6 categories

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaah we got some wind. After a crappy start to the new year we got a 20-25k west to wsw wind and we loved it.  Started at dawn with the 7.5 only to find that i,d put a hole in it on the last session. Grabbed the 6.6, sailed out to find i,d broken a batten,last used for the distance trip. Not a good start. Batten fixed and the wind kicked in with the high tide and i had the whole place to my self as the beach had gone under. Great long runs on the 52 with the 34 fin chasing the swell lines and 1 hrs. The tide went out and the crowds arrived, including DR Cam and Gaz from FNQ chasing 40kt pb. Had a near miss with one of Flackys mates and a kitter all within 5 mins. Look behind.....please Then chased Richie(IWC) for a while making him go faster and faster than ever before, and he was packing up to go home before i grabbed him. Pbs for him soon i think. I got a new Pb on the 52 with the 34 Venom 38.2kt while chasing Cam Jnr (Lockie) down the course. Spent most of the day on the 52 with some speedie stuff when the wind kicked in.

Ca40,Ka 21,Ka 5.7.....Sl52,34 Venom,Ka 6.6

6 categories

Like the top team captain that he is, Kato started calling me last week to see if I could sail Monday on what was a pretty mellow forecast.

"We gotta get on the board"

"Yep, we gotta! I'll be there"

SMS last night: "See you at dawn"

(!) I'm thinkin', surely he is joking. I know he will be there 'cause we all know he is mad, but I can't imagine that he really thinks I will be up at dawn!

I set my alarm for 8am anyhow - (thats pretty close to dawn...right?)

8am: Alarm goes off and is promptly clobbered!

Wake again to hear the phone ringing at 8.30 am. Ignore and doze off again.

Wake again at 9am and can hear the wind blowing. Ah well, might as well see what is happening.

Phone rings again at 10am. I answer it this time.

Craig: "Come on, the team needs you. its great speed conditions!"

Me "OK, I'll be there soon" (thinking - he can't seriously think I will believe it's that good....)

I drive down for a look, just to be sure.

Tide too high to drive in. Wind full on West with a hint of NW. Hmm, it must have changed a bit since Craigs call.

I see Craig in the distance doing looooong North-South runs across the shallow sand bar. Looks like is is moving well but is on 6.6m so it's not 'speed' windy. Looks like he will have a pretty fair 1 hr though so I should join him while the tide is high.

I have a leasurely breakfast, check I bit of gear, etc, etc..... Look up the tides. Oh it's too late now for high tide runs so I might as well wait a bit longer.

At about 11.30 am I get on my wetsuit and hook up the trailer. Then I realise I'm feeling a but hungary, and thinking of all those KM's Craig wants from me I realise I should have something to eat before I go. Just as the toast pops up the phone rings again.

Craig: "What the #$%*! are you doin' still there? Need you to back me up with a 1hr. I recon I have a good one. May even be close to a PB. Wind seems to be swinging a bit SW and conditions are getting even better!"

Me: "I'm standing in the kitchen in my wetsuit making getting some energy food to eat. Car is hooked up out back and running. won't be long."

Craig: (mumbles something I didn't quite catch)

I finally made it down to the water at 12 noon. looks like 5.7m (KA Koncept) and Slalom board (IS87) conditions to me. I rig the 5m Koncept as well just in case.

Craig: "What time scale are you operating on anyway?"

Me: "None, I'm on holidays. 

Craig: "Yeah, I can tell!"

Just as I start down the course a squall comes through and I run back for the 5m and CA40. Struggle to get much past 36 knots but the wind angle is good. Tried a few more and went back for the slalom gear.

Tried a couple of NM's from the boat hole red buoy, through the wind shadow and down the speed course. Did't feel too bad though and I realised I had been going for 15 mins or so so I might as well keep going for the hour. I could do reasonable length runs and the wind held up at around 18-20 knots so it was quite pleasant.

Stopped for a food and drink break and noticed the wind seemed to have picked up and turned a bit more south I so tried some speed runs. Still underpowered on the 5m and CA40 combo, but the elusive puffs were tempting enough to stay on that gear. Finally, hours later the wind kicked in a few knots to low 20's and I started to get a few runs over the previous 36 knots brick wall. 37's nd 38's and eventually I hooked onto a small puff and saw a 39.5 peak on the dial. It was hard to get any more of those but just as I was about to quit I did get another. The wind died immediatly after so I was forced to walk back and called it a day.

Not an epic Pit speed day, but at least we are on the board and Crig and I are both happy with that....for the time being!

Nice to meet the FNQ guys and see them get some action!

rs6-5.4/ torquay51 slalom/ tm?-22sym

good to have a few FNQuickies & a bunch of Bonnos to sail with. wind direction & strength turned out much better than predicted. borrowed a nice little tm22 for the day. fin was good but had it in the wrong board at the wrong time.