Gnotuk in a gusty northerly

Session 110, 11 November 2010 

Kite: Switchblade 10

Wind: 20 - 30 knots, N

Location: Gnotuk Avenue

Time: 21 noon to 1:30pm

Headed for Gnotuk after a morning bike race at Casey Fields (Cranbourne) with a strong northerly blowing.  Stuart  was already there and headed out into the cross offshore wind.  I rigged up and joined him.  I was able to do my  first reasonable standing start, with my rear foot guiding the board.  I sank back into the water but kept going. 

The wind was fairly mild close to the shore but was much strong about 300m out.  But it was patchy with some big holes in it.  We were able to stay upwind for about 15 minutes then it dropped to below 20 knots.  I headed in, not wishing to get caught offshore with no wind.

I waited on beach for the wind to pickup and kept my kite flying, practicing repowering it using the front lines - a handy technique for when  your kite threatens to drop out of the sky.

Then it picked up again, so I headed out for some very fast kiting. I ended up depowering the kite to keep good control.  I also managed one jump transition to a turn,  After about 20 minutes of fun I headed back in.  The wind dropped about 150m offshore and my kite hit the water, close to a marker pole which caused my some concern.  

I guided the kite and lines away from the pole and eventually relaunched it and got back in.  Swimming in towing a kite would be hard work against the wind.

The water was lovely and clean and still fairly cool.  There were a couple of windsurfers out and one kite some distance down the beach.

We discussed the conditions and agreed they were difficult - definately not the time to crash your kite and do a self rescue - but good fun none the less. 

Cranking upwind at Inverloch to the surf

Session 109, 2 November 2010 

Kite: Switchblade 14

Wind: 20 - 25 knots, SW

Location: Inverloch - Andersons Inlet

Time: 1:30 to 3pm

Some good wind arrived around noon after a morning of showers and squalls.  Stuart and I drove to Andersons Inlet and launched in marginal wind, but it soon picked up when we were on the water.  

I did several fast flat water runs right across the inlet behind, getting heaps of speed on the flat water behind the sand bar right.

Looking to Inverloch

I then headed upwind, eventually working my way up to the point we passed on the downwinder two days ago. The outgoing tide still covered a lot of the sandbars but there was plenty of shallow water to negotiate in places.

Then I was out in the surf.  The blue water behind the waves was certainly different from the protected water of the inlet, and the waves were not huge.

On my third run out through the surf one of the screws securing my left footpad came loose, which was a bit alarming a long way from home.  I turned the pad around to tighten the remaining screw and headed back. It was time to return in any case.

I was getting a lot of speed on the downwind runs, keeping a wary eye out for shallow water.  I tried alternating to toe side riding, which really whipped me round the turns, but going to far results is a stalled kite at the edge of the wind window.  Memo to self: practice more downwind runs and wake-style slalom runs.

Tired but satisfied, we packed up and headed back for lunch.

There were a lot of other kiters out today enjoying the fantastic conditions.  I took some photos from the shore of the crowded channel at low water.   There were some beginners about too, so if you kite at Inverloch make sure you keep out of their way.

Passing Stuart

Flat water near the sandbar

In the surf

Going downwind

Screaming back downwind

Inverloch downwinder from surf beach to Anglers Club

Session 108, 1 November 2010

Kite: Switchblade 14

Wind: 15 knots, SW

Location: Inverloch

Time: 3:30pm to 5:00pm

Returning to Inverloch after a visit to Coal Creek with the kids, there was some wind at the beach.  Stuart had been kiting in the surf earlier.  We decided to try a downwinder to the Anglers Club.

There was plenty of room to launch on the wide beach, and the water was very clear.  We headed off without delay  into the smallish surf and crossed the inlet channel.  There was just enough wind to keep going with aggressive kite flying. 


Eventually we made it to the small headland right across the wide mouth of the inlet, then headed onto the flat water inside.


The inlet seems to funnel the wind in - the wind was stronger inside.  We had some fun picking our way through small channels and across some shallow sandbars before we got to the kiting zone near the Anglers Club.


We finished with a few runs there, with just enough wind to stay upwind.


This short downwinder is a great tour - I highly recommend it.

