Maybe we all need to think about the RIGHT TIME here. DJ's o.k (I Think?) so I think we all need to be glad of that. Maybe when he's back on his feet and maybe after a little time has past we can all kick this thing around a bit but Jumping in now seems a bit insensitive . Log
I've heard that NAISH are releasing a new board next week .....I wish we had some pictures...... there that should make DJs ears burn!!!!
He probably not posting caus he has an exclusive with a currant affair.
Isn,t hindsight a wonderfull thing , any number of things could have gone wrong you cant cover all possibilities , yes they could have had a safety boat or ski and what if that broke down or capsized?
Their are a whole lot of what if,s!Good on you for trying.
Guys sorry about being a bit slow to post.. I've had a busy day and just got home.. My board's fine.. I've just skipped through the posts and will read them all later.
It's great to be discussing all this because down-winding.. as much fun that it is.. it's something that should not to be taken too lightly.
About yesterdays drama's I'd do it all again tomorrow for sure.. but I'd change one or two things.
1.. I'd make sure all equipment is 100% (I'd known that my new attachment system was a bit dodgie and was looking for another type of shackle) and I'd not take the 'she'll be right mate' attitude.. I didn't expect 50+ knots and the odd waves the size of a house.
2.. I'd insist that we keep closer together and regroup at least 2 or 3 times over that distance.. It can be done IMO even in 50 knots.. The first guy just sits on his board and waits.. The guy behind heads towards him and also sits down when he gets to him and so on till we're all together.
I was having a ball with two thirds behind me the finish line was insight and I was really looking forward to finishing it off in style and catching the guys ahead.. I'd taken up the rear position to make sure all were ok and that no one got into trouble.. I didn't expect that it would be me that would get into trouble.
DJ
DJ, obviously we are very grateful you are still with us.
Next time you plan such an adventure,would you take a
support boat ? and pack a extra legrope ?
Lots of assumptions been thrown on here from too far and too wide,
the steps that took place by those involved on the day after the unfortunate equipment failure were nothing short of fantastic and I'll be feeling safe in the future if I ever come unstuck with this crew around me,
will take a lot away from this run for even bigger and better downwinders still to come,
Cheers.
Simple fact, not enough planning, no support boat ,the cops should throw the book at you,yes I am far and wide but not one of the record seekers has fest up and explained in detail ,or is it a belated April fools joke 
DJ has only surfaced twice and was fine to watch the bike race last night
I have had such an amazing introduction into SUP'ing meeting DJ, Al, Bnaccas, OG Sup, Rea, Rosscoe, Ronny etc: that I was a little taken aback with some of the posts today.
When people bag others out for putting other people in danger I can't help but think this is a bit of a croc of doo doo. Rescuers in whatever field, be it oceanography, mountaineering etc are generally doing their jobs because like us, they love what they do and (unlike me) they are farrrking good at it!!!
People who bushwalk in remote areas in shorts and a tshirt, maybe some jogging shoes and a 500ml bottle of water, no compass or map, might deserve the flogging. On Sunday I believe the guys had a good plan, great gear (bar the leggie), high levels of skill and bay knowledge and numerous people knew what was being undertaken.
Isn't this ALL of what the emergency services ask people to do before they undertake such activities?
If this is all done, then don't the emergency services promote such activities?
One day when my skills (and wife) allows, I plan doing such DW's, and I more than certainly want the aforementioned at my side.
Great work, Great effort, Great Respect!!!
Glad y'all are safe!!!
.. I'm getting there.. I also have heaps of vid that I'd love to post.
Thankyou! the suspense was getting too me... I look forward to hearing the full story as only you could tell it! Mahalo
Select to expand quoteZimbo Reagan said...
CMC just ask Hilly about this bloke.
Just trolls for comments.
Hey Zimbo, I do recall apologizing to your friend, trolling not at all,I just say it as it is.
The problem I have , no support boat.
I've been resisting jumping in, but your last post Makaha is too much! Perhaps we should consult you next time before we do our next downwinder...I'd appreciate your sage and considered advice (not).
If the police want to throw the book at us they have had every chance - they have my name and phone number and we probably spoke to 6 or 7 different officers yesterday. The only recommendation they made to DJ afterwards was to consider having an epirb.
I looked at Simon Dodd's open ocean risk management chart with interest, and believe we had the points covered off - but DJ encountered two equipment failures - his dodgy legrope attachment and his waterproof phone case also flooded. In my view, the single most important thing to guard against is becoming detached from your board.
Sure, we have to learn from it, but in my view Cammo summed it up beautifully.
thought I'd cross pollinate from other topic.
Having done my fair share of stupid things though the beginning of kiting, I would say definitely stupid. BUT! How do you know fast fast is until you go fast, how do you know how big big is until you see it, how do you know what pain is until you feel it, if a tree falls in the woods and no one is around to hear it fall... did it make a sound? only if some stupid idiot is hanging around in the woods!
Don't hurt anyone else, don't waist anyone else's time or money, be man enough to fix it yourself (unless it's 10,000 volts in high tension powerlines), it's all good. Every sport has to have some one take it to the next level once. I definitely don't recommend we all go out in rediculous conditions to see if we die, but sometimes it's good to open the envelope, but just be prepared.
Foolish for not having a support boat = YES
Admirable for giving it a go when so many other high wind downwinders have been successful = YES (IMO)
Danger is everywhere. We all know from statistics that speeding in cars is dangerous, and so many people die every day from it, but can you honestly say that you have never sped? or pushed the amber/red light theory?
This is not an invite to stupid behaviour, but a great experience for DJ to share and a valuable lesson learnt..... Get a proper leash or learn to swim faster rookies!
JB
Should have said Casso summed it up beautifully....sorry. I was obviously still blinded by Makaha's insightful conclusion.
I'd like to think that we could all learn something from this and take steps to improve the safety of the sport, so the next time some accident happens - ie equipment failure/injury it doesn't end up on the news or worse.
For a bay crossing in the conditions we saw on Sunday a support boat would not be practical. Maybe some sort of buddy system, staying closer together or regrouping may have helped. DJ even said that himself.
Personally, after reading all the comments and weighing up what occurred on Sunday and if we want to learn anything from it I'd say that Gorgo's post is pretty spot on:
hi all. Firstly it has been great reading all the posts today. Lots of drama. The thing I think people are forgetting is sup is whatever you want to make of it. I had a paddle under the cliffs of beaumauris round past rickets on saturday. calm water, great fun for me. Thats what I want out of supping. To DJ and team port philip dw's my hats off to you because thats what you want out of sup and I think its great that you share your experiences so we all appreciate how sup can be applied for our own needs. I'll keep cruising the flat water and finding my own solo adventures to enjoy this sport/hobby/ yoga on water/relaxing therapy.
BTW where did all this talk of 50 knots come from?
I only got between 22 to 33 knots and a spike over 35
for a short period.
I take nothing away from the brave guys, but lets not
get caught up like the press and blow things out of proportion.
My little Hydrofield 7.45 ate that stuff, I worked 150 - 200 days / yr for 7 yrs on PPB.
These are still used by the Aussie Navy in the gulf.
Side opening dive door make for easy rescue.
Phill
I sold it when we moved to OG that must have been a Homer moment!
i'll like to hear from the other guys on how they went assuming they didn't know what happen to dj.it sounds like a pretty hardcore run. seems like dj was going ok. dw-er's can be heaven and hell in the blink of an eye
cheers
big thing in these situations is never leave your wingman! Maybe had DJ wingmen been closer, they may have caught the board, or aided him to safety?
.
