4 categories

A late start after a late night entertaining so i was a bit relaxed in getting onto the water. Sailed at Area 45 with a heap of crew and lots of water and banks to go around. Got really good towards the end of the day when we were running Nm,s but pulled up too short. Had some runs with 35.5 10s so possible Pb if i had measured right.

Sl52,Koncept 6.6,venom 30

4.2 north convertigo wave /torquay 49 /tm45-26

Strong easterly all day.

2 categories

I had intended to go for distance today and NM's but when I arrived at the inlet at high tide the tide was too low to run over the sandbars. So much for that idea.

I came back later when the tide had dropped to expose the speed course. Tested wind on beach at solid 25 gusting 30 kts. Took 2012 5m Koncept on IS87 with Lessacher Duo speed weed 28 to test the waters. Holey cow! The wind felt much stronger than I had measured on the beach! Ran a few 36's and 37 peaks on the IS. Came in to trim sail with more downhaul and put in Lessacher 25cm duo speed weed fin. Out again and ran a 38 peak! Pretty good for me on that board. Tried a few Alphas but feeling a bit out of control in the gusts and copped a few lulls just as I gybed. 

Time for the speed board. Went with CA40 and KA assy 20cm. Felt good but I was struggling to make any more speed. Came in a got 2009 4.4m Koncept. This immediately felt faster with the lighter, smaller, low drag rig set fuller. Managed to snag a gust and saw a 40.75 peak and 40.00 ten sec. It was really scary though, as the tide was super low and exposing seaweed covered humps right in the speed course. A couple were covered by just a cm or two of water. I walked the course and found a 10 foot wide gap right at the fastest part so it was a matter of clench the cheeks and thread the needle! Hard to time it for a gust (typical easterly - very gusty) when you have such a short course at the optimum angle. I managed another 40 peak and then the wind got even more holey and seemed to be dropping so I gave up just as the tide turned.

We have a visitor from Belgium here, Alain. I lent him a 4.4m Koncept and told him to follow me down the course. He was worried he would hit the bottom. I said 'she'll be right'. With misgivings he followed. Just as he turned in his 25 cm fin touched down on something my 20cm fin was missing. Crash! Luckily he was not going very fast at that point and so no damage, but, understandably he was a bit gun shy after that.  Hopefully he will get a run on a good SW 'er where conditions are a bit less manic!

Fun day, but the wind didn't really arrive (only 20-25knots) and we stuffed the NM distance! TOO SHORT YOKELS!

Perfect summer day. Hard to imagine better - other than a couple of cold beers and some "Not dogs" and tofu burgers on the barbie afterwards!  

Very happy that my partner Lari had a great sail and got planing for the first time! She had a huge smile on her face the whole time. We left before the banks were properly out so no great results to report. Great to see such a big crowd out sailing.

CA SL55 with 34cm C3 Venom and KA Koncept 5.8m.