Sandy Point kitesurfing in good wind and small surf #543

Session 543. Nice session at Sandy Point, I was the only kite out.  The wind was solid and the small waves were nice.

Kitesurfing Walkerville South in gusty strong easterly #542

Session 542. A good south easterly was coming into Walkerville South. A kitesurfing was out, and another (Owen) was launching too.  I launched off the beach with my 8m kite but the wind wasn't strong enough close to the shore.  I ended up across the beach and decided to put up my 10m kite.

I got out on the 10m kite OK, but was a bit overpowered further out where the wind was much stronger.

Scored a few small waves along the reef.  Kiting further out was difficult due to the stronger wind two way swell - ocean swell wrapping around from the south and south east wind swell. 

The beach is good for launching when the wind gets in as long as its not too crowded.

Fliteboard at Aspendale - session 1

First session on my new Fliteboard Pro. 8 knots wind, there was a bit too much chop, its better to have flat water to make starting easier when learning.

I have the smaller Pro model board (67 litres) which is harder to learn on than the regular board (100 litres).  Once you are up and going the smaller board is better though.

I got going in prone position, then up on the foil which was very fast!

Kneeling was less scary and I had good control.

I lost Bluetooth control when the board nose dipped under the water, everything stops.

I had to get weight well forward on the board when prone to get planing.

The board stopped when I bailing off it.

First impressions - a bit tricky to get on the plane on the smaller board, then a lot of speed when on the foil.

Kitesurfing Flinders West Head reef #541

Session 541. Kited the reef brake at Flinders West Head, enjoying some good waves. Stu S's kite detached when he dropped it and his safety broke (check your lines!). He wound in his bar and tried to sail it in, but lost it. I got the kite and dragged it in while Stu W took my board in.

It was hard work as the kite was partly powered. When winding in for a self rescue make sure you wrap the front lines for 3 meters first before you included the rear lines in the wrap.

I crashed my kite while dragging the other one and lost my GoPro, so there is no video footage.

I returned later and snorkelled around but couldn't find it.  There is a lot of weed on the bottom.  

Its a great location to kite but not too good if have to self rescue.