A downwinder along 4 mile to the surf club in good wind

Session 51: Sunday 26 July 2009

• Kite: Switchblade 14m
• Wind: 18-25 knots (est)
• Low Isles wind: 9am SSE 33 km/h 3pm SSE 41 km/h
• Duration: 2 hours approx
• Max speed: 37.4
• Trip 29.2
• Logged time: 1:17

Dried the kites out after the morning bike ride (to Ellis Beach), then wandered across to the Treetops foyer to get a forecast. There chalkboard is not in use any more but the guy behind the counter looked up Seabreeze. 15-20 knots was forecast for the afternoon.

The palm trees around were waving, so I estimated the wind at above 20knots. I rang Bretto - he said the wind had just dropped - so I took the 12m and 14m kites to the 4 mile park.

All (30) kites on the beach when I got there at about 1:30pm. Pumped up and chatted to some locals. They were complaining about the beach being too popular and talking of kiting elsewhere. It was not crowded by Victorian standards.

The breeze picked up at about 2:30 so I headed out. Fast tacks. Got in a couple of jumps on the right tack. Practising toe down riding. I can do it on the right, but not the left tack. Went a long way out and back. A few beginner riders nearer the shore. I was a bit wary after yesterday's crossed lines so I gave them a wide berth.

Went out to near some 3 cats. Two fish jumped fast out of the water around me. OK if they were scared of me as a potential predator, but not so good if a real predator (such as a shark) was around so I scooted back in.

After about 1 hour I noticed a couple of kites going downwind. Thinking it was Bretto's downwinder I followed. Fast planing. Nice not have to keep edging and have a look around.

I travelled out then back into the waves. Had to be careful jumping as the wind was getting stronger and the water near the beach is shallow. The wind was getting stronger so I depowered the kite about 50%. I went out a bit past the point then returned to the smalll surf. Caught the board in a wave once and had to retrieve it in the shallow water.

Quite a swell building up out further. After a few tacks close to the lifesaving flags I started scoping out a landing. One of the two kiters was way upwind, the other eventually went into the beach where his girlfriend landed his kite. It was too good an opportunity to pass up so I came to shore and he landed my kite.

Here is the GPS track log.



We chatted briefly. He was a Russian, with accommodation just nearby. No wind in Russia this time of year apparently.

Self landing could have been dicey as the wind was nearly onshore and there were people walking on the beach. Flagging the kite with the IDS would work but actually getting it to
land on the sand would be the hard bit. No sign of Bretto, so it looked like I had to find my own way back.

I carried the kite along the beach to the ramp, deflated it and carried it onto the grass where I rolled it up and secured it within the harness. Stopped for a coffee and biscuit then walked into town along Macrossan St. Doug was not in the shop, so I caught a shuttle bus back to Treetops, walked through to leave my gear at the unit, then onto the kite beach to pickup the bike, the other kite and get my key.

A great day kiting in paradise again. My helmet cam attracted quite a bit of attention.

However, the long recording to the end of the card doesn't have a properly terminated file. It seems that turning record of manually is advisable to ensure the recording files are appropriately created.

Links

• Photos and videos of 2009 Port Douglas kiting trip
  

An epic session at 4 mile brings up 50

Session 50: Saturday 25 July 2009

• Kite: Switchblade 14m
• Wind: 15-23 knots (est).
• Low Isles wind 9am SSE 26 km/h 3pm SSE 33 km/h
• Duration: 3 hours approx
• Max speed: 40.2
• Trip 16.4
• Logged time: 1:15

Checked the beach out at about 10:00 and there was wind, so I got my gear and the 14m kite and headed for the kiting location.

The wind was blowing above 20knots so I scooted back on the bicycle to get my 12m kite.

As I was just about to head off from the beach one beginner flew his kite across mine crossing the lines. I pulled my safety. Once flagged I disconnected the leash and threaded it back over his lines then clipped in again. Watch out for beginners,

Once on the water, the wind dropped a little so I went out and back then walked back along the beach.

There was an offshore rainstorm, the wind was perhaps associated with it. I pumped up my 14m kite in anticipation of more wind.

