Kitesurfer Natalie Clarke crosses Bass Strait and sets new record

Natalie Clarke successfully kitesurfed across Bass Strait on Monday 22 March 2010.

After much preparation and training, Natalie departed from Stanley in North West Tasmania at 6:30am and kitesurfed solo and non-stop all the way across Bass Straight, landing at Venus Bay in Victoria at about 4:15pm.

Natalie broke the previous record for kitesurfing across Bass Strait, set by James Weight and Ben Morrison Jack in late 2009, by 2 hours completing the trip in around 9 hours 30 minutes.

Natalie is also the first female and solo kitesurfer to make the crossing.  She was accompanied by a support boat for the trip.

The total distance covered was approximately 240km.

Natalie's track log; note detour when she sights land (Natalie Clarke)

Natalie made the crossing to raise funds for the Swim 4 All Foundation who are still accepting donations.

(Photo: Paul Cousins)

{Photo: Paul Cousins)

Leading the boat.  (Photo: Natalie Clarke)

 (Photo: Natalie Clarke)

Crossing   (Photo: Natalie Clarke)

Approaching Venus Bay beach (Photo: Paul Cousins)

Into the surf at Venus Bay (Photo: Natalie Clarke)

Arrived: on the beach at Venus Bay  (Photo: Natalie Clarke)

Links

• http://natalieswim4all.blogspot.com/
• Natalie Clarke's GPS log, sportstracklive.com

Hampton in an onshore Westerley

Session 83, Sunday 21 March 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14m
Location: Hampton
Wind: 15-20 knots W
Duration: 1:00 to 2:30pm - 1.5 hours

GPS data

• Max speed 42.3 km/h
• Trip odom 21.2
• Time 1:17
• Average speed 16.5 km/h

Some frontal weather patterns brought strong westerly winds this morning.  By afternoon they had moderated to around 20 knots so Stuart and I headed down to Hampton.

We initially planned to do a downwinder from Middle Brighton to St Kilda and back, but the wind dropped just as we got on the water.  Stuart kited back to Hampton while I packed away my 10m kite and drove the short distance back to Hampton.

I took the Switchblade 14 out and had a ball. Njord (the Norse wind god) smiled and provided some good wind and a moderate swell.  The westerly wind was blowing right in towards the harbour entrance so I was able to crank up some good speed on the flatter water.

I landed a few good jumps too in either direction, but didn't attempt anything more ambitious.  Easing back into it.

Ivan was kitesurfing the shorebreak along with about 8 others.  It got a bit crowded in close at times.

I took out the GPS, kite mounted camera and helmet cam.

Here is the video



And here are the photos

Landing a jump!

Links

• More photos

An evening kite at Hampton

Session 82, Friday 19 March 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14m
Location: Hampton
Wind: 15 knots S
Duration: 6:10 to 7:00pm - 1 hours

It has been a while between kiting sessions.  A southerly sprang up late in the afternoon so I headed to the beach after work arriving at about 6pm.  The wind has dropped to around 15km by the time I got on the water, but heading out I was able to pick up some good wind past the breakwater.

Several really good runs, focusing on technique.  The diesel grunt of the 14m kite proved its benefits again.  There was only enough wind for a couple of small jumps.  Heaps of the big blue/white jellyfish lurking beneath the waves.  A windsurfer told me later he can feel the fin of his board slicing into them!  They seem to be a bit too deep for the kiteboard to connect with them.

It was really nice to be on the water again.

The wind is dropping out now as we get closer to April.  I hope there is enough for Natalie Clarke to complete her crossing of Bass Straight - which could happen the coming Sunday or Monday.

An evening kite at Port Melbourne

Session 81, Tuesday 02 February 2010

Kite: Switchblade 10m
Location: Port Melbourne
Wind: 15 knots S
Duration: 6:30 to 7:00pm - 0.5 hours

I got the all clear from the very efficient Eye and Ear Hospital for my ear on Monday.  My eardrum has regrown and kitesurfing is OK, at last.  The doctor said earplugs would prevent the ear drum rupturing, so wearing them is a good idea.

The challenge is to get earplugs that stay in place.

I headed to Port Melbourne after work, arriving to see a good sea breeze coming in.  The Spirit of Tasmania was berthed at the pier, loading passengers.

I took out the 10m kite so I wouldn't be overpowered.  Stuart was out already having a ball.  It was fantastic just to get in the water again.  I was up and going without any hassles.  However, the wind dropped so I had the fly the 10m kite hard to get enough power.

The waves were rolling in too.  I got some good runs in, just enjoying being there.  I did some kiteloops on the beach after I stopped.

First solo attempt to cross Bass Strait is imminent

Natalie Clarke, a keen Melbourne-based kitesurfer, is ready to attempt the first solo unassisted crossing of Bass Straight kitesurfing.

Natalie has been training hard for this feat, and is also fund raising for the Swim 4 All Foundation.  

The attempt is now waiting for the right wind conditions.  Fingers crossed that the wind god smiles and that Natalie makes it.

Links

• http://natalieswim4all.blogspot.com/

Sean Richardson rescues a drowning woman with his kite

Sean, a kitesurfing buddy who frequents South Melbourne beach and environs, rescued a drowning woman using his kitesurfing gear.  The woman, who had apparently fallen oft a jet ski, was floating face down when Sean kitesurfed out to her.

He was able to drag her in to shore using the kite controlled by one arm, and his other arm around the woman.  Well done Sean.

More details and a video interview are available in this article:

St Kilda psychologist rescues drowning woman after Albert Park jetski accident

Self rescue

Hi, my name is Stuart Webb - I've shared some great adventures with Peter over the last year or so, and thought I'd share some tips that have helped me out.

I've been kiting for about 6 years and last week I had a bit of a disaster. One of the pulleys on my Switchblade (IDS 10m) broke on one of the leading edge lines. The wind was about 25 knots and the kite just kept on picking up and spinning around. It took me some time to figure out which line had been broken, by which time the lines had become very tangled and I was unsure as to the best way to handle the situation.

After a forum discussion, the consensus for self rescue procedure is

Self Rescue Procedure

1. Depower
   Get as much depower as possible. This will typically involve taking all the tension out of the back two brake lines. If you have a switchblade, use the absolute depower.
2. Regain your bar
   Depowering typically involves letting go of your bar or activating a depower mechanism. You must swim up to the bar to regain it.
3. Tidy up loose lines
   To be sure that tension remains out of the back brake lines, wind in the middle leading edge lines onto the bar.
4. Secure your board (Optional)
   Remove the board from your feet and secure it to your body to leave you free in the water. You can use your safety leash by detaching it, threading it through your board and reattaching. Or carry another leash. This step could be done prior to step 1 depending upon personal preference.
5. Regain your kite
   Wind in all remaining lines onto your bar, exactly as if you are packing up at the end of a session. This will take you up to the kite.
6. Ride the kite into shore

Self Rescue Procedure (Switchblade)

In my instance, I have a 2009 Cabrinha Switchblade IDS. The pulley broke. Apparently these pulleys have known issues - so my advice is to replace all your pulleys with the warranty Cabrinha pulley replacement. Apparently for some extra cash you can replace these pulleys with an Aluminium slider (which comes as standard with the 2010 model) - reducing the chance of failure and wear on the lines.

Safe riding,

Stuart

Snow kiting in Washington D.C. and a cautionary tale

From Keith Edwards, my neighbour who is living near Washington D.C. - here's a novel way of enjoying 40+ inches of snow in DC,  with the Washington monument in the background.

Back in Australia, a friend of Keith's had a kitemare at Merimbula.  He got tangled in his kite lines when body dragging and was hurt badly after being "tea bagged" repeatedly.  He was rescued eventually by a tourist boat in the vicinity.

