Kel (36845km):
3165 days ago 1 categories  Green Island, QLD, AU
Fun day sailing at Green with James and Loch, nice 15 to 20 all day with sunny skies. Low tide so we spent most of the day in the channel between the island and Arlington reef. Broke a universal stacking a jump in front of James, so wasted a bit of time making a rope uni and sailing back in over the low tide reef.
Used 2015 Isonic 107, R6 Overdrive 7.0 and C3 sting 38
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James (894km):
3165 days ago Green Island, QLD, AU. Used Firie Bobs old hand me down Naish270, 100l with 32 fin and 6m ezzy sail. Yes I was just a little under done but very comfortable !
Well another great day on the Island - a very pleasant 15-17 kn all day, fairly flat and very clear and blue -beautiful day in paradise. Well locky and Kel sailed like men possessed today - they had a mission kms kms kms kms and they stuck to it. I sware they ran down the jetty, didnt even bat an eye lid at the topless sweedish backpackers just near the rigging area, and in no time flat they were on the water. And from 9.15 until 3.40 they never stopped -- except once, when Kel had just pulled off a really impressive jump and I thought he was going to nail a planning nose first landing BUT the nose submarined about 3 foot and kel followed close behind. Normally this wouldnt be a problem BUT a broken uni joint probably cost him another 10 kms by the time he got to shore and back. Locky provided excellent backup and the pressure was off me. I managed a couple of hours snorkling before I hit the water,( had a friend from work I wanted to show around) but then I sailed until knock off-- pretty buggered now.
Firie Bob, thanks for the loan of the board - newest I have. I thought after a couple of years in Kels shed it might have forgotten all the bad habbits you taught it Bob!! - But no.!! Just kidding - had a ball on it, it is about 4 kg lighter than my other boards.
James
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Andrew (2314km):
3160 days ago  Port Douglas, QLD, AU isonic 133 litre, 49cm select fin gaastra savage 7.8m. A very violent scene greeted me this afternoon at Four Mile Beach. A strong South Easterly gusting up from 25-30 knots. I did not pack my 7.2m fusion so I "rigged big", using lots of downhaul and really flattening out the sail. Ed was nowhere to be seen - Bill Wiltshire from Newell Beach turned up for a chat and it was nice to see him - told me lots of stories about the abundance of wind and good secondhand gear over in Western Australia. I think I am planning a road trip over that way in the middle of next year. This year has, to all intents and purposes, been disappointing. Too often a case of all or nothing. This was definitely "all" - a good way to finish the working week. I thought about chickening out - but decided to think things through. I was going to give it at least half an hour, and concentrate on controlling the wind rather than the wind controlling me. I am amazed at the 2 second peak of 22 knots as a didn't have the guts to put my feet in the straps for fear of a massive wipeout - but I was determined to stay calm and focussed. Heading out required concentration - coming back to shore was a case of standing up on the board and just tickling in these massive gusts that had the isonic planing over the mush. A couple of kitesurfers braved the waters but they were stuffed after about 15 minutes. The tide was really low as well so I had to be careful of steaming over the shallow bits. Ed came down eventually and stood on the shore - after 45 minutes I decided that discretion was the better part of valour and came in without having broken anything. Ed was having a good look at all the wind he had missed out on due to a stuffed up schedule. We are sailing tomorrow where things are supposed to be a bit lighter - maybe 20-22 and a solid South Easterly if we are lucky. Ed went off muttering about an epic dirtbike session on Sunday, and then, when I was de-rigging, my third visitor for the day turned up. Gaz had come up this way to pick up a new car - but, despite Ed's encouragement, did not bring his gear. We had a good chat and that might be the end of Gaz for awhile. He was extremely generous in giving me some tips and thoughts. At least it was sunny and I had the water to myself. Tomorrow I will camp out at Four Mile for the entire afternoon - bringing both boards and my 7.2, - plan to practice my gybes - I dream of one day mastering the laydown gybe. Perhaps that will be something to work on when Ed and I do our Noumea trip in six weeks.
Hope that everyone else is getting out on the water.
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