It came it at about 1:30pm so I headed out. Fast cruising, quite a distance offshore. Jumping on a left tack (my strong side) is now fairly easy, but jumping on my right tack is not. I seem to have trouble getting the edge release and much height. The kite tends to wallow a bit and lurch forward.

I practiced some toedown riding - which feels OK on a right tack but quite weird on a left tack. More practice required.

I ran the webcam for and got a little footage, incluing Bretto instructing on the beach. I also had the GPS on for a while too.

Heaps of speed and lots of runs. There would have up to 15 kites on the water when it got busy, and a couple of windsurfers.

The kiting was great for about two hours. I came in feeling tired in the arms and a bit numb in the hands. Love this 14m kite.

I rested on the beach for a while and headed out for another half hour when the wind picked up again. Another squall was coming so I came in and packed up both kites which were wet and sandy, before loading up the bike for the cycle home.

This one day has made the trip worthwhile.

Bretto has a downwinder planned for Sunday, a tour to Low Isles for Monday and a boat trip out to Undine Cay on Tuesday with a possible tour option from their to Daintree Cape Tribulation for an overnight stay.

Links

• Photos and videos of 2009 Port Douglas kiting trip
  

Warm water at Port Douglas

Session 49: Thursday 23 July 2009

• Wind SE 15 knots (est)
• Low Isles wind: 9am WSW 13 km/h 3pm SE 31 km/h
• Kite: Switchblade 14m

A good session. Out for about an hour at about 2:30pm. Then the wind dropped.

Great scenery, and warm water.

Not much wind about in the morning, but it seemed to picking up a bit around midday. I returned to my unit for lunch. I noticed the tops of nearby palm trees were swaying in the wind, so I got my gear organised into the backpack and cycled down to the kite beach.

About 3 others were already out and the wind was good. Into the warm water about 2:00pm then off. Good speed. I did one longish run to where I could see around the Port Douglas headland to the distant Thornton Peak. 4 mile beach is a great place to kite. The mountainous backdrop behind the palm tree lined beach is interesting to view from sea. The tide was heading out so the reef was exposed. It is an easy walk out to the water over sand.

But don't launch with kite near the palms - fly the kite over the beach.

I did one good jump. Then on one run the wind died and my kite fell from the sky. I relaunched it without much trouble and elected to get back into shore and stay closer in. A good move as it turned out; the wind lost its strength to I did a few runs drifting downwind and then walked back up the beach. This first session had lasted about 1 hour and my right wrist was a bit sore and in need of a rest.

A few locals had assembled near the beach hut watching proceedings, and one pupil was undergoing instruction with the Windswell kitesurfing school. Until very recently, there has not been much wind about.

After a sojourn on the beach the wind picked up a bit so I headed out at about 4pm with a couple of others. Not quite enough wind to stay upwind though, so I did an out and back then walked back along the beach.

A couple of locals did a downwinder to the surf club at the other end the beach and eventually made it.

Links

• Photos and videos of 2009 Port Douglas kiting trip
  

A lucky breeze at Gnotuk

Session 48

• Location: Gnotuk Avenue
• Wind: 12 to 15, westerly
• Time: about 1 hour
• Kite: Switchblade 14m

I headed for Gnotuk after today's bike race at Casey Fields near Cranbourne. I was lucky enough to win in A grade by about 10cm.

The Fawkner and South Channel beacons were showing some SSW wind and my kiting gear was still in the car after yesterday. There was not a lot of wind when I arrived, but a few squalls were visible across the bay. Nobody else was there - was this going to be futile? Did the locals know better?

I donned by cold wet wetsuit, set the kite up, and launched it with the help of a bystander (who knew how to launch kites).

After a bit of "shorebreak flailing" the wind picked up and off I went. I did a couple of good runs to the south - about 2km down along the beach - and even managed a jump. Once again that feeling of freedom and speed.

I was a bit tired after the racing and holding the right tack for a while was tough, but coming back was fine. The wind tapered off after about 15 minutes so I walked back a short distance along the beach. Some locals had showed up. They get a free parking pass for the coastal reserves, which would make Gnotuk more attractive as the parking is expensive.

I landed the kite and waited for about 30 minute, then another wind front arrived so I headed out again. This time it was easier to stay upwind heading north. Some good kiting again. The others were quickly pumping up their kites but by the time they were ready the wind eased again. It is best not to travel to far in conditions like these our you might face a long walk back.

