Flinders kitesurfing reef break and waves #593

Session 593. Tired after yesterday's bike ride at South Morang but the good forecast for wind and waves at Flinders beckoned.

There were some good waves to be had.  I dropped the kite a couple of times flying it high waiting to catch a wave, and another time retrieving my board, but thankfully I was able to relaunch it on both occasions.

I body dragged in to get the board, thankfully it wasn't on the rocks.

Some revision: Fly the kite high, don't hang around in the impact zone and pick your wave to ride on the way in.

A challenging fun session.

Kitesurfing the Flinders reef break

I took this video of the crew kitesurfing the reef break at Flinders on Sat 18 December.  I have tennis elbow so was unable to kite this time.

Flinders is a great place to kitesurf when the wind gets in there but its for experienced kitesurfers only. It is a long swim back to the beach if you tangle your kite or have an equipment failure.

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.

Kitesurfing Flinders to Point Leo and return #538

 Another excellent session and tour from Flinders.  We headed out to the reef break first and rode some waves in variable swell then headed on a long tour coming in at Zappas then the Pines to surf the reef brakes there. 

We continued on to the Point Leo main beach and scored some flat water behind the main reef

I made it back on a single tack - the wind direction and strength was perfect.

I came in ahead of the others to avoid stressing my right arm too much. I am getting some numbness in the fingers and hand at times, including while typing!  

So good to do a tour again.

We are eyeing off a kitesurfing trip across the channel to Phillip Island but its a serious undertaking - boat support would be a good idea.

Kitesurfing Shoreham to Flinders, great surf at West Head

Session 500. A milestone and a cracking session too!  Mike, Stu W, Stu S and myself kited from Shoreham in the continuing easterly, not quite as strong as yesterday.  There weren't any good waves on the way to Flinders so we kept going past the pier and out to West Head.

A large grey seal was visible on the rocks as I tacked out.  The reef break was pumping with some big sets coming through.  There was plenty of water over the reef and the break was well defined so we caught some excellent waves.  I peeked around West Head to get a view of the rocky coastline to the west.

After several good waves we turned to head back, initially well powered.  Then a lull came, my kite hit the water but I was looking into a beach so I wasn't concerned about drifting in.  The wind changed and came in strong enabling me to relaunch and continue back.

Very tired but satisfied - this was one of my best kitesurfing tours - variety, surf, some wildlife and marvellous scenery.

Photos