Kitesurfing the inlet at Inverloch - flat water #517

Session 517. I got a small piece of vegetation in my eye when we got up to see the first sunrise of 2021 at Walkerville. I couldn't get it out so went to Foster Hospital where a doctor was able to remove the small piece that was stuck to my eyeball. We were late getting to Inverloch where Stu, Tarren and James were out kiting.  

I got on the water about the time they were finishing up and had a nice flat water session on the inlet. The tide was going out so it was getting shallower. I didn't bother going across to the surf as I was the water might be too shallow in places.

Lots of kiters and people about having a good time in the sun. A fun session but I prefer some waves.

Inlet kitesurfing speed session with the Flite and Sector 60

Session 330.  Our last session for the weekend was a good one.  The forecast wind came in at 5p.m at around 15 knots.  I had a great session on the Flite 14.5 and the Sector 60.  There was enough water to cover the sandbars so I could go fast and not worry about the long fins hitting the sand.

I did some nice jumps, hauling the considerable bulk of the Sector 60 out of the water.  The kite was easy to handle in 15+ knots, I depowered it a bit too.  With the Sector I could bear off down wind to get some deeper water then cut back upwind to get back.  No back rolls though . . .

Overall, a great weekend again.  Inverloch really is a great location for kitesurfing.  Having a range of kite sizes helps too.

GPS Log

Kitesurfing very light wind Andersons Inlet

Session 329.   No wind in the morning so we headed for the Inverloch surf beach where a good swell was rolling in.  I inflated both SUPs - the Starboard 8' and the Naish Nalu 11'.  The Nalu is much easier to paddle but it doesn't turn so well on a wave. Catching waves is tricky - getting the balance forward then back is difficult.

After lunch, there was very light wind in the afternoon so I thought I would try the Flite 14.5 and the Sector 60.  Getting started was tricky but once going the apparent wind was good so I could cruise.  I kited down past the jetty, wondering if I could make it back.

I spotted a beach that I could land at, then turned around.  Surprisingly, I was able to stay upwind but when I reached the pier the wind dropped right out.  I did a self rescue, winding in the lines and swimming to the narrow beach with the current slowly taking me out.

I made it to shore and was greeted by Stuart and Mike who had driven down to pick me up.  Great valet service!

I estimate the wind was around 8 knots while it lasted, so this is now my best light wind combo.  The Sector 60 is easy to handle with the Flite.

I pumped the kite up again back at the Angling Club beach to dry it out and wait for better wind - which came in for the next session.

GPS Log

Great powered up kitesurfing session Andersons Inlet

Session 328.  When the picked up around 4 p.m, I swapped to the Flite 14.5 and the Nugget for a really good session. Well powered, but really easy to stay upwind.  The kite turns really well and delivers good power but not too much.  It has really good de-power range too.

I did several backrolls, some with kite loops, and landed most of them. I am really enjoying these as they add to the challenge.  I must be pulling on the back hand to get the backloop, so now I need to try pulling more on the front hand.  Landing a back roll kiteloop is a lot of fun.

Everyone was whizzing around, the travails of earlier light wind forgotten.  Trent was down with a large crew from SHQ too but there was plenty of room for us all.

We were all really pumped at the end of the day. The counter tea at the pub went down really well afterwards.

GPS Log

Inverloch Andersons Inlet light wind kitesurfing with the Zero

Session 327. Another kitesurfing weekend with the crew, yeah!  The dodgy forecast earlier in the week improved closer to Friday to our relief.  We headed down to Inverloch early on Saturday morning with our usual stop at the excellent Kilcunda General Store cafe.

There was some very light wind around noon so I decided to give the Zero another go while the others pumped up my Flite 14.5 as well.  I got going o.k, just, but found the now familiar problem of staying upwind, even on the trusty Nugget.

In light winds working really hard I can just hold ground.  If the wind gets stronger you have too much power and get pulled off your edge downwind.  Its hard to slow down to. Coming into the beach I misjudged the distance and the time needed to slow the kite, came in a bit hot and leaped to the shore. I managed to scratch the top of my foot on something and got it a bit bruised.  Not enough to stop me kiting though.

There were a few kites down in the patchy wind so I landed the Zero and pumped up my new Naish Nalu inflatable SUP and headed out to assist.  Stu Styles was floating and drifting up into the inlet with the strong tidal current.  I got to him and pulled him to the nearby sandbar.

Meanwhile Eric was taking ages to relaunch the Flite from a sandbar but just as I got to him he relaunched and was on his way.

GPS Log

Kitesurfing big waves at Inverloch main beach

Session 316.  There were a couple of kiters out in the surf at Inverloch on Sunday in lighter wind.  I decided to join them and took out my Lithium 12.  I was able to get going but the wind was soft and the bigger kite is harder to go upwind with.

There was a large swell.  Coming in on a good swell the wind dropped when I was in front of a large wave in stuck in no mans land. I got munched and dropped the kite as the wave washed me in and slackened the lines.  I was able to relaunch it but the camera was out of alignment from then on.

 Big waves, great to catch.  Its not too difficult to get out the back close to the inlet entrance and the main surf beach near the Lifesaving Club was quite crowded in any case.

I walked back along the beach a few times wishing for a little more wind, but finished the session with two really good runs out then back in on big waves.

GPS log

Speedy kitesurfing runs at Inverloch, 48 km/h

Session 315. Lots of wind - over 30 knots - when I arrived at Inverloch so I headed for the inlet and rigged up my 7m Crossbow.  Well powered up on the water and only one other kiter (Boris) out.  I did quite a few runs out from the Angling Club and back, then eventually ventured over the very shallow sandbar into the main channel over the others side.

A few upwind tacks brought be right up close to a sandbar with flat sheltered water just behind it so I tucked in, powered up and clocked my fastest speed to date of 48 km/h kiting close to the sandbar. Very exhilarating!

I finished with some tacks back to toward the jetty then some slalom turns back to the angling club. Its great to have a smaller kite for sessions like these.

 

GPS Log