Friday, November 18, 2011

Brighton quiet and Hampton crowded

I called down bayside last Monday after returning from Sandy Point.  A good westerly was blowing so I checked out the action at Brighton then Hampton.  I'm still nursing a cracked rib so no kiting for me, which is very frustrating.  Its healing though.

There were two guys out at Brighton on twin tip boards have a good time.

Hampton was crowded by comparison - about a dozen kiters on surfboards enjoying the bay swell whipped up by the westerley.













Here is the full album


Thursday, November 17, 2011

Sandy Point weekend with some good wind

Four of us planned a kitesurfing and windsurfing weekend at Sandy Point from 12-14 November.  Unfortunately I was bowled over by my brother's dog the week before our trip and cracked a rib on a veranda rail.  Ouch, its very painful.  My GP told me there were very few things he could state with absolute certainty in medicine, but he could say there was definitely no way I would be kitesurfing on this trip.

I left my kitesurfing gear at home in case I was tempted to go out and took my camera and fishing gear.  I took a lot of photos, but caught no fish.












Saturday - some wind at the inlet and on the surf beach
Stuart (kitesurfing) and Grant and Stu (windsurfing) had some nice runs in the inlet in light wind.  There was just enough wind to get going and it was nice and sunny.


These immature pacific gulls were resting as we left the inlet.


Stuart headed out in the surf at Waratah Bay in just enough wind.  The beach is very wide so launching is easy and the surf very predictable.  It would be great in 20+ knots.



Sunday - down to Walkerville and Venus Bay
There was no wind on Sunday so we drove to Walkerville for a look.  We headed down to Bear Gully where Grant and Stu surfed a small reef break.  Stuart and I walked along the wild coastline and eyed off the possibility of a great downwinder back to Sandy Point.  You would need a southerly and the distance is about 17km.  You could keep going down towards Wilsons Prom too!


Monday - more wind at the inlet
There was more wind (just enough) on Monday so Stuart and Grant got another session in at Shallow Inlet.


I detoured via Corner Inlet and Port Franklin on the way home.  Its a curious place - similar in many ways to Western Port - but very limited potential for kitesurfing.



Map


View Waratah Bay kitesurfing in a larger map

Video - kitesurfing in Shallow Inlet






Friday, November 11, 2011

Sail Melbourne Kiteboarding Championships on at Hampton

The Sail Melbourne Kiteboarding Championships are being held at Hampton Beach from 10-12 November as part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Carnival.  The event is presented by Cabrinha and KBV.

Kiteboarding is being considered as a demonstration sport in the in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro.

Competitors in this internationally recognised sailing competition may have a chance to participate at the Olympic games!

KBV/AKSA members have the opportunity to experience the following four competitions, including two proposed Olympic Kiting classes, in an official competition format:
  • Course Racing (proposed Olympic class)upwind-downwind course racing
  • Freestyle expression session with elimination finals, specific format depends on number of competitors in each division and weather forecast - 
  • Kite-X (proposed Olympic class) slalom racing with obstacles, running elimination heats and finals - 
  • Big Air expression session, if conditions permit
Winners will receive a recognised medal from Sail Melbourne. Plus Cabrinha and SHQ will provide prizes to the winners on the day.

The event has been created to cater for all levels of kiteboarding ability.

The Kiting portion of the Sail Melbourne World Cup week will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10-12th November, at Hampton Beach.

Links

Thursday, November 03, 2011

Paddle from Port Melbourne to Williamstown

There was no wind today so I decided to go for a paddle in my sea kayak from Port Melbourne across Hobsons Bay to Williamstown to visit the Police Search and Rescue duty crew.

It was a nice tour and quite scenic.  No big ships in the channel to worry about either.









Wednesday, November 02, 2011

Tour to Green point from Hampton Beach and return

Session 156, Wednesday 2 November 2011
Back in Melbourne after our epic 4 day trip to Inverloch, Stuart messaged me for a kite in the morning.  We headed out at Hampton in a light wind at about 10:50, with nobody else around.  The wind backed off so we headed out and downwind to Green Point.  It was nice to go for a short tour.  The offshore squalls were not bringing much wind with them.

When the wind dropped further, I started heading in to the beach at Brighton, but then it picked up.  We were able to get back upwind past Green Point, Middle Brighton and back to Hampton.  The wind konked out again just as we returned.

It was a nice not-too-strenuous session where upwind technique was really all that mattered.  I headed to the Yarra for a coffee and muffin, followed by a brief paddle in my sea kayak (the last photo).  No kitesurfing on the Yarra (yet)!

That makes 4 days of kitesurfing over the last 5 days.  Bliss . . .












GPS Log

Stats
Location:  Hampton Beach, Melbourne
Kite: Noise 12m
Wind: 15 knots, SW
Time: 9:50 to 10:50
Board: Naish Haze