Lunny (42007km):
2892 days ago Safety Bay, WA, AU
Another wintery day with only 3 of us out. High tide made it a bit rough but good for a challenge. Started on the M91 but the wind dropped right off after a front so after a grovel back to shore and a bit of a walk I figured it would be wise to go a bit floatier, so on with the 102. Tried 3 fins, Tribal WS 29 & 33 and a 30cm carbon weedy i made a few years ago. The tribals were noticeably slicker with a bit more lift. Did the best speeds on the Tribal 33 with the Lunny weedy next in line with a 34 2s & 32 5x10. I think the bigger sizes helped being more manageable in the chop and my fin has a lot more area. Good way of appreciating differences in fins to mix them up now and then.
Great to see Anita braving the wild conditions
M91, Xfire 102, ReflexII 7.0, Tribal ws 29,33, Lunny weedy 30
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Windxtasy (13853km):
2892 days ago Safety Bay, WA, AU
with Craig and Simon and NO KITERS!
Wind as shown above made equipment choice very difficult. Craig had just been becalmed as I arrived, and "Rig big" was his suggestion, so I rigged the biggest I had with me, the M91 and my newly repaired 5.7 Koncept. Just as I hit the water, the second of those squalls came through. I was somewhat overpowered and wished I had gone with the 5.4 until the next switch-off came, which had me grovelling back to shore. Rarely felt comfortable today, the only flat water was where there was no wind, and bearing away into the chop was scary. It has been so long since we had any wind that 25 knots feels fast. The sand bar was waist to neck deep today. My fastest run across the wind (27kn) was coming back into the beach and it was tempting to bear away but the beach was too close.
Just after we stopped because the muscles were crying "Enough!" the wind shifted SW and became quite steady and fresh, the water flattened off and it was looking really lovely. Should have arrived at 3...
Not a bad session. Good company, some sunny breaks, no scary floating objects (other than boats, which are easy to see at least - but can be a bit scary when you are spinning out towards one) and wind! My third sail in a week! It has been a long time since I sailed 3 tmes in a week. I might start getting some fitness and courage back if these fronts keep coming through.
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