Early morning start for Rosebud kitesurfing

Session 239.  It was an early start to get the predicted wind.  After the longish drive to Rosebud I arrived to find Stuart and Tarren already on the beach gazing out at flat water with about 10 knots of wind.  Stuart took my Sector 60 board out and got going with some speed.  There were only a couple of other kiters out in the light wind conditions.

The 200m shallow sandbars make it difficult for the Sector 60 however - great caution is required to avoid plowing the fins into the sand.

I thought I had left my bar behind so I took out Tarren's Ozone Edge 11m kite.  It flies and turns well and has plenty of power, so much so I depowered it when I came back in.  The single cord depower with a cleat above the bar works quite well.  It is very simple and doesn't jam up.  I later realised that the bar was in with my 9m kite.  Doh!  I was feeling vague most of the day.

I had a go on Stuarts Carbrinha 10m Switchblade and his twin tip.  I am getting rusty on twin tip boards and the kite was choking and back stalling with the bar right in, so I did one run out and back then called it a day.  The wind never really got above about 15 knots - nowhere near the forecast 25+ knots.

Stuart and Tarren both had a good time polishing some flat water tricks.

Tarren styling it.  Photo: Stuart Webb

Peter in bunny suit onesie, living large.  Photo: Stuart Webb

I wore my drysuit which performed well under the conditions, but I got a bit too hot with the bunny suit on under it.

It was nice to be out and about though.  

Kitesurfing with the madding crowd at Mentone

Session 219. Yet another great sea breeze this afternoon. 

I headed to Mentone Beach were Stuart and James were.  The wind was strong when I arrived so I pumped up my 10m kite and headed out.  A couple of guys were in the shallow water with their kites at 12, which made it difficult to get going.  I asked on guy to lower his kite. He said "I am trying to get going".  

If you are are new kiter, be aware that having your kite parked at 12 o'clock creates a real nuisance to others as it sticks up like a barrage balloon.  You are better of lowering it and only bringing it up high when you are doing a power stroke to get going.

The surf was good, I had quite a few nice runs and rode a few good waves.  It was quite crowded - about 12 other kiters were there, and most of them were in the waves close to shore.  Once out a bit further there was more room to move.  I did a long run over to the cliffs with Stuart, then another long run back towards Parkdale.  Coming back in the surf was good.  

When then the wind dropped a bit I was wishing I had my 12m kite, then it dropped some more so I came in and packed up.

After the Bay Crossing it was nice to just cruise about, go upwind and enjoy the waves again.

Kitesurfing the waves at Green Point

Session 218. What a summer for kitesurfing!  Got down to Hampton after work and straight out into 23 knots of glorious sea breeze.  There was a reasonable swell so I headed down to Green Point to enjoy the waves.  I am really enjoying the surfboard now and quite confident throwing in quick turns and also "parking the kite" while I ride them.  What a buzz!

Franz was out at Green Point and Cesar was enjoying the surf around the point too.  I did a massive boost on the surfboard and landed it - the key is to point the board downwind and bring the kite back to the direction of travel.

I did an even bigger boost - I am guessing around 5 meters - but came down with a thud.  Its great to get some good strong wind.

I did quite a few runs up to the point then down the reef break, then out and back up to Brighton.

I tried a few duck tacks by pointing the board upwind. I am not sure what to do next, the body rotation puzzles me.

The Spirit of Tasmania was heading down the channel out in the Bay as I headed back to Hampton. The wind dropped just as I got to the beach.

Green Point

Green Point

Geting brave - jumping the surfboard

Going back to Hampton, Spirit of Tasmania on horizon

GPS Log

Kitesurfing at Hampton with good wind and waves

Session 216. It was great to get some good wind after a few session of lighter wind.  I headed to Hampton after work and had a great session of around 1 hour.  Nice swell coming in between the rock groynes and some good flatter water behind the sea wall.

I am really enjoying the surfboard. It turns really well on the waves.  There is something magical about being in equilibrium with strong winds and good waves.

After the session I  chatted to Roberto (from Italy) and Matt on the beach.

GPS log

Kitesurfing tour and surf Port Melbourne to St Kilda

Session 211.   More good wind!  I headed out from Port Melbourne at around 6pm just at Tarren and Stuart had come in. I took out my 10 as it was blowing around 20 knots with more on the way - 30 at South Channel.  At first I was missing the grunt of my Lithium 12 but then the wind picked up and I had plenty of power.

I tacked out past the Spirit of Tasmania then across to the Albert Park beach for some nice bay surf wave action.  I did a few nice jumps on the way there. There were some nice sets coming in. Whizzing along in the small surf is a buzz, and riding the odd wave is even better!  I just loving the surfboard now.

