Are there any restrictions on a downwinder from Rockingham to Woodman Point?
Are there restricted shipping lanes around Henderson or Kwinana?
Definitely shipping lanes, not sure about restrictions though I'd think the big causeway would be a big physical restriction (if not a massive hazard)
You'll be ok.... just be sensible and take at very least a pdf, will make a the swim abit easier if you have any equipment fail.
This was done on a westerly though.... haven't done it as a DW.
www.kitetracker.com/gps/tracking?r=andyhansen_3
Let us know how you go.
Thanks. You cut pretty straight lines on your journeys!
Yes, I was talking about starting north of the Garden Island causeway. I've previously seen discussion of going around Garden Island, but not sure getting that close to the Navy is worthwhile..
We did safety bay to Woodmans last week and 2 out of the 6 people dropped off, one with equipment failure. We packed 3 water proof bags with water, food, and phone. We forgot a pump. That won't happen again.
It was a great session, and amazing experience. we went around the outside of garden island.
Check out the possible wind windows in the bay caused by garden island and have a contingency emergency plan for the chance of things going wrong.
If you are going around Garden Island - outside - call the naval base & tell them.
No problem at all as long as they know you are coming.
All powered vessels must give way to sail. So there should not be a problem all the subs and boats will have to avoid you. That said you would be a little foolish to play chicken with them and lose but if you can catch a ride on a sub by hopping on to it we will all be duly impressed, make sure your buddy has a camera.
Thanks guys, great info. Busterwa, hot water outlet is a chemical hazard!! Not going near there then, stuff that. I reckon round the island is the go. I usually kite down at Shoalwater, love that spot, so starting there takes my fancy.
Stitchedup, what emergency plan did you have? Interested in doing it again?
We had friends (experienced kiters) with a vehicle on call and were heading to the same destination. They picked the kiters up who had to stop along the way and then they drove to woodman's after we kited past point peron. Once they were there they kept an eye on us and the number of kites in the air as we came downwind from the northern tip of garden island to woodmans point. We had 2 phones in case of a failure and We stayed relatively close to each other and if one was dropping behind another would go check on them and we would wait and move together. The only point where we couldnt be seen was behind garden island where we stayed relatively close to shore. On the outside western side of garden island there is no naval restricted areas in the water and you can come as close as you like. See the map in the attached link and that should clarify. I would love to do it again. Maybe even head go as far as freo if you are keen mate. aa.com.au/files_pdf/garden-island-information.pdf
I'm hugely keen, and taking it to Freo is perfect. This coming weekend 16/17 Feb, or the next? I know a couple of other kiters that could take part too.
Just make sure you have a back up plan . Im a hudge believer of not relying on alternative methods for rescue and being independant . i surf in the sound launch at navel base often Although i have been to garden island my cutoff point is about 500 metres past the shipping lane markers. (can tie my sail to it and paddle board back like a surfboard.. If you break gear and are under-prepared or not mentally equipt to deal with a long downwind drift/swim in shark infested water dont do it.
Its getting to the stage now where one of you kite-surfers will loose your life doing fuxking down-winders. You seem to be relying on valuable sea rescue resources and a phone in a water proof bag for rescue..
I suggest if you do do that run ,get a team up, hire a support boat and be safe,The back of garden island you must hold an ebirb so what the **** you doing out there on a kite?????
Stitch is a classic example of nobrains (if has no support). At some point in time you will experience a catastrophic gear breakage.All gear breaks its just time. Take responsibility and don't make the cockburn/rockingham volunteer rescue your back up plan.
There out there saving real lives and real people in real situations. Not a no brainer kite-surfer playing superman.
Seem to of broken the golden rule of RESPECT the water. 3km off shore max. If you continue to neglect basic rules and think your invincible these councils will shut you down as quickas you can rig up. ..Just dont **** it for everyone else.
If you cant go upwind that far why would you go downwind?
This is a safe downwinder (stitch gps)
This to me without support is a not so safe #downwinder. It points towards a cross off. If you run into gear failure and have to drift downwind your destination looks highly unachievable.
Its Monkey see monkey do,
Often monkey will follow Monkey and end up im monkey sh1tcreek Monkey sh1tcreek is a long swim without a paddle...
Highlighting monkey sh1tcreek and the dangers of not taking a paddle up monkey sh1tcreek to both Monkey and monkey is an advantage.
And if you ever over in VIC, i highly recommend one of these www.kitetracker.com/gps/tracking?r=andyhansen_15
don't forget all the sharks around garden island and submarines got watch out for those sneeky submarines you do honest.
