Gillis 55 / tm45-26 /RS6-5.4

Mostly perfect direction & strength for fanging up & down the good bit for an hour or so then wind died to teabagable.

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Second day of the Hollins/Daff road trip. The wind was more south today but still not the ideal SE direction. More like SSE. A steadier wind that gradually built from about 15 knots when we arrived to 20- 22 kts while I was doing my 1 Hour. We had to leave by 6pm to get home at a reasonable time before work on Wednesday. Just as we were packing up the wind finally seemed to click up a notch. Dr Cam was just setting up for his flying visit from FNQ so I hope he got a good session.

It was good to meet up with some of the other SA guys and a few WA travellers (with entourage!).  I would not be surprised to see them building an international airport here soon of this level of tourism continues!

The water had gone out again to very similar level to Australia day. The water was glassy smooth in some places. It was uncanny.

I rigged my 2012 5.8m Koncept and tried the ProKids Sonic with 22cm Lessacher Duo speed weed fin. As I suspected it was more comfortable to push hard on a beam reach than the IS50 and not much slower despite the much lower wind strength than Australia day.

The 2012 Koncept worked exceptionally well on the very close reaching feeling very slippery and stable. The Lessacher duo speed fin was exceptionally good. Lots of lift and control on both tacks. I was concerned it would be too small, but it was perfect. I knew I would be slower than the January 26 PB but I had a problem with that session. Only one of my 3 GT-31 recorded the whole session so I can't claim a WGPSSRC 1 hour record for it. I was hoping to get cloese to that again with at least two complete tracks but as it was the conditions didn't allow. Unfinished business!

I made a half hearted attempt at some NM's and speed runs but it was obvious they would not be near the 26th session speeds.

Then it was time to go home. It was supposed to be a 7 hour drive to Wonthaggi and then less than 2 hrs to Sale for me. As it turned out we made good time until we stopped for petrol and the oil warning light on Craigs car went on. We topped up the oil and the light went out. But as we started off it went on again. ?? The engine was running fine. No rattles and no overheating. We spent a bit of time checking for obvious signs of a problem but could not find any. Only choice seemed to be to cruise on and see what happened. The car purred along just as before with no sign of trouble and we finally got to Wonthaggi at 1am. We lost at least half an hour so it was a good run. 4 hours sleep for me at Sandy Pt and then 1-1/2 hrs drive to work this morning. 10-1/2 hours drinving! Phew! Big trip, but well worth it (assuming Craigs car is OK).

Another observation: In the glassy water we got a good view of the weed as we wizzed over it. It grows in a nice geometric pattern with round 'holes' about 100mm in diameter spaced evenly about 40 cm apart. In the shallower areas the fins leave line through it that can be seen on following runs. I also saw some very small fish in the shallow pools aroung the shore so it is obviously not just plant life that can adapt to the high salinity environment.

I'll be back!

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Day 2.

I wanted to give distance a go today as the wind was a bit light and expected to increase as the cloud burnt off, so set off at 7am. Left Daffy and Spotty sleeping.

Rigged the 6.6, Sl52 with a 25 Lessaher weedie as I found the 36 a bit big yesterday. Should have rigged the 7.5 as it was a bit light but found lots of “Glass Runs” which had me grinning like an idiot. So much fun and chased my snail trail lines all over the lake.  

Then I forgot when I was and hit some rocks near one of the islands. Good news was it wasn’t my fin (Sorry Daffy) Bad news was I had to sail with for the rest of the day. Sanded most of the damage out, except for a nick 100mm from the tip which kept grabbing weed for the rest of the day. It was fine in the deeper sections but if I went in the shallows that was it and I had to spin the fin out to remove the weed.

Tried for an hr but the wind turned off too many times and Alpha’s were a struggle as the sail just wouldn’t settle. Sorted out some of its issues in the last half hr before we left. Dr Cam made an appearance with the wind just as we packed every thing away. Would have loved to stay longer, but there will be another trip.

Left at 6pm, home by 1.30am. Car,s into mechanic on Friday and hopping for a cheap and painless fix, minor eye opp on Friday as the sty in it has got bigger and more blurry and racing around French Island on Sat. Drinking beer and sleeping for Sunday. I’m stuffed.

Sandy Point is a must sail once in your life time and so is Lake George. I’ll be back and stay for longer next time.

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Izzak checked 2sec again sleepy typo problem,..