MAIDEN VOYAGE
Did a maiden voyage downwind SUP paddle from Brunswick Heads to Currumbin Alley total kilometres 50kms. I haven’t paddled that distance since the 2008 Molokai Race. I want to go in the Salt Water Festival 30km downwinder in May, organised by Legendary Trevor Hendy so I’d thought I’d better do some training for the race. Going out through Brunswick Heads was bulk scary - lucky it was high tide I was s##ting myself getting towed out by jet ski holding a 17ft SUP. From Brunswick Heads to Cudgen Reef was very ordinary with two different swell directions, some swells looked in the 6 foot range & some really weird currents - like paddling in a washing machine. But got some all time runners from 50 to 200metres, I fell about 4 times from burying the rails.
This was the Marine Forecast: 28.0ºS/153.75ºE Monday 4/5 Breezy white capping conditions with moderate choppy seas. Moderate long period swell.
Winds: S 15 to 20 knots Seas: SE 9 feet at 10 sec
From Cudgen Reef to Cook Island was all time - I needed a seat belt on my F-16 I was going that fast, again got some all time runners some of the best I‘ve ever had. The runners just kept linking up, thinking to myself how good is this I‘m just surfing my F-16.
From Cook Island to Currumbin Alley was like a mini escalator ride I’m thinking thank f##k for that, because my body felt like Wallaby Ted’s brother Roo Ted. I was cramping up in my obliques & inner quads but my shoulders felt fine. I fell twice around Tugun because my body felt F####d. It took me 5 hours & 5 minutes to paddle the 50kms. I’d like to thank Ray my support boat driver for coming along & staying close by. I’m going to do this course again if anybody is keen to come along you’re quite welcome but you’ll need a support boat though because as soon as we start you’ll be on your own, you may see some big fish out there.
see ya in da ocean
DW
Nice.. That's a serious distance for sure... Did the Jet ski follow you?
We did our 60 klm mega down-winder in about 6 hrs so 5 hrs for 50 klms sounds about right.
DJ
Did a maiden voyage downwind SUP paddle from Brunswick Heads to Currumbin Alley total kilometres 50kms
In a word - Impressed!!!!!!!
Wish I was up to that. I have been a thinking of late that I am really missing something with all the chat re downwinders. Seems everyone is loving them. I am yet to do one. As soon as its windy I am doing work......to make time for when its not. And even then I am only using the SUP when the waves are small or crap - which as of the late (bar the last few weeks) has been a constant. When its good I still prefer the shortboard.
Maybe I shall try out a downwinder board for the arvo's here on the northern beaches. Any ideas DJ? I have a 9'5" which will not cut it I imagine. From the sound of it you love the nash 14 - so is that a good entry level downwinder to try?
Well done, Phil! It sounds like you had a great paddle.
Dale and I had very similar conditions for the stretch up till about Cabarita. The wind was blowing fairly hard offshore at Byron and the swell was southerly, which made for 2 swells - this made it very tough going. By the time we were off Brunswick the wind had pushed us about 5km offshore. It was much better after that, however, where wind and swell worked together.
The stretch before Cook island was also good for us and the runs were really big and long. At Cook Island itself it was very messy, even though we were a fairly long way on the sea side of the Island. It just seems to be very bouncy in that stretch. The runs got really good a few km after Cook Island all the way to Burleigh.
I would recommend that anyone wanting to do this kind of paddle has a support boat, like Phil did here. Once you go over 40km you are in marathon territory and you should have some backup available.
Post more pics if you have any.
Cheers - Mike
Excellant work phill!
I plan on doing a longer distance this wkend coming.
Off to do wents bridge and back to shop again this arvo AARRGGHH!
XX angie
Any crew keen meet at shop at 5 this arvo.
G'day Ted the Kiwi
The bigger the Downwind board the better. Remember it takes time just like surfing to be any good at SUP downwind once you learn how to read the runners it becomes bulk fun. When I first got introduced to Downwind paddling in 2003 8kms seemed like for ever. The only reason I'm paddling 50kms because I'm going back to do the Molokai Race in 2012 when I turn 50yo. Other than that 10-20kms is Sufficient (its great fitness you'll see muscles you have'nt see since your early 20's + feel muscles you never thought you had)
DW
PS. save up ya money & get a big 17fter trust me you'll never look back.
Thanks DJ and Phil - apprecaite the advice. I shall try and get my hands on one to see if it is really me. I would love to get a 17 footer but it would not fit in the garage - the joy of living in a unit block!
Yes, Ted
Go for nothing less than 14/15 if you really want to have fun. If you are near the Gold Coast come up and join us for a paddle some time. There are usually spare boards around and we look after novices getting into the sport. Send me your details if you are keen...