Starting on the beach

Through the small surf

Clean water

Looking back towards Cape Paterson

Shallow water in the surf zone

Clean smooth water in the inlet

Strong wind and big jumps at Inverloch

Session 107, 31 October 2010

Kite: Switchblade 10

Wind: 25 - 35 knots, SW

Location: Inverloch - Andersons Inlet

Time: 3:30pm to 5:00pm (1.5 hours)

Strong wind at Inverloch on the first day of our long weekend family and kiting trip, we headed for the launch site near the Anglers Club on the inlet.  I rigged my 7m Crossbow while Stuart rigged his 10m Switchblade, then we swapped kites as I am heavier.  

The wind was coming in strong and there was heaps of power.   I did a few jumps; the strong wind provided plenty of  boost.

Some other kiters came in overpowered on 12s and packed up.  Some gusts were reaching 35 knots.   I depowered the 10 for a while, then rode it fully powered, before finishing with it depowered again.  

Stuart liked the 7, and commented on how fast it turns.  It is amazing how much wind funnels into the inlet.

A broken pulley at Brighton in a good northerly

Session 106, 22 October 2010 

Kite: Switchblade 14

Wind: 20 knots, N

Location: Brighton

Time 2:30 to 3pm (but not much kiting!)

After attending to some chores and carefully watching the wind, I headed down to Brighton in the early afternoon as the northerly looked like it would stick around.

There were several kiters on the water. I rigged up, mounted the kite cam, self launched then took off for a great run.  Good wind and not too gusty, and warm and sunny too.   I flew the kite low to get some shots of other kiters and looking north to Brighton.

I headed back to shore, executed a turn, then "pop" a pulley on the left bridle broke.  I thought it was my left wingtip (power) line broke, but later inspection revealed that one of the pulleys failed.  The kite looped before I got it onto the water.  I was still over 200m off the beach and the wind was blowing me along and even out; I was not keen on the prospect of drifting across the bay to Mount Martha.

I release the IDS and started winding in the lines around the bar.  It was hard work as there was still a lot of line tension.  Another kiter stopped to offer assistance and took my board to the shore.  Thanks dude!

As I got to the kite a friendly boat showed up.  Peter on the boat offered me a tow to shore which I gratefully accepted.

I had some difficultly turning the kite upside down, so I grabbed the leading edge on the water with my right arm and the tow rope with my left.  They then towed my slowly towards the beach, watching out for the reefs.  It was hard work hanging onto the kite which generated a bit of resistance going along the water.  It would have been better upside down I think.

Even with the lines wound up I was still getting a bit tangled in them and the bridle as I swam, so when they left my I immediately extricated myself from the small tangle.  The wind had a bit of west in it so I had no difficulty reaching the shore, which was a relief.

Pulley failure
The pulleys on earlier Switchblades tend to fail after a couple of years.  Contact your Cabrinha dealer to get free replacements if yours are the older ones.  The newer pulleys have a larger diameter spindle shaft and two ring sliders replace the pulleys for the outer lines.

From left: Failed pulley, old pulley, new pulley, slider for rear lines

Lessons learned:

• Check my gear for any weak points
• Possibly replace the pulleys and or some lines
• Keep the line knife handy and practice retrieving it from harness
• Practice self rescue
• Use a surfboard in northerlies - at least you can paddle it to shore and tow the kite in

Getting ready

Having a ball, looking back to Brighton

The run back in.

Kite down, not limp left hand tip

Kite wallowing

WARNING: Use at your own risk!

Kiters at Brighton, You Yangs on the horizon

Kites on the beach

Ripping it up

A PFD is now mandatory for kitesurfing

It's happened folks.  We are now legally required to use a Type 1, 2 or 3 Personal Flotation Device (PFD) for kitesurfing [link].

Type 1s are a full lifejacket - but you can get inflatable versions that are slim until inflated (but make sure you don't get a water activated version!)  Using a manually inflatable Type 1 is of no benefit if you crash and end up unconscious, as you won't be able to inflate it.

Type 2s (buoyancy vest) and Type 3s (buoyancy garment) are not lifejackets and are less restrictive to use.  They won't keep an unconscious persons  head out of water, but they do provide ample buoyancy for floating if conscious.


Note that some wetsuits are inherently buoyant to the same standard as a PFD 3.

Virtually no kitesurfer around Melbourne (or elsewhere for that matter) seems to be using a PFD.  I wonder when the Water Police will starting issuing infringements?


