Valo, NSW, AU

W 10-25kts - Quick pre-lunch session in super gusty and rough westerly. Water condition and wind too variable to get set so, sensing an impending over the nose excursion, bailed out early.

5 categories

Budgewoi Lake, NSW, AU

Falcon 90, S2 venom 6.3, home made fin21.5cm 50 deg

been ages since sailing budgi and well been a whilst since slalom sailing in general.

water was to high but we knew that I had a great day was sweet gybing and doing bear aways with everyone now time to drink beer as very sore.

4 categories

Budgewoi Lake, NSW, AU

At last some good wind. Really nice SW, not too strong, not too weak, just like my porridge. CASP44, 5.9, 19 fin. Heaps out, warm, sunny, water not too cold. Not smooth but still good.

2 categories

Budgewoi Lake, NSW, AU

5- 28kts +WNW-W Coal Point, NSW, AU 90cms messy moguls, waves and rollers

 Sailed c 12- 1.45 pm

5m gator- WT waveboard 85ltres - 23cm fin

WT57(90ltres) - 24cm WT Stealth fin

Character building..Stuffed around for ages getting ready as I didn't really want to go out..

Rigged the waveboard for comfort and control. The 112ltre board would have been better mostly although I would have got launched in the gusts..

 Hardwork. One minute I'd be unhooked with my front foot in front of the mast trying to stop the board sinking/ throwing me off in the lulls. the next back foot in the strap , hooked in hanging low with the sail pulled down over my head trying not to get launched over the front in the strong stuff.  Not much in between..

I was glad I was on the waveboard as it's compact and I could sail a bit with my backfoot in ready for the gusts..I wasn't game to head off the wind and was glad I was on a slower board when I hit the messy water. It was too rough to go fast although there were a few patches of rollers where there was a bit of flatwater. I only got going a few times. the 2 sec was on the waveboard.

I fell in quite a few times because I couldn't unhook fast enough when a lull came.

Well I surivived..

I was worried about keeping upwind on the waveboard in the gusty conditions but I needn't have worried. I ended up too high and it was a problem getting back. I wasn't game to bear off in the strong stuff and the lighter was too light. I ended up getting in pretty close and then just drifting in . I was getting leg cramps trying to keep the board from throwing me off in the slop and  5kts of wind and figured it would be easier to drift in. A passing boat came to offer assistance but I gave the thumbs up I'm ok sign.

I had lunch and decided to give the 90ltre a try as it seemed to have settled down a bit and it would be easier in the lulls. I got one nice run but then dogged back. It was too rough to not have my backfoot in the strap when the gusts came but the board is bigger and it was uncomfortable trying to sail like that.

I could have put a 5.7m for better sailing but I would have been annihilated in the gusts so I called it a day.

 I'm not very sailing fit atm. I know when I'm fit  my heart rate can hit 180bpm in chop and I was feeling it today and didn't want to push things too much ( hit 170bpm).

 About 6-8 wing foilers went past with their entourage rubber duckies.. I saw them first at Rathmines and they all ended up in the lee of Coal going back and forth. They looked like butterflies..

Next time it's that strong I'll go to Budgy. Problem with Coal is it can be 5 - 12kts for the first 1km then 25 plus over the other side..

A few pics of the launch.

 The usual patchy stuff

 Nothing but great wind  waaay over at Wangi.. ( 20-28kts)

Good when it was in but lumpy and messy.

 Starting to look a bit better as I derigged..