Around Stanley and speed runs in the East Inlet channel

We drove to Stanley after the morning's big session at Marrawah.  Peter took us into the delightful town where time stands still for a great coffee.  The he took us on a short tour over Green Hills Road to the huge beach where the West Inlet downwinder finishes.  There views along the coast and backl to "The Nut" are dramatic.

Then Peter took us down onto the beach at the East Inlet and gave instructions on how to kite in the channel of water (it was low tide) with the westerly still blowing.  Its an unlikely combination of wind and terrain that we wouldn't have figured out ourselves.

A couple of windsurfers were doing speed runs out there.  Tarren, Stuart W and James set up and walked their kites across the windswept sand to the channel and had a long session on the flat water.

Stu S and I headed into town to look for the anchor (or rudder?) of the tall ship Defender that Stu's father worked on restoring at Stanley.  The ship was recently sunk in the Townsville harbour but may be refloated.

Stanley is a very neat town with original cottages and buildings intact. It is a great place to mooch around and take in the scenery.

We found an anchor, but Stu checked with his father who said the part of the ship was a rudder and it was in the small museum.

Stanley Hotel

 

We drove back and picked up the others after their session.  The water was flat and they clocked some good speeds.  I'm not sure it would have been as much fun on a surfboard though.

Map of trip locations

More epic kitesurfing in big surf at Marrawah - Tasmania trip day 2

Session 395. Another epic day of kitesurfing at Marrawah.  We cooked some bacon and eggs for a hearty breakfast in the shelter enjoying the great view.

There was a bit less wind today so I used my Union 10 which was ideal for the conditions.  Peter drove again from Wynyard to kitesurf with us.

We took turns lining up for the big waves and scored some beauties.   The wind direction was better too.

The waves didn't close out and there were gaps between sets so getting out was usually not too difficult.  Ideal kitesurfing conditions and another excellent surf session.

Towards the end of the session Tarren's kite burst a strut and James caught his kite in a wave and ripped it, so there was some gear damage but still big smiles all round.

We cooked up some snags for lunch then drove to Stanley for a bonus session in the afternoon.

GPS Log

Map of trip locations

Epic kitesurfing at Marrawah - Tasmania trip day 1

Session 394. First day of our four day kitesurfing trip to Tasmania and it was epic!

The five amigos, Stu Webb, Stu Styles, Tarren, James and I flew into Launceston in on Friday morning, loaded our gear into the 7 seater van and headed west.  We stopped for a coffee and early lunch at Andy's Bakery Cafe in Westbury then continued along the Bass Highway.  It is a scenic drive  through green rolling hills passing inland from Devonport, down to the coast near Burnie, past Smithton then across to Marrawah.

I had made contact with some keen Tasmanian kitesurfers, Chris, Sam and Peter, who met us at Green Point Beach near Marrawah and gave us some good local advice.  There was good wind but it was a touch off shore and the waves got bigger further down Ann Bay.

I started with some tacks near the carpark then headed down to the bigger swells.  Wow, this was to be my best ever surf session.  There were some big sets coming in.  I picked good waves some distance out then followed them in as they built in size then broke.  Fantastic kitesurfing! Everyone was loving it.

The wind picked up towards the end of the session and I was finding it difficult to get out through the increasing surf so Stu S and I walked back.

We all chatted back at the excellent beach shelter on the foreshore then we drove on to our lodging in the picturesque seaside village of Arthur River.  We drove back for a great meal the Marrawah Tavern and checked out another good kitesurfing beach location down Bluff Hill Road some friendly locals at the pub mentioned.

GPS log

Map of trip locations

Kitesurfing my first sea breeze at Ricketts Point

Session 393.  A nice sea breeze came in mid afternoon. I met the two Stus and Grant (on his windsurfer) at Ricketts.  The breeze was light - around 15 knots - so I flew my Flite 14.5.

My new North Nugget is identical to the one I lost at Point Lonsdale, I was lucky to get one from Kite Republic.

There were heaps of fishing boats about 800m out. I kept an eye out as I passed a few keeping a safe distance.  The Flite and the Nugget provided plenty of speed and power, enough even for some jumps.

A couple of guys came past going fast upwind on foil boards.

The water is warmer and it was quite sunny. Its starting to feel like summer.  

It was nice to have mellow session free from gusty and gale force winds.

GPS Log