Day 21 - A solid cruise

The wind came in around 4 o'clock but it was nothing special but I was that bored that I decided to go big and see what came of It.....Not to disappointed at all.

Not reaching any more then 20 knots It gave me enough power in my 7.2 to just cruise, Long runs out to the open sea and back. It's probably the most fun I've had this trip, Just locked in blasting and not wanting to stop....Only looking back towards the beach and realizing you've sailed out of sight making you turn back.

The X-cite 120 is built for this sort of stuff, Plenty of volume to feel safe when the wind drops off and super comfortable to lock in for the long runs...And doesn't mind the odd jump.

I'll be leaving to head back east in the morning, 3 solid days on the road to try and get to SP by Saturday arvo. The only thing that will stop me would be good wind some where on the way home, But I should be in Canberra by Friday.

See you all at the next club night.

Day 20 - Nothing

Absolutely nothing, Nada, Zip....The forecast for the rest of the week is poor so I'll be heading home for sure on Wednesday to try and may a Saturday session at Sanctuary Point.

Day 19 - Cross off 15 knots

With thunder storms on the horizon and not a chance of the southerly seabreeze I went for a look at some other beaches in the area to see if there was a chance of getting out. There was a few spots that put the light wind dead on shore and it looked ok...But they were spots where I've never seen anyone swimming let alone windsurfing. You could see parts of the reef that looked close to the surface and further out you could see the waves breaking over an even shallower part of the reef. Not wanting to temp fate I gave it a miss and went back to the beach that the boys had a  little wave session at the other day. The wind direction ESE is side shore to cross off and there's a nice little beach break that had some half mast little gems coming in. The 15 knots was enough for me to slog out on my 112 with a 6.2 and catch the waves back in, It's a lot of fun in the small surf. I got barrelled heaps but it did not matter, Never much more then chest deep and no heavy waves it was perfect.

The rest of the weeks forecast looks really bad so I think I'll be in the car by Wednesday and on my way home, Things are looking ok for SP on the weekend so I'll probably head straight there. I put together a little video of Scotty in action at this beach from the other day, Hope you like it.



Day 18 - 6.2 and some swell

The wind came in a bit late today, So I put off going out to Corros and just headed for St Georges beach instead. It wasn't that windy so I rigged my 6.2 and 5.8 hoping it would pick up a bit....It didn't but I still had a good session on my 112.
There was heaps of ramps today and the water was super choppy out the back,  I'm pushing how far I'm willing to sail off shore with every run and having lots of fun in the rolling swell out back. I'm now happy to gybe in and conditions and i like to use the swell to make things heaps easier for me.

I've had no issues snagging lobster posts this year but must admit to only having used my big board twice, So it has limited the chance of getting my fin snagged. You can't see them, The pots at all on the way out due to the glare but once you gybe and head back in....There is  heaps of the buggers and you wounder how the hell you made it through.

Loop training, I've been going through the motions and still haven't had a fair go yet. I've done lots of low speed no board loops, The one where you jump in the air and just sheet in.....so I know what the slap on the back is going to feel like, I just have to pluck up the courage to do it a speed and with the board on my feet...I think It's closer.

There's a chance of a sail tomorrow but next weeks forecast looks crap, I might head to SA or Vic in search of wind. With only one week left the trip is almost over, It has not been the best trip for wind but I still had a good time sailing with the guys from LBG. The first week of the trip was just epic so at least I got some really good days, The rest were ok but just not what I've been use to.

Day 17 - Sweeeet

The wind came in at about 2 o'clock and stayed all afternoon peeking with some 30 knot gusts, It started steady and just built nicely.

I rigged my 5.8 first and went for an hour before I felt there was enough wind to switch to my 5.4, I would have been OK with a 5.0 at times but I just stuck with what I had rigged. The swell was back today and there was some really good ramps, Which I now have the ability to hit at full speed and launch off and actually carry some distance....And land and keep going.

Scotty had left me his X9 boom to use for the rest of the trip as I was a boom short due to the untimely demise of my X6. I don't know if it was the flashy boom or that everything else was perfect but today was so sweet, Best day I've had on the water for a long time.

I sailed more today in one session then I have for the whole trip, Well It feels that way....I'm very sore.

Good wind and swell for tomorrow, Back to Coronation and some waves.

Day 16 - Ever had the wind switch dead off shore?

The boys left for Perth this morning as the forecast looked at bit better down that way and they are due to fly out the following day.

Did they miss much....No not really but there was some wind, The afternoon saw the return of the southerly but only for a short time. I rigged my 5.8 and blasted around on my 95 for about and hour, No swell just pure flat water which gave me the opportunity to work on my gybes. I worked on increasing the arc of my gybe to help my chance of planing out of them, I have a habit of carving real hard and turning on the spot which kills my speed and stalls the gybe. Do I plain out of them...Only a few but I make It round dry about 90% of the time now on my 95 even in real choppy conditions so I'm happy with that.

A storm appeared out to the east and it looked bad, I was way out the back before I decided it was time to come in. One run too late, As I gybed and made my way back the wind shifted dead off shore and left me with some serious work to do to get back, Lucky it was strong enough for me to keep planing but it was very hard to make it back to shore. It  took me about half an hour or more to get back anywhere close to shore and with wind starting to drop I decided to take my chances with the rocks and came in well north of where I needed to be. I managed to pick a hole in the rocks and sail in to shore and start the long walk back to the car, by now the wind had stopped completely and the storm was about to hit. I popped my kit on my head and walked back down the beach to the van.....That was lucky.

The forecast tomorrow looks much better....

Days 10 through to 15.....Not what WA is suppose to be like.

Well it's time to get caught up on the blog, To say the least WA has been very disappointing this time around. We have not sailed much over the past week due to the lack of wind but we managed to salvage a few short sessions here and there. With mainly off shore winds this week we looked around for new places to sail and did find a few and got a couple of early morning sails in both flat water and small waves.
Everyone just wants one last epic session at Coronation before they go home but it looks unlikely, But with a dodgy forecast and no swell to be seen thing are not looking good for the boys.
We've passed the time going to the beach for swims, The mall for food, The movies for entertainment and the Pub for refreshment. We've also resorted to buying a football, Frisbee and tennis balls to help entertain us while at the beach, Each evening ending in a few beers out the back of the cottage.
The forecast is looking better for the next few days...Let's hope It holds in there.