There were two guys out at Brighton on twin tip boards have a good time.
Hampton was crowded by comparison - about a dozen kiters on surfboards enjoying the bay swell whipped up by the westerley.
Here is the full album
Friday, November 18, 2011
Brighton quiet and Hampton crowded
I called down bayside last Monday after returning from Sandy Point. A good westerly was blowing so I checked out the action at Brighton then Hampton. I'm still nursing a cracked rib so no kiting for me, which is very frustrating. Its healing though.
There were two guys out at Brighton on twin tip boards have a good time.
Hampton was crowded by comparison - about a dozen kiters on surfboards enjoying the bay swell whipped up by the westerley.
Here is the full album
There were two guys out at Brighton on twin tip boards have a good time.
Hampton was crowded by comparison - about a dozen kiters on surfboards enjoying the bay swell whipped up by the westerley.
Here is the full album
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Sandy Point weekend with some good wind
Four of us planned a kitesurfing and windsurfing weekend at Sandy Point from 12-14 November. Unfortunately I was bowled over by my brother's dog the week before our trip and cracked a rib on a veranda rail. Ouch, its very painful. My GP told me there were very few things he could state with absolute certainty in medicine, but he could say there was definitely no way I would be kitesurfing on this trip.
I left my kitesurfing gear at home in case I was tempted to go out and took my camera and fishing gear. I took a lot of photos, but caught no fish.
Saturday - some wind at the inlet and on the surf beach
These immature pacific gulls were resting as we left the inlet.
Stuart headed out in the surf at Waratah Bay in just enough wind. The beach is very wide so launching is easy and the surf very predictable. It would be great in 20+ knots.
Monday - more wind at the inlet
There was more wind (just enough) on Monday so Stuart and Grant got another session in at Shallow Inlet.
I left my kitesurfing gear at home in case I was tempted to go out and took my camera and fishing gear. I took a lot of photos, but caught no fish.
Stuart (kitesurfing) and Grant and Stu (windsurfing) had some nice runs in the inlet in light wind. There was just enough wind to get going and it was nice and sunny.
Stuart headed out in the surf at Waratah Bay in just enough wind. The beach is very wide so launching is easy and the surf very predictable. It would be great in 20+ knots.
Sunday - down to Walkerville and Venus Bay
There was no wind on Sunday so we drove to Walkerville for a look. We headed down to Bear Gully where Grant and Stu surfed a small reef break. Stuart and I walked along the wild coastline and eyed off the possibility of a great downwinder back to Sandy Point. You would need a southerly and the distance is about 17km. You could keep going down towards Wilsons Prom too!
Monday - more wind at the inlet
There was more wind (just enough) on Monday so Stuart and Grant got another session in at Shallow Inlet.
I detoured via Corner Inlet and Port Franklin on the way home. Its a curious place - similar in many ways to Western Port - but very limited potential for kitesurfing.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Sail Melbourne Kiteboarding Championships on at Hampton
The Sail Melbourne Kiteboarding Championships are being held at Hampton Beach from 10-12 November as part of the ISAF Sailing World Cup Carnival. The event is presented by Cabrinha and KBV.
Kiteboarding is being considered as a demonstration sport in the in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro.
Competitors in this internationally recognised sailing competition may have a chance to participate at the Olympic games!
KBV/AKSA members have the opportunity to experience the following four competitions, including two proposed Olympic Kiting classes, in an official competition format:
The event has been created to cater for all levels of kiteboarding ability.
The Kiting portion of the Sail Melbourne World Cup week will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10-12th November, at Hampton Beach.
Links
Kiteboarding is being considered as a demonstration sport in the in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio De Janeiro.
Competitors in this internationally recognised sailing competition may have a chance to participate at the Olympic games!
KBV/AKSA members have the opportunity to experience the following four competitions, including two proposed Olympic Kiting classes, in an official competition format:
- Course Racing (proposed Olympic class)upwind-downwind course racing
- Freestyle expression session with elimination finals, specific format depends on number of competitors in each division and weather forecast -
- Kite-X (proposed Olympic class) slalom racing with obstacles, running elimination heats and finals -
- Big Air expression session, if conditions permit
The event has been created to cater for all levels of kiteboarding ability.
