Hampton to Green Point early kitesurfing session

Session 344.  Early wind forecast so we were onto it.  Stu S, Stuart W, James, Tarren and I converged on Hampton with a nice westerly blowing.  I headed straight for Green Point and got some nice waves just off the reef.   The surf keeps going down along the point towards Brighton for a while.

Green Point

A tack off Brighton enjoying the view, then back toward Hampton.  Riding the swells back into the beach with downloops was great, followed by some surf on the Hampton reefs.

Coffee and a muffin afterwards, then off to SHQ for an interesting new board - more on that to come!

Green Point

 

Green Point

Green Point

Green Point

Shore break!

Cylists on Beach Road

Stu Styles in action

GPS Log

Killer whales in Port Phillip Bay!

Three killer whales have just been sighted cruising around southern regions of Port Phillip Bay!  Kitesurfing past them would be an interesting experience, but they visited when there was very little wind.

Port Phillip Sea Pilots coxswain James Grinter snapped this photo of an orca sighted near the Queenscliff Ferry terminal.

It was reported that they travelled up South Channel to Mornington then returned back down the channel close to shore stopping for a look at Sorrento pier.  It would have been fantastic to see them.

Links

• Orcas in Port Phillip Bay have whale of a time | GeelongAdvertiser
• Australian Orca Database, Facebook

Gusty and gale force winds can make kitesurfing dangerous

It seems obvious doesn't it?  A forecast of gusty and gale force winds indicates you should very carefully consider whether to kitesurfing or not.

Check out this wind graph for Wednesday 25th November.  The forecast was for gale force winds. Some kitesurfers were at Brighton when one of the massive gusts came in, one with a large kite up close to shore.  They were very lucky to avoid a serious injury.  The maximum gust was 54 knots!

On Monday 30 November you might have been tempted to go out with a small kite around 4 p.m. but look at the 40 knot gust the ripped through after 7 p.m!

Today it was gusty again but manageable with a small kite (e.g. 7 metres)

Be careful, check forecasts carefully, and if in doubt don't go out!

This article has more advice on this topic: Kitesurfing storm fronts (Kitesurfing Handbook)

Kitesurfing at St Kilda with a tour to the channel

Session 343.  Great kitesurfing in a late sea breeze.  After carefully negotiating the barrage of learner kites on the shore I headed out.  I saw Stuart downwind as I passed the end of the breakwater. I was on a good tack and nicely powered so I kept going - a tour eventuated.

I crossed the Spirit of Tasmania channel - the ship was still at the wharf - and kept going until I came to the main channel markers. Then I turned and headed back upwind of the St Kilda harbour breakwater, coming up close the beach.  I followed the breakwater back to open water and did some nice slalom turns to get back in.

I did a few runs in the kiddy pool wary of shallow water and the many boats on swing moorings. Lovely light with the sun going down.  But the water is not very clean . . .

Overall, another very nice session.

GPS Log

Late sea breeze at Brighton

Session 342. A late breeze came when I was in St Kilda. I drove to Brighton and rigged up in the warm sun, a big contrast to the almost winter conditions yesterday.

I started with a long run out admiring Melbourne's CBD in the distance.  The breeze seemed to stay around 15 knots with some occasional lull. I was well powered on my Lithium 12 and the Nugget.

A couple of guys were out on foil boards which seems like a brave thing to do with all the reef off Brighton.

It is so good to be back on the water!

GPS Log

Kitesurfing Hampton with some big yachts about

Session 341.  More nice kitesurfing in a cool southerly wind with my Lithium 9 and trusty North Nugget.  The wind was stronger further out so I did a long run out and back.  There were a lot of large yachts racing a course off Hampton and some smaller ones further out.

Stuart and James were out too.  The wind was up and down a bit but the Nugget makes it easy to cope with the lighter patches.   My hands were fine so all is good.

Except that I couldn't find my bar - I may have left it at Hampton on 18/11. If you find it please contact me! Beer will be provided.

Its so good to be kitesurfing again.

GPS Log

Battery went flat before the end of the session

Kite + wind + board + water = cabin fever cured! Yabba dabba doo!

Session 340.  Back on the water again at last!

My hand injuries have healed, but getting my left little finger bending properly is taking some time. Last week, the surgeon and hand therapist gave me a tentative go ahead for the weekend but said "it would be better to wait another week before kitesurfing". 

I had commitments on Friday and during the weekend so I missed out on the lads kiting weekend at Sandy Point.

However, conditions were good late on Sunday afternoon so I headed for Hampton to be greeted by a glorious sea breeze and uncrowded water.

It felt so good to be out again powered up on the Lithium 9 and Nugget.  My right thumb was fine and I think the session helped bend my left little finger further.

This was the first time I used my new NP helmet - it is lighter that the Protec and very comfortable.

I did some long tacks to get back into the groove after 8 weeks off the water and a few small jumps.  Gybe turns were no problem but I was a bit rusty on the waves.

It soon clicked and I rode some nice rollers out in the Bay and a couple of good waves over the reef in the middle of the two groynes.  

The combination of water, waves, wind, board and kite really is unbeatable.

GPS log