5 categories

Safety Bay, WA, AU

Really lucky to get out today as a pulled calf yesterday had me worried I'd be out fo a while. Didnt want to push things hence the distance plus it did feel a bit fragile. Very high tide made it a bit choppy for speed but there was plenty of wind. Great to see Boz and Anita out making the most of it.

M112, Reflex8 7.0, Tribal ws 29

Melville Beach, WA, AU

Very pleasant afternoon. 

Good to see Ken and ex Pinna Jeff

125 Rocket, 6.5 Gator, 40 CL pointer

1 categories

Melville Beach, WA, AU

Started off comfortable on the 6.2 then started to get over powered in the big gusts. Changed down to 5.5 and of course the wind started to drop (should have listened to Chris Porter). Saw Tim rip the entire panel of his sail. The water was quite flat considering the high tide. nice to catch up with Ricey, Chris, Tim and Geoff.

6.2 Reflex, 97 Isonic, 29 tribal ws

4 categories

Safety Bay, WA, AU

Demo day today new carbon Enigma Boom wow how nice to have power in the sail with no flex of the boom impressed.The Pinnas (Lunny and  Anita)being gracious to let me test the mistrals 112 1nd 91, started on the Tiga wind was okay but not full on only managed 31kn on the plastic as quick as  i was on the SL112 hit the 33 marks, nice board but with Lunnys big feet and booties the footstraps where floaters for my feet. Next board SL91 hit the top speed on this again just getting used to the board would take more than one sessionm wind had kicked in by this time but was too buggered to push it any further, plus with my reputation of burn and crash wouldnt have wanted to damage two very nice boards.

Tiga 260, SL112, SL91, KAR 6.3, multiple fins

Safety Bay, WA, AU M91 with 6.2 Koncept and 26 choco , then M41 with 5.4 Koncept and 21 Tribal ultra weed

An interesting session where the wind picked up faster than I could change down sails.

I headed down to Safety Bay with the Seabreeze graph reading 20 - 26 kn, so I packed all the small gear. I arrived at 2 PM which was supposed to be the peak of the wind, only to find everyone coming off the water because the wind had dropped dramatically. The wind was only about 15 knots, so I stood around waiting for it to pick up and when that didn't look like happening,  I just rigged the biggest gear I had with me. By the time I was ready to hit the water the wind had increased (15 - 18) which should have been manageable on the gear I had, so I set off. I found I could handle the gear on port tack, but going over the chop on starboard tack was a handful and after one very interesting 500 m sideways run due to spinout (interesting because I felt quite in control even though I was going sideways), the wind increased and being overpowered I decided to change down. 

Rigged the 5.4. Wind was now 18 - 21. Decided to put on the small Mistral so I could try my new Tribal ultraweed, and so Boz could improve his numbers on my 91. The small board and the fin were a delight and no trouble at all in the chop, but the wind increased further and I could not lock the sail down sufficiently to bear away. That was a pity because there was plenty of wind and the bar was flat enough for a good bearaway, despite the high tide. In the end I decided to quit before injury happened, and not being brave enough to head downwind for home I dumped the sail in the water upwind of the start point and drifted downwind. Windmeter read 27 knots when I stopped. Just as well I didin't change down again because a short time later it had dropped off to 21 - 23 again.

It was good to catch up with Lunny and Boz, and I enjoyed the control of the 41 with the 21 ultraweed. It caught no weed and did not spin out even though I was quite overpowered. I had a few whoo hoo moments zooming in between the chop and I am pleased to be getting my strength back after my injury. I am not sure about my courage though. Speeds were across the wind. Not very fast but the fastest I have sailed since 16th Jan. Plenty of room for improvement!

Pelican Point, WA, AU

Just getting wet!