Kitesurfing Frankston on my Sector 60 with a couple of poleys

Session 197
There was only 10 knots of wind at Inverloch in the morning so we had a relaxed breakfast while we checked out detailed wind forecasts with Predictwind.  It looked like we might get some wind at Frankston so we stopped there on the way home.

We were in luck!  There was a nice 20 knots blowing side onshore.  We got on the water with haste and had a ball.  There was enough swell to slow me down on my Sector 60 raceboard a bit.  I tried a few jumps off the swell and got a bit of air, but the board is big and heavy.

I got up close to Stu and Grant on their windsurfers to get some helmetcam footage you can view in the video below.  They certainly get up some good speed and the large boards cut through the swell nicely.

Tarren had a go on the Sector 60 and took off upwind while I used his twin tip and tried some bigger boosts.  Twin tips have  a whole different feel, and seem now to be a bit limiting.

Back on the Sector 60 I did some fast downwind reaches which were a lot of fun.

The wind lasted about 2 hours then stopped, which was perfect for our session.  Predictwind really delivered the goods for us again.

Once again, we had to location with its lovely clean water to ourselves.  It was a fun session with the mix of kites, boards and windsurfers.

Video

Photos

GPS Log

Kitesurfing Hampton in just enough wind

Session 191. Saturday 13 October 2012

A westerly came through on Saturday morning after an amazing cold snap of weather.  I suited up in my Ocean Rodeo Soul drysuit again.  Tarren and Stuart were first on the water and having a nice time.  Tarren came in and helped me launch my kite as I was having a bit of trouble self launching.

There was "just enough" wind to hold a line, but Stuart was going better upwind with his new Cabrinha Switchblade 12.  Kites just keep on getting better.

Its an amazing feeling kiting and staying dry. Well almost - I did get a little bit of water up one leg toward the end of the session.  

Here are some shots (linemount and kitecam) of me kiting with the drysuit. 

The wind was about 20 knots but dropped to 15 or less when we stopped.

Here is a gybe turn sequence

 

 

GPS log

Port Melbourne to St Kilda - speed and gybes

Session 170 - 20 February 2012

There was a nice 20 knot sea breeze on late in the day.  Launched at Port Melbourne, far from the madding crowds.  Two tacks on the Sector 60 and I was past the pier, one more tack could have got me to St Kilda!  I think I could have even got to Elwood.  Still amazed at the upwind capability of this board.

I had a breakthrough on my first turns.  I did a successful gybe to the right (my strong turn) followed by my FIRST successful gybe to the left!  Woo hoo!

I headed to St Kilda and did some nice speed runs into the flatter water behind the breakwater, faster than all the twin tips and surfboard kiters who were out.  The lower wind behind the breakwater made gybing much harder though.  

I did a ripping speed run back toward Port Melbourne, then quite a few runs in the bay surf and some more gybes.  It is great to be making some progression.

Some things I have noticed that help:

• Need to turn the board to get around, particulary on the weaker side (left for me)
• I consolidate my riding toeside after the turn, then bring my rear foot forward, and can now ride with it placed there.
• I am paying attention to keeping pressure on the new front foot, then bringing the other foot back.
• Relax if the feet are not in the foot straps.  Get comfortable and then slot them in later.
• Loosening the front foot before the turn helps get it out later (this is essential).
• Feel for the balance point
• Commit to moving the forward foot back.

And some issues:

• I think I could get the foot switch happening earlier
• The kite sometimes comes down too low when around on toeside

Overall, a great session with good wind.  I made several successful gybes which was very satisfying.  No tech today - it was nice to be just out there.

Marvellous wind at Mentone and my first GYBES!

Session 168 - 12 February 2012

It seemed like an eternity since I last kitesurfed.  Later or Sunday a sea breeze stronger than the forecast came in. It was south east so I headed for Mentone.

It was overcast, and remembering that I got cold during my last session, I donned my 3/2 wetsuit, even thought it is still summer.

The task today was gybing (jibing).  I took out the Sector 60 and was immediately having fun.  The wind was good and the water was clean (despite pollution warnings).

I attempted some gybes and got around to toeside but fell off when I tried to reposition my feet.  Sometimes I got my rear foot forward, but lost balance and fell when I tried to bring my front foot back.  I let the kite get too low too.  

The BINGO - I did my first gybe!  It was on my strong side, from left tack to right tack. It felt great and I am not sure exactly how I did, or what I did differently.  Bringing the rear foot forward and getting it straight into the foot strap certainly aids stability. 

I got around to toeside on my weak site (from right tack to left) but then just fell of the board. 

I crashed my kite hard on one attempt and tangled the linemount a bit so I headed back downwind to the beach and landed my kite after grabbing another kite while mine was in the air.  The line mount was bent back but not broken.  I took it off and stashed in it my bag then headed out again.

Going upwind so easily on the Sector 60 is quite an experience.  I did some small jumps off waves on the way out too.  These felt OK but I am wary of doing a big jump and landing hard.

I succeeded in completing a total of 4 gybes this session - all on my strong side.  This was very pleasing, but I have a way to go yet to gybe consistently.  The balance is very tricky.  After nearly 2 hours it was time to come in.  I did some really nice fast downwind runs - the Sector 60 really screams down the bay swell.

Here is the gybe sequence

On left tack

Carving to toeside (right tack)

Riding toeside

Bringing kite back up

Rear foot forward into foot strap, front foot coming back

On right tack (rear foot not yet in footstrap)