Flex (15724km):
1030 days ago 2 categories   Coodanup, WA, AU Arrived to a crowd and was expecting a short cold session. Woody already in the pond. Lots of icy cold puddles making rig up more chilly. Rigged 6.5 then wind seemed to drop off and Woody coming in so derigged and went 7.8. So cold managed cut two fingers when they slipped on the screw driver I was using to put downhaul on. Thankfully plenty of blood but just a flesh wound. Was going to go out on the Fangy fin 28 when Stroppo (looking like an Eskimo) said to go out on the 22 and it would probably work better than expected. Was a good call thanks, worked like a charm and wouldn't been able to move due to the low tide on the bigger fin. Really expands operating envelope for me and probably means another purchase from Ross.
Went out and all the others came in and took off (presumably to Liptons). I was well powered, the sun was out and at this point realised it was a distance day but I had made two fatal errors. First was I had already drained the GPS the day before at Meville, rigging up in expectation of the front coming across.. Since no wind materialised (came in exactly when I rigged down at 5) and I had only gone 2m I didn't post anything but that also meant I didn't charge the GPS. I also didn't bring the charge cable so bagging big distance was out. Wind was just right for the 7.8 and big board and settled into a nice routine avoiding a large amount of weedburgs (more like weedislands with all the birds hanging out on them) in the middle by heading upwind on the easterly run and downwind on the opposite. Surely this would bag a NM.
The wind seemed to be building not dropping like forecast and at about 90km felt I was getting overcooked so came in to rehydrate and rest a bit (didn't wear the camel back as really thought it would be all over very quickly). GPS battery was reading 1 bar. Decided to just go as long as GPS held out and since no PB was achievable I changed boards to the 104 with the same 22 FF and 7.8 sail as hadn't tried that combo. This wasn't as comfortable but seemed to work ok but was probably a mistake as now I was grounding out in the gybes but could not be bothered coming in to change boards (as thought GPS would die soon). GPS read zero bars at 120Km. A couple of kiters joined me and one attempted to get into the pond by sailing down the channel between Channel island and Creery island and got himself in a right old mess while his mate watched on with amusement.
How long would GPS last?...was reading 145km on the apple watch when somewhere in the next run GPS died...damm...so close. Pity as it was ony 3pm and had another 2hrs before Cinderella time approached so could have gone for the 200..(talk is cheap though). Was really quite a pleasant day with the sun out the majority of the time and the normal abundance of seabirds for company. Seemed a lot more sea eagles fishing around me though and they seemed to have 100% success rate. The icy cold puddles of the morning had now turned into glorious warm baths which rig down very pleasant. 120 Tabou Rocket (then 104 RRD Freeride/wave), 7.8 Severne Overdrive M2, FF22
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