Mr Love (6877km):
5534 days ago Hooly Dooly, Widest wind I have ever contemplated sailing in. A very humbling day for me . 2 half runs, 2 39 knot crashes , the second leaving me in the poop.
Before I elaborate I want to give Matt and Shelby a huge ,huge thanks for swimming out and helping me , I seriously was in some trouble.Frigin awesome guys!!!!
Well , some humbling lessons. I am neither good enough or strong/fit enough to sail in those conditions nor am I 21 any more. I learnt you have to be really committed on the runs, any hessitation ends in a crash. Stupid split second decisions can really land you in the poop and you can nearly drown 30 meters from shore. Swimming gear against a 50 knot wind is impossible and yes, sand really can get in every orifice.
Huge kudos to the guy's who were handling the conditions, and of coarse to Spotty the dominator!!!! Absolutely huge mate.
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Spotty (8858km):
5533 days ago 2 categories  
Sorry about the delay,
I know its hard.....
YEEEEE!!!HAAAARRRRR!!!! You Beauty!!! just been letting the good vibes settle in, still coming to grips with it all, the result was most unexpected for me. We have all been waiting for a day like this at Sandy Pt for sometime, with the past heavy rainfall and sizeable swell running in Bass Strait I did not think the tide would go far enough out. I thought that it was only going to be a survival day with maybe a 43 average. The tide in the end just went far enough out to set up what seemed a wider than usual rideable course down the bank. No special suits, man made trenches or vehicles to get you back up the course, just a hard endurance battle to start, finish and walk back in the constant 40-50 knot sandstorm with the lead weight on your back, the actual runs were awesome!!.
4 hours 6 runs…
Run 1 with camera onboard peaked at 45 with a 10 sec around 43, it was pretty unsettled. Sailing back did not seem a good option, with all runs requiring a long slog thru the soft sand to the first dune then sail the last bit to the start. This was so exhausting, you had to wait some time before you had enough energy to do another run making it hard to get lots of runs in before the tide changed.
Run 2 data 47.86 max , 47.18 10sec , PB and now quite excited, with the course also improving with deeper longer runs.
Run 3 data 49.996 max , 49.046 10sec, 47.183 500m, 49.078 250m seemed more controlled with 50.01 on the GT31 display making my jaw drop and fist punch the air, followed with congratulations with Adrian B and Tony W on the long walk back.
Run 4 data 49.724 max, 48.952 10sec, 48.709 500m was also controlled just the slow down were getting really wild as the tide came in. Really stoked about the 500!!!
Run 5 data 48.693 max, 47.312 10sec, 45.694 500m. The tide now starting to have more effect, and I was getting really exhausted but new there was still a worthwhile run better than the first to cement the 5x10.
Run 6 data 47.197 max, 46.285 10sec, 44.723 500m. Chris L and myself left on the course, made my last run as he came back, another long walk followed this time all the way to the BBQ, thanks for moving the car Rupert.
Best 5 runs were all done with a broken battern at the bottom camber, it broke on the first run due to me adding more tension beforehand. All in all to be honest the runs were ridiculously smooth and constant and left me feeling I could of had a slightly bigger sail or a little bit more wind. I know this sounds stupid but it was so GOOD!. Left us with the impression the 49 5x10 is achievable with same conditions, and maybe better with a lower tide.
Sail 5.0 Ka Koncept, Fin McDougal/Lockwood 21 Asymmetrical, Board CA44, AMAC and Chris the sail, fin and board did not flinch at all on the big runs, absolutely awesome result on stock, off the shelf gear, hats off to you both!.
Totally stoked there were so many crew there to witness, and to give it a go in such conditions. Pleased to see Tonster, Daffy, Ado others get PB’s, great effort considering the size/weight for some of you guys.
Thanks also to Mick and Jodi for capturing the moment whilst we took on the wind and sand.
Cheers
Spotty
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Next run a 39kt white knuckle ride ,not hooked in, and then spent the next 20min getting sand blasted. Called it a day after that. Too too much wind.