DAY 1
Well the week has started with a bang, this morning we had a beautiful sunny sky with 15-20 K WSW. perfect for the lagoon.
Pete put up his 6.2 Gaastra & I had a Naish Sprint 6.6, we were both comfortably powered up and had a fantastic 'first sail of the week'.
I was wondering where the boards & sails Sam from WindsurfnSnow had sent over when someone said they were up at 'The Top Shop'. I was like a kid in a candy store when i was unpacking the JP Supersport 100L & JP RWW 74L as well as Pryde zone 4.2, Alpha 4.7 & 7.2 Hellcat. Good on you Sam.
Ian arrived in the afternoon and came down to the shed to have a quick late arvo' blow the flight cobwebs away sail'. He jumped on the Jp & the 7.2 and away he went...i am definitely going to have to work on my gybes after seeing this guy sail.
I'll keep you guys updated as we go but i just thought I'd dangle this forecast in front of you.
Keep in mind anything from W,WSW,SW,SSW is perfect for Lord Howe.
BUOYWEATHER.COM Virtual Buoy Forecast
Location : 31.33S 159.05E
Model Cycle: 2008 AUG 10 00Z
Time Zone: GMT + 10 hours
-------------------------------------------------------------
SURF SURF DIR SWELL PERIOD WIND WND/DIR
(ft) (deg) (ft) (sec) (kts) (deg)
------- -------- ----- ------ ------- -------
8/10 10am 3 - 6 SSW 197 7.1 7.5 12 - 16 WSW 258
8/10 4pm 2 - 5 S 186 6.2 7.5 16 - 21 NW 326
8/10 10pm 2 - 4 W 271 6.8 5.5 15 - 21 W 270
8/11 4am 2 - 5 WSW 244 7.5 6.6 17 - 24 WNW 283
8/11 10am 4 - 9 WSW 246 10.7 7.6 23 - 31 W 265
8/11 4pm 6 - 13 WSW 245 13.1 8.4 23 - 31 W 260
8/11 10pm 7 - 14 WSW 238 13.5 9.0 18 - 24 WSW 235
8/12 4am 6 - 13 WSW 234 12.4 9.0 18 - 25 SW 225
8/12 10am 5 - 11 WSW 230 11.4 8.7 14 - 19 SW 217
8/12 4pm 5 - 11 SW 221 10.7 8.7 12 - 16 WSW 244
8/12 10pm 5 - 10 SSW 205 9.8 9.0 11 - 15 WSW 252
8/13 4am 4 - 9 SSW 199 8.9 8.9 15 - 20 WSW 253
8/13 10am 4 - 8 SSW 207 8.6 8.6 16 - 22 WSW 254
8/13 4pm 4 - 9 SW 214 9.0 8.4 15 - 21 W 261
8/13 10pm 4 - 9 SW 216 9.3 8.6 13 - 17 WSW 239
8/14 4am 6 - 13 SSW 207 11.2 9.9 18 - 24 WSW 240
8/14 10am 8 - 16 SSW 207 12.5 10.8 15 - 20 W 263
8/14 4pm 9 - 19 SSW 204 13.7 11.9 19 - 26 W 265
8/14 10pm 13 - 27 SSW 204 14.6 15.7 19 - 26 WSW 259
8/15 4am 13 - 26 SSW 202 15.7 13.9 20 - 27 W 261
8/15 10am 14 - 28 SSW 202 17.5 13.5 21 - 29 W 271
8/15 4pm 14 - 29 SSW 202 18.6 13.0 24 - 33 WSW 253
8/15 10pm 13 - 27 SSW 206 19.0 12.2 17 - 23 SW 213
8/16 4am 12 - 25 SSW 205 17.5 12.1 14 - 19 SW 229
8/16 10am 10 - 21 SSW 204 15.2 11.8 15 - 21 W 266
8/16 4pm 10 - 21 SSW 201 15.4 11.9 20 - 27 WSW 238
8/16 10pm 11 - 23 SSW 197 15.9 12.3 15 - 20 WSW 236
8/17 4am 11 - 23 SSW 195 15.7 12.2 17 - 23 WSW 231
8/17 10am 11 - 22 SSW 195 15.6 12.1 17 - 23 WSW 235
Don't want to jinx us, but.....
This trip is organised strictly for love not money.
