Kitesurfing Across The Bay to Conquer Cancer 2015 was very challenging

Session 322. After months of preparation and training for Across the Bay the day had arrived.

I drove to Port Melbourne and caught the bus with most of the participants to Frankston.  Cesar provided an overview of event while I went over the "group of 10 buddy system", event rules and safety procedures again.

The forecast was for 20+ knots SW coming just before midday so we were feeling confident we would have plenty of wind. 

On arrival, we had another group briefing for everyone on the Rosebud foreshore then we set our gear up and headed out to launch.

Event briefing (photo: Athol Hill)

Photo: Beksenia Photography 

Ready to go. Photo: Athol Hill

On the beach at Rosebud

Cesar and I were in the first group.  Wading out through shallow water, the wind was light.  I launched my Lithium 12, walked a bit further, then got going and headed out.  Initially, there was enough wind to plane comfortably, but I was on my Nugget so I was a bit worried others might struggle to get going.

I was advised by radio that the Mt Martha gate was not operating but that was no problem as the headland is a prominent feature. 

I plonked into the water and waited for the others to come out.  It took a while but eventually there were 11 other kites on the water so Cesar and I decided we were good to go.

It was a relief to get going, but the wind was getting lighter and we were immediately struggling to stay to together as a group.  I waited again for our group to get together.  When the some others arrived I got going again, pacing with the Kite Lead boat to the south of the shipping channel. 

Up past Mt Martha the wind dropped more, I could only just keep going dogging it - sining the kite hard.  Getting tired, I rested in the water to wait for better wind, then it dropped further and my kite fell out of the sky.  I looked around and every other kite was down too, so now we all had to wait.

My kite had fallen onto its trailing edge so I concentrated on getting it to flip over ready for relaunch. I succeeded, relaunched it, then it stalled back onto its trailing edge which was rather frustrating.  

Some wind came in and we got going up closer to Mornington and around the aquaculture buoys, then it conked out again! I spent over 30 minutes floating and waiting. I relaxed, lay back, drank some water from my drink bladder, had some gel and pondered whether we would all have to be rescued.

Our several rescue boats and crew were kept busy relaunching kiters when they could and rescuing others.  It was reassuring to hear them at work over the radio.

Then looking back, I could see lots of kites in the distance so wind was finally coming! I waited eagerly.  It was weird sitting in no wind and watching the kites slowly approach. As they got near the wind arrived and I immediately got going which felt fantastic. I really didn't think this would happen.

I formed a small group with Paul Cameron and some other kiters as we tracked towards Frankston but we soon turned to head for Ricketts Point, not wishing to risk lighter winds closer to shore. 

Our small group got in a nice rhythm as we headed across the bight in around 20 knots.  I didn't see any sea creatures but other kiters later said they saw and kited with a large pod of dolphins and a few people said they saw a small shark.  I stopped to check people stationary in the water a few times but all was good. 

Ivan came fanging past in great style obviously enjoying himself.

Past Ricketts I crashed the kite on a downloop and it flipped, crossing some lines. I was still able to fly it and thought about landing at Hampton to reset the lines but decided to keep going with some caution. 

I saw the gate at Brighton and tracked out to and around it, then back on a tack towards Port Melbourne. I was still nicely powered but feeling quite fatigued so it I was taking it easy.

Coming in to Port Melbourne beach was a great relief. I had spent over 4.5 hours on the water.  After landing my kite I congratulated several fellow kiters, helped land some kites, then helped check everyone off as they arrived and coordinate with Kite Base about who had arrived and who they had been rescued.  Everyone was finally accounted for which as a great relief as the Rider Safety Officer.

I got changed and had dinner at Corte with a bunch of very tired but happy kiters. 

To those who did not finish the event, including some very experienced kiters and good friends - good on you for having a go.  Getting good wind was a lottery.  Just getting going was a big achievement this time.

A big shout out to Glenn, Rick, Tim, Adam, Paul, Deborah, Jim and all the yacht club volunteers who did such a great job on the day.  The event couldn't have happened with out you.

Looking at the South Channel beacon wind graph archive it shows good wind but there wasn't much at Rosebud and there were big holes of Mornington and Frankston.

