My race in the 2017 Lighthouse to Leighton kitesurfing event - stoked to do it!

Session 430. Racing at last!  I was lucky to get a good start on the upwind side of the course. I was very wary as the huge throng of kiters dashed off.  I got upwind and stayed there, keeping out of trouble.

It was quite a spectacle watching the bulk of kites progressing downwind, with those on foil boards soon getting a significant lead.  

I was feeling tired after the "one hour warm up" so I was concentrating on keeping the kite flying well and resting my rear leg occasionally.  It was nice to relax a bit and enjoy the mission.

My Flite 14.5 was providing good power.  Several kiters on twin tips were keeping pace with me, and one passed when I stacked briefly into a wave (one of two stacks).   The water wasn't rough but there were odd waves and peaks so concentration was required.

Heading just left of the cranes on Fremantle Docks two large moored ships eventually came into view.  I steered well downwind to avoid the wind shadow behind one, the other was downwind. Even so, I got a brief lull as I passed the stern of the ship.   A couple of racers that went close would have been scared their kites would fall out of the sky.

Then I picked the final target just left of the Fremantle Life Saving Club. Kiters were converging on the fairly narrow gate between a moored boat and a buoy.   There was almost a traffic jam getting through the gate with a couple of kites just behind me.

I DID IT!  Stoked to finish.

I came into the beach a bit overcooked in a bit of a daze and boosted off my board to land on the sand.  Then it was kite down and time for a drink.  A couple of cans of Red Bull (event sponsor) went down well to replenish my well depleted energy levels.

I finished 43rd overall and 26th in the Male Foil/Race/Surfboard category with a time of 35:59.  Olly Bridge, the winner, did it in 19:34 on a foil!  Here are the provisional results.

Several twin tip riders finished ahead of me including Jordan Girdis (1) Aaron Hadlow (2) and Rou Chater. 

I caught up with Nat, she had a good run and was hoping she got second in the female foil/surfboard class, which was later confirmed.  Well done Natalie.

For more photos of Rottnest Island and my pre-race kitesurfing warm-up see here

Just before the start

The start, just pass the boat.

Getting upwind

Relaxing on the course

Mid point.  Photo: Paul Smith

Coming in to Leighton Beach, my kite is on the right.  Photo: Peta-Ann North

Kent Wright and Peter Campbell, happy finishers

Refreshments. Photo: Daniel De Giosa

Was it worth it? Yes, this race is definitely worth doing. You may not be aiming for a very fast time but its a great accomplishment and has a really good vibe.

A few tips:

• Some training around Leighton Beach is good to get familiar with landmarks and the wind direction.
• Its a crosswinder rather than a downwinder so train for that.
• Have a big kite in your quiver in case the wind is light, my 14.5 was great.
• Use a board that is good in light wind.
• Do a few race starts before you enter so you are familiar with how they work
• Allow a few days to partake in some excellent kitesurfing along Perth's beaches.
• Enjoy yourself!

I would like to thank Tim Turner (the Race Director) for his invitation and support for this great event.

GPS Log

Rottnest Island and a long warm-up session for the Lighthouse to Leighton race

Session 429.  Today was the big day.  Tim Turner, the Race Director, had postponed the event from Saturday due to lack of wind.  I met with Natalie and Dean to get the ferry, leaving a car at the finish near Fremantle Life Saving Club.

There was a good buzz on the boat, carrying mainly kitesurfers, across to Rottnest Island.  We checked out the ships moored in the channel on our way.

Natalie Flintrop-Clarke and Peter Campbell, race tops on

Kent Wright providing some handy local knowledge

Leaving Fremantle

Once on the island there was some free time. Natalia, Dean and I walked to the lighthouse saying hello to a couple of Quokkas along the way.  Crystal clear azure water, bright sunshine and white sand make Rottnest and island paradise.

We then walked to the Kingston Barracks, the base for the race.  Once there we collected and setup our gear, had a race briefing then took our gear to the beach.