Three lads of Indian descent were on the beach taking photos and came up to me for a chat and a photo opportunity. Kiting certainly appeals to onlookers. They were very complementary.

That was it for the day. No more wind fronts followed so I headed home.

Great to kite at a new location. One of the locals said the downwinder from there to St Kilda via Ricketts was good to do. The also go to Frankston and Parkdale. Opportunities abound, but more wind is needed than what winter offers.

Kitesurfing distance records

I have been researching kitesurfing distance records out of interest. I really enjoyed the downwinder we did from Ricketts Point to Hampton. It really piqued my curiosity about how far people have actually travelled with a kite and what may be possible.

So far, the best documented distance record I can find is that of Kirsty Jones who set a distance record for a kiteboard when she travelled 225km (140 miles), crossing from Lanzarote in the Canary Islands to Tarfaya, Morocco, in about nine hours on May 13, 2006. Here is a video of Kirsty's feat.





A record combination of distance and speed of 207 km in 5h 30 was set by Raphaël Salles, Marc Blanc and Sylvain Maurain on July 24, 2007 between Saint Tropez and Calvi, beating Manu Bertin's previous record of 6h 30 for the same journey. Their average speed was almost 38 km/h.

I have updated the kitesurfing article in Wikipedia with this information.

Allison Shreeve attempted to windsurf across Bass Strait on 26 March 2009. The planned route was 130 Nautical Miles (250km) between Stanley in Tasmania to Inverloch in Victoria. However, she abandoned the attempt out due to mild hypothermia and cramps around 80 kilometres off the Victorian coast late on Thursday afternoon after leaving Tasmania just after 7.30am (AEDT). She had to contend with strong winds soon after leaving Stanley on Tasmania's northwest coast and suffered cramps early in the crossing.

Only one other person has ever windsurfed across Bass Strait before - Nick Maloney, who took 21 hours to manage the feat in 1998.

References

1. Tampa Bay area kiteboarders take aim at distance record, Terry Tomalin, St. Petersburg Times, February 27, 2009
2. m8kite.com - Long Distance record
3. Allison Shreeve - Bass Strait Challenge 2009
4. Honourable exit for Bass Strait windsurfer

A cool westerly at Hampton

Session 47

• Location: Hampton Beach
• Wind: 12 to 15, westerly
• Time: about 1 hour
• Kite: Switchblade 14m

Some good wind was forecast today, so Stuart and I headed down to Hampton. There wasn't much wind when we arrived at about 10:45 but it looked like some might be coming so we rigged up. There was hardly enough wind to self launch. We got our kites in the air then did some slow and difficult runs in light wind along the shore, then walked back.

I ended up in the surf half beached with the small shorebreak pounding into the back of my head. Light wind really puts the focus on technique. You have to get board speed up to get going, and not try for to much upwind, or you just bog down and stop.

Reminder to learners: it is harder to learn in light winds.

I was contemplating having a go unhooked, but then the wind picked up. We both had several good runs out and back. Not quite enough for jumping. I am really glad I bought the 14m kite for days like this.

A squall was visible out in the bay which could have contained lightning and may have had stronger wind gusts, so we stopped at about 12:45, in time for me to race back and accompany Lena and Chloe to Princess Wishes (Disney on Ice) which was actually pretty good.

Stuart and I spoke about how great it was to get going for even a brief session, and the incredible buzz you get kitesurfing. We both compare it to the joy of skiing powder, and that its much easier and convenient to go kiting frequently than it is to seek out powder.

If you are thinking about taking up kitesurfing I really recommend you give it a try. Book some lessons and go for it.

Altona buzzing in a good easterly - at last

Session 46

• Location: Altona Beach
  
• Wind: 15 to 20 knots, easterly
• Max speed: fast - some flat water behind the sandbars
  
• Time: about 2 hours
  
• Kite: Switchblade 14m
• Kitecam: Oregon Scientific ATC 2K
  

At last, some great kiting in a strong easterly at Altona. Stuart and I headed down during afternoon, getting on the water at about 2pm. The wind was consistent and cool. Altona takes the easterly well.

