A demo kitesurfing run at Cape Paterson

Session 317. A very short one. There was some interest in kitesurfing among my relatives and friends while we were camping at Cape Paterson so I showed them my 7m Crossbow kite and the rest of the kitesurfing gear at the campsite.

Late the following day there was some wind on the main surf beach so I took the gear down and did a short demo run out on the 7 and back into the beach then some body dragging in the surf.

There wasn't enough wind to stay upwind but if  I was on my 9m Lithium I think I would have been going fairly well.  Its not a great place to get into difficulties though as the beach is fairly small and elsewhere there is mostly reefs and rocks.

Everyone got to hold the bar and briefly try flying the kite.

Good session at Cape Paterson at last

Session 166, 21 January 2012


Staying at Cape Paterson for a short beach holiday with my friend Simon and my daughter Chloe. The wind picked during Friday night and on Saturday morning so I decided to have a go at kitesurfing on the Number 1 beach.

Walking down to the beach, the wind is strong at the top of the dunes, but the speed drops on the beach. I eventually got my Noise 12 in the air, with some assistance launching it, and did a few runs in the surf. There wasn't quite enough wind to get going and out further. I got dragged in by a wave, the line tension dropped and the kite fell out of the sky,

The wind was also south east, which was direct onshore, and made it difficult to get out to sea.

I secured it on the beach and waited a while. Simon showed up and I launched the kite to dry it out, then noticed the wind had picked up. I got out past the surf with the extra power and then cruised up and down, eventually getting out past the Cape for a great view down towards Kilcunda. I was close to much bigger waves there and a bit wary of getting caught, so I headed back for a long run ending at the far end of Undertow Bay.

I then returned to the number 1 beach doing a few cautious jumps and some speed runs, then came in and landed my kite.

Its a great place to kite for the scenery, but it is definitely not forgiving. Most of this coast is a "no drop kite zone" due to waves, reefs and the very rocky coastline.

You also have to keep well clear of swimmers, surfers and the patrolled section of Number 1 beach, But its beautiful, uncrowded (of kites) and the water is superb.

Watching those rocks!

Jump

Landing

Entering the Twilight Zone

Looking East from #1 Beach

Cape Paterson reef

Slideshow - all photos

Map and GPS log

Session stats

Summary

Distance:	18.58 km
Time:	1:52:34
Avg Speed:	9.9 km/h
Elevation Gain:	2,899 m
Calories:	856 C

Details

Timing

Time:	1:52:34
Moving Time:	1:12:48
Elapsed Time:	1:52:34

Avg Speed:	9.9 km/h
Avg Moving Speed:	15.3 km/h
Max Speed:	36.9 km/h

Ripping at Inverloch in 22+ knots late in the day

Session 77, Sunday 10 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 10m

Location: Inverloch - Anderson Inlet

Wind: 23+ knots E

Duration: 4:00 to 5:00 - 1 hour

The wind god smiled again. After a day around Cape Paterson, where the wind picked up around 1pm but didn't really get strong and was onshore onto a crowded beach, Chloe, Simon and I ended up in Inverloch eating fish and chips for dinner.

On arriving, kites were up and going in the inlet, and one was out in the surf with a windsurfer. After dinner Simon suggested I have a go as he thought I was looking restless, so we drove to the inlet launch site.

I feverishly rigged my 10m kite and got on the water pronto. No helmet, GPS or sunglasses today, but I did wear my vest.

A strong consistent easterly (weird but true) was ripping down the inlet. The 10m kite was ripping upwind and inlet was not too choppy. I did some good jumps on the left tack out in the middle near a sandbar, but was more tentative on the right tack near the shore and shallow water.

Another dude was cranking massive air on an 8m kite - around 5 meters or more - and landing them. According to Simon he was changing direction during the jump too. Advisable given the proximity to shore.

The wind direction meant that the tack took me across to a sandbank that was just covered by water. I ventured onto it a couple of times but there was very little water and potential to bottom out. It would have been good to get across and continue across the inlet; a couple of guys did this later after I landed my kite.

There was a kitesurfing school conducting lessons on location - but I didn't note their name. The student was out of the way and accompanied in the water by an instructor. They seemed to be doing a good job.

The 10m Switchblade flies and turns much quicker than the 14m kite, and seems to go upwind much better too. I was able to ride toe down on the right tack too. No kiteloops today! But a lot of speed, and good clean wind. I don't know where this wind came from, there was no sign of it in Melbourne when I got back to town.

My daughter Chloe on a "seaweed trampoline" at Cape Paterson

Building a sandcastle and a "rock pool pond seaweed garden

"

And a nice headband!

Post script

I checked the BOM website and found this warning - which appears to explain the easterly - but it has arrived early.

Coastal Waters Wind Warning
for Victorian waters between Lakes Entrance and 60nm east of Gabo Island.

Issued at 10:34 pm EDT on Sunday 10 January 2010.

Please be aware
Wind gusts can be 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height.

Weather Situation

A high pressure system just east of Tasmania will continue to move eastwards, reaching the Tasman Sea early Monday as a low pressure trough develops over the Bight.

Strong wind warning for Victorian waters between Lakes Entrance and 60nm east of Gabo Island
Winds: Northeasterly and increasing up to 30 knots Monday morning. Combined sea and swell: Increasing up to 4 metres.

Cape Paterson - not enough wind

Session 38.

I visited my friend Simon staying at the Cape Paterson caravan park. I took my kite gear hoping for to kitesurf either at Inverloch or at the Cape itself.

The main beach has a gently surf and a nice reef at the western end. The breeze seemed OK on Saturday afternoon so Simon helped me launch my 14m kite.

But there was not enough wind. I was able to get out a bit and come back, but could not go upwind. After a couple of walks back along the beach, with bemused lifesavers peering down from their club house, I packed up.

I had a similar session on Sunday, but this time the promising breeze vanished as I got on the water, so I blew in to the beach just short of the rocky reef section to the east.

It is a nice spot, but not really suitable for beginnners.

Here is the satellite location map: