Kitesurfing downwinder Rosebud to Aspendale

Session 217.  We did a training downwinder from Rye to Aspendale today in preparation for the Across the Bay to Conquer Cancer event next weekend.  11 kiters participated, along with family, friends and supporters. We had one boat too.

We got down to Rosebud at 1:00pm but the wind was quite light. After some lunch I scored the task of being the "wind test dummy". I got my gear on, flew my kite, then headed down to the water with the Sector 60 board. It was a bit dicey getting out - there was some wind but there holes in it.

After a long walk out through the shallow water, I got up and going - just.  The wind coming off the land was unpredictable. Its unusual to have the normal wind direction inverted (offshore).  I did a couple of runs then headed out further, then the wind conked out and my kite landed on the water. I relaunched it after a while, got going a few times, but crashed it again.  This was a very frustrating period, but I figured those on the beach could at least see it what the conditions were like - i.e. not good!

Cesar swam out and helped relaunch my kite on one occasion.

The boat came out to watch me. I spoke to them on my marine VHF handheld and informed them that the wind conditions were not good.   It was handy having the radio as I could communicate with both the boat and the Coastguard, but I had to stop to operate it.

I decided to go downwind as best I could and head towards Dromana, figuring that was better than nothing.  Along the way another kiter (another Peter) caught up to me.  He as doing a great job getting along on a twin tip and handling the light wind.  With a companion, it was time to get moving.  The wind picked up, so we headed towards Mt Martha.

It was a great relief to have some power and get going after all the schlogging!

At around Mount Martha we were on a tack that could have taken us directly to Port Melbourne, with the tops of Melbourne's tall buildings visible over the horizon.  We came in closer to shore near Sunnyside Beach then headed out.  We made good progress, cruising past the rocky headlands and occasional beaches, past Mornington (the harbour was a good landmark) then Frankston was visible in the distance.

We were cruising on a good swell and surfing the bigger waves in a fashion. I did some downloop turns to keep the speed up and have a bit of fun.  I was able to crank up some good speed.  It's amazing how much ground you can cover when there is wind.

I had a drink and some energy gel just before we got to Frankston.   The wind was getting better as we got closer.

With some relief we cruised into Gnotuk Ave beach at Aspendale and met Wayne and Franz on the beach - they have driven back from Frankston judging the wind to be too light.   I contacted the boat to find out how things were going. Natalie had stopped at a beach and headed home.  Tim copped a big lull behind us and was picked up by the boat.  Cesar was on the beach at Dromana for a while then restarted when the wind picked up - he made to Aspendale too.

I was quite tired but didn't get any cramps.

The total distance we covered was 66km.  Moving time was 2:44 and our average moving speed was 24 km/h.  Maximum speed was 40 km/h.

Its going to be a challenge to keep track of 25 riders on the day of the Bay Crossing!  Communications is going to very important.  Its best if we travel in groups, but its not always easy to achieve this, and the launch could be very tricky depending on the wind direction and strength.

I will sleep well tonight.

GPS Track 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

St Kilda kitesurfing session after work - watch for the off switch?

Session 215. A snuck in another kitesurfing session after work down at St Kilda.  Pumped up my kite at The Zu Boardsports (thanks guys) then rigged up and headed out.  Lots of kites at 12 with newbies taking lessons, but I got through a gap OK. Reminded me of what barrage balloons must have looked like during WWII.

Out past the sea wall a good swell was building in the sea breeze, and its not crowded out there.  I went upwind to the breakwater then did some slalom turns with downloops on the waves.  Great fun.  I did a couple of runs it but the wind gets flukey behind the sea wall.  Is St Kilda really such a good place to learn to kite?

I did a couple of nice boosts too.  Someone flicked the wind off switch at around 7:15 so I scooted in.  I rinsed my gear, stashed it in the car, then headed to The Pavilion for a rider meeting Cesar had organised for the upcoming Across the Bay to Conquer Cancer event.

We discussed logistics and approaches for the event. A representative from the Coastguard attended and was able to provide some good information.  They (and the Water Police) would prefer if we stick together as a group.  But keeping 25 kites (and kiters) together for 60+km will be like herding Browns Cows.   We are considering splitting into 3 groups - fast, medium and slow - and will also have a buddy system in place.

We also discussed carrying EPIRBs, a Marine UHF Radio, using PFDs and using a lead boat combined with a trailing boat (similar to how bicycle road races are organised, but this is NOT a race). There will also be a couple of "roaming boats" that can provide support as required.

I will write up some notes on rescue procedures for the boat crews.

Its a big event - endurance will be a key factor - and not one we are taking lightly.

Short but sweet session at Hampton in the setting sun

Session 214.  Got down to Hampton a bit late (7pm) after a bad run in the traffic. Everyone is back from holidays now and the roads are getting clogged.  The evening sun was lovely, but the sea breeze was dropping out as I rigged my kite.