There were a lot of kites on the water and on the beach when we arrived. The wind was coming it at about 15 knots so I pumped up the 14m Switchblade. Stuart provided the following good tip for rigging up the IDS bar:

TIP: Attach the safety leash to the ring on the depower line where it connects to the chicken loop, rather than the main assembly. This way, if you pull the main safety and the velcro fitting that holds the depower line gives way (as Stuart's did recently at Sandy Point), then you are still attached to the kite.

No shortage of power as I cruised out in the small surf.

I did some amazing long runs up to the beach heading west. The small surf provided good jumping and coming closer to shore there was some great flat water behind the sandbanks where fast carving was easy. Some very shallow sections loom up occasionally though so you have to pay attention and flatten the board out if when it gets too shallow. Hitting a sandbank at 30km would not be much fun.

One young kiter did a very impressive jump with some flips and a handle pass then landed on his chest on a shallow sandbank. I asked him if he was OK as I went past. He said he was, but was lucky not to be injured. Jumping in shallow water is not a good idea.

Enjoy the kitecam footage I took



Here is the wind map.


And the location map (approximate, no GPS today)


Kitecam (helmet mounted) video footage to follow.

The winter doldrums

When April came this year, someone high above flicked off the wind switch. The sea breezes vanish and are replaced with erratic northerlies, the very occasional strong westerly, errating north westerlies and the odd easterly.

Rather frustrating for us kitesurfers. I need to get out!

Today I went down to Rye hoping that the forecast 20knot north easterly would be still blowing, but on arrival things were rather quiet. One guys had his kite up (just) but was not going anywhere while another watched with his kite on the beach.

The wind chart showed some reasonable wind in the morning though - so those who got there in time for it may have been rewarded.

The winter winds are fickle, infrequent and transient. My friend Stuart had a good day last Saturday off Hampton, but I was in Castlemaine of the day.

My solution is to keep on watching Baywinds and Seabreeze, and I have booked a ticket to Port Douglas for end July to catch some trade winds actions, and maybe even kite out to the Low Isles and back. Let me know if you will be up there too. We could arrange a downwinder from Ellis Beach with Brett from Windswell, and maybe a kiting trip or two to the Outer Reef.

Hampton after work and some big air

Session 45

• Wind: 20 to 25 knots, southerly
• Max speed: 37.5 km/h
• Trip: 27.9 km
• Time: 01:20
• Kite: Crossbow 12m
  

Headed down to Hampton after work as the wind had sprung up late in the afternoon. It seemed a bit to strong for the 14m kite so I took out the 12. Heading out into the waves, there were some good ones to launch off. I got some big air this session. It felt like 3 to 4 meters. Up up and away! Reasonable control for the descent and a fairly gentle touch down. A couple of jumps at speed which landed with speed too.

Sore forearms afterwards - I really noticed the bar pressure of the Crossbow today.



I had my camera mounted to my helmet but it seems to have played up and not recorded. Overall, a great session. Skills progressions I am working on are toe down riding - which feels quite weird, controlled kiteloops, and jumping. Stuart recommended doing backflips too, which he says are easy.

Hampton on my new Naish Haze 144 board

Session 44

• Wind: 17 to 20knots, southerly
• Max speed: 37.5 km/h
• Trip: 27.9 km
• Time: 01:20
• Kite: Switchblade 14m
  

The southerlies have dropped off over the last couple of weeks, so it was great to get out in the afternoon in a reasonable wind. This was my first time on my new Naish Haze 144 board which I just bought on eBay from a guy who had bought it in Hawaii but not got around to learning kitesurfing.

It was superb. Great upwind ability - very stable and a positive edge. It is wider than my Cabrinha board, has positive foot straps and pads, and fantastic speed.

My 14m kite had heaps of power. I did my biggest ever jump lauching off a 1m wave with the power on. It felt like I was plucked up with great power by the hand of another being. Floating, flying, followed by a gentle touch down. A bit scary too - so much speed and so much height.

I got upwind behind the breakwater to crank some high speeds in the flatwater, then back out into the stiff breeze. A few jellyfish about too.

Jumping then landing and keeping going is a real buzz. The trick is to not forget the kite. I am learning to bring it down from overhead so that it keeps flying and some momentum is retained. With the excitement of jumping, it is easy to forget the kite, like the problem I had when learning and the kite would dive back down and hit the water.