Then I tacked out some more and got up to St Kilda - my first time there this season.  A few kites out but not too many.  I did a couple of runs into the beach and then headed back out past the breakwater and a few yachts that were coming in.  I did one big jump where the kite headed too far back and kicked the board right off so I would land feet first rather than flat on the board.

Getting onto the big rolling swell was great.  Downloop turns keep the board speed up - I have really got them dialed in now.  Downloop for a right turn, followed by a downloop for the left and the lines don't twist. Wonderful!

You can see my downwind/slalom trail on the track log heading back (out further).  As I neared the Spirit of Tasmania it was pulling away from its berth, so I kept well away from it.  A few more jumps and slalom turns and I was on the beach.

This was a really good session - lots of variety and good wind!

Video to follow . . .

GPS Log

A short solo kitesurfing tour from Mentone to Mordialloc

Session 204.  I had a nice session at Mentone in about 15 knots during the morning. There were no other kites or boats about. I took out the Switchblade 10 and the Sector 60 board and had no trouble making it up to Mordialloc.  I got some nice speed in the south easterly on the way up, cresting the small swell.

Before I left home I put some Locktite on the screws securing the four fins of the Sector 60 and tightened them with a larger Phillips head screwdriver.

I was suprised at how little wind there was when I turned around at Modialloc, but the wind also dropped a little too. I got some good speed bearing slightly downwind on the return leg, but I was thinking I should have taken out the Lithium 12 to get some extra low wind grunt.

I rode a few of the swells on the board for fun, then came in through the small surf.  Landing the kite in the light wind was easy. I packed up and headed home in time for the large family Christmas lunch that was on during the afternoon.

GPS Log

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!

Kitesurfing downwinder Gnotuk to Seaford

Session 201. Today was a training session for the upcoming  Across the Bay to Conquer Cancer fundraising event that Cesar Aldea is organising.  We met up at Gnotuk Avenue with plans to do a downwinder to Port Melbourne. However, the onshore westerly made it too difficult to get around Rickett Point so we decided to do a downwinder to Frankston instead.

It was blowing around 25 knots at around 9am but by the time we were on the water at about 10:30 it had backed off to around 20 knots.  I was concerned about more fronts bringing strong winds so I took my Switchblade 10 and surfboard.  I should have trusted the Predictwind forecast, as it correctly predicted the wind would drop off around noon.

We had a lot of fun in the surf on the way down, but by the time we got to Patterson River the wind had dropped to around 15 knots.  Three of us waited for a while on the beach for the others to catch up then kept going.  The surf was big enough to push the board towards shore and effectively decrease the wind strength. I was wishing I had my Lithium 12 and Sector 60 as I would have been cruising with them rather than slogging along a bit under powered.

I didn't make it past the Seaford pier so I walked up to it and climbed over it, then continued kiting. I didn't quite make it to Gould Avenue when the wind conked out.  Tim was going OK on his 10m kite so he headed back, just making it past the pier. I couldn't get going so packed up and caught the train back with two comrades.

Tim picked up Cesar who made it back to Carrum, and the last rider made it back in a taxi!

With downwinders, it is important to make ground while the going is good.

Overall, we all had great session.  The route from Sorrento to Port Melbourne will definitely be a challenge.

Photo album

GPS Log

Kitesurfing tour from Hampton to Port Melbourne and return

Session 193. Hampton to Port Melbourne and return

A sea breeze - or at least some consistent wind - at last!  The forecast westerly came in on schedule during the late morning.  I headed down to Hampton after lunch and rigged up my Switchblade 10 and the Sector 60 board.  I put some clothes, money, phone and sandals in my waterproof backpack as I planned to go for a tour.

Good wind on the water.  I took off immediately heading north along the bay.  The Sector 60 cruises well. I was able to get all the way to Port Melbourne, right up to the Spirit of Tasmania, on a single tack.  The rolling swell was fun to ride but I was mostly travelling across it.  I left the other kiters at Hampton "moving the lawn" (going back and forth) and reveled in solitude about 700m offshore.

It was a long way on a single tack. I was conscious to rest my rear leg and straighten it, and I stopped twice briefly en route.

There were quite a few kiters at Brighton too, but less at St Kilda.  I de-powered the kite for the last 1km coming to Port Melbourne. The wind dropped a bit on the way back the wind so I toggled on full power.    I did one run into Brighton among the madding crowd, then back out, past Green Point and on to Hampton.

The wind strength increased again at Hampton and I was rather tired so I came in.  There were lots of kiters on the beach - the season is getting into full swing now.

GPS Log