Paddle out to Fawkner Beacon from Sandringham Harbour with the Victorian Sea Kayak Club.
Calm conditions made for pleasant paddling. It took a while to get Fawkner Beacon, chatting along the way. We stopped for a snack at the beacon and watched a container ship coming up the channel.
It was fun surfing the bow waves from the ship after it passed.
I am happy with my Mirage 580 sea kayak, it is fast in the water, stable and easy to paddle.
We had a coffee and chat afterwards in the Sandy Kiosk.
Session 588. A nice sea breeze at last. First session in spring suit too.
I started in about 22 knots, it dropped to 18 knots for a while then came in hard at 25+ knots.
One guy nearly ended up on Beach Road hanging onto his bar with outstretched arms after his chicken loop detached. Eventually he let go and his kite crashed into shrubs and Anthony secured it.
Session 585. Strong winds forecast for Port Phillip Bay arrived mid-afternoon. On the water at 3:30 pm and shared the session with three other kiters.
Northerlies at Brighton can be dicey if you have equipment failure or get your kite tangled - its a long hard swim back to shore against cross-offshore wind. I kite conservatively in offshore winds.
The wind was good further out but not as strong as the 30 knot forecast. The Union 9m kite was nicely powered.
I tacked up to near the Brighton Marina breakwater then surfed the back on the bay swell. The wind was gusty closer to shore.
A kiter jumped and crashed his kite. He was having a lot of trouble relaunching it and looking like he might need to swim a longish way back in.
I kited past slowly and grabbed and dragged one tip of his kite that was jellyfishing (full of water). That was enough for him to relaunch it. It was nice to help out.
Session 584. Kitesurfing again at last! There has been a remarkable lack of wind this year. The Westerlies and North Westerlies we usually get during Winter have been largely absent. There was a good Northerly forecast today so Rosebud was on.
On the water and 09:10 with 15-20 knots wind from the North, not as strong as forecast. I used my Union 9 kite in case it came in stronger.
One other kiter was out in the distance and two others launched just before me.
I got going a bit underpowered so I kept going out hoping to pick up more wind. Returning in the wind got stronger close to shore so I was able to keep tacking, then it got stronger enabling me to go up wind and do some nice bay surf runs on the outer sandbank.
Really got to be kiting again, a most enjoyable session.
Some good wind again late in the afternoon!
I kited on the bay swell down to Green Point to catch some waves, then back upwind to the Marina and downwind slalom back the beach.
Very happy with the new Union 9m kite.
First session on a new Airush Union 9m kite I was able to buy a discounted for a good price. Airush have discontinued the Union model so it was my last chance to get one.
I have changed my quiver from 6, 8, 10, 12 to 6, 9 and 12. This will be better for travelling and take up less room in the car.
The kite flew well and there was plenty of wind. Had some fun in the bay surf at the beach and slalom turns on the rollers going downwind.
Session 569. The wind and weather was good for a downwinder so we took the opportunity to kitesurf from Frankston to Mentone and weren't disappointed.
The bay surf was good, the sun was shining and the wind was solid.
Session 568. Managed to get this session on a busy Saturday. My first session after the Pyrenees trip with a good 20 to 25 knots of wind.
It is always great to get on the water!
Session 567. Cool conditions but nice sunshine. I was just powered on my 8m kite and enjoying the small bay waves with a nice run down towards Frankston then some tacks to get back.
The wind got stronger until my kite was fully depowered. I was a bit rusty - a few big stacks and missed quite a few gybes, but a great session.
Pulled the safety to self land on the narrow beach. Quite a few people walking on the beach with dogs.
Session 566. Kitesurfing after an extended break due to sore tendons in my left elbow. It seems to be a form of Tennis Elbow that has lingered for 6 months. My elbows felt better after the session!
Nice kitesurfing in small bay waves and cold conditions. Light wind so I used my 12m kite.
Session 549. Stuart got out ahead of me then the wind dropped. I couldn't get going on my Ultra 12m kite so I waited on the shore. James decided conditions were too marginal so he headed home.
Stuart dropped his kite and drifted in to the shore about 500m down the beach. I was thinking about going back to the car and driving down to get him, then the wind sprang up. Stuart got going again and I was well powered on the 12.
The sun came out so things were good! It turned out to be a good session.
I find it difficult to go upwind with the Ultra 12m kite though even when I have plenty of power.
Maybe I am just so used to smaller kites (10m & 8m) with a slimmer leading edge.
Session 547. A good northerly at Seaford made for some good kitesurfing. Mike and I got on the water just after 11am.
The wind was around 20 knots so I used my Union 8m kite. It's been a while since I kited so I took it easy.
There was small but enjoyable bay surf in the Winter sun. Nice to crank out some turns.
The wind dropped for a bit then came back in with gusto.
James, Stu S and Stu W rolled up and joined us on the water.
I was glad I was wearing booties to keep my feet warm.
We had a good coffee at the Beach Cafe Seaford near the pier.
Nice steady wind so I did a downwind tour at to the shipping channel, enjoying solitude out on the bay.
Returned to the Sandringham breakwater and the surfed the rolling swell back to the beach.
Fantastic downwinder in a solid sea breeze today with a veritable armada of buddies. We left my car at Hampton then I got a lift to Ricketts Point.
I did a few tacks waiting for everyone to get on the water then headed off riding the swell and some reef breaks close to the shore.
Going past the HMS Cerberus wreck is always interesting but its sad to see it collapsing into the water.
I almost contacted some reefy rocks lurking in the shore break on a beach. Past the Hampton Marina and then some nice speed runs behind the breakwater. Lots of Wing Foils out there now.
I got to the beach very happy with the tour. My wrist and right arm is getting stronger and were fine for the journey.
This is probably the best short downwinder in Port Phillip Bay with great scenery, some nice reefs and excellent beaches.
Session 534. Kitesurfing some nice bay waves in Aspendale just to the south of Mordialloc Creek.
Session 533. After the session at Aspendale I headed off on one my favourite downwinders, enjoying bay surf all the way from Aspendale to Frankston.
The train at Frankston wasn't running though due to work on new railway stations. I was lucky to get on the replacement bus for the return trip (they normally don't allow surfboards).
Great to be kitesurfing again after another COVID-19 lockdown was lifted. It as just nice to be out there. The wind was light so I took out the Airush Ultra 12. The kite has a lot of power for its size so I kept the depower on. It also turns a lot more slowly than the Union 10.
Great to catch up with the kiting buddies too.
Session 530. Strong winds whipped up some big surf in Port Phillip Bay. The 6m kite is great in these conditions - its fun surfing the waves without getting dragged off them. I don't get to use it often but I enjoy it when I do.