Great to see you guys over there have a Gnaraloo to play in. You would have to thank Tim for the effort, well done
great to hear it all came together, bit gutted i couldnt make it in the end.
put a few runs in for me!
DAY 2
This mornings session was averaging 30 K so Dave the local weather guy/windsurfer said and it really felt like it.
Pete was having a bit of a rest from climbing one of the hills today so it was left to Ian & I to take on the quite intense conditions. We had a great 1 1/2 on the water with frequent rests because it was pretty challenging stuff...but unreal fun. The last few runs we had before lunch were particularly full on and we were both overpowered.
We broke for lunch vowing to return in the arvo for another go. Rather than abate, the wind had probably picked up a bit as had the tide, so the chop coming over the lagoon made sailing pretty much a survival thing. Still very invigourating but it was still fair to say that we were blown off the water in the end.
I was on a WindsurfnSnow borrowed NP Alpha 4.7/77L Freewave & Ian was maxed on his 5.0/Naish Supercross 93L.
It was another great days sailing.
Pete & Ian are climbing the big mountain you see in the background tomorrow, so it's a day off sailing for them...I, on the other hand will be out again for the forecast 15-20Ks, a little more civilised after todays caning.
I'm thing the "Australian Slalom Nationals" over there?....Is it difficult to transport equipment?
Hi Brett, freight can be a problem and like everything these days that is a fuel based industry is getting more expensive. You can send things over ex Yamba on the ship or there is a freight plane that flies out of Port macquarie. Qantas flies to the island and you can bring your gear over with them but you have to realise that some might be labelled excess and might not come on that flight.
It would be fantastic to see some sort of event over here but logistically you might be a bit challenged.
DAY 3:
i've yet to see the other guys today as they did the Mt Gower walk- 8 hrs round trip. We'll be meeting in the morning down at the sailing club anticipating another good day.
I had a great arvo sail testing out the Supersport 100L with my 5.7 Hellcat. Very tasty combo.
Here is Buoy weather predicts for the next few days.
8/13 4am 5 - 10 SW 210 9.6 9.0 16 - 21 WSW 252
8/13 10am 4 - 9 SW 214 9.5 8.5 18 - 25 WSW 253
8/13 4pm 4 - 9 SW 217 9.8 8.2 17 - 24 WSW 252
8/13 10pm 5 - 11 SW 216 11.0 8.8 16 - 21 SW 221
8/14 4am 7 - 15 SSW 209 12.8 10.3 13 - 18 WSW 238
8/14 10am 8 - 17 SSW 207 13.5 11.1 18 - 24 W 262
8/14 4pm 9 - 18 SSW 207 13.5 11.4 21 - 29 W 267
8/14 10pm 10 - 21 SSW 203 14.5 12.3 20 - 28 W 261
8/15 4am 15 - 30 SSW 200 17.6 14.2 23 - 31 W 272
8/15 10am 16 - 32 SSW 204 19.5 14.0 23 - 31 W 269
8/15 4pm 16 - 32 SSW 204 20.5 13.4 22 - 30 WSW 233
8/15 10pm 15 - 31 SSW 207 20.6 12.8 18 - 24 SW 221
8/16 4am 13 - 27 SSW 206 18.4 12.5 13 - 18 WSW 232
8/16 10am 12 - 24 SSW 204 16.7 12.3 14 - 19 WSW 255
8/16 4pm 11 - 23 SSW 202 16.2 12.3 20 - 27 WSW 243
8/16 10pm 11 - 23 SSW 201 15.8 12.2 17 - 23 WSW 231
8/17 4am 11 - 22 SSW 200 15.4 12.1 16 - 22 SW 219
8/17 10am 10 - 21 SSW 200 15.0 12.0 17 - 23 SW 220
8/17 4pm 10 - 20 SSW 200 14.2 11.9 18 - 25 SW 212
8/17 10pm 9 - 19 SSW 199 13.6 11.8 18 - 24 SSW 191
Catch you all tomorrow.
DAY 4
The day started with less wind so 6.6 Sprint & 6.7 RS Slalom were rigged, a few runs were had before Ian & Pete were changing down, first to 5.8/5.4 & then to the by now familiar 5.0/4.7 combo. In the end we had yet another day averaging about 25-28K. Sailed ourselves stupid.
My legs were like jelly and I probably should have stopped sailing 2 hrs before I did.
Sounds like a great spot, do you go every year or is this a one off. Is it organized by WindsurfnSnow.
