Sunday, July 17, 2011

Another chilly winter session at Brighton

Session 140, Sunday 17 July 2011

Kite: Noise 12
Wind: 25 knots, N
Location: Brighton
Time: 10:30am to 12 noon
Board: Naish Haize twin tip

A nice crisp winters day in Melbourne, with a good northerly forecast by Predictwind.  Just as I arrived at Brighton to meet Stuart, the wind jumped from around 12 knots to 20+ knots.  Game on!

Given the possibility of the wind dropping out, and the wind shadow effect close to the beach, I decided to take out my Noise 12m.

Wetsuit, booties and vest on, kite pumped and rigged in feverish haste.  It was superb to get onto the water.  The wind was good, but definitely gusty.  It was around 15-20 knots leaving the shore, then at about 250 meters it jumped to 25+ knots.  I depowered my Noise kite once, then more, to keep control.  The depower below the bar is very had to set with any pull on the bar, so I stop, take the pressure off the depower line, pull it in and re-cleat it.  

There is a lot of depower adjustment with this kite, and just as well.  This would be the strongest wind I have been out in with it.  Going upwind was a cinch, and the kite was easy to control.   But the big variation in wind speed was challenging.  There was even an odd brief lull before the wind came surging back with a vengeance.

Stuart and I did an upwind tour past the Brighton Marina, then headed back doing some jumps, carved turns to toeside and some nice slalom moves.  I have the right turn to toeside nailed, but need to practice the left turn.

After 30 minutes some other kiters showed up and it almost got crowded.  My feet were cold even with booties on so it was good to come back in - just when the wind dropped too!

We got the wind window right today!  It was really great to get out on the winter water wonderland.

One guy's kite got blown onto some exposed reef and cut up a bit.  Just to reiterate, Brighton is no place for beginners in a northerly.

Fun but no sun, the You Yangs in the distance





Handy car parking, but watch out for cyclists on the road and the bike path

Brighton Beach vista

Check out the variation in wind speed, and our lucky window

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