GPS Team Challenge - Lake Macquarie (NSW, Australia)

Well I didn't intend to do distance..I had a bit of an idea I'd go out early and have fun and try to get some kms over the day but the am was miserable. Cockie and Dizzy were out and they'd get an occasionalt spurt but then float around. It was 15 degrees with rain showers so I read and chatted.

The wind filled in around middayish so I rigged the 12-18kts sail on the big board for the lulls and decided to do an hr. It was a stupid idea as we were becalmed at times on the other side plus bogged down in the weedbeds after a gybe. Still I persevered .I could have stayed out longer to get a better hr but I'd had enough ( 17.8?)..

Something to eat...I've got to give credit to the massive rich artery clogging malteser choc slice that I devoured to keep me going.. I can climb everest after choc ( at least for an hr before it dumps me..)

I'd been pretty powered with the big board so thought I'd try the 90. Terrific! Great sailing.

Only small wavelets and flat weedbeds if you were powered up enough. The Fangy has a thick fillet so it wouuld be great to get more wind and try a thinner fin.

Gybes are going well and it was fun. They always talk about the rig going light in a gybe. Although I do tons of planing gybes I'd never experienced it .A few days ago was the first time.. Ah this is what they mean!

I went flying into one gybe today oversheeted and started to let the sail open out but the foot hit the water and I stacked it..First time that's happened?? Any suggestions? I was leaning into the turn .

I'm trying to practise rough water technique so I can try and continue on Lake macqaurie. Oversheet . stay low , pull down into the boom etc..

It didn't happen again.

I'd done about 60kms so I decided I'd try for 100kms ( or a bit more to make sure I got it ) It started to get a bit patchy so I trudged in and got the big board again.

Got to 105kms and thought ' well my Pb is 140kms and I'm never going to have a better day to try." Flat with a solid 15-20kts..

Kept going and decided to try for 150kms. The lake had glassed off by now and it was really beautiful and easy sailing although my arms and shoulders were aching.

It's got to be easy sailing as other than the gybe incident I didn't fall in till about 140kms when the wind started playing silly buggers.

I could have stayed out longer but I was the only one on the water and I figured for safety I better stop. 5hrs .50 sailing

Cripes if I could do that sort of kms everyday I'd get it together.

My last PB of 140kms was hard work! I was overpowered , hanging on all day , short runs in 6" chop constantly changing down rigs and boards.It took 8hrs.. This was still hardwork but a much better day.

Takeaway night...zzzz