The Kiting portion of the Sail Melbourne World Cup week will be held Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10-12th November, at Hampton Beach.
Links
- Competitors information, Sail Melbourne
- Olympic hopefuls take to the bay, The Age
- Sail Melbourne Kiteboarding Competition, KBV
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Paddle from Port Melbourne to Williamstown
There was no wind today so I decided to go for a paddle in my sea kayak from Port Melbourne across Hobsons Bay to Williamstown to visit the Police Search and Rescue duty crew.
It was a nice tour and quite scenic. No big ships in the channel to worry about either.
It was a nice tour and quite scenic. No big ships in the channel to worry about either.
Wednesday, November 02, 2011
Tour to Green point from Hampton Beach and return
Session 156, Wednesday 2 November 2011
Back in Melbourne after our epic 4 day trip to Inverloch, Stuart messaged me for a kite in the morning. We headed out at Hampton in a light wind at about 10:50, with nobody else around. The wind backed off so we headed out and downwind to Green Point. It was nice to go for a short tour. The offshore squalls were not bringing much wind with them.
When the wind dropped further, I started heading in to the beach at Brighton, but then it picked up. We were able to get back upwind past Green Point, Middle Brighton and back to Hampton. The wind konked out again just as we returned.
It was a nice not-too-strenuous session where upwind technique was really all that mattered. I headed to the Yarra for a coffee and muffin, followed by a brief paddle in my sea kayak (the last photo). No kitesurfing on the Yarra (yet)!
That makes 4 days of kitesurfing over the last 5 days. Bliss . . .
GPS Log
Stats
Location: Hampton Beach, Melbourne
Kite: Noise 12m
Wind: 15 knots, SW
Time: 9:50 to 10:50
Board: Naish Haze
Back in Melbourne after our epic 4 day trip to Inverloch, Stuart messaged me for a kite in the morning. We headed out at Hampton in a light wind at about 10:50, with nobody else around. The wind backed off so we headed out and downwind to Green Point. It was nice to go for a short tour. The offshore squalls were not bringing much wind with them.
When the wind dropped further, I started heading in to the beach at Brighton, but then it picked up. We were able to get back upwind past Green Point, Middle Brighton and back to Hampton. The wind konked out again just as we returned.
It was a nice not-too-strenuous session where upwind technique was really all that mattered. I headed to the Yarra for a coffee and muffin, followed by a brief paddle in my sea kayak (the last photo). No kitesurfing on the Yarra (yet)!
That makes 4 days of kitesurfing over the last 5 days. Bliss . . .
GPS Log
Stats
Location: Hampton Beach, Melbourne
Kite: Noise 12m
Wind: 15 knots, SW
Time: 9:50 to 10:50
Board: Naish Haze
Monday, October 31, 2011
Cruising the inlet on the surfboard at Inverloch
Session 155, Monday 31 October 2011
Not much wind about today, but a sea breeze came in late afternoon. I drove to the inlet (sailing club) to check it out. A couple of kiters were cruising further downwind and a couple more arrived and setup.
The wind was light - around 15 knots - but I decided there was enough to power the 12m Noise and my surfboard.
It was nice to do some runs on the surfboard getting a feel for it. The fore and aft balancing is more challenging, especially with the rear foot out of the footstrap. I switch my feet for the left tack as this is my rusty side for toeside riding. I tried gybing for the right tack and almost got it once. Its certainly tricky.
I was able to ride toeside for one tack too when the wind picked up a bit. Stuart was able to just stay upwind as well. The tide was on the way out so some sandbars emerged as we kited.
I got a couple of nice speed runs in when the wind picked up briefly, which was good fun.
Stats
Location: Inverloch surf beach
Kite: Noise 12m
Wind: 15+ knots, S
Time: 5:00 to 6:00
Board: Cabrinha S-quad
Not much wind about today, but a sea breeze came in late afternoon. I drove to the inlet (sailing club) to check it out. A couple of kiters were cruising further downwind and a couple more arrived and setup.
The wind was light - around 15 knots - but I decided there was enough to power the 12m Noise and my surfboard.
It was nice to do some runs on the surfboard getting a feel for it. The fore and aft balancing is more challenging, especially with the rear foot out of the footstrap. I switch my feet for the left tack as this is my rusty side for toeside riding. I tried gybing for the right tack and almost got it once. Its certainly tricky.
