Epic kitesurfing downwinder Shallow Inlet to Darby Beach

Session 494. November 2019 kitesurfing weekend. A downwinder was planned from Shallow Inlet to Darby Beach on Wilsons Prom. I had previously kited most of the way down there and back in 2018.

Here is a video of the downwinder

We set up a car shuffle between Darby River and Shallow Inlet Caravan Park. I drove back and one of the last to launch.  The wind was solid 25 knots.  It was a slow trip with several kiters working their way down the inlet.  I tacked and waited for the others to catch up near the mouth.

Exiting the inlet mouth the wind was stronger and the waves were big. I followed a line between the first and second breaks, mainly concerned with not crashing. There would be no easy rescue here in event of a mishap, it would be a long walk out.

I made good progress dodging breakers and headed out the back a few times. Conditions were wild and woolly, I was nearly overpowered. I got caught by a few waves and lost my board then retrieved it from the surf.

The last time I was approaching the large rock spire and reefs not far from Darby Beach. The area looked dicey so I decided to sneak through a channel between the spire and the shore, hoping there was enough water.  I approached cautiously, finding enough water to get through with a big sigh of relief.

I finished in the waves close to shore approaching the big coastal hills of the Prom and pulled my safety to land the kite. The wind was still very strong.

No sign of any others coming for a while, then Mike appeared, very pleased to finish.  Stu Styles was next followed by Anthony, Stu Webb and James. I was worried that some of the other guys had followed and may have ended up on the remote beach.  I checked Whatsapp and got the message that they had reassessed at the mouth and decided to walk back, so all was good.

This was a cracking downwinder in "full conditions". I needed all my experience to make it.

Here is the visual animated route.

And the track log stats

Sea kayak trip to Norman Island off Wilsons Promontory

What to do when the wind is not blowing?  Theres Stand Up Paddleboarding (SUPs), surfing, swimming, fishing or sea kayaking.

It has taken me 35 years to realise a teenage dream to paddle out to one of the islands off the western side of Wilsons Promontory.

The day after our epic sessions in Norman Bay at Tidal River had no wind and was fine and sunny.

The route was direct to Norman Island, around it anti-clockwise then return to Tidal River.  I had a brief fish in Norman Bay but had no luck, so I set off on my journey to the island.

View Norman Island sea kayak trip in a larger map

Heading out there against the swell was consistent paddling but not difficult.  It was great to finally get there, then shelter in the lee of the island and take in new vistas of Wilsons Promontory.  The water was clean and green.  A couple of pairs of Cape Barren Geese were nesting on the island and honked a bit, but I kept my distance.

There is nowhere safe to land as a swell still reaches behind the island and it is all granite with no beach.  These islands are all bird sanctuaries so landing is not permitted in any case.

Then came the dicey part - I headed out from the lee side and paddled around the island in an anti clockwise direction.  It was much wilder and daunting in the open ocean.  Big swells were coming in and then rebounding of the island and coming back out, which made for choppy conditions that  threated to tip the kayak.

I got a fright while taking a photo, so I paddled further out and kept going with firm strokes until I made it around.  I had a paddle float and a bilge pump, but I really didn't want to have to use them.

Once around the island I headed directly back to Tidal River, surfing down the decent rolling swell as it rolled past.  An excellent short tour.  The total distance was about 18km.  It was a great trip, occasionally daunting, and not for the faint hearted or unprepared.  You need to take self rescue equipment including a Personal Locator Beacon (EPIRB) when more than 2km off shore.  

Looking out past Norman Point to the Glennie Group

Norman Bay, looking at Mount Oberon

Nearing Norman Point, Norman Island in distance

Approaching Norman Island

South end of Norman Island, lee side

Norman Island, lee side

Mount Oberon

Norman Island, lee side

Norman Island, lee side

Norman Island, lee side

Norman Island, windward side (dicey)

Links

• More photos

Kitesurfing at Norman Beach, Wilsons Promontory in 25+ knots

Sessions 115 and 116, 21 December 2010

Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 25+ knots, WSW
Location: Norman Beach, Wilsons Promontory
Times: 9:00 to 10:15, 16:00 to 17:00 to 17:30

Stuart had arranged a family holiday with the children and his parents, but no partners - both of whom were working.  We arrived at the Prom on Monday 20 December with a howling gale whipping the sea to brown and generating some big waves.  It rained too, which made for a chilly dinner huddled over a gas barbecue.

On Tuesday, the wind was still strong but the squalls had abated.  After breakfast Stuart's parents took the children for an extended walk to Squeaky beach.  We raced to the beach and rigged up. 

The WSW was averaging about 25-30 knots so I was well powered on the 10m kite and Stuart used his 7.  I stuck with tried and tested Naish Haize twin tip as the surf was large and unpredictable.    The wind was stronger at the south end of the beach.  We kited the entire length of the beach, keeping clear of the swimming zone at the north end where a few surfers were out in trying conditions.

Popping over broken waves was the big task.  Too much speed and nosing into them meant a big stack.  I popped a few jumps to.  I did a couple of 360s due to the irregular take off and landed without major incident.

I got worked by the surf a couple of times too.  Flat sections between the waves were fun too.  I didn't get right out the back as the surf was even bigger there and climbing over those waves would have been much more difficult.

What a fantastic location, with a lovely long beach the spectacular backdrop of Mount Oberon.  We were the only two kitesurfers out, and we had a ball.

After lunch we headed back out later in the afternoon.  The wind had dropped a bit and the surf was more regular, so we found it more predictable and were able to push ourselves a bit harder.

I used my seat harness as I have a torn muscle near my right hip that has been bothering me a bit.  The waist harness seems to stir it up.

I dropped my kite while packing up after the last section. The wind picked it up and flicked it over the first dune heading inland.  I dashed into the thick scrub and retrieved it.  I was lucky - it only had one small hole.  It could easily have been shredded.  

Memo to self: Never let go of my kite, and concentrate hard when packing up.

In summary, Norman Beach is a great location for kitesurfing with the right wind.  The scenery just can't be beaten and the surf is good.  Highly recommended for intermediates and above.

Here are some photos of us taken from Norman Point by Janet Webb.

Links

• Session 1 photos
• Session 2 photos