4 categories

The Train, Southport, QLD, AU

114 Falcon / 7.0 Mach 1 / 34 Tribal

Port Douglas, QLD, AU

Well, we have to take what we can get this time of year.  Ed and I planned an afternoon session.  Got down to Fourmile at about 2pm - Ed borrowed my Alloy boom because he had damaged the boom head on his carbon one.  This theme continued when Ed hit a turtle at speed - totally trashing his beloved Drake fin.  Fortunately I had a spare - 46cm freeride for him to keep going - he also rigged up an uphaul in case the breeze died.  I rigged isonic 133 and went with the 7.8 North S type - and then got hit with a massive squall - getting tossed around the joint.  I decided to go in for a sail change - down to the 7.2m V8.  Rigging that I snapped a downhaul rope - these Neil Prydes need a lot of downhaul tension!  Fortunately I had a spare rope and got myself back on the water - for the first 30 minutes I had enough wind to have fun - but probably should have stayed with the 7.8 - but I was damned if I was going to do another sail change.  Mostly had fun planing around and the water was not too rough.  The sun was shining.  And then the wind became really fluky - for Ed as well - so I came in.

3 categories

Port Douglas, QLD, AU..yer what can i say..Got down the beach for happy hr had to fleece a  spare boom of Andrew as mine has been trashed like  all my other toys..Rigged 7.8m no cam gastra on 117 Isonic,wind squall came through while rigging up Andrew got caught in it and he came in not real happy to do a rig change i went for a quick blast on the tail end of it fully lit up in a bump and jump sea Was about 2Km off shore and smacked into a huge turtle  saw him a the very last second no time to do anything ,went over the handle bars face planting the ocean.. Totaly destroyed a 44cm salom fin the only fin i had for that board,had a long slow trip back to shore..'just a little pissed off with life'.There are heaps of Crocks up here at the moment and they have been eating all the turtles but looks like they missed one..Was gunna pack up and go home but Andrew saved the day 'again 'and handed me a 46cm free ride fin and a handlfull of screws and said make it happen..20minites later i was back on the water, fin had plenty of power and heaps of good up wind performance which was great as there was a real strong current running fin was about 1or 2 kts slower than my slamon fin and made board a bit different to gybe.But still had a good fun sail till sundown then the wind dropped out..Hey Andrew thanks for saving my' sorry ass' today...all in the name of fun cheers ED..

Cairns to Green Is. Sailed from the new boat ramp at the sugar wharf which is really good for launching. Poor sail choice with the 6.7 Overdrive meant a lot of the trip was spent not planing. Should have gone with 8.6. The 6.7 couldn't  keep the Phantom 295 planing in the lulls. Five hours later and an upwind battle I arrived too exhausted to sail back so took the ferry home. Still I enjoyed the trip.