I was able to ride toeside for one tack too when the wind picked up a bit. Stuart was able to just stay upwind as well. The tide was on the way out so some sandbars emerged as we kited.
I got a couple of nice speed runs in when the wind picked up briefly, which was good fun.
Stats
Location: Inverloch surf beach
Kite: Noise 12m
Wind: 15+ knots, S
Time: 5:00 to 6:00
Board: Cabrinha S-quad
Sunday, October 30, 2011
In the surf at Inverloch
Session 154, Sunday 30 October 2011
There were some good sized waves and good wind at the surf beach later in the afternoon so the three amigos headed out for another session. I decided to take the surf board, which I haven't used for quite a while.
The wind was a consistent 20+ knots so I had plenty of power. Getting out was not too diffcult with the extra flotation of the directional board. It bobs around like a cork in comparison to the twin-tip board.
I did some longish tacks and stopped to switch my feet. I caught a few nice waves coming back in, and made my way upwind along the beach.
I decided to practice toeside riding to get back, which was OK. Its a lot harder to get out over waves when riding toeside though.
I got hit by a set of big waves heading out later in the session, but was able to keep my kite flying and get dragged through them. The footstraps are definately an advantage for my skill level. I felt like a beginner again.
Its nice to try something different though - there is only so much fanging on flat water you can do without getting a bit bored.
Stats
Location: Inverloch surf beach
Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 20+ knots, S
Time: 5:00 to 6:00
Board: Cabrinha S-quad
There were some good sized waves and good wind at the surf beach later in the afternoon so the three amigos headed out for another session. I decided to take the surf board, which I haven't used for quite a while.
The wind was a consistent 20+ knots so I had plenty of power. Getting out was not too diffcult with the extra flotation of the directional board. It bobs around like a cork in comparison to the twin-tip board.
I did some longish tacks and stopped to switch my feet. I caught a few nice waves coming back in, and made my way upwind along the beach.
I decided to practice toeside riding to get back, which was OK. Its a lot harder to get out over waves when riding toeside though.
I got hit by a set of big waves heading out later in the session, but was able to keep my kite flying and get dragged through them. The footstraps are definately an advantage for my skill level. I felt like a beginner again.
Its nice to try something different though - there is only so much fanging on flat water you can do without getting a bit bored.
Stats
Location: Inverloch surf beach
Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 20+ knots, S
Time: 5:00 to 6:00
Board: Cabrinha S-quad
Inverloch surf beach to inlet downwinder - woo hoo!
Session 153, Sunday 30 October 2011
We nailed it. Some good wind blowing around midday so we rigged up at the surf beach and started kiting. It was great fun in the surf with some good waves about. After we all got settled we headed for the inlet across the mouth. Tarren stopped for a while with his kite above his head. We found out later that he unscrewed a loose fin from his board and put it in his pocket before continuing.
We headed for the point at the other side then back. We walked across a sandbar to get some flatter water. I clocked a good maximum - 46.9 km/h - on one of my fast runs.
It was more congested in the inlet but still good going. I was happy to make it to the sailing club rather tired but very satisfied. The consensus among myself, Stuart and Tarren was that the surf was the best fun.
Slideshow
Stats
Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 20+ knots, S
Location: Inverloch, surf beach
Time: `12:15 to 1:45
Board: Naish Haize twin tip
GPS Log
Photos
We nailed it. Some good wind blowing around midday so we rigged up at the surf beach and started kiting. It was great fun in the surf with some good waves about. After we all got settled we headed for the inlet across the mouth. Tarren stopped for a while with his kite above his head. We found out later that he unscrewed a loose fin from his board and put it in his pocket before continuing.
We headed for the point at the other side then back. We walked across a sandbar to get some flatter water. I clocked a good maximum - 46.9 km/h - on one of my fast runs.
It was more congested in the inlet but still good going. I was happy to make it to the sailing club rather tired but very satisfied. The consensus among myself, Stuart and Tarren was that the surf was the best fun.
Slideshow
Stats
Kite: Switchblade 10
Wind: 20+ knots, S
Location: Inverloch, surf beach
Time: `12:15 to 1:45
Board: Naish Haize twin tip
GPS Log
Photos
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