On a reach now I fly the kite on autopilot, not needing to look at it. It is a bit like learning to change gears in manual car without thnking about it.

Jumping introduces a new movement of the kite - overhead, then back into the power zone.

A downwinder from Ricketts Point to Hampton

Session 43

• Wind: 20knots, southerly
• Max speed: 32.4 km/h
• Trip: 25.8 km
• Time: 58:21
• Note: GPS was not working correctly, so the above information is not accurate.
  

Stuart contacted me on Saturday morning about doing a downwinder from Ricketts Point Beaumaris to Hampton Beach. The wind picked up during the afternoon, so we met at Hampton to leave a vehicle there then drove to Ricketts Point. The wind wasn't strong so I took out my 14m kite. We got on the water just after 4pm and headed out. Stuart had a couple of mates with windsurfers, but we weren't sure there would be enough wind for them so we took off after a few tacks.

My first downwinder of note. It was fantastic. Cruising at speed and time for a good look around. We headed out a way. It felt great to be out so far in the elements, travelling with the good grace of the wind.


Plonking in the water briefly I felt some stings when I came out. Looking in the water, there were heaps of large jellyfish around so I guess I one got me! I could feel some stings on my back through my one mm wetsuit and around my face, but they didn't hurt much and dissipated quickly.

We tacked back in several times to balance out the work on the legs. It is nice to come back into shore for a closer look. We came right in close the wreck of the Cerberus. Surely it should be salvaged and restored. It has mostly collapsed into the water now. In my youth we swam out to it and snorkelled inside it and clambered around the decks. It has greatly deteriorated over the last 30 years.

We had some great views all the way to Melbourne. We passed the Sandringham Yacht club, then rounded corner to Hampton. After a few tacks near the breakwater we came to shore, both stoked by the experience. Going touring on a kiteboard is fast, efficient and fun. I wanted to keep going to St Kilda.

No kitecam this time. Next downwinder I will fit it to my helmet.

Hampton in 30 knots with bushfires burning

Session 41.

• Wind: 25 to 30 knots
• Kite: 7m Crossbow
• Max 36.4km/h
• Trip: 22.6
• Time: 2:32
• Dist 8.7

The wind was blowing hard when I got home from work so I headed off for some kiting. The strong southerly was playing havoc with the bushfires still burning, including some near the Dandenongs, but I thought I would make the most of it.

A couple of kiters were coming in when I arrived and looked a bit overpowered, so I decided to take out the 7m Crossbow. It flew well and delivered heaps of power. Very agile in the sky too. I was tempted to try some kiteloops, but I think I will practice first in a lighter wind.

I was able to keep up wind and do some jumps off the growing swell. Good to get some use out of the 7m kite, it is only the third time I have used it.

Altona for the first time in 24 knots

Session 41. Speed, waves and jumping

• Wind 25 knots southerly
• Fine weather
• Fairly busy

I finally made it to Altona Beach. After the tragic bushfires, some of which are still burning in Melbourne's water catchments and spreading smoke across the water, and a friend crashing badly in the A Grade bicycle race at Casey fields in the morning, it was great to get out on the water.

The wind speed was about 20 knots when I started, but I took out my Crossbow 12m as the forecast was for it to rise to 25-30 knots later in the afternoon.

Lot of people kiting on the water - 20 kites or more. But people all knew what they were doing, so it was good.

Closer to the shore, sandbanks create smooth water, so you can really get some speed up. However, the depth of the water varies, and depending on the tide you can suddenly find your board actually hitting sand. If you have a lot of speed, this could cause a big crash.

I took it easy for a while and then got out in the surf, kiting up to the end of the pier then back. The 1m surf provided some excitement and challenges. My board stopped in a couple of broken waves, but kiting between waves is a real blast.

I got one good jump in, landed it and kept going, which felt great.

Eventually I lost my board and was waiting for it to get washed in, but a friendly kiter brought it in for me.

I finished with some more fast flat water runs close to shore, then we hit the local pizza parlour before heading home.

Altona Beach feels like a small country seaside town. It is well worth a visit, the kiting is excellent, but as recommended, high and rising tide is best.