I got there early, pumped up my kite then returned the pump to the back that was going back on the ferry.  It was already getting busy when I returned so I launched my kite and headed out into a sea breeze.  Kent had provided some tips on getting ready for start and staying clear of the crowds.

I did a couple of racks but then the wind softened.  Some foil kites were struggling and so was I.  Going out further didn't help and I was losing ground on the return.  The wind dropped futher and I could get planing. I concentrated on keeping the kite flying as I drifted North past the sand spit and a little island, well away from the start line.

All the other kites were on the beach so it looked like I might have to be rescued.  A boat came and asked if I as OK, I replied yes.   Check out my track log and zoom into the start to see the drama . . .

Then the wind picked up and I could hold a bearing to the Fremantle Cranes.  I was tempted to go for it, but that would mean I was riding solo and might be the only kite on the water, so I tacked back a few times.  The wind increased so I was able to tack back past the stern of the race boat - they said there was 7 minutes to go!

I kept tacking aiming to stay upwind as much as possible. I dropped then got my board then the race started.  What a relief!  You can read about my progress here.

Ship in the channel

Approaching Rottnest Island

The spit

Phillip Rock

A Quokka!

Kent's toothpick board, it was fast.

Race briefing. Aaron Hadlow in the front row.

Schlogging it during my warm up session!

Are you OK?  Yes . . . 

WIND!

Just before the start

Track log
The tracks near the start are for this session.  

Breakwater to Beacon kitesurfing run, my first "race"

Session 324. I entered the Breakwater to Beacon kitesurfing run today, my first ever "race".  The event is organised by SHQ and Sandringham Yacht Club and is an informal race that intermediate kiters can enter on any board - twintip, surfboard, race board or foil board.


I was keen to have a go at something different.

Immediately I noticed my mindset was different - more like getting ready for a bicycle race.  Attend the briefing, get the bib, choose the gear.  Sector 60 or surfboard, 12m kite or 9?

I chatted with Graeme Simpson and Natalie Clark about the best gear to take.  I decided on the Sector 60 as it looked like the reach out would be upwind a bit, and my Lithium 12.

I was glad l had the 12 getting off the Sandringham beach (watch the reefs!) then puttering around waiting for the start.  I practiced a few gybes as it has been a while since I have used the Sector 60.  It is not easy to figure out when the start actually is.  The flags are only visible up close.  When the horns went I was towards the rear of the field so I started from a bit behind.

I had the Lithium on the rear knots and depowered as I tacked towards Fawkner Beacon in the distance.  I could see the foils and raceboards ahead of me but wasn't making any ground on them.

I gradually drew ahead of kiters downwind a bit on twintips and surboards.  I was also slowly gaining on one kiter on a surfboard just upwind of me and nearly passed him at the turning buoy just north of Fawkner beacon.  I turned slowly, determined not to stack, and had a little trouble getting going on the reverse tack.

Once I increased my speed the other kiter was away and I wasn't able to catch him.  The kite was nicely powered but the board was skipping over the waves and I really didn't feel comfortable going faster then I was.

My rear leg was burning about halfway so I straightened out a bit to rest it.  Getting close to finish I put on a bit more speed.  I crossed just ahead of the finish boat rather than behind it.  A fast skiff was whizzing in front of me so I slowed down a bit.

Looking around, I stacked and had to recover my board before heading into the beach.

It was a good experience - certainly different from kitesurfing waves and doing a downwinder.

We finished up with a great lunch on the deck of the Sandringham Yacht Club.

My GPS battery was flat so no track log.

 I finished 6th behind David Trewern, Graeme Simpson and Natalie Clark. My times were:

• Out: 11:33
• Back: 10:49
• Total: 22:22

David did the course in 17 minutes on his foil board, quite a bit quicker than me.

The start

Heading out to Fawkner Beacon

Turning around the marker

Return tack to Sandringham

The finish