Port Douglas, Kermit, 6.4 Koncept, Talon 40, 15-18 knots.

This year has been so bad for wind that today would rank in the top five for the year.

Great to sail with the PD crew as well as Billy and Freddy.

1 categories

Holloways Beach, QLD, AU

Green tomorrow, it was rubbish at the beach today 

Port Douglas, QLD, AU

A meeting of the Fantastic Five today up here in sunny Port Douglas, Fast Freddy, Big Billy and Gaz came up for a taste of our backyard - and weren't disappointed as we were greeted by a lumpy 20knot South Easterly.  Gaz and Freddy were rigged on 6.5 sails I think, Billy went for his 7.5 and I rigged my new Gaastra Savage 7.8m - with my "ironing board" iSonic 133 and a big fat 53cm fin.  Put on heaps of downhaul - spent the first 30 minutes nearly going somewhere, let out about an inch and a half of downhaul and then the fun began.  Grunty sail, some exhilarating runs plenty powered up.  Got used to seeing Billy, Fred, Ed and Gaz making long runs out towards Low Isles.  Spent a fair bit of time in the water - must work on those gybing moves and water starts.   Heaps of kiters out there to dodge.  Could have run my smaller [!] 49cm fin.  Lovely fun with the mast tilted back, heading upwind and then some great reaching blasts back towards shore.  Great to share a cold beer or two with the boys - courtesy of Billy.  All-in-all a great days sailing.  Hopefully something there tomorrow afternoon.  Making the most of a patchy season.  By the way, had a great time yesterday with Ed and James - who came down from the mountains for a blast - great to see him again and spend some time on the water.

Great afternoon at Port ...probably the best sail this year.....not that there have been many.

Managed a lift up with Gaz to join Billy,Eddy and Andrew. Wind looked reasonable all the way up the coast

and was not to bad at Port as well. Andrew with his new hip was a different man ......struggled at first

(7.8 metre sail) but then put in a couple of good runs and appeared satisified with his effort. His coach

...Mr. Edd was a little late starting but was unstoppable once on the water....probably around 80 k's

if his gps was/is working...well done Edd.    Gaz put in his usual big effort and was awarded man of the match.

He sailed well and taught us all a few things.  Glad Billy made the trip up....and although not sailing as much as he

would like lately put in a creditable show and was a little disappointed he did not get to use his 'Lockwood' fins.

Had a gasbag after and a beer (thanks to Billy)...and a few laughs!!

RRD XFIRE 102, LOFT O2 6.6, CANEFIRE 38

Port Douglas, QLD, AU

Another Top 10 Day in Paradise. 13-18kts all afternoon. Pretty smooth with the outgoing tide, but once she started to move in again, it became a bit tough to head up wind and the bones were certainly taking a pounding. Water temp was a lovely 24 degrees, leaving no alternative but to get into the winter sailing costume...boardies!!!

Great turn out with Gaz, Fred, Andrew and his wife "Pokemon Hunter Wendy" and Ed - always late and just having a rest - Wheatley . So the pre sailing/rigging up antics began. Lots of "advertised brand new" taped up sails came out of their respective bags. I havnt seen any where near as much tape in a Bunnings store. Fred even went to the effort of buying a brand new mast for his "special" sail. Ed's looked liked the council had done road repairs on it with huge lines of black tape snaking across its entire witdh and Gaz had to top up the levels of tape before heading out. The usual banter ensued from that point which prooved to be very entertaining.

Great sailing conditions for the better part of the afternoon ensued. A couple of lulls pulled me down of the plane, but generally a fresh burst wasnt to far behind. Certainly wasnt fully powered up untill the final 1/2 hr when it hit a solid 18knts and in hind sight, I should have let of a touch of downhaul earlier in the session. 

I was certainly feeling the burnt out body at the end of my 40 odd km's...so it was time for beers and Ginger Nut biscuits - awesome Fred, thankyou.

All up, as stated at the top, top day out in FNQ. Briefly caught up with a young fella from SA who was up here on hols and a keen sailor. 

used 104 Missy Screamer (09), T4 7.5, 40 BPR

Port Douglas, QLD, AU    Got a PH call from Billy at about 1.30 when i was on my way home from work saying that the boys were rigged and ready to 'lite it up',so get down the beach.. Grabbed some gear and a peace of chicken and bolted to the beach..The boys were into it ,new Freddie was on a 6.6m rig as usual and looked powered up so i rigged the same..Was feeling a bit shagged and didn't realy feel like hanging off a big rig all arvo so6.6m rig was a good choice..  Was a bit skeptical about the wind hanging in all arvo so ran a bigger fin than usual.. Today was all about clocking up kms..captian Kel said we wanted some big numbers' which i fell very short of.' think he wanted 150kms...Was a good powered up session in 15 to 20kts and was comfortable all arvo..Had a panel blow out in my already totaly flogged out sail at about 5oclock so it was game over for me ,didnt want to keep sailing and destroy it completely..Was run out of fuel anyway as i didnt have a pit stop..Think everyone had a great session and Billy brought beer "thanks mate'..Good sail and good company should be more of it..97lt Isonic 38cm sting fin 6.6m North rig..Hey Andrew well done on PB mate keep them coming..Cheers Ed..

Pallarenda, QLD, AU