I am still using this vest, mainly for impact protection.  It adds some warmth over the cold winter months too.



See also:  Marine Safety - Wear the right gear to prevent injury

Storm fronts and flukey wind at Brighton

Session 105, 17 October 2010 

Kite Switchblade 14
Wind 20 knots, W
Time 12 noon to 2pm, but less than an hour on the water

Weird wind.  Frontal gusts came through which provided 10 to 20 minutes of good kitesurfing, following by extended lulls.  The water is getting warmer and the sunshine was nice.

Bring on the regular sea breezes please - they seem to be delayed this year.

Alex Caiziergues sets new kitesurfing world speed record at Luderitz Speed Event in Namibia

Alex Caiziergues has set a new world speed record for kitesurfing a the Luderitz Speed Event 2010 in Namibia.  He clocked an average of 54.1 knots (100.2kmh) over the 500 meter course, which makes him the fastest naturally powered person on water ever.

Alex Caiziergues at 2010 Luderitz Speed Event. Photo credit: The Future Flow

Here is a video of the event.  This location is not for beginners!  Heaps of speed in narrow water.  And the dude (sunbathing?) gets wet too.



Alex used a stock standard F-one Bandit4 kite.

See also:

• World's fastest waterman is a kiter
• 100.2 kmh well done alex and f-onekites

Clean water and cool temperatures at Gnotuk with kitecam

Session 104, 18 September 2010 

Kite Switchblade 10
Wind 20 knots, W
Time 10:00 am to 12 noon

Stuart and I headed to Gnotuk and arrived at 10am with a good cold SW wind blowing.  Tarren arrived soon after.  Stuart rigged up in world record time after a week in the office looking at wind charts!

We got some good kiting in for the first hour and had the place to ourselves.  A couple of local kiters showed up, then the wind dropped, so I headed to the beach and walked a short distance back to the car.  There were a few

I swapped the Optio W90 for the new Kodak Playsport ZX3 waterproof video camera to try it out for the first time, then headed back out on the directional board.  The wind was a bit light however so I played in the small surf and ended up downwind at the Edithvale Lifesaving Club which has a nice small cafe right on the beach.

The wind backed right off so we packed up around noon and headed home.

Editing the video from the ZX3 proved to be a challenge.  It records in MOV file (Apple Quicktime) which my version of Adobe Premiere Elements (4.0) doesn't support.  Converting it to AVI or MP2 is not easy.  One option is to upgrade to Adobe Premiere Elements v8.0, or maybe I will just sell the camera.

Aspendale and Ricketts Point in the background 

A squall out in Port Phillip Bay

Surf at Hampton in cold strong wind, wo hoo!

Session 103,  16 September 2010 

Kite Switchblade 10
Wind 20-30 knots, SW
Duration 3:00 pm to 4:00pm


A large high pressure system over the Great Australian Bight is combining with an intense low pressure system over Tasmania to funnel strong cold winds across Victoria.  In Tasmania they reported 16m waves along the west coast today!

Some squalls were coming as I rigged up and headed out.  The shore break was a bit tricky but I got out OK.  Lots of speed, and only another windsurfer about.

The wind had whipped up a 0.5 to 1m swell which was fun to surf.  Who would of thought a few years ago we would be surfing (albiet with a kite) literally on our doorstep?  There is immense variety and challenge in kitesurfing.

I popped a few jumps and did some nice speed runs as well as mixing it in the surf and shorebreak.  Eventually two other kiters came out, about the time the wind picked up to around 30 knots.  I was nearly overpowered and having trouble depowering the kite, with the depower adjustments dangling too far away just out of reach.

I can never remember which is depower (black or red?); I think Cabrinha has changed their colour coding between my original Crossbow and the later Switchblades.  Tip: either burn the depower colour/knob in your mind or add a bit of cord to identify it!

Here are my kitecam shots; some zoomed by editing.

Another gusty northerly at Brighton late in the day

Session 102,  12 September 2010 

Kite Switchblade 14
Wind 15-25 knots, N
Duration 4:30 pm to 5:30pm

It's getting warmer.  I was late on the water and headed out just after three other kiters came in.  I depowered the kite to better handle the gusts.   A few jumps but I was careful to keep to avoid crashing.  It wouldn't be fun if the kite got blown across to Portarlington!

Nice session.