We are getting online feedback and will be conducting debrief sessions over the next few weeks to get people's feedback and experiences and share learning from this event.

The really good news is that we collectively raised over $70,000 for the Cancer Council which is a great achievement.

If you would like to donate to this very worthy cause you can still do so here

Launching at Rosebud

Launching - flat water

Getting going - just

Schlogging it - underpowered

Some wind, but not a lot

Some kites following

Turning near the channel marker

More kites following

Waiting

Off Mt Martha

Kite down

Going again, at last!

Stopped again, waiting

Kites coming, wind arrives!

Powered up, at last

Kiting with Paul

Cruising and carving

The home run

Never been so keen to see the shore break

Finishing Across the Bay 2015. Photo: Athol Hill 

Photo: Athol Hill 

Photo: Athol Hill

Photo: Beksenia Photography 

GPS Log

Epic downwinder Werribee South to Altona and gruelling upwind return with Dolphins!

Session 314 was more like 5 sessions rolled into 1, 106km in total!

We headed to Werribee South beach to take advantage of the forecast easterly and to scope out this location for kitesurfing.

We were pleasantly surprised.  The wind was blowing around 15 to 20 knots so we decided to try the downwinder to Altona.

The beach was wide enough for easy kite launching and fairly clean.  We did a run first to the south west and peeked around the corner towards Point Wilson.  Coming back along the small surf was nice as we waited for Eric to get on the water.

I was well powered on my Lithium 12 so I was taking it easy.  A few upwind tacks got us past the new Wyndham Vale marina then we had some nice kiting down past the beach shacks of Campbells Cove and past the RAAF Point Cook Base.

Getting around Point Cook was interesting - I came in close the reef and hit it!  Hard to spot the rocks under the whitewash.

Past the reef it was all downwind with flatter water, some nice small waves in sections.  Downloop turns kept the momentum up.  One guy was kiting right into Skeleton Waterholes Creek on his twintip board. I wasn't going to try it on my surfboard.

We headed right up to the pier then came in to land.  We were all very happy with the downwinder, and chatted to Mike about getting a lift back to Werribee South.

Stuart suggested we kite back.  I was a bit tired but keen to give it a go, as was Eric, so we all headed off.

It was hard work kiting upwind with lots of tacks.  At one stage near the Cheetham Wetlands I heard someone yell.  An idiot had kited up behind me and nearly crashed his kite into mine! I yelled at him to stay away and not tangle the kites.  This was bizarre as there was nobody else around.  Why on earth come right up behind someone like that?

Eric was powering ahead upwind but I was getting tired.  Then we rewarded by spotting a trio of Dolphins cruising along heading slowly out - these are the first I have seen kitesurfing.  We passed them several times on the seemingly endless tacks in lightish wind.

Up at Point Cook we walked across the point to avoid the reef and had a nice short blast at good speed then the wind dropped out just before the pier at the RAAF Point Cook Base.  We were stuck!  Stuart eventually got around the pier.  It took me several goes before I did too.

Then we had some more wind and made better progress, but still needed to tack. Up at the new Marina I ventured inside it, but the wind dropped and I only just made it back out of the flat water.

Then I was schlogging back and forth to get around the rock wall and couldn't do it.  So frustrating to get so close to Werribee and not make it!  I would have made it on the Nugget. Stuart and Eric had got around though just before me.

I landed my kite on the small beach next to the marina and Stuart showed up with the car almost immediately.

This was an epic session.  We stocked up on caffiene, lollies and potatoe chips to replace our depleted energy on the drive home.

Everything is sore - arms, legs, torso, hands and neck.   Cramps are looming too so I have taken a magnesium tablet.

My GPS battery was flat again so I have mapped out our progress on the Google map.  I estimate we did 30km on the downwinder and at least 48km on the upwinder making a total of 78km!

Overall, I am very happy with this outing.  A big day out!

Update:  Stuart logged 43.03 km to Altona and 63.67 km coming back - a total of 106.7 km for the day. His GPS track logs are at the bottom of this post.

Hordes of Blue Blubber Jellyfish!

Point Cook reef - it bites!

Upwind route

Downwind route

Google Map (interactive)

Track log 1 from Stuart - Altona to Werribee South


Track log 2 from Stuart - Werribee South to Altona