sboardcrazy (28330km):
13 hours ago 2 categories   5-15/17kts patches of c 20kts ENE Coal Point, NSW, AU
7.5m Turbo- WT64 - 35cms tectonics weedy
Character building. 
I was in Newcastle in the am . the forecast was a bit dodgy so I took my chop and slalom gear. I had to make a choice at 12.30 and Nobbys had turned E but Budgy was still N. Coal is also sort of on the way home too.
I wanted to use the 112ltre but was worried it would be too small for the lulls. I was glad I wasn't on the 125ltres as the 112ltres felt too big in the strong stuff.
Got above the point and had an ok patchy run towards Carey. I fell in on the gybe and had to swim for the gear. Caught it almost having a heart attack but no rest for the wicked.. I then had to align things and flip the rig without it sinking.
I've come to terms with the fact that I'm old so it just takes as long as it takes to get going.
As I came up and hooked in I copped the strongest stuff and the board wanted to jump out of the water. Scary setting up for a maxed out bearaway.
I was a bit worried a big gust would flatten me but I survived.
Can't say I enjoyed it and I was buggered from the high heartrate.
Came in deciding that would do.
There was another guy about my size on a 6.5m - 105ltre board and he was getting along well. Tony was out on the windfoil and there was the guy with the dinghy. He said ' it got up to 20kts for a while then!' and I said ' yeah , just when I had to do a long bearaway past the point.. 
I rigged the 6.5m to go out again and have a easier sail but it died. Could have gone back out on the big gear but I'd unrigged.
I'm going to have to get over my fear of the Moto filling with water. It would have been a better fit although a 6.5m - 90 would have been great in the strong stuff. zzz

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