Seaford Kiteboarding with a rookie error #586

 Session #586. The beach at Seaford is very narrow now at high tide.  I rigged my 12m kite upwind and launched but one of the lines was crossed. I lost control and it looped into a tree. It took a while to get it down.  

Rigging up downwind is much safer. You can inspect the lines before the kite is powered up and abort a self launch safely.

I rigged up my 9m kite and has a short session before the wind konked out.

This season is another bad one for kitesurfing so far.  Fickle winds and long lulls.

Kitesurfing Seaford in Winter #568

Session 568. Managed to get this session on a busy Saturday. My first session after the Pyrenees trip with a good 20 to 25 knots of wind.

It is always great to get on the water! 

Kitesurfing Seaford in winter #567

Session 567.  Cool conditions but nice sunshine.  I was just powered on my 8m kite and enjoying the small bay waves with a nice run down towards Frankston then some tacks to get back.

The wind got stronger until my kite was fully depowered.  I was a bit rusty - a few big stacks and missed quite a few gybes, but a great session.

Pulled the safety to self land on the narrow beach.  Quite a few people walking on the beach with dogs.

Kitesurfing Seaford in winter #566

Session 566. Kitesurfing after an extended break due to sore tendons in my left elbow.  It seems to be a form of Tennis Elbow that has lingered for 6 months.  My elbows felt better after the session!

Nice kitesurfing in small bay waves and cold conditions.  Light wind so I used my 12m kite.

Seaford kitesurfing - a slow cold start then better wind and some sun

Session 549. Stuart got out ahead of me then the wind dropped. I couldn't get going on my Ultra 12m kite so I waited on the shore. James decided conditions were too marginal so he headed home. 

Stuart dropped his kite and drifted in to the shore about 500m down the beach. I was thinking about going back to the car and driving down to get him, then the wind sprang up. Stuart got going again and I was well powered on the 12. 

The sun came out so things were good!  It turned out to be a good session.

I find it difficult to go upwind with the Ultra 12m kite though even when I have plenty of power.

Maybe I am just so used to smaller kites (10m & 8m) with a slimmer leading edge.  

Kitesurfing at Seaford in Winter sun

Session 547. A good northerly at Seaford made for some good kitesurfing. Mike and I got on the water just after 11am. 

The wind was around 20 knots so I used my Union 8m kite. It's been a while since I kited so I took it easy.

There was small but enjoyable bay surf in the Winter sun. Nice to crank out some turns.

The wind dropped for a bit then came back in with gusto.

James, Stu S and Stu W rolled up and joined us on the water.

I was glad I was wearing booties to keep my feet warm.

We had a good coffee at the Beach Cafe Seaford near the pier.

Over 35 knots and no beach at Seaford or Aspendale so no kitesurfing

There was a strong wind forecast at Seaford. I got there at dawn and it was really pumping. The beach was practically non-existent, so launching would have been difficult, particularly with the fence there. Nobody else showed up so I decided not to go out.

I had a nap in the car and woke to hail on the windscreen.  Definitely winter conditions.  I drove up to Cafe Moto for a good coffee and some scrambled eggs for breakfast.

I then checked out Aspendale - the waves were washing right up to the boardwalk and the dunes there too.

Conditions were better up at Brighton but I pulled the pin, visited a mate, checked out some pod campers, then drove home.

Seaford

Seaford

Seaford

Seaford

Cafe Moto

Cafe Moto

Aspendale

Aspendale

Winter kitesurfing dawn patrol at Seaford, chilly but rewarding

Session 445. Dark, chilly and windy morning at Seaford.  I started with my Wave 6m kite in case the wind got stronger.  I was able to stay upwind for a couple of tacks but was a bit underpowered.  The wind dropped further so I landed the kite and setup my Union 8m which was the right kite for the conditions.

Good waves and some nice winter sunshine.  I used my drysuit which was a bit too warm until a bit of water leaked in through the chest zip - I noticed later that I hadn't closed it properly.   The dry suit is a bit like being inside a car - it really does separate you from the element.  A wetsuit has a better feel and their is basically no chance of operator error with zips etc.

Every winter kitesurfing session is a bonus, its great to get out.

Coffee at the Beach Cafe Seaford (looking down the pier and across the bay) afterwards was excellent too.

Kitesurfing a very gusty northerly at Seaford

Session 421. A solid northerly came in around noon.  I arrrived at Seaford at 3:00 p.m. with the wind blowing over 20 knots so I headed out on my Union 8.  I was well powered but able to catch some nice bay surf.  First session with shorty wetsuit and no booties - nice!  

The wind strength was building so I came in and changed to the lower knots to get some more wind range.  It was a good think I did as the wind kept getting stronger, which of course meant the waves were getting bigger.  

I spotted Stu Styles on the beach with his kite downwind and went down to have a look, he was getting ready to walk back.  

I found at after the session that he was struggling with the strong wind and had the kite high when it was yanked in a strong gust and the entire harness was dragged over his head and off him.  Its the first time I have ever heard of that happening.  

The kite sailed into the beach with the harness providing some tension in the lines. Luckily a beach goer secured the kite when it arrived.

I tacked back to our start point but as I arrived the wind got stronger again. I wasn't keen to risk trying to land the kite close to the fence so I deployed the safety and dropped it in the water then retrieved it by following the line in.

Wow, I need a smaller kite.  I wanted to get a 6m kite last year but they sold out, so I think I will grab one early this season.

Really nice to be on the water.  I took it easy in the strong wind and was glad I did.

  

GPS

Dawn Patrol kitesurfing at Seaford

Session 415. On the water at 7:30 with the sun rising.  The northerly wind was light close to shore but much better further out, so I did some long tacks and enjoyed the solitude as I made my way upwind past Seaford pier, then surfed some nice swells back to the beach.

Tarren, James, Stu & Stu showed up and hit the water so it almost got crowded!

The water was fresh but not too cold and the morning sun was nice and the water very clean.

I enjoyed just cruising and peering down to Mornington - thinking that a downwinder to there would be good too, or maybe keep going to Rosebud?  Next time, maybe.

After the kitesurfing I drove down to Sport Phillip Marine in Mornington and bought a Forward WIP 50N Impact vest which has a couple of pockets built in to it which will be handy for carrying an EPIRB and some other items.  More on this later.

GPS log

Kitesurfing ripping 35+ knot northerly at Seaford

Session 389.  The storm force northerly blew all night and was still going in the morning so James, Stu S, Stu W, Tarren and I met at Seaford for a cracking session with winds 35+ knots.

We weren't disappointed, the wind was howling!  I pumped up my Union 8 and lent Tarren my Crossbow 7.  I used the second knot on the outer line attachments to get more depower and was glad that I did - the kite was fully depowered for most of this session.  The Union kites have a great depower range and perform well in strong conditions - there are no surprises.

Strong winds means big waves so the surfing was good too, a big boosts were too easy and sometimes scary.

Overall a very solid session.  Great fun, but always watching out for another big gust!

GPS log