Overpowered at Beaumaris in 30+ knots

Session 296. The southerly buster came through late in the afternoon and it was honking.  I headed out from Beaumaris on my Lithium 9 and was lit up!  Could only just hold an edge with the kite high to depower and the getting pulled off my line. A couple of runs in 30+ knots was enough and I couldn't be bothered pumping up my Crossbow 7 so I watched the poleys (windsurfers) having fun.

Tarren was going well on his Ozone 8m kite and getting some good boosts.  The wind backed off to around 20 knots after about 20 minutes.  Frontal winds can make things difficult.

GPS log

Speed runs in Anderson Inlet

Session 294.  We headed to the inlet in the afternoon for some flat water kiting.  I took out the Sector 60 board for some nice speed runs keeping an eye out for shallow water.  I then swapped to the surf board so that I could cross the shallow sandbars and go for a tour.

I did a few small jumps on the Sector 60 (its heavy) and the surfboard (much easier).

The wind had dropped so there were not a lot of kiters out.  Bonus session!

Kitesurfing Inverloch main beach in big surf

Session 293.  Stuart, Tarren and I headed for the beach in the morning - the surf was big.  I headed out on my 9m Lithium and was dunked almost immediately while heading out. I didn't have a chance to get a full breath before I went under to it wasn't pleasant.  The surf was intimidating. I made it out the back (phew) and came in.

I headed down closer to the inlet mouth where another kiter was out, thinking that the deeper channel there would provide an easier passage through the waves.  This was the case, it was easier to cruise out and across the channel then get a nice line back to the beach on some good waves.

The wind picked up occasionally so I depowered the kite.  One big gust got me going fast as I approached a big wave on the way out. I was catapulted to the heavens as if by the Hand of God and came crashing down on my back hard after rotating a few times with the board off.  Ouch!

After about 90 minutes I was feeling really worked so I came in and Will landed my kite for me.  Stuart and Tarren finished about the same time, both really happy with the session.

My GPS battery went flat so there was only a short track log.

Kitesurfing Inverloch inlet upwind to surf

Session 292.  We arrived at Inverloch on Saturday morning for an extended family (and kitesurfing) holiday over the Melbourne Cup weekend.  Some kiters were already out on the water.  Stuart and I headed to the inlet after we had got everyone settled in the house. It was blowing hard - the wind was around 25+ knots - so I took out my Crossbow 7m as did Stuart.

We tacked upwind, negotiating some amazingly choppy water with waves going in all directions out in the entrance to Andersons Inlet.  I walked on the sand spit to get past the worst of it.  The wind was stronger past the inlet mouth at around 30 knots with some massive gusts coming through up to 40 knots!  I fully depowered the 7m kite and still got overpowered a few times.

We were the only ones out in the tempest.

There were some nice waves but I didn't make it right out the back.  A nasty looking squall was coming so we headed back to the Angling club kitebeach in the inlet.  Just after I landed my kite a really strong squall with hail came through. I was glad I was off the water.

GPS Log