Some tips to avoid this type of accident::

• Have enough lessons to learn kite control and safety drills. Five is a realistic minimum.
• Practice your safety drills - such as releasing your kite completely.
• Carefully check your set up before heading out.  
• Carry a safety knife and cut your lines if you get tangled in them, don't try to "sort it out" unless the kite is safely on the beach.
• if you get tangled, land the kite and re rig the lines before flying it again.
• If in doubt, release your kite without delay.

Link: Happy to be alive, Merimbula News

Video of kitesurfing downwinder at Port Douglas with sea creature

I have just completed the helmet cam video of last year's downwinder kitesurfing tour from Pretty Beach to Port Douglas in far north Queensland (better late than never).

Highlights in include dolphin noises under the water - and an encounter with a large sea creature - possibly a dugong.

See Downwinder from Pretty Beach to 4 mile beach for the detailed trip report

A tour from St Kilda to Sandridge

Session 80, Saturday 23 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14m

Location: St Kilda

Wind: 20 knots S

Duration: 11:00 to 1:00pm - 2 hours

Some frontal wind came through in the mid morning which was a bit gusty for kitesurfing. Stuart headed out fairly early and got in some good runs. He was leaving St Kilda just as I was about to go out. I took out the 14m kite due to the likelyhood of the wind dropping out.

After a few runs with reasonable power off the beach I decided to go for a tour and headed up past Station Pier and the Spirt of Tasmania to Sandridge beach. It is a nice ride, whizzing past some of Melbourne's most fashionable bayside suburbs. The wind dropped a little at Sandridge, so I abandoned any thoughts of heading out past the car shipping dock across the Williamstown, turned around and headed back to St Kilda.

The wind picked up so this run was quite enjoyable too. Back at St Kilda I headed into the surf zone inside the marina and did quite a few runs along the small break right up close to the Melboune Yacht Squadron. There were about six kiters in this region so we were watching our lines and kites. It isn't always easy to decide what to do when someone turns just in front of you.

I did some jumps exercising some caution. The hearing in my right ear has not yet fully returned - I may have to get it checked out further. Some of the other kiters were doing bigger jumps and landing in the shallow waves. Think is a bit too dangerous for my liking - if you stuff up then you could end up spudding into the bottom like Tarren did and breaking something.

After about two hours on the water my hands and feet were going a little numb so I came in and had a coffee at the nice new beach cafe right on the sand.

Maybe we can do the downwinder across to Altona tomorrow. We have all the required safety gear now and just need the right time and the right wind. Fingers crossed.

Hampton with a helmet-cam and a crash

Session 79, Saturday 16 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 10m

Location: Hampton Beach

Wind: 25+ knots S

Duration: 4:45pm to 5:40pm - 1 hour

A gusty 25 knot southerly arrived around midday so I headed to Hampton and rigged the Switchblade 10, this time with my helmet cam and kitecam mounted. No problems getting off the beach today! I was leaning back and using my body and legs to carve upwind in an effort to reduced the strain on my right arm and elbow. It seemed to work.

Helmetcam video

Heading off the beach

There was a decent swell so carving around the wave crests was a lot of fun, and surfing back down them was good too, but a little lumpy.

Carving the swells

I worked upwind to the breakwater and did some fast runs into the flat water. Then when coming out I jumped off a nice wave and sent my kite high. The wind god picked me up and smacked me down hard! I went up high and fast - the kite had just entered the stronger wind coming around the breakwater. The kite whipped too far to the right, hoiking me under it. I hit the water hard with a resounding smack on the right side of my head.

Heading out to the breakwater

My head hurt and it felt like my right ear may have burst. The helmet cam cam ajar and was flopping around on its safety cord. I remounted it, and checked the helmet flange, thinking I must have broken it. It was OK. After I gathered my composure I brought my kite back up and continued on, somewhat chastened.

Two big tips here: my helmet almost certainly saved me from a more serious injury and my impact vest effectively stopped the impact hurting my torso. In stronger and gusty winds kites can develop a mind of their own and things happen fast, as Tarren experienced last Thursday.

