Kristi and Justin were pumped when they saw the wind prediction for yesterday afternoon, so a plan was hatched for a 5.5km downwinder.
They wanted to see how well the 12'6 x 27 Fanatic flat water race boards would work on an epic downwind run. Gear was packed, PFDs were doned, Justin loaded up on a redbull or 2 and then it was off into the eye of the storm.
Some of the runners they linked up were altime is was like hitting the nitrox button the wipe outs were pretty full on too.
The adventurers getting ready to go.
Justin "Pumped"
The video wasnt great as the wind was so strong it was almost impossible to hold the cam still in the wind and driving rain but we did our best. Look at the landmarks in the background and just how fast they are zipping by.
Wow amd heres me thinking I'm ready for a DW in Sydneys windy condition........perhaps not, given Justin felt the need to actually put on his PFD at some stage 
Great effort
Nice.. We'll join you guys next time when it's a bad direction for our run.. More days like that please.. 
DJ
Hi Shire,
Justin didnt need the PFD it was a bum bag type and it deployed itself when he hit the water then he had a wrestle on his hands and it was easier to wear it than try to stow it lol. I have seen this happen a few times on vessels with people going over the side at speed the zips or velcro let go and then the fun begins.
I still prefer the PFD that DJ suggested and we went an bought at his mates paddle shop. It has huge arm holes, plenty of sowage for radios flares, whistles etc it you want to take them doesnt get in the way its in position all the time and it stays there and floats you face up if you get knocked out.
Phill
Great work Kristi ..... your'll have to get Dad to get you a gopro!.....
.... would of been great to see it from that angle.
Boylos
.... would of been great to see it from that angle.
Shire,
They all have pros and cons, up north you would prolly get heat stroke in a standard PFD so again horses for courses I guess.
Boylos / HC
Believe it or not Nesha Kristi's younger sister won a HD gopro at the Port Phillip Cup in the lucky prize but yesterday was a little full on so it stayed in the car.
Anytime DJ,
There are more obsticles at this end and lots of deep mud to traverse
if you land in the wrong spot.
Hey Mark,
In our instance recreational not racing the focus is on safety and we are used to using the equipment in hot conditions its just part and parcel of how we go about it. Dosent make it right or wrong just our choice.
Yesterday in winds that strong 100k+ at the peak ( a single gust blew Nesha off her feet without warning) a PFD is madatory for safety, go without one and you really need to get your head checked.
Phill.
hey phil, no shot at you guys at all. actually no shot at anyone. just a statement in rely to confused.
in those winds i would be wearing something too.
heat is issue with fully blown pfd. up here you wouldn't really wear a dark rashie on a dw run except in the smack middle of winter.
the wind was certainly blowing.
dj, in his latest vid, was way back from where he normally stands on his vids
cheers
Hey WH,
Kristi said that on several occasions the Fanatic dipped the nose under up to the handle (1/2 way) and by stepping on the tail it came back up without throwing her off.
Kristi learned to trust the board coming back up by surfing it at Merimbula, the fisrt couple times it went under up there she tried to fight the board not let it do its thing!
On Sunday the Fanatic regularly penitrated the wave in front and just kept going where her other board used to push water and slow down and fall of the back of the wave (could be more a technique issue).
Over the full 5.5kms she only fell off twice in those conditions once looking back (cardinal sin) the second time just slipped off.
She usually uses a 14 and found the flater rocker did not catch the wind as much as the upturned nose did. It was also much easier to turn onto the runner to surf across it to get speed.
I guess you can see the stability for yourself best make your own judgement.
Its only one downwinder but she was impresed and it definitely linked runners well.
Would be interesting to see how it performs in say 25 - 30kn more standard conditions.
Mark I didnt take it as a shot. and my comment was in reference to those conditions 45+kn and in Corio Bay.
We have many people taking up the sport that see these posts and think hell yeah that looks like all time fun. I would rather take a conservative approach I dont and never have forced that opinion on anyone.
What you take with you is your own choice based on location, number of paddlers, conditions and your own ability. My view rightly or wrongly is rely on yourself to save your own ass at all times. Here we have cold water, limited land access and many other factors that come into play that are often not taken into consideration by new paddlers reading these posts.
A professional athlete or advanced paddler will have more skill, more capabilities. better preparation and may decide quite rightly to assume more risk to get to a goal during training or a race its thier choice and they know what they are up against and they accept the consequences if it turns to sh1t.
This run is not like the Melbourne run, you are paddling across the bay and are up to 2.75km from shore not running 400 or less from the coast. You only have shore access in certain quadrants on the bay to provide support from as kms of the bay are fenced off industrial land this makes you select departure and exit points pretty carfully and we changed departure 3 times due to wind direction.
You do have access to Harbour Control, Water Police, Coast Guard and many other facilities if you need them and they are in very close proximity and with strong relationships you can have immediate response if you need it.
Again my view rightly or wrongly is rely on yourself to save your own ass at all times, take with you whatever you believe is necessary to do it.
If your paddling with others work to the level of the least experienced paddler and keep thier limitations in mind.
This is my view I dont force it on anyone and I like to stay conservative, there is always another day another paddle to be had!
Phill
Thanks for your reply
All sounds really good for that board.
I'm a 12'6 x 30.5 size rider and love my fanatic,
Well done Kristi, mega wind! Well said Phil, totally agree.
I just got a 2nd hand 12'6"x 30.5 Fanatic and love it. Have surfed it a few times up to over head but fat conditions and it is very controlable. Done a couple of light DWs on it and it flys, picks up runners nearly as well as my 16 foot DC. I intend to sell the 16 as the 12'6" is more versatile for this area (Sydney) cause there are heaps of opportunities to surf on it. I also got a 2nd hand 12'6" DC for Robbie. Took him on his first ocean paddle the other day, he was blown away being a km off shore
Wow looks great wish we had a straight run that that around here .... Great effort from kristi also for getting out there
Hey Goatie / Dan,
I remember looking out the window at a macking SW and think "back to sleep" now its get the boards and lets get going!
Kristi and Simondo have comleted a few epic down winders on Corio it seems to funnel the wind in the middle.
Between surfing and racing you get to cover the conditions on just about any day
Robbie will love downwinding and he will smoke it on the DC.
Its great to get out on the raceboards and just paddle for fitness, just need more free time!
