2 categories

Lilacs, Albany, WA, AU

Loft S'blade 6.8, JP Slalom 102 + FF22

Looked promising in the morning for a nice long day of sailing even if a little rainy when I started, wind was enough for that combo & tide wasn't too low. Didn't last though, got quite patchy so I took a lunch break & have a think about whether to continue. Shane did the smart thing, packed up to go have lunch & sit in front of a nice fire. Muggins here decided to go out again as it looked a little better, it was a Huey trap! First 10 mins ok but it had swung towards the South & fizzled out to not much at all 

Happy to sneak in the 100, as I felt sure it would be a 99...

Forecasters have NFI what the wind is doing this year.

Peel Inlet, WA, AU

Wind was strong when I rigged faded while I was sailing and gone by the time I derigged.

Good fun and good company

JP Speed 54, NP RS E7 7.0m, Pepe Weed 23cm & 21cm.

Nice session at Liptons, doing runs from the carpark straight down to Ward Point and back again, withe the only problems being getting weeded up when starting.

Some nice squirts, ended changing from the 23 fin to the 21 to help get going which it did to the detriment of my up wind ability.

The new board felt nice and slippery, even managed a couple of planing gybes (I was desperate not to have to do a standing start)

Good session good crowd, who all seemed to have a smile on the dial.

The wind true to the forecast of strengthening at 4 dropped out to zip at 3.30

Good times

2 categories

Liptons, SSE fun sail, Thanks for the call Strop amd Alby Mistral Speed 95 TR16 6.3m Pepeweed 22/48

Coodanup, WA, Pat 110/FF24 TRX 7.0

Help Fangy to clear the rabble that had invaded our local before heading out to enjoy the dregs 

Carlisle St, Safety Bay, WA, AU    Retro JP Super x 96, sim enduro 5.4, chocco ww 22

Was hoping the wind would be stronger for the small wave gear. A mate had aquired an old super x that he wanted me to give a spin on. I used to have a 106 which was a great board in its day and i must say even by todays standards this board is still pretty quick and was a pleasure to sail in the chop. Rigged the 5.4 thinking i would probably need the small gear later but it didnt happen. Had a great blast from the past.

3 categories

Peel Inlet, WA, AU. FF89/GPS6.0/BP50-20.  Rigged too small, but happy to get a sail regardless. Good to catch up with everyone 

Albany, WA, AU harding rd with Jeremy for a eariy morning sail

JP121 , HSM GPS 6.6 , 24 DELTA

Coodanup, WA, AU

Been off the water for 10 weeks since my stack. It's easy to forget how good this feels and just rememebr the pain of the injury and the fear.  I really needed that.  Had a great sail, nice wind but fitness struggling a bit.  The pain was mostly fine, just carrying the gear up and down hurt the most. Awsome to be out in the budgie smuglers (well at least for me) and just blasting around up and down. Feel better now in some deep ways.

6.6 HSM GPS, Exocet SL 94

2 categories

Fantastic Fangys session, out numberered 10 to 1 by a pack of Pinnas.

Decided to try a distance, but didn't call it cause you know what happens when you call a distance!

So arrived at Fangys a bit before 0900, to see Bos and Pepe flying around. Wind was up and down, so went with the 53, 6.2 and 20cm@55.

Wind was a great direction, long square runs from John St to the end of Creery Island, flat water each end to gybe in, so I decided to try for an hour as well. Was going great until I got too adventurous at Creery Island and grounded the fin mid gybe, cost me over 30s.

 Bos gave me the word that our German visitors from America had arrived, (Boardsurfr and Nina), so I went in to meet them and have lunch.

Wind strated to pick up, so I rigged the 5.8, 48 with 19cm@55. We couldn't get a suitable fin to fit Boardsurfrs board, So he used the 53,

The 48 combo felt really good, but the different wind direction screwed my alpha judjment. kept coming in too downwind and strugled to make the 50m gate.

Wind slowly swung more East and started to drop off, so I gave more distance a miss.

Almost forgot Pacey and my very near miss, I was heading upwind, he was coming downwind fast, both of us on the same tack, in each other's blind spot.

I wasn't aware of him until the nose of his board appeared centimeters off my port side.

There was a yell and a splash!

I gybed to see Andrew lying on his board in obvious pain. His quick thinking emergency bail out resulted in a damaged knee. It was good to see him manage to sail back to shore.

Thanks to Nina for hanging on to my board while we discussed what to do.

Here's my tracks.