1 categories

RSoles

My first time at this location, and it was an eye-opener.

Managed to avoid using the trolley to get my gear in, after Premo produced a key to one of the gates 

Once I got in there the equation was pretty simple, as I only brought one board (Carbon Art 53) and my old 5.8 KA Koncept (17 years old, but still in good nick cos it gets used so rarely!).

Got on the water around 3:30, and it was brutally gusty.  Heading upwind I was either wallowing, or getting smashed by a 35K gust, so it was hard yards getting to the top of the run.

Persisted, and eventually I got on the end of a couple of good ones for the 2 second peak speed and a back-up peak of 38.5.

My peak speed found me a long way downwind of the launch spot, and after a 15 minute walk back upwind I was ready to call it.

So, only two proper runs, hence the average.

I can see the potential of this place, but today was not the day. Just too damn gusty to get settled, and hard yards getting upwind (I had a swim on every run, after sailing in to holes).

With a nice steady 30K it would've been all time. 

Still a fun adventure and it was good to share the desolation with some like minded crew!

6 categories

R-soles

well that was some recalibration. Knew it was a long shot with the direction being pretty bad- wind comes straight off the trees not far upwind from the beach. But... everywhere else with super low pressure and high tide was washed out so no flat water. Coudn't waste the windiest Perth day in about 12 years.

5.8m apache, Rapid 111, Sym speed 31

Trolleyed in solo and saw the boys had scored the key for the other gate and driven right up to the spot! Wow didn't know that was possible. Darryl had been there a while, and had already done two trips to the car (doh!) and was coming back after an epic swim and sail back. Premo, Tim and I hit the water about 3pm in a bit of a lull, Greg turned up and had a good go at it. Ant and Kai walked in for a look but no gear. First run was heading north- sent it on port in a moderate bit of wind (but was still my 5th fastest run). Super crazy gusty. Wind picked up and suddenly I'm barely holding the rig and struggling to get started- either no wind or overpowered. Really hard work. Also was hard to find a gust where you could go off the wind. I used the big speed board with a not so small fin to not sink in the holes. Glad I didn't use smaller board. First good gust I nailed- everything was set up but it was so violent (18-40kts in a line) I overloaded the fin and went sideways... too windy to slow down and recover... wow. Its going to be like this today. Squall came through after a few more empty runs (wind there for the setup, none where its needed, back again a few seconds later hahaha). Great setup at the top but not enough pressure- just under 40... kept going and noticed a gust further south and it seemed to fill in hard so slingshot into the chop- seeing 42 on the dial as I rattled over the fast growing chop... Behind be Tim's one run ended in that gust- the chop too violent for his inhaul rope... doh. Found a few more runs for 40/41s but they were getting harder and harder on the body to get started, hook in and pray. Greg and Premo were giving it heaps... Pretty wild day. First time in ages I've been spanked on a 5.8m. On my fastest run the chop was brutal. It somehow found a way to be really steep, close spaced and jarring. No way to fly over it- even at 41kts it was hard. Given the "key protocol" with all vehicles needing to be out at the same time, TIm gave us a lift back to the locked gate with my gear on the ute. You legend. I owe you some beers for that. Good effort anyone who got out today. It was wild. (PS- Tim you did a 22kt alpha in the ute!).