I did some faster runs past a large yacht which sailed up then motored into the harbour, then cruised back to the beach and back out. I did some more jumps - more measured this time; not too much speed and no big boost. I wonder now if I will ever attempt a kiteloop while jumping; the results could be catstrophic if you get it wrong. The water is not so soft when you are travelling at 30+ km/h and fall from 5 meters.

I did quite a few right hand carved turns finishing toe side down, then continued riding in that style to the right. It felt good, I was able to get some reasonable speed up. Not so good riding toe down to the left though yet.

Riding toe down

There were a lot of pole dancers (windsurfers) out having a ball. They are a friendly crew too and there are no hassles with kiters.

In among the windsurfers

After an hour my right arm was twinging a bit in the forearm, but the elbow felt OK, so I came in satisfied with a good session. And a reminder that safety and orderly skill progression is paramount.

On the way home I stopped at Green Point for a look. A good kitesurfer was working in the waves just behind the reef on the point. He was coming in surfing, doing a smal jump transition to turn, then heading out and jumping off the waves. After a while he headed back toward Brighton, doing some huge jumps a long way out.

A big jump

Kiting off Green Point with Westgate Bridge in the background

Kiting off Brighton Beach

Links

• Kitesurfing at Hampton with kitecam (photos)
• Kitesurfing at Green Point, Brighton (photos)

Some kiteloops at Hampton in lighter wind

Session 78, Thursday 14 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14m

Location: Hampton Beach

Wind: 15+ knots S

Duration: 7:15pm to 8:00pm - 45 minutes

Stayed at work until 5 so I missed out on the bike race at Sandown. A 20 knot Southerly was on though, so I headed for Hampton when I got home arriving at the beach at 7pm. A few kites were out, but the wind was dropping to around 16 knots so I rigged up the Switchblade 14 and headed out.

It was nice carving and kiting into the sun sinking towards the horizon. I was able to go crosswind for a couple of tacks, dodging a couple of large sailboats heading into the Hampton marina. A few jellyfish were about but they seemed to be about a metre under.

It was nice coming back in and carving some turns down the big swell humps rolling towards shore. The wind dropped a bit further so I did some "kite down" power turns and also some kite loops, including two in sequence (one right followed by one left). Lots of power in a kiteloop even in light wind. You just have to let the board run downwind a bit when the power kicks in.

I played a bit in the surf on tacks watching out for a couple of shallow reef sections. Eventually I landed at Middle Brighton then helped Rick land his kite. I ran back to get my car while Rick stayed with the gear.

My right arm was feeling OK. It was a bit sore around the elbow but no sharp pain during or after the kiting. It seems to be stabilising but it was good to have a light session.

I got an SMS from Stuart on the way home saying he was in accident & emergency with Tarren who had hurt his ankle and possibly broken it when they were kiting. No update on the outcome yet. Fingers crossed Tarren . . .

Update Friday 15/1/2010
Tarren's ankle is broken. He landed a jump badly in shallow water. Tip from Stuart: Don't jump in shallow water or near the shore.

Ripping at Inverloch in 22+ knots late in the day

Session 77, Sunday 10 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 10m

Location: Inverloch - Anderson Inlet

Wind: 23+ knots E

Duration: 4:00 to 5:00 - 1 hour

The wind god smiled again. After a day around Cape Paterson, where the wind picked up around 1pm but didn't really get strong and was onshore onto a crowded beach, Chloe, Simon and I ended up in Inverloch eating fish and chips for dinner.

On arriving, kites were up and going in the inlet, and one was out in the surf with a windsurfer. After dinner Simon suggested I have a go as he thought I was looking restless, so we drove to the inlet launch site.

I feverishly rigged my 10m kite and got on the water pronto. No helmet, GPS or sunglasses today, but I did wear my vest.

A strong consistent easterly (weird but true) was ripping down the inlet. The 10m kite was ripping upwind and inlet was not too choppy. I did some good jumps on the left tack out in the middle near a sandbar, but was more tentative on the right tack near the shore and shallow water.