Kitecam at Hampton

Session 40.

I took out the 14m Switchblade out in 18 knots, with the kitecam fitted. I got some good speed and few jumps in. I crashed the kite a couple of times and relaunched it as you can see in the video.

I was also tried out a new Cabrinha board with the lace up foot straps (sync bindings). Ivan suggested that my old long Cabrinha board is too narrow and too stiff, while my newer Litewave board is to small for my size, so a board sized between them would be ideal.

I had a bit of difficulty staying upwind, but then the wind speed increased.

Looking out to the breakwater

Wind chart

Surfing the waves at Hampton

Session 39.

A strong southerly change came through in the afternoon cooling off another hot day. Checking the Bay Winds site on my phone (via WAP) showed wind around 30 knots, so I headed down to Hampton after work, rather than going bike racing at Sandown (the rot has set in . . . fancy goofing of a bike race!)

Got on the water through the large shore break just after 6pm straight out into big waves - but the wind had dropped. I swapped to my 14m kite, and was rewarded with more wind and heaps more power. The 14m Switchblade flys very smoothly. I depowered to get better control. I was able to get some fast runs in behind the marina wall, further up the beach than I had before.

Then the wind dropped again, despite what looked like a front in the distance. I continued working the surf area with Ivan and few others, finishing about 8pm.

Cape Paterson - not enough wind

Session 38.

I visited my friend Simon staying at the Cape Paterson caravan park. I took my kite gear hoping for to kitesurf either at Inverloch or at the Cape itself.

The main beach has a gently surf and a nice reef at the western end. The breeze seemed OK on Saturday afternoon so Simon helped me launch my 14m kite.

But there was not enough wind. I was able to get out a bit and come back, but could not go upwind. After a couple of walks back along the beach, with bemused lifesavers peering down from their club house, I packed up.

I had a similar session on Sunday, but this time the promising breeze vanished as I got on the water, so I blew in to the beach just short of the rocky reef section to the east.

It is a nice spot, but not really suitable for beginnners.

Here is the satellite location map:

Jumping and speed at Hampton

Session 37 stats:

• Max speed 45.9 km/h, distance 24.74km, duration 1h50 approx.
  
• Wind 20-23 knots, southerly

I was going for a bike race at Sandown this evening, but the wind was good. Racing into a strong wind can be frustrating. Particularly if you are in a bunch that won't chase. So I decided to go kiting at Hampton. I got on the water at about 6pm. Not much of a summer so far - it was really quite cool. My 1mm wetsuit kept me just warm enough.

The wind was good and strong. Easy to go upwind so I headed up to the breakwater in search of some flat water. About 5 or 6 other kiters about and a couple of windsurfers. Everybody was proficient.

I concentrated on going upwind for a while and kept my speed down. I then did some faster runs chasing onto the back of then over the surprisingly large swells that were rolling in.

I did my best ever jump launching off a wave and flying the kite high. Hangtime! It seemed like a long time, but I didn't go too high. The kite tends to stall when you pendulum under it, so the next progressing will be to fly it somewhere, or maybe even kiteloop it.

I did some toe down riding too - which feels quite wierd. A lot more practice required on this. There are heaps of progressions in this sport.

I finished with a longer run out looking back down to Brighton and the city. What a blast. It brought back memories of my first successful long run - which was in the same location and about to the same place. The wind dropped off a bit so I made it back just above the rock groyne then got to the beach.

Ivan was setting up his kite after a hard day at the SHQ office, but the wind picked up for him when he got on the water.

My hands and fingers got quite sore from the cold and bar pressure. I am considering trying some neoprene diving gloves. I think I will also get a 4/3 surfing wetsuit for when it gets cooler.

I had fitted the kitecam, but it had no batteries so no footage this time. At the end of the session the screw mount was a little loose and it had shifted direction. Next time . . . there will be some video action!

Mounting a kitecam

I am setting up a kitecam to take video while kiting. The model of the camera is an Oregon Scientific ATC-2K which can take about 1h of footage (VGA 640 X 480 30 frames per second) on a 2 gig SD card. The device uses 2 AA batteries. It is a bit tricky to navigate the menu using the small LCD screen, but once set up it doesn't need adusting.

