6.2 hellcat, 115 rocket, 34.5 cm super sport weedie. Australind on a gusty wnw. Good to meet the locals (good bunch of blokes) almost as nice as us  

Wore myself out in the first hour trying to keep it together in between strong gusts. Absolutely worth the trip, looking forward to trying it out again next trip down.

Got discustipated watching Chris carve up the inlet on his new 54, makes it look easy.

2 categories

Avalon, WA, AU

Worked last night and decided not to make the pilgramage to Australind, looked at estuary but too off hore. Sailed at Avalon without hurting myself or breaking anything (except pulling out a foot strap screw which was easily fixed)

W52 sonic, NP RS4 5.0, elmo 26 weedy. Should have used freeride/ wave kit but that was in my shed.

3 categories

JP Slalom VI 65cm, NP RSR EII 7.0m, Elmo +10° 33cm & 36cm

JP Speed 54, RSR EII 5.5m, Elmo Chopbuster weed 29cm

Went down to Benders Glory hole as tghe forecast look the goods for down there, unfortunately there was a touch to much northerly in it to make use of the 4nm run.

The day for me was one based on experimentaion, roughly translated that means I was fannying around with the wrong kit.

I started with the 7.0 and the larger board as when I was driving down it looked like chug city, I also wanted to see how the sail rigged on the 430 X6, this proved to be a very usefull test as it rigged considerably better than the 460 x6, the first run I had in the smaller fin which was cavitating a bit, so I went back and swapped over to the larger fin, whilst changing over the fin and chatting to people the wind came up a weee bit, so much so that I couldn't lift up the sail to get it to the water, still I gave it a go and was extremely happy with the results, ie it didn't kill me, made the gybe and came back to shore to rig something smaller as I thought I'd never get it out of the water if I dropped it.

Came back and rigged the 5.5 and the 54,  some guys came in said the wind was backing of a bit but I went back out on the water again got a nice little run turned around and promptly fell into a hole, 5-10mins on stuffing around to get water started, went back did another run same thing, then another getting a bit repetative this, my arms were shot.

Got back the wind picked up got a couple more runs in butmy arms were struggling, so deciding descretion is the better part of stupidity I flagged it, just as well as 10 mins later the rain was coming in sideways.

It was a fun day, good to see a few crew down from Perth, The Slow one owned the day practising chop hops at 39 knots, when I left he was looking to rigg a 5.5m.

Good fun

2 categories

ppppffff what the day!! Joined the crowd at glory hole.. some hairy gust passing through later (unsailable for me anyway), some 30-35 knts

Shame the tide was high making some close big chops, sometime massives .. which started to ease after 4ish (should I sail at that time, had no juice left), it become so nice...

CL got out on his 5.5 & rocket as it was smooving out and cracked 40 at the first run  (after been stocked on a 39 for a while with his 6.2), I stayed with Lao to watch the master doing his business.. doing every run some boring 37-38 , he was the only one left on the water, impressif to watch .

Had few burn out with Snides then Lao.. dam those guys are fast specially Lao today... he had no fear.. was smoking... in one stage, we watched him with CL disappearing in a wihte 35 knots squall... madness it was... Mark you crazy  and well done on your speed today  well deserved .

A bit disapointed with my speed, I though I was faster.. it did felt.. probably the fatigue and the chops

RRD 53, 5.8 RSR, 23 Ka (nooice combo)