Another dude was cranking massive air on an 8m kite - around 5 meters or more - and landing them. According to Simon he was changing direction during the jump too. Advisable given the proximity to shore.

The wind direction meant that the tack took me across to a sandbank that was just covered by water. I ventured onto it a couple of times but there was very little water and potential to bottom out. It would have been good to get across and continue across the inlet; a couple of guys did this later after I landed my kite.

There was a kitesurfing school conducting lessons on location - but I didn't note their name. The student was out of the way and accompanied in the water by an instructor. They seemed to be doing a good job.

The 10m Switchblade flies and turns much quicker than the 14m kite, and seems to go upwind much better too. I was able to ride toe down on the right tack too. No kiteloops today! But a lot of speed, and good clean wind. I don't know where this wind came from, there was no sign of it in Melbourne when I got back to town.

My daughter Chloe on a "seaweed trampoline" at Cape Paterson

Building a sandcastle and a "rock pool pond seaweed garden

"

And a nice headband!

Post script

I checked the BOM website and found this warning - which appears to explain the easterly - but it has arrived early.

Coastal Waters Wind Warning
for Victorian waters between Lakes Entrance and 60nm east of Gabo Island.

Issued at 10:34 pm EDT on Sunday 10 January 2010.

Please be aware
Wind gusts can be 40 percent stronger than the averages given here, and maximum waves may be up to twice the height.

Weather Situation

A high pressure system just east of Tasmania will continue to move eastwards, reaching the Tasman Sea early Monday as a low pressure trough develops over the Bight.

Strong wind warning for Victorian waters between Lakes Entrance and 60nm east of Gabo Island
Winds: Northeasterly and increasing up to 30 knots Monday morning. Combined sea and swell: Increasing up to 4 metres.

Downwinder to Brighton in a lighter wind

Session 75, Saturday 9 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14m
Location: Hampton to Brighton
Wind: 15 knots S
Duration: 4:00 to 5:00 - 1 hour

GPS stats
Max speed: 32.7 km/h
Trip odo: 10.1 km
Mov'n avg 8.1 km/h
Mov'n time 1:14

Stuart and I got to Hampton about 3:00 with a good southerly blowing. Stuart rigged his kite in lightning speed and was out past the breakwater in no time having a ball.

I set up my kitecam rig then took the 10m kite to the crowded beach. It was hard to launch as the wind dropped; I couldn't get off the shore so I aborted the takeoff and waited on the beach. It was weird; it seem the strong wind was coming in and stopping about 100m from the shore.

Some others with bigger kites were occasionally getting going off the beach. Others were trying in vain to get 12m kites going, and there were a few times kites dunked in the water close to swimmers.

If it is a nice day and there is not around 20knots of wind on the beach, Hampton can become a problem for kiting. If you are a beginner, don't practice close to the shore on days like this. The close proximity of kites to beach goers is not a good idea.

Tarren got out and going on his 13m pillow case (a Peter Lynn foil kite). Eventually I decided to give the 14m kite a go, and was able to get going. After a couple of tacks - and some feeble attempts at a back roll - the wind dropped below 15 knots so I headed downwind past Middle Brighton, just clearing the point. The reef on the other side has some fun waves but is shallow and very rocky. Approach it with caution.

I did a few kite loops and got a big boost even in the light wind, and made my way towards Brighton, coming in where there were quite a few kites idle on the beach. There were no kiters on the water.

I stashed my gear at the Brighton LSC then started the long trot back to the car. Halfway Stuart drove past - a welcome sight. We retrieved my gear, had fantastic gelaties, then headed home.

My right arm was again a bit sore near the elbow. It is muscular I think. You can't have too much strength in your arms and fitness for kiting.

Launching

Grab the board

Head for the water

In the water - about to get going

Kite down, no wind - bummer

Rick contemplating launching his 14

How do I turn this interval shoot mode off?