I got going on the Sector 60 and had a good run out in moderate wind.  On the second run in I was pondering going back to shore but I stopped, then the kite ran out of wind and landed on the water.  I was over 100m out and was thinking I might have to self rescue. However, as I drifted the wind picked up a little and I was just able to relaunch the kite - swimming towards it helped it open up and catch the wind.  I was lucky.

It was a relief to get moving again. I did a short run out then headed back to shore.  The sunset was lovely. Lot of people were jogging and walking about the foreshore.

It was a very short session, but a nice one.

GPS Log

Kitesurfing Brighton Beach on the surfboard after work

Session 213. Got down to Brighton after work for a short session on the surfboard.  Nice wind, nice sun and not at all crowded. There was about 5 kiters out.   Cesar was out too.

A really nice session.  I was practicing jumping off the waves with the front foot in and the rear foot out; not too high though!

Downloop turns are going well - they are easier on the surfboard as its easy to turns.  Gybes are going well too - I am concentrating on speeding up with foot swap "one, two".

I still can't get my head around duck tacks. I point the board up into the wind, I try and swivel, then I fall in the water.

GPS log

Kitesurfing downwinder Gnotuk Ave to Port Melbourne

Session 212. Another training downwinder for the Across the Bay to Conquer Cancer event.  16 riders gathered at Gnotuk at 1pm and waited for the wind.  A 10 knot breeze arrived at around 2pm and a few did some runs with raceboards. My Sector 60 was going well.

Tim and I headed off first and made it around Ricketts Point. Just as we were going nicely downwind it conked out. Tim made it to the beach at Ricketts and waited. My kite landed on the water and I floated in towards a beach slowly, using the kite to sail in and steering with the rear lines.  After 15 minutes the wind picked up and we got going again.

The wind gradually strengthened as I made my way down past Black Rock to Sandringham. David came past on his raceboard - I followed him for a while.

Past Elwood I did some some downloop turns, some of which worked well.  I crashed my kite on a couple and relaunched it.

I dunked the kite a couple of times on downwind runs as it got low on the water. Bearing upwind slightly re-tensions the line and can avoid this.

I also noticed that I could fly the kite up vertically to generate some power rather than bringing it further back behind the direction of travel.

A few lapses of concentration saw me dunk the kite near Port Melbourne, but I was able to relaunch it and get to the beach. On the way in I passed David who was heading back towards Brighton.

After a while Tim arrived, beaming.  Another 15 minutes passed then all the others turned up too. Everyone was happy to get there.

You can donate to the fundraising event here and there is some information on Facebook.

A short video - board mounted camera

And some photos

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

Kitesurfing raging bay surf at Hampton

Session 210. A 20 knot southerly came in around 2pm today.  I headed down to Hampton at 5:30pm hoping to get in a quick session.  Some kiters were getting into their cars and leaving as I arrived with 30+knots blowing and a decent bay surf coming in.

I rigged up my Crossbow 7, self launched and headed out.  Its quite a feeling to be kiting over a 1m swell in a raging southerly yet feeling in equilibrium.  Some larger waves were breaking off shore. I headed down to Green Point where two other kiters were enjoying the surf and solitude.

After a couple of runs there I headed back with a couple of tacks to Hampton.  The beach was completely deserted so I self-landed the kite. It wouldn't settle onto its leading edge so I followed the front lines and grabbed the leading edge.

I stopped and Middle Brighton on the way home and watched several surfers enjoying the bay surf.

30+ knots at Hampton

Bay surfers at Middle Brighton

Bay surfers and Spirit of Tasmania heading down the bay

Australia's Longest Kitesurfing Race - Lighthouse to Leighton 2012

Australia's longest kitesurfing race - the Red Bull Lighthouse to Leighton 2012, was held on Saturday 15th December 2012. The race was limited to 100 male competitors and 10 female competitors,


The 19km course starts at Phillip Point Rottnest, off the coast of Perth the continues across the Indian Ocean on the Gage Roads channel and finishing at Leighton Beach, North Fremantle.

The course record for the 19 kilometre channel crossing is 24 minutes, 34 seconds and was established by World Speed Ace Alex Caizergues in 2010.

Jonahthon Keys won the mens with a time of 25:20.

Kiera MacFarlane won the womens with a time of 30:21

Cruising in a light sea breeze at Hampton

Session 209.  Yet another sea breeze came in during the afternoon so I headed for Hampton.


The holiday break over Christmas and New Year is a great time to be in Melbourne as its easy to get around and there are no crowds.

However, the quiet roads of last week are over now.  A lot of people are back from their holidays so the traffic was heavy in places.

The wind was quite light at the beach so I took down my Lithium 12 and Sector 60.  I was able to get going and out to the stronger winds and have a good time cruising back and forth.

I did some downloop turns, which work quite well.  The kite generates more power and pulls you through and out of the turn quicker - a bonus in the light wind.

One screw on the rear footstrap came out so I continued on without it being functional.  Memo: check all screws on the board - not just the fin screws.

Eventually the wind dropped further so Stuart and I headed in. By the time I got to the beach the wind had conked out completely and my kite landed on the water.