The wind has just hit Beachmere, bureau model reckons it'll be best at Sandstone from late morning onwards and that'll line up with the tide too. You should come for a sail at midday Andrew, give that new board a workout.
I want to sail today, but Pete says every time i turn up the wind goes away, I am going to go anyway.
First good sail for 2 or 3 months battle early to get planning then change board and put a big fin on and have a great afternoon. Good to catch up with all the old crew.
First really windy post winter SE day at Sandstone today, I refuse to call it a 'season' because there's no real excuse for not sailing all year round. Fantastic conditions too, the kiters got into it early as the water started to cover the bank then handed it over to us for afternoon shift. Plenty of wind, I rigged a 6.1 and was never really overpowered so possibly should have used a 7 but still had a cracking day getting more and more used to the Magic Ride. Great to have my learning buddy Adam the Roofer back in the game today after a couple of months of doing god knows what, his mojo was gone for a couple of hours while he was called a girl and got his krap together and then we were back to winding each other up and chasing each other down. Tony regained his mojo straight off the bat today after a few dark weeks where we were scared he was going to set fire to all his sailing gear and take up knitting instead. Duncan came up from the southside with his new board and rig and was left wondering where the footstraps were, apparently you get used to a board when you sail it for 30 years and then buy something new. Gentlemen of leisure Steve and Pete were there too, as always. Pete politely reminding us that he'd sailed 4 out of the last 5 days, nice to be retired hey. Jeff rounded out the Sandstone sailing team by showing up late for a dose of therapy before he takes on a night shift tonight, big kudos for Tony to just keep on sailing the whole afternoon so Jeff had someone to sail with. Brad aka Ballast made a non-sailing appearance using the old "sore elbow I've got to get right before the big golf trip next weekend" excuse, we bought it, there's no way you could ever use that one more than once a year.
Good write up Paddles, what a day, had the headlights on leaving the carpark. Great crowd as always. I am of to bed now I am wrecked but have a grin all over my face!
Haha, great report John! Sounds like it was really good. I was thinking of you guys. It just wouldn't have been right for me going up there without Janet - she would have felt really ripped off. I had a pretty good ride with a couple of mates - I've been trying to learn to be a wheelie king. Just nice slow steady ones, on balance. I was pulling off a few decent ones, but pride comes before a fall. Forgot to stab the rear brake when I went over balance point, panicked and ended up inevitably on my arse with the rear plastics ripped off. Typical!
Top day with the usual suspects, the wind cooperated for a change too. Everyone was either on a new sail or board or both, I tried out my nes second hand 5.6 overdrive which worked well earlier but didn't have enough grunt later in the day and got overtaken by all those new sails and new boards. Looking forward to seeing the pics ballast took too.
Pete - missed a good afternoon at Victoria Point!!! 
Sounds like a great afternoon at Sandstone. Will have to make the trip during the summer.
Mal
Duncan on his new Baby.
Drag race
Pistol Pete
Tony No Friends (Out there)
Starboard!!!
Magic
Thanks for the photos Brad. There's nothing to not like about the Magic Ride, best next board I could have ever hoped for, it just wants to go.
Great to be at Sandstone again
Session this arvo with Adam
He was on a big GO with 7.8 naish, had gone out on smaller gear but the wind eased. Great to see his progress.
I went out on the super lightwind with Ezzy 8.5 (lucky I had a spare mast after breaking my 490 loft rdm on Sunday)
Nicely powered up and working on staying fast out over the chop. I could have gone out on smaller board but I'm on a mission to learn to turn around. Hence the stable choice.
Perfect arfternoon - drop the kids off at their afternoon sports - go sailing - collect them on the way home
Life is great - windsurfing is the best
Cheers Jeff
It's been good to have you back sailing regularly Jeff, I thought we might have lost you there for a bit during the winter months but you're well and truly back in the game now. Would have been fun there this arvo, heaps more fun than work anyway. Our loss is going to be a southside gain with Peter moving down to Thornlands, if there's any wind Pete would be there.
Reading this from my van at Elanda Point, had the entire lake to myself this morning but had to share it yesterday afternoon, I don't mind??
It started to come in so I rigged 8.2 and by the time I was finished rigging it was 6.5 weather so I just dowhauled to the max and went out for some blistering runs. This morning was more sedate, let some downhaul off and cruised around fully planing and enjoying the scenery
great pics Brad, you can be the official sandstone photographer!
Nice work Pete, have a few extra weetbix in the morning to get yourself ready for tomorrow afternoon and Friday.
Thanks for the sail guys, a great afternoon and great write up John
Brad you are a miracle worker with that camera! I'm sure I spent more time in the water than on the board and the photos look like I am smashing it on the new board
It looked to me like I am now the beginner on the new gear and have some catching up to do with everyone. Great to see everyone going brilliantly
Forecast looks promising
Afternoon session from 4 Thursday
Morning session Friday if it all holds together - and I'm able to move after the beating I'm going to get this arvo 
Cheers Jeff
My eyes!!! 
How'd the old gear go?
Might have to drag out the Yellow Strapper and the Pink Wild Winds 5.2 next windy weekend.
Will need to borrow a shirt though. I'm pretty sure Shona threw out all my Hypercolour gear, along with my shiny silver suit.
Where's the volume control on that?
taking my new baby out for the first time, the wind kicked in after about half an hour and it was like meatloaf- a bat outa hell. 
Kept cranking down the 6.6 and had to give it away when I ran out of puff and was blowing my gybes (worse than usual)
Looks good Pete we have a great afternoon at Sandstone John Jeff and myself. Overpowered on our smallest. I was on 5.3 John was on 5.5 not sure what Jeff was on a 5.5 And all over powered.
Where's the volume control on that?
taking my new baby out for the first time, the wind kicked in after about half an hour and it was like meatloaf- a bat outa hell.
Kept cranking down the 6.6 and had to give it away when I ran out of puff and was blowing my gybes (worse than usual)
Oh my goodness Peter, you couldn't help yourself hey. Nice board, does it go fast?
Wild conditions at Sandstone this arvo, sailed with Jeff, Roofer Adam and Kiter Sean. Was the strongest wind I've ever sailed in on a board. I used my 5.5 downhauled ridiculously and it was still too much. Sean described it perfectly " you're overpowered and out of control, yet you can't seem to fall off and can't seem to stop so you just keep going"
Janet and I made it to Golden Beach yesterday - I wrote an unreadably long report here: www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Windsurfing/Queensland/Golden-Beach-Unremarkable-adventures/