Side view

Top view

I may get lucky and get some footage like this amazing still photo from a kite-mounted camera taken by Dave Sheridan of him kiting over a whale! [link]


I have had the camera for a while and have been "too busy" to set it up. But a light wind day at Gnotuk Ave was a good opportunity to rig it.

After a bit of research on the Internet, it seems the best place for the camera is mounted on the main central spar. This puts it out of harms way and points it at the rider.

I also rigged up a nylon safety line to secure the camera in case the main mount system fails.

Camera mounting, kite leading edge down on beach

Camera mounting, kite upside down on beach

Camera mounting detail, note safety line to kite securing loop (used while inflating)

Now I just need another windy outing to shoot some footage. The camera will only be "right way up" for one tack - for the other one it will be upside down.

Links

• Kiteboarder sails over whale - Telegraph
• CamRig - KiteCam
• Kitesurfing caloundra passage with kite camera, YouTube
• Oregon Scientific ATC2K (ATC-2000) Helmet Camera | Helmet Camera Centra
  
  

An unexpected southerly at Hampton

Session 36. No stats. No buoyancy vest, no GPS. Naked this time!

In the middle of the afternoon the wind picked up to a good southerly at about 20 knots, which would not help the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in progress. I got down to the beach with Lena and my daughter Chloe at about 5pm with the wind still coming in strong. About eight other kiters out and several windsurfers.

I was intending to trial my kite cam, but was in too much of a rush to rig up the attachment to the kite spar. More on this later.

I took out the Crossbow 12 and got plenty of power. Several fast runs out into the waves to the buoy, then back surfing down onto the waves on the return leg.

I wore the surf socks again, but they are a little tight in the footstraps of my Litewave board.

I was inspired to try a few jumps and succeeded. Not a lot of height, but I got a bit of distance on at least 3 occasions. Dunked the kite too, but I was able to relaunch it, albeit a bit soggy.

I met Rick there just when I finished after about 1.5 hours of kiting.

We were having a chat on the beach when we noticed a fellow with his kite in the water heading for the rock groyne so we trotted over to help him out.

Previously Rick had his kite tangled with another one on the beach and had to use the safety release to get out of trouble. Watch out for others when you kite! Remember the beach is the most dangerous place, and please don't endanger others.

Here is the wind graph for the afternoon.

Inverloch kiting with a strong south westerly.

Session 35 stats:

• Max speed 44.5 km/h, distance 21.1km, duration 1h40
• Wind 35-45 km/h, south westerly

I spent three days with the family at Inverloch from Tue 16/12 to Friday 19/12. Very light winds on Tuesday and Wednesday so we visted the penguin parade at Phillip Island and I tried my hand at some fishing.

On Friday a strong south westerly arrived. It was blowing during the night and continued all day. I got to the inlet launch site near the angling club and scoped the conditions out carefully. Nobody else about. My wind meter showed a steady 35 km/h gusting up to 45km/h. I was tempted to give the 7m kite a go, but decided to try the 12m first.

I launched about 8am off the beach, a little of which was revealed by the receding tide. Heaps of power in the kite. I overcooked my first water start, so backed off the power for my next attempt and got up and going.

In a word: fantastic!

Great fast runs across the inlet across water with a slight chop. This first map shows the high level view of my tracks. The second one shows the detail.




Good variety on the run. Strong wind while exposed to the prevailing wind, then a bit of a whole about halfway across, then strong wind again. Over near the other side the wind dropped close to the shore due to rotor effect from the headland. I had to fly the kite around to get going and back out into the wind.

It was a bit hard to hold the board edge due to the strength of the wind and the strong gusts. The really cool feature of this area is when you get close to the sandbars, just down wind, the water is flat so I could really crank up the speed. I clocked 44.5 km/h which is my fastest to date.

This satellite image shows location of the bars - which are completely exposed as sandbanks when the tide goes out further.


After 1.5 hours I was tired enough to stop. The wind kept blowing all day. A couple of other kiters and sail boarders were out later enjoying the good wind too.

In summary, a great spot when the wind is blowing. You can also kite out at the entrance, but an incoming tide is recommended for this. Another kiter said that you get great clean smooth water between the incoming waves. Next time maybe, with a companion. . .