This is the inaugural event. I have organised it(loosely) and WindsurfnSnow have provided new Pryde & JP gear for us to use. The plan is to have it every year and maybe even for a couple of weeks. The guys who have come over are absolutely stoked.
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the drum on DAY 5 while I'm at it:
Again we had 25-30K so went straight to 4.7 09 Alpha & the other guys were on 5.0 Zone & 5.0 Retro. We decided to get out of our now familiar reach and go upwind to the reef.
we ended up at low tide screaming straight down the line of the reef with the big swells coming through with dead flat water in between. Going broad and throwing the big hero gybe on the blue bits(deeper if you go over the front!) It was the best sail I have ever had & I think the other guys will probably back me up. The plan is to go out there tomorrow. Fore cast is the same but maybe bigger swell.
Here is a few more photos from the day before. Unfortunately I don't have any from today but I think if i did we would be totally overrun with windsurfers in the next few days!
AAArrrrrggggggggggghhhhhhh
I hate winter in Sydney (& that's warm cf to Vic & Tassie)
Are you sure you didn't enhance the blue of that water?? 
Yep you're right Moby, Lord Howe has a temperate climate. It is probably about 3 degrees warmer than Sydney and doesn't get down to the same cold at night. In the summer the average temp is around 26-27 deg. Not too hot, not too cold. My friend Jack(just getting into kiting) who has taken all these photos I've been putting up has sent a few more so I can give you guys more of an idea of where we are. Island lies roughly North/South.The lagoon is on the western side of the island. The big mountains are in the South.
Its a gorgeous place for sure. My mum and dad started going there in 1956 on the old flying boat from Rose Bay. Heaps of them used to go over for the diving and spearfishing. I remember my dad telling me they used to lie on the bottom of the lagoon in about 10-12 feet of water and watch as the flying boat took off over them
I was only a tacka when I went but still remember that water colour.
DAY 6
Well the wind didn't want us to get in a rutt or anything....yesterday was changing down to the next sail size. Ian was on a Zone 4.5 & I was testing out a new Zone 4.2 with my Fanatic Freewave 77L. Wind was 30-38K and we were heading out to our newly discovered playground out by the reef. The island has been having huge swell so the waves are breaking on the reef and reforming at the spot we've been sailing. So you have these great swells coming in with flat water in between, another awesome days sailing was had. The 4.2 Zone felt really good.
Hopefully today Jack is going to come out to Blackburm Island and take some pictures of the spot I've been talking about.
Forecast:
8/16 4am 13 - 26 SSW 204 17.7 12.4 17 - 23 WSW 235
8/16 10am 12 - 24 SSW 203 16.4 12.2 16 - 21 WSW 250
8/16 4pm 10 - 21 SSW 202 15.2 12.0 19 - 26 WSW 256
8/16 10pm 10 - 21 SSW 200 15.2 11.7 21 - 29 WSW 233
8/17 4am 10 - 20 SSW 201 15.7 11.0 19 - 26 WSW 232
8/17 10am 10 - 21 SSW 201 16.1 11.0 21 - 29 SW 228
8/17 4pm 11 - 22 SSW 203 16.6 11.1 20 - 28 SW 225
8/17 10pm 11 - 23 SSW 203 17.0 11.5 18 - 24 SW 217
Check ya.
Mate, you should be working for the Lord Howe Island tourist information centre or perhaps get a nice public service job from the NSW Tourism Department.
There would be very few people reading this thread and seeing the pictures who could think of a nicer place to spend August. Its too beautiful there.
If possible at the end of all this terrible time you are having could you give us a ball park figure of whats its cost the visitors to actually do this trip, transfers from NSW and accomadation etc.
Just a rough idea for a couple.Thanks
Something to work towards for next year.
Not Ian but the one who booked the airfare & accomm. (I was told to read this blog for news)
Airfare -650 ex Sydney return
Accom -at milky Way -a studio for 2 but only Ian there 100 per night. normally 125 but on special.I graciuosly donated my airfare so he could stay another week. Thats how fantastic am.
food is more expensive than mainland . Took some of the equip via the fruit & veg plane from Pt Maquarie. not sure of costs but delivery was addressed it to tim's restuarant The Pandanus (?) & of course Tim is a celebrity there so all arrived aok.
