Flex (15724km):
1082 days ago 1 categories  Wilson, WA, AU (Salterpoint) Was watching the wind and looked a bit brutal in the am but around noon seemed to be settling down so decided to have a cack at Anita's spot at Salter point. Wind looked quite nice and rigged the 6.7, first run out was perfect and looking to be very nice. A wind shadow about 1/2 way across meant gybing well before the convict fence. The the wind all but died and I struggled back. Decided to derig and go bigger as the wind seemed to have lost steam. Started to rig 7.8 when the wind died further and arrows at Melville turned yellow so went big guns again with 8.6. Of course as soon as rigged a huge gust came through but then died again to nothing. By this time I was boiling in the wetsuit so just went out to see what would happen. I was so dam hot I was wishing for an off which was soon granted.
Wind was all over the place, nice, then lots of holes (on/off every 50m), then really gusty, then almost nothing and barely moving with the 8.6, wind seemed to come from the east then south east, sometimes wind shadow, sometimes not. Thus had a few offs and can confirm water depth is about 1.8 meters with about 30cm of goo at the bottom. Had no trouble water starting the 8.6 which I haven't managed with the 7.8. The big sail was brutal in the gusts but not enough to plane in the lulls. The only way to win today would have been to stick with one sail size and keep at it for a few hrs and deal with the stuff in the middle.
The whole time out a pair of young Aboriginal kids watched me. On coming in you could see they were transfixed. They were so polite and curious I didn't have the heart to ask why they weren't in school.
Whilst it wasn't a great day I noticed there were a LOT of markers around that could be used for Alpha references..don't think any records will be set here but certainly sailable in an easterly and not too choppy.
The other thing of note was the Curtin Uni rowing club was getting rid of two of their boats. One beautiful handmade wooden one had been cut up into 2m-3m lengths. The fibre glass one didn't seem so special but there was 3 or 4 really nice wooden sections including wooden seats and foot holders that look perfect and if resanded would come up well if one wanted something like this to repurpose.
On coming home and driving over Mt Henry Bridge , I noticed that the area just east of Mt. Henry bridge looked way better than Salter point as far as consistent wind patterns in the water across the run (seen at least 3 times now since Anita mention Salter point). Lots of nice launch points on the south side and super close to home for me so if easterlies prevail might be worth checking out...but not on weekends as is water ski area.
120 Tabou rocket, 6.7 RRD Move then 8.6 Severne Turbo M4 with a 33 TWS
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