.96
166 tonster 17.71
167 Maverick 17.7
168 Luff 17.44
169 Geoff Montgomery 17.3
170 Pat O'Connell 17.3
171 DavMen 17.29
172 Geoff Shuttleworth 17.1
173 Joanna Sterling 17.09
174 Mickey 16.98
175 Kim Manning 16.92
176 Lyn 16.8
177 William Ditcham 16.74
178 Mark MacDonald 16.7
178 Sailpilot 16.7
180 Tony Cronin 16.59
181 Annie 16.54
182 Nat 16.54
183 Karl Degraa 16.5
183 Hamish Harvey 16.5
185 Isabelle Gault 16.45
186 Mineral 16.43
187 Rod Lindsay 16.42
188 ProperCarter 16.13
189 Richard Jemison 16.11
190 Michelle Sterling 16.1
191 Lachlan Bell 16.1
192 lenny 16
193 Paul MacDonald 15.9
193 Tom Chalko 15.9
195 Adreienne Chin 15.88
196 Ned Tamatea 15.83
197 Garry Baker 15.77
198 Mr Love 15.72
199 Nicola Taylor 15.68
200 Bubs 15.66
201 Holly Bambridge 15.66
202 Bristol 15.62
203 Owen Rippingale 15.56
204 Nick Willey 15.53
205 Peter Johnston 15.43
206 Borgy 15.36
207 Rossco 15.32
208 Frant Bucek 15.27
209 Glenn Kelly 14.57
210 Scott 14.57
211 Hoppybob 14.42
212 Liz Storr 14.07
213 MintoxGT 13.69
214 Peter Sexton (Wineman) 13.68
215 Rachel Low 13.57
216 Graham Flynn 13.57
217 David Goodson 13.49
218 Tracy P 13.39
219 Peter Bubner 12.42
220 Jethrow 12.19
221 Peter Leversedge 12.13
222 Benny 11.72
223 Lucy Waters 9.38
224 Harry Bell 9.11
225 Erith Boyd 8.49
226 Coala Bear 8.2
227 Paul Dvorak 8.09
228 Marcus Karlen 7.3
229 Alexander Bubner 6.98
230 Waggs 3.81
Hi Adam,

Yes mate. Anything over 24 knots is pretty good. It certainly means you can Gybe! Over 26 is right up there with the best.

I recon you have the right idea and far as equipment is concerned. If you can pull over 32 square to the wind that is exceptional. I have tipped into a few at 34+ knots but I held on a bit long on the in run and it made the return a bit tight and slow. It is tempting to go a bit further downwind for speed on the run in but then the run back will be tight and the gybe exit and acceleration is compromised. Another benchmark is staying above 15 knots in the gybe. :). If you can achieve that and pull 30+ on the straights it really helps and you will probably hit the top of the list!

Enjoy! :-)

BTW, when you check your Alphas from a GT-11, look carefully at the speed graph and compare the Doppler with the Trackpoints. If there is a significant deviation of the trackpoint speed from the doppler speed it is most likely a 'discard'.

The GT-31 with latest firmware is very much better in that the trackpoint speed curves and the Doppler speed curves almost always match very closely. If we ever get a serious ranking for the Alphas we will probably have to start from scratch and just use the GT-31 for fairness as the GT 11 is best used in Trackpoint mode (many strange spikes in Doppler) and therefore reads higher.


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