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 Point Leo to Honeysuckle

Session 496. Great to be kiting again at Point Leo. The wind was around 20 knots blew away the heavy smoke from recent bushfires across Victoria, but there was no swell.

Several tacks got us up to the Pines with some flat water behind the reef. Enjoyed some nice small waves at Honeysuckle on the way back. The waves at Suicides at Point Leo were crashing onto the reef.

The channel behind Suicides.

Looking across to Phillip Island - a tour to there would be nice, but a serious undertaking with boat support required.

The wind was mostly good but there were a few holes in it. Some caution is indicated for shallow reefs close to shore.

A solid and very enjoyable 2 hour session covering 44km with Stu S, Stu W, James and Mike.

Kitesurfing Point Leo with good wind and small surf

Session 438. Third and final session of the day - completing the trifecta!  After a souvlaki for lunch in Mentone I drove to Point Leo to meet Stuart W hoping for some kitesurfing on waves.  Point Leo is a quiet location with a good campground that was very quiet.  There was hardly anyone around and nobody on the beach.  I chatted to a couple of lifesavers who were sitting in a buggy on the beach.

Second Reef

 There was good wind.  I cruised out on Union 10 with plenty of power.  I headed to Second Reef where waves were forming, avoiding a couple of surfers who were close to the shore.  This reef can open up as treacherous rocks I was cautious.

I then tacked out to Suicides at the point.  There were some good size swells but they were close to the rocks so I headed back to Second Reef.  Stuart was on the water by then.  We cruised around finding some occasional swells and waves but they weren't big.

Then we headed further west over to The Pines at Shoreham.  The reef break there is very consistent but again the waves were not big. 

Point Leo, Suicides in the background

The Pines

The Pines

Kitesurfing tour from Balnarring to Flinders - won the double!

Session 353.  Stu Styles scoped out a good South Easterly for a kitesurfing tour from Balnarring to Flinders.  After yesterday's nice session at Hampton today we won the double.

Great wind and great kitesurfing.  There were quite a few kites out at Balnarring. We did a few runs then got going to Point Leo and scored some good surf on the prominent reef.  A word of warning though - some of the reefs suddenly appear in the water and can present serious obstacles.

I headed upwind toward Flinders. The others were all closer in to shore near Point Leo, it looked like they would stay put there so I kept going, intent on getting to Flinders.  It took a couple of tacks to get there.  There were a lot of people on the pier and several boats moored there. As I approached a small sandy beach just north of the pier the wind softened, so I decided to head back rather than go to shore and get stranded.

It was a nice fast downwind run to the others who had just started heading to Flinders.  I kited past and waved, conversation across the water being difficult.  I kited back to Suicides at Point Leo and rode some waves, then continued north surfing the reef before heading back on a tack.

It was a long tack back. I used the rear footstrap for a rest and straightened my rear leg.  I kept going until I got close to Somers Yacht Club then did some fast downwind slalom turns to get back to Balnarring.   I logged 49 km for this trip.

I rested on the beach for about 10 minutes watching for the others coming back.  I couldn't see anyone so I decided to head back to spot them.  The wind was stronger as I tacked across. I saw a kite but it was Chronos foil with a kiter on a foil board and they were flying.  Then I came up to Stu S and Anthony who were on there way back.  I continued on the Point Leo and saw Stu W and Mike. No sign of Eric. Tarren had returned earlier.

It was another long tack with a downwind finish to Balnarring where we regrouped, tired but very happy.  I logged 14.8 km for the second run, bringing the totals for the day to and 63.86 km and 3:05

Eric had lost his board and body dragged in to Point Leo so we drove there and picked him up. We had fish and chips at Balnarring then headed home.

I took my Spot tracking device on this tour. The OK messages worked but only one track location was recorded off Point Leo.  Maybe I have to have it on my shoulder so it can get better reception.

 

GPS log 1 - Balnarring to Flinders return

GPS log 2 Balnarring to Pt Leo return