6.6m koncept, 101 futura, 36cm pepeweed. Got to Novara early with some distance in mind, had some good runs across to Fat boys and back across the bay. Wind seemed to be from a few different directions at once. Chop was diabolical, and when Elmo said he might flag it because it was just too uncomfortable, I couldn't think of any reason to argue.  Good to be out nonetheless.  Good to be home too 

2 categories

Peel Inlet, WA, AU  15 to 23 kts Gusty with massive storm surge, no real flat water so happy with alpha, coz thats all i went for, TR-4 5.9m  Tabou Manta 54 Decrepit weed

JP Slalom VI 76, JPSLW 92, JP SPeed54, NP RSR Eiii7.8m, JP slalom 46cm, LE weed 50cm, Elmo chop buster.

Forecast looked good for doing some unfinished business after being GPS'd for distance, so I got down there early(ish) wind looked great with Whitecaps everywhere, thought I'd be a nbit optemiostic with the 7.8 and the 76cm but with the wind forecast to fade mid morning figured i'd suck it up for a while.

Pepe Turned up just before I hit the water went to take of and.....WTF theres white caps but where is the wind Oh most of the whit caps are just froth.

Managed to get going, holy sheet it's furken Junky theres waves (not chop) converging in from 2 different directions?????? making for some lovely chop

After an hour the wind faded so I went in a chucked the SLW on most runs had at least one of the plane moments where the wind just dropped out

Wind eventually swung around lunch and looked like it was starting to fill in so after scoffing down a pie which Pepe hunted down from the local deli went back out on the 76 again.

Fark me it was a religious experience out there, very f'ken holey, wind was all over the place like a mad womans wee and flat water was as rare as rocking horse shit, The chop was a mind f**k as the direction at the boat ramp was SW and down at the post's SE and not to much fun in between at one stage there were waves to knee high100m out from the posts, which may not sound much, but it is very rare in this area as it is only knee to waist deep.

Eventually I got pissed with it all as I wasn't enjoying myself, Pepe was suffering from Oldtimers disease and kept on forgetting to turn his GPS on, so I cracked the shitz and said "Fukit, I've had enough and went in to pack up".

Hardz turned up not long after and thankfully didn't laugh to much at my whinging and bitching, sat around chatting for a while eventually the wind looked like it had filled in some more, so I figured I'd chuck the speed board under the 7.8m

What a waist of f'ken time that was, it was still shit.

Heard Decrep had a big of and had done some Damage, hopefully not to himself.

Was supposed to be a nice consistant breeze, Bollocks it was

Safety Bay. Reflex 2. 7.0m & Code Red 6.0,  iso 76, Le 27cm & Vector Delta 25cm.

Rigged way too big to start with. Blowing 20 knots at 1pm and really wanting to try the reflex meant that I wasted a lot of energy overpowered and trying to tune etc. Rigged down to 6.1 and decided to go for the elusive 30knot SB Naughty. Scariest 4 runs I have ever done. Lots of random ground swell waves making it through the reef combined with switching wind directions equals Tom having his POOma pants on. Wasn't the 30 I was looking for but still well stoked to have just survived. Hope I didn't miss any super speed at Hardies?!?!

4 categories

Should have listened to Elmo, you're right mate it was crap!!!

But after spending the week reading books and doing a jigsaw puzzle, just had to get out!

Rigged the 6.0 on the 48cm with 23cm 30deg.

Went to alpha land looking for flat water, found some close to shore inside a weed bank, but wind wasn't getting to it.

Tried some alphas, but it was too choppy for really good results, had trouble with my gybes, just didn't come together. Had a go at getting 30kts before I gave up.

That's when I came to grief!

Started to pull out of the last run in when the chop was well over my comfort level, started to turn upwind and caught the rail, and went over the handle bars.

Came up under the sail.

Clawed my way out for some air.

Realised sailing back wasn't an option, harness hook hanging in 2 pieces.

Picked up the sail, and found the starboard boom arm in 3 pieces.

Oh well at least I know I'm alive, something is happening at last.

It's probably my turn to have a walk back. (1.4km took me 45min).

Got home and decided to try out my new camera on the guys wave sailing the point.

Think I should have gone out here!!!!!!

Sh-melville (aka shite-full)

wind blowin again,at last, with its usual river quality,gusty crap!some nice bullets comming thru ,but with the usual shortness of them.the high tide ment flat water was a bit scarce.still happy with the alpha.I think I might remember how to gybe again one day.

7.0 rss,69 ss,34 lessacher fin