Given one has to eat everywhere -$2050 for 14 days which one could cut if shared accom.
My recommendation- remember long time looking at that lid.
Remember -long time looking at that coffin lid.
DAY 7
falling behind with the blog...getting weary. Pete had an early sail before having to get ready to fly out. He very kindly offered to take Sam's RWW & Alpha 4.7 back to him on the plane. he obviously had no trouble doing that.
This day was 20-25 WSW, Ian rigged 5.8 NP Race sail with his Tabou 115, I was slightly more conservative and rigged 5.0 natural with my 93L FSW. We went straight out to 'the spot' where once again it was pumping, swell & flat water. Ian was having a ball going round Blackburn island and then doing an upwind leg to get back out to 'the spot'. I was content to cruise the swells, feeling a little reticent to brave the breaking swell & rocks round the island. Ian wasn't having any trouble doing it though and we both decided it would be an excellent race/slalom course. We broke for lunch & one of the local sailors Duncan joined us for the arvo session. He is just learning but is improving very quickly. Wind had picked up so I changed down to my 08 84L FSW....much better. We had another 1 1/2 hrs sailing and then headed for the shed.
Ian was happy to have been able to get on his 'big gear'.
Another excellent day. Legs have finally got used to doing this much sailing.
Thanks Julie for that reply re costs. Ian sent all his gear over via Port Mac & the freight plane. I think you can easily bring one board sails & rig on QantasLink. Do not listen to them regarding the'230 cm rule'! If you want to bring 2 boards i would say send one via Port Mac & bring the other with you on the plane.
DAY 8
We met on the arvo for the low tide, wind was 30-40K so we rigged 4.5 & 4.2. It would have been quite easy to not go out but...we had to at least give it a go. had a few runs before deciding it was indeed... too windy. We derigged but then it started to abate a little, we decide to wait for the front to go over and then see what happens. In the end we rig 5.0's, Ian on his Naish Supercross & me on my 77L Fanatic FW. We have a few runs before the next squall comes and i have to take cover. We end up sailing for an hour before calling it quits.
That brings to end the inaugural Lord Howe Winter Trip. 8 days straight of wind & fun. Ian is here for the rest of this week. Today the wind is light with the possibility of a big sail sail later on.
Thanks all for the interest.
Feel free to contact me if anyone is interested in sailing on the island. I'm thinking of getting some gear together for people to use.
Thanks for that, I should be living in NSW by this time next year so it is definatly on the cards, Just need to find understanding Boss,
Just got back after a fabulous week on Lord Howe island, sailing, climbing mountains, and site seeing. The sailing was unreal, 20 to 30 knots on shore every day, sailing in a very picturesque lagoon. A little bit choppy at high tide but from medium to low, really good.
My wife and I climbed Mt. Gower, which is 875 metres (8 hour trip with a guide)
My wife, didn't sail, but she still had a great time cycling and walking round the island while us guys were sailing.
It cost us just under $3000 for the two of us. That included airfares, accommodation, food, dining out a few nights, and extras for tours, etc.
That doesn't include freight charges for getting sailboard gear over there.
There is a baggage weight allowance of 14 kg, plus 4 km carry-on baggage. maximum length is 2 metres.
We flew from Sydney on a Dash 8 plane, 32 seater propeller. If it is not full these restrictions may be relaxed.
Food is more expensive on the island. We took some basics over with us. A main course at a restaurant cost approx. $20 - $25.
You can cook your own at most accommodation places.
A fabulous week. Thanks heaps to Tim, local sailor.
Next time, I will look at other freight options.
Just back, that's the windiest fortnight I've copped ever. At any time, any place anywhere. Overall we had 10 sailing days out of the 15. For 8 of those days it was 5.0 or less. Well done Tim on taking the first step towards establishing Lord Howe Island as a recognised windsurfing destination. Thanks for the support WindsurfnSnow.
It's got all the ingredients - wind, a bit of chop, a bit of swell, a bit of smooth - ( almost speed sailing smooth for a good broad reaching nautical mile from Blackburn Island towards the base of Mt Lidgbird). Might even have a bit of wavesailing potential out on the reef for the more adventurous?
On the less windy days there's plenty to see and do. Snorkeling in a marine reserve, where fishing is banned, is pretty amazing. Very interesting forests, geology, weather and other world heritage stuff to take in.
Tim's planning another event for this time next year, go, you'll have a great time.
