Ripping kitesurfing session in the surf at Sandy Point

Session 548. Strong wind and a huge surf - Sandy Point once again confirmed as one of the best kitesurfing locations in Victoria.

The waves were so big I didn't make it out the back.  It was difficult to get a good shoulder in the middle of the waves but perseverance paid off.

Video to follow.

Kitesurfing Shoreham to Flinders in a good easterly - superb!

Session 499.  On the water at Shoreham at 8:30 with a nice easterly. Kitesurfed the small swell at Little Noosa break just off Shoreham then headed south along the coast. The best swell was coming into the The Farm break with some good sets rolling into the beach.

Lots of reef around though, I hit one when turning and the board sank into the water.  I continued up towards the Flinders Pier for a look then headed back enjoying the large swells.

If you haven't kited in this area before take it easy and have a good look around for the first time until you suss out the reefs and bombies.

A great time was had by Stu S, Stu W, James and myself.  Ear to ear grins at the finish after a superb session. We stopped for a good coffee at the Merrricks General Store on the way home.

Great powered up kitesurfing session Andersons Inlet

Session 328.  When the picked up around 4 p.m, I swapped to the Flite 14.5 and the Nugget for a really good session. Well powered, but really easy to stay upwind.  The kite turns really well and delivers good power but not too much.  It has really good de-power range too.

I did several backrolls, some with kite loops, and landed most of them. I am really enjoying these as they add to the challenge.  I must be pulling on the back hand to get the backloop, so now I need to try pulling more on the front hand.  Landing a back roll kiteloop is a lot of fun.

Everyone was whizzing around, the travails of earlier light wind forgotten.  Trent was down with a large crew from SHQ too but there was plenty of room for us all.

We were all really pumped at the end of the day. The counter tea at the pub went down really well afterwards.

GPS Log

Kitesurfing tour Rosebud to Blairgowrie tour

Session 237.  We headed down to Rosebud in the morning to find the forecast northerly blowing nicely.  It wasn't strong wind so I rigged up my Lithium 12 and took out the surfboard.  Nice, really nice!  Well powered, nice and warm in my 4/3 Ripcurl wetsuit, booties and gloves. There were some small waves to have fun in.  I kept a wary eye on the shallow sandbars close to shore though.

After about 30 minutes I decided a downwinder was on.  I couldn't convince the others to come so I headed off alone into the unknown.  No phone or money, I would see if if I could cadge a lift back from Sorrento.

It was really good fun following the bay surf break along the sandbar towards Rye; there were some nice waves to be had.  Along the way I spotted a big man boosting high on a surboard - yes, it was Franz.  I sad hello and continued on.

There were quite a few windsurfers fanging about just before Rye pier.  I did a run in there to check it out.  There were some deeper channels there that suit the bigger fins of their boards.

I then got on a tack past Rye Pier and kept going, and going.  I could see the Sorrento ferry berthed and aimed at it, working to stay upwind.  It was a nice long tack.  Eventually I came up to Blairgowrie, not quite able to make it around to Sorrento.  Then the wind dropped.  I abandoned my plans to call in at Sorrento Yacht Club and turned back.

I considered going into the beach next to Blairgowrie but the wind was holding up.  I lined up Rye pier in the distance and headed back on another long and enjoyable tack.  I got past the pier then the wind dropped.  I cruised back into where the windsurfers were based (Daly Ave) and packed down my kite.

After chatting to a few of the windsurfers, Kurt kindly offered me a lift back to Rosebud. I got changed and had lunch with them in a local cafe.

The tour was great.  Its nice to have an adventure.  However, I think I will take to always carrying a small phone and some cash in a waterproof case for when such situations arise again.

Postscript
I realised a week later that I had left my kitebag with a pump in it on the beach at Rosebud.  I drove down to have a look the following Sunday and put some signs up there and at the more popular kiting location.  Then I visited the Rosebud police station and got a pleasant surprise - a nice local had found it and handed it in.  I rang and thanked him for his considerations.

TIP:  Put your name and mobile number on ALL year gear and bags; pump, kitebags, harness, kites, boards.  That way if it ever gets found you can be contacted.

GPS Log

Kitesurfing Sandy Point in the surf with great wind!

Session 226 & 227.  We carefully assessed the wind forecast for the first day of March Blokes Kitesurfing Weekend and decided that Sandy Point was the best place to go along the section of coast in the vicinity of Inverloch, even though it is some distance further.

Stu and Tarren got an early start and were kitesurfing the front beach by 10am with good wind and a good swell.  Stu #2 and Grant took there windsurfers to Shallow Inlet, and Richard headed there to kitesurf too.

James and I arrived at about 11 and rigged up our big kites.  Once on the water, there was plenty of wind, even with the kite depowered.  Two other kitesurfers were out enjoying the good wind and waves too.  I was getting pulled off the waves with my 12 so after a few runs (Part 1) I swapped it for my Lithium 9, which was much better.  I still had plenty of power to get out through the break, but was able to get some really nice rides in on the occasional big waves.

Gybing the board is really handy - it takes the stress out of turning and handling surf conditons.

My left elbow was a bit sore, using the tennis elbow brace over the wetsuit, but it held up OK.

Sandy Point is a wonderful location with views to Wilsons Prom and the islands close to it, and the wide stretch of beach.

After a quick snack lunch at the General Store (warning - not wetsuits in the cafe) we headed back to beach.  The wind was still pumping but just as I got on the water with my 9 it dropped.  I swapped for the 12, but it dropped again, so that was it.

There was a wedding on the beach. Lot of nicely dressed people braved the strong winds and fine sand (with high heels removed!) to cluster like a group of penguins on the sand.  Of course the wind dropped off just after the ceremony was over and most had left . . .

We headed back to Inverloch for a nice feed of fish and chips and watched some videos on Youtube including:

• Be a Rebel, like a camel (kitesurfing, of course) 
• Grinding the Crack (Jeb Corliss) 
• Way Back Home (Danny MacAskill)
• Road Bike Party (Martyn Ashton)
• The JP Auclair Street Segment (skiing)
• Airstyle (Toby Braeuer)

Who needs a TV?

GPS Logs

Part 1 (short first session on the Lithium 12)

Part 2 (longer session on Lithium 9)

Session 2 - after lunch

Kitesurfing tour Hampton to Port Melbourne return

Session 208. Cesar and I linked up to do a training run for the upcoming Across the Bay to Conquer Cancer.   The 20 knot southerly was a welcome relief from yesterday's 40C!

We met at Hampton at about 2:30 and did a fast run down to Port Melbourne.  This was mostly one long downwind tack although I did go toeside a couple of times briefly.  We had a brief chat at the Port Melbourne beach and decided to try going back upwind.

Cesar was going upwind well on his surfboard but my Sector 60 was definitely a bit better.  We did a couple of tacks out past Princess Pier then a long run up to Elwood, followed by some shorter tacks to Brighton, then past Green Point and back to Hampton.

As I got tired, the gybe turns were harder.  Its important to keep some speed up through the turns, and to switch feet in a positive one-two movement.

We were happy to finish, and I was quite depleted.

GPS Log


Session stats

Distance:	52.79 km
Time:	2:40:13
Avg Speed:	19.8 km/h

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