Downwinder track - watch those reefs!

The fickle wind - about 12 to 3 was best

A cross wind tour to Fawkner Beacon across the shipping channell

Session 74, Thursday 7 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14m
Location: Hampton to Fawkner Beacon
Wind: 15 knots SE
Duration: 6:15 to 7:15pm - 1 hour

GPS stats
Max speed: 37.4 km/h
Trip odo: 22.6 km
Mov'n avg 19.3 km/h
Mov'n time 1:10

I was feeling adventurous today, so when a reasonable South Easterly arrived late in the afternoon I headed for Hampton in lieu of bike racing at Sandown (don't tell my racing buddies!). It was a lovely sunny afternoon and the wind seemed stronger than the 15 knots indicated at Fawkner Beacon.

I rigged the 14m Switchblade, donned my impact vest & GPS caddy and took off heading towards Fawkner Beacon in the far distance to see if I could get there. The swell was fairly small so I was able to make reasonable progress a little upwind.

My right arm soon felt a little tired again, so I held the power in the bar in the middle with my left hand and used the right to adjust the kite up and down when required. I also varied my stance by leaning right back, extending my arms and varying the bend in my knees and the power in my legs.

I stayed on the left tack marvelling at the distance covered and was again struck by a "wilderness experience" far out in the Bay with nobody else around, apart from one large yacht that sailed by close early on.

Eventually I came to a large channel bouy, then a two wooden channel marker poles. I cross the channel to reach another buoy on the other side and slowed down to appreciate the view. The bayside suburbs were spread out in the distance, the Dandenongs clearly visible out East, and the city skyline to the North. Cool, very cool.

I turned and got a good look at the Fawkner beacon not far to the South - about 200m away. It has solar panels on it, and is the data source for the wind charts I post on this blog. There is some meteo gear on it too - it is essentially a pole festooned with equipment.

It would have been a very long way to swim in so I headed straight back to Hampton, surfing down and around the small waves. For a while I was headed upwind slightly to the Sandringham Marina bout harbour and club house, but about two thirds of the long tack in the wind dropped a little so I headed towards the beach. Track log showing context is below.


Zooming you can see the approximate location of Fawkner beacon, the shipping channel is clearly marked on the map. There were no big ships about when I was out there.


There were a few other kites about close to shore. I zoomed straight in to the beach next to the first groyne, pleased as punch to have made it. I then did a few tacks out and back until I was able to reach the main beach, by which time the wind had dropped further so I landed the kite and had a chat with Hamish on the beach.

It seems I was lucky to make it back in with no dramas as the wind dropped right off by about 7:30. (graph below). It is really good to mix up the kiting with some tours and adventures.

Getting ready for the big Bay crossing . . .

A sunny afternoon at Hampton in 15 knots

Session 73, Sunday 3 January 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14m

Location: Hampton

Wind: 15 knots SW

Duration: 3:30 to 4:30pm - 1 hours

Got to the beach in the afternoon after a bike race in the morning then lunch with friends . It was blowing above 20 knots when I arrived so I was going to take out to 10m kite, but then it dropped so I took the 14m kite to the beach and set up. The wind dropped further so I waited for a while and chatted.

When it picked up a bit I headed out. Fine sunny day and not too hot, but a little more wind would have been nice.

Maybe I was spoilt after yesterday's downwinder, but going upwind seemed like a chore. I think the 10m Switchblade goes upwind better than the 14 - it seems to fly closer to the edge of the wind window.

I seem to have trouble getting the 14 to go hard upwind, but it certainly cranks on a reach. I did quite a few runs out and back, around the point to look back at Brighton. My right are was a bit sore around the elbow after yesterday's session and it got tired again today. Too much kiting? Not yet.

I am liking the impact vest for jumps - it certainly softens a hard landing.

A couple of fast cats came by; they certainly go upwind better than a kite. 15 knots is enough wind, but 20+ is better. And going downwind gives you lots of opportunities to try out some fancy turns, wakestyle riding and the like.