Goolwa Lake, SA, AU

Tabou Manta 86, KA Koncept 5.0, Venom 26, Wind: WSW 15--25

Nice short day on the lake, gusty wind that had me either on the back of the board or sinking !! 

First time on the 26 Venom in over 2 years

New Wetsuite made it nice and comfortable in the cold conditions..

2 categories

Yeee Haaa back on the missile after only using wave gear on my maui trip.

Beachport Lake George, SA, middle lake, SW gusty up to 30.

F2 missile, 5.0 KA Koncept, and new 21 techtonics Nomad.

Been bloody working and missing out, got on the water about 4.15 and didn't quite get an hour in as was dark early being so overcast, sailed out the middle lake side went upwind to some weed beds but the water level has come up so much it was a bit too choppy and the carbon missile shook the crap out of me. should have sailed out of shelly beach but not enough time to look around. looked good on the other side of the spit as well but starboard tack runs on the sw. never really got solid run but good to get wet.

 the new nomad ws solid as and never let go, looks like a lot of potential when I get a bit more time on the water.

 Dave I too have a new oneil wetty the boys gave me for my birthday, was bloody unreal,  lucky no one was around to see me trying to get it off was a bloody challenge with the little chest zip.

 Wednesday arvo was the windiest I can remember here was gusting to well over 45 and bloody clean off, don't think my 5.0 would have hacked it, might look at a 4.3 as i have lost a bit too much weight again.

 yesterdays wind reading of the big yellow buoy on the middle lake, this is the average for each hour so the gusts where cranking.

5 categories

Great day after the gusty conditions yesterday.  Didn't expect to go today but managed to organise the day off.  As soon as i arrived i could see the conditions were alot better.  2nd run had a 35.7 in the chop in front of the carpark so was hoping for a good day.  Not real flat but headed up the top of the lake and had some fun along the swell lines and then ended up with Tim riding the gap between some reeds.  Was gusty or no wind in between the reeds and was hard to catch a gust but managed a couple of good gusts and ended up with just over 36 on the navi.  After that Tim and me decided to head back as a front came through and the chop increased.  We were too stuffed to keep going so headed back to shore.

Best day had in a while and am loving the isonic 86 and 6.3 blade - can't wait for Lake George next month.

Boggy lake - 20 - 25 knots with some 30 knot gusts.

2 categories

Boggy Lake, SA, AU

18-08-11 Boggy Lake 14-30 knots WSW-7.8m+6.3m Blade-Fanatic SL111-C3 Sting2 42cm-Sonic100-C3 Sting2 32cm

Not my favorite direction at Boggy and lake chopped up as wind increased. Never a comfortable day:-(

1 categories

Good old fashion TTFU sail. 14-20 then 20-25 gusting to 30 w/sw

Solid for half the day .Started out on 5.8 02 & Exocet Cross 94. Had a lend of PJ's Sonic 100, 6.3 LB, c3 sting 32. Clocked up 25 nautical miles on this combo. Then it came in solid. Re-rigged to a bump & Jump favourite 5.3 KA Kult on the Cross.  Was having a shit load of fun chop hopping and decided to sail up to the top s/w corner. Got half way there and My boom creeked and then just disinegrated . The crash tore the 2nd top panel on the kult. Hour and half of swimming and a long walk back . Re-rigged a backup boom and taped up the Kult and enjoyed the solid bump & Jump conditions.

Thank you PJ for helping me carry my rig back. I must learn how to land those forward loops without the carnage.Another great day of sailing .

Bloody expensive though

1 categories

Started out on the 7.8 and had a few nice runs and then the wind picked up.  Rigged the 6.2 for the first time and headed up the top on the 111 and had trouble getting a nice balance.  Had a big catapult, the first in years after the board got caught in a trough.  I got ragdolled with so much force that the fins in my backpack blew a hole in the side and were hanging out.  I limped back downwind to the carpark out of the straps and got launched a few times adding to my stiffening wiplash.  This was a day for a 90l slalom, something I am missing at the moment.  Good to catch up with all the guys as it was my first sail in 7 weeks or so.  Carl, you looked pretty comfy on that 87 of yours!

RSR3 7.8/6.2, F111, S1039/37