Great stuff. I asked a mate if he'd bring his surf ski but he just sold it. We'll see what else we can rustle up. I'm keen to plan well, and go when we're ready, rather than race off tomorrow. Theres a great thread in the SUP forums on a Port Phillip Bay crossing that went wrong (link below), worth reading. A few on other forums, but everyone seems to recommend the same things on the whole (apart from those that think we should all stay home in bed), so I'm thinking it'll probably look like this:
1. Stay together
2. Have comms, at very least multiple mobile phones
3. Stay together
4. Let someone not participating be aware of when you leave and are expected to return
5. Let local authorities know (Naval Base, Cockburn Volunteer Rescue)
6. Stay together
7. Consider a boat/surf ski to accompany
8. Consider EPIRB/PLB
9. Stay together
10. Consider the conditions, if in doubt, don't go out.
While this distance is not an "epic downwinder", its about the right scale I'd be comfortable with. That includes the need to self rescue/swim to nearest land.
Busterwa, you need to chill mate. If reading this thread makes you upset, read something else. Better still, come along, help make it safe, and make it fun.
Link to SUP adventure gone wrong: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/SUP-history-will-be-made-tomorrow/?page=1
PS xkcd.com/386/
^^^^
Mate before you set off, you might want to check with Fremantle Port Authority, there are restrictions for small craft crossing the shipping lanes. Going in a straight line Rockingham to Woodies you will cross Stirling channel and woodmans channel. You can avoid these if you know where they are. Going west of Garden island you are going to have to cross Parmellia Channel.
I take it you are aware of the requirements for safety equipment if >400 meters from shore.
Garden Island has a Prohibited area around the Harbour on the SE corner and another around the Jetty half way along the Eastern edge. You can land on the very NE of the island but that is the only place. Have a look at a chart to familiarise yourself with the area first.
I suppose its wrong of me to jump into another forum and upset everyone. Especially when i dont have a kitesurfing background. I guess if something goes wrong with your equiptment you can fold it up to the side of a tent and paddle your board back in (or get your mate to tow you).While your on the board. You probally wouldnt need to paddle.
Its hard to paddle long distances when your a pole smoker.
.Picture this :
Try derigging/hold on to an extention, a board, two 2.1 metre carbon poles and a boom while trying to rollup a 5.7 metre sail in 25 knotts.. Then once it is rolled up trying to paddle back with all that **** underneath you. Its a friggin windmare.
I have sailed past someone (towards the sun) in trouble nearly 30 metres away and not seen them or heard them.came to the conclusion that you have to rely on yourself to get you back.
I guess another hudge advantage of kitesurfing is you dont need a truck to transport all your sh1t. Kitesurfing gear is compact and easier to swim with.
So Apologizes
Buster.
Nah join in Buster, some people constantly confuse having a recovery plan with being rescued.
Imagine its a cranking 20 knot SSW'er and you snap a pulley just as you round the northern tip of Garden Island. Sure you can do a deep water pack down but you aren't going to swim against the wind back to the island, what's your other option, drifting downwind 10 or 15km through a handful of shipping channels hoping to Christ you don't get run over by an oil tanker?
Another trick when self rescueing is to attach your safety/suicide leash from your harness to a wing tip and hold the other wing tip with one hand. (Baby Bonnet style) This is a a lot better than holding two wing tips with two hands because it gives your kite a bigger surface area to catch wind, then stuff your bar and lines down your harness and sail hopefully back to shore. When I was first learning to kite I could actually self rescue up wind before I could ride up wind.
I think Every Kiter should be able to do this before they kite by themself.
Shipping lanes aren't off limits, we just need to use our brains. Even opens up crossing Fremantle intelligently. I got an official response from Fremantle Ports:
___________
Jim
If this is not an organised event, that is to say a commercial event which is open to entrants then you may proceed as a normal member of the public to use the waters however you should note that under Fremantle Port Authority by-laws covered under the Port Authority regulations you must give way to commercial vessels moving within Port waters.
Effectively the general rule of the road of power gives way to sail does not apply within Port waters when it is a commercial vessel underway. Therefore if crossing the channel you should ensure that it is clear to proceed and you have allowed yourself ample time to cross the channel in the most direct route as possible so as not to place yourself in any danger.
Regards
Captain Allan Gray
GM Port Operations/Harbourmaster
Fremantle Ports
www.fremantleports.com.au