Kitesurfing Hampton, some wind at last!

Session 412.  After a long period with almost no wind, some wind at last!  Hampton was great once again.  I first did a short tour to have a look around and enjoy the scenery.  I went to Green Point first and peered down to Brighton, then I got a nice tack past the Sandringham Yacht Club up to Black Rock.

I like cruising, getting the kite set nicely, then enjoying the scenery and the solitude.  Some speed runs back add variety too.

After a short rest the wind picked up again so I went out again for a few nice runs up to the SYC breakwater.

GPS logs

Kitesurfing downwinder Chelsea to Frankston

Session 411.  We arrived at Frankston at 7am but there was no wind - the northerly was not coming in there.  Stopped for a coffee and chat at Cafe Moto, then I had a look at Paterson River.  The wind was picking up.  I drove to Aspendale and could see wind action on the waves but it was a bit offshore so I drove down the Chelsea where the wind was cross-shore.  It was good so I rigged up and set off.

No other kites were out but there were some windsurfers.  I took my waterproof backpack hoping to do a downwinder.  I did a long run out then back to check out the wind.  There was a lot of wind further out and less close to shore.

I alternated between surfing the swell with my kite lightly powered with speed runs and big jumps.  Its really nice trying out different techniques and mixing up the styles.

I saw some kites on the beach next to Seaford pier and went in for a look. The wind was light so a I tacked out again then surfed the swell into Frankston with some download turns as the wind strength dropped.

Every downwinder is a good one!  I packed my gear away then walked to the Frankston train station through the central area.  A quick train ride took me back to Chelsea.

Here is the movie!

GPS log

Kitesurfing at Hampton, some good wind at last

Session 408. Some welcome wind made for a good session at Hampton. There was a good bay swell and some nice rollers to ride in.  I did some longer tacks out and some nice jumps to get upwind then surfed the big swell back to the beach.

There was about 8 kiters out so it wasn't crowded.  Paul and Greg appeared on their foil boards coming back from a tour up towards Black Rock.  Its easy and apparently effortless to cover huge distances on them.

I was a bit rusty after a couple of weeks of the water but my gybes are now almost effortless. I can switch my feet together now without the one-two motion.  Just thinking about a Duck Tack still does my head in though.  

Its getting colder so it was my first session in a full length wetsuit for a while.  Daylight saving ends tonight so some Dawn Patrol sessions could be coming and possible even a Kite to Work!

Its a lean time of year for wind as the sea breezes are dropping out.

GPS log