Nice kitesurfing session after work at Mentone

Session 303. After a very hot windless day on Sunday a nice cool south easterly sprang up late in the day. We headed to Mentone after work.  Some kiters were packing up as we got there close to 7 p.m.  Stu was having a good time kiting as I headed out on the Nugget and my Lithium 9.

Stuart arrived at the beach a bit later.  I had couple of really good runs, then noticed that Stu had managed to snag his kite lines on the no boating marker!  Stuart helped him swim in with the kite while I paddled out to retrieve the bar and lines.  Surrey Hills Rescue returned a favour!

The wind dropped off as dusk approached so we packed it in.  Very happy to get on and in the water after the recent hot spell.

GPS Log

Gusty northerly at Brighton strapless on the Nugget

Session 302. A gusty northerly is always challenging at Brighton. I headed out on Lithium 9 depowered and the North Nugget.

There were quite a few other kiters out and lots of blue blubber jellyfish in the water further out.  I got yanked off my board a few times and found doing a water start tricky at times, but most of the time I made my jybes.

I could ride the bay swell in for a while when further out past the other kiters.  I was wary of ending up in the water among the jellyfish though.

 I think I will fit the footstraps to the Nugget as I think it will become my board of choice for downwinders.

Look at all the jellyfish!

GPS log

Kitesurfing Hampton strapless after the front

Session 279.  A big front ripped through after midday. We waited for the wind to calm down a bit and arrived at Hampton around 4pm.  The wind was about 20 knots but their was stronger wind at South Channel and Point Henry to I took out my Lithium 9 and my Firewire strapless board with the intention of brushing up my strapless skills.

I didn't make it out through the break however, losing my board in a wave. I walked over the first groyne to the new "windsports area" but there were more people on the beach and in the water there than on the north end of the new "swimmers only" zone.

Its tricky getting going in the shore break when strapless.   Broken waves pluck the board from your feet just before the water start.  I dropped my kite and had to then untwist the lines.  Eventually I got going and out to sea.  There was some reasonable swell.  My back held up well, although using the seat harness was not so good - I found it very restrictive compared to my waist harness.

I got some nice runs out and in and rode a few good swells.  Once again, it was just fantastic to be back on the water.

There were quite a few kiters and some windsurfers enjoying the wind and bay surf, but there were some big holes in the wind.

The newly announced "swimming and watersports" zones seem to be ignored by the majority of beach goers and kitesurfers.  There were kiters on the main beach and swimmers in the windsports zone.  Another kiter said that the Police had been down on the beach earlier.

If you go to Hampton PLEASE keep well north of the Lifesaving club and marked swimming area (yellow buoys) and keep well out of the way of anyone in the water or on the beach.

GPS Log

Kitesurfing Hampton to Green point strapless in a good sea breeze

Session 268. Scored a nice kitesufing session at Hampton in a solid sea breeze on my Firewire board strapless.  Its certainly a good feeling having the freedom to place your feet wherever you like on the board without straps. Its nice to fly the fast turning 9m Lithium kite too.

 After a couple of runs out and back I headed down between the rock groynes for some wave action, then continued on down to Green Point.  There are some nice reef breaks on the way there, and the break of Green Point was working too.

Gybing the board without straps feels a bit odd for some reason but its not difficult. The Firewire board turns well and feels very secure in the swell. I like it.

Going upwind to get back was no problem either, I made it in one tack to complete a nice short tour.

I am still getting my head around how to do a duck tack!

GPS Log

The log also shows a short session at Gnotuk that I forgot to clear.

Strapless kitesurfing at Gnotuk

Session 203. After some wild northerlies during the morning (and the hottest ever Melbourne night) a good southerly came in during the afternoon.  I headed down to Gnotuk Ave where Tim, Franz, Wayne and several other fanatical  kitesurfers were out in the bay surf.

I decided to have a go strapless on my S-Quad.  Getting going was initially a bit of a challenge, but I soon figured out that putting a bit of pressure on the board rail with both feet - and the board pointing across the wind - was the way to pull up and get going,

Its a whole different feeling, and a nice one.  Popping off a wave make it quite likely you will come off the board, and it seems to dance around a lot more.  It feels much more like surfing.   Gybing felt suprisingly difficult too for some reason, but riding toeside was definitely easier.

I headed out the back and was negotiating some quite big swells.  I then accidentally released my safety during a stack so the kite hit the water and I couldn't reset the chicken loop so it was carted into shore by the surf. I secured it, then carried it back to the car park.

Franz said he thought it was easier in the bay surf/chop to use footstraps, but I was quite happy to have completed my first reasonable session riding strapless.  Yet another progression in this wonderful sport.

Overall, a great session, sans technologie!

Strapless in a cold onshore wind at Hampton

Session 100, 15 August 2010 

Kite Switchblade 10
Wind 20 knots, SW
Waves Bay swell with shorebreak
Duration 5pm to 6:15pm (dark)

My 100th session!  I am deferring a bottle for champagne for a night by a warm fire.

Stuart and I headed down to Hampton late in the afternoon to catch some winter wind.  I got on the water just after 5pm with some showers coming through and a fairly strong SW wind blowing.  Stuart and another kiter were already out.

I decided to be brave and try going strapless on my S-Quad board as I have not yet refitted the footstraps after Bali.   The shorebreak gets a bit savage at Hampton in a westerly or south westerly and today was no exception.

I got going on the board after a bit of difficulty doing a water start.  The straps definitely help water starts as they locate your feet on the board and keep them there when you power up.  With no straps, you need to get your feet up onto the deck of the board and get some pressure on them with the kite.  This is more difficult than you would think.

When I did get going on a right tack I was goofy footed, so I had some trouble riding toeside on the reverse tack.  I got up after switching feet but was not heading upwind.  I ended up on the beach and walked back.

Stuart was finishing his session so I borrowed his twin tip.  I still had some trouble getting out through the shore break but I eventually got going.  The board is shorter than mind and the whole feel of a twin tip seemed very different.  You need much more power to plane and carve.

I got a few good runs in the moderate swell right up until it got dark.  Its the first time I have kited into sunset; it seemed a bit wierd kiting looking at the lights of the marina and yacht club.

Back at the car, it took me a while to open the combination key lock as I couldn't see the numbers.

It was certainly a lot colder than Bali, but the booties, gloves and wetsuit all work well to keep me warm.