Monday:-
Great afternoon sailing out of pacific harbour with pope john and Adam. First time for Adam and I.
Ezzy 9.5 Lion and JP SLW. perfect sail perfect board awesome flat water conditions. Thanks to Andysails at Windsurfinggear for the new Ezzy quiver.
My new NE low tide venue - long planing runs. Wind more consistant than Turners Camp and less stress about running aground
Life is great
Cheers Jeff
Se winds on Wednesday - mid morning tide at Sandstone Pt
Wednesday
Light winds low tide - where to sail???
Encouraged by JV Jonn and Bribie John (pope) decided to tackle the swell of Bribie passage (launch from Sth esplanade- Bongaree) to play in the flat water out by the shallows way in front of sandstone pt.
When I arrived yes it looked flat but where was the wind??
I saw John coming in on his JP SLW with a small sail (7.5 Ezzy) which indicated there must have been wind
(3 goes at getting photo correct orientation - I give up)
He had been out earlier on his new 9.5 Ezzy Cheeter (shock Horror John using a big sail ). Says he gave in and decided big will give him much more TOW. He reports a very pleasing result. The thought of John getting more TOW when he is out every windy day is retirement bliss
Anyhow decided to rig the 9.5 Lion and go out searching. The wind had gone East and the shore was in a bit of a shadow.
Cautioned to take it easy out through the swell - felt like I was sailing out through the Himalayas
I met up with JV John out over the flat water. He was in his Big Board - old school F2 Sputnik 120l with 8m sail
Had a lot of fun chasing John back and forth. I'm sure he slowed occasionally to let me catch him. Lovely venue able to stand up at either end of the runs. Even managed a carve Gybe ( that's 3 completed carve gybes now - I'm counting 2000 to go! )
After a couple of long tacks back I managed to get high enough have a go at planing in back over the swell of the passage. What an exciting ride - wahoo. All went well - heart in mouth kind of well until the wind shadow coincided with me coming off the plan and then planting the nose of the board into the next wave. Perled myself over the front - almost ready for the forward loop. No damage - just a difficult start uphauling and getting going in the swell
A slow sail back to the beach - such a great afternoons sailing
Thanks to the two Johns for encouragement and support
Life is great
Cheers Jeff
Well done Jeff. Was hoping to post that before your post. Good to see you discovered why we sail there and that you are challenging yourself . And ME. Can,t get too complacent with u on the chase it seems . Perhaps I can trick u into chasing me half way on my next downwinder to sandstone so you can then decide u might as well go all the way. And help me convince a few of the boys and Janet too join us. Cars at either side is a possibility for the weary or tide getting too low for return trip.
Yes the low tide option but don,t try the crossing under half tide unless you feel like walking part way. And anyone considering sailing there should know that there are outer banks about 1km west of the inner green beacon blus a nice sandy foothold 50 to 100 metres northwest of it. With shallow ( BUT CLEAR) water between. Yes u can see the sea bed and marine life . BUT UNDER 0.5 Mt extreme caution is needed with big fins and the undulating but firm and broad outer bank exposes under 0.3 mt tide. It creates a flat downwind speed run in the shallows behind it (At your own risk without depth checks) I walked it for over a km following it toward beachmere . Though there is still plenty of deep water south of it toward scarborough and south of the green beacon at the passage .
Yes Jeff. Life is awesome whilst out there isn"t it. Even the turtles seem to agree so keep in mind,,,They found it first and they have tougher fins and BOOM protectors than yours to prove it.
Safe and Happy Sailing.JV.
Had a 0830 exam this morning so was down the beach by 1130 to check out the already building 10+kn NE breeze. Got on the phone to Adam and Jeff to see if they wanted to give Philip Street a try and it was a date. I rigged the 8.5 for the Magic and got into the water first whilst the other guys were still on the way over. First few runs were a bit slow but then it started to come in a bit and was quite good. Adam used his 8.5 and the 150 GO and that was a perfect combo for him, he was sailing as good as I have ever seen him sail. Jeff took a bit longer thanks to his Navman trying to take him to Moreton Island instead of Beachmere but he finally got there and rigged a 9.5 on his JP SLW board. Quite testing NE sideshore/onshore conditions at first that eased a bit as the tide dropped and the wind swung more north, Adam and I had the waves sussed a bit, however Jeff was doing a few wheelstands on the SLW as the chop really didn't suit that board. Anyway, it was an awesome little high tide session with nice clean water and sand beneath the feet, pouring down sunburn, happy Friday and time for a nap.
Great hightide sail at Beachmere today with John and Jeff a little bumpy but all good. I'm hoping to sail Turner's camp tomorrow if there's wind at high tide.
I'm on family BBQ duties tomorrow but am keeping my eye on Sunday arvo for another Beachmere high tide session. BOM model shows the wind coming through D'bay and Redcliffe again from the NE and high tide is around 2ish.
Will be there about 13.00 hrs adam. hopefully earlier as wanting to use the high to sail north of the creek behind banks toward Toorbul. Sussed it out by kayak on the low so I know where to go and tried it next day but was running out of water. long flat runs all the way to the little sandy beach of southern most Toorbul that u can see from turners. plus a channel thru to visit the pope on his runs from pacific harbour. It is an easy sail upwind but there is a couple of no go zones so if anyone wants to follow me I can point them out.
Pleasant afternoon sailing this arvo at Beachmere. The wind never really came in like elsewhere in the bay but it was still a pretty cruisy sail, zipping around here and there and catching a few little swells and just being at the beach. Jeff dropped over late for a bit of beach time after a sunday nap, no sailing for him but he's more than earned a rest after him sailing for the last 4 or 5 days. Looks like a few days of big northerlies coming up.
Had a sail off Pacific Harbour in light wind hoping the wind would pick up. Took 15 minutes to slug across to the Avon wreck. The wind did not pick up and because I was selling offshore it took me an 1 hour and 15 minutes to get back. I thought I was going to end up at Turner's camp on the other side of the passage but I just thought I have got all afternoon to make it back. Pope John had a little bit of trouble getting back but not as much as me.
Bwahaha, Pete always said it could be sketchy getting back there. Nice afternoon for bobbing around in the passage though Adam. I'm getting a Windsup for those conditions.
Anyone sailing anywhere in the morning?
Heading to Wind Wanderers at Golden Beach on Sunday, but have a window of opportunity earlyish tomorrow.
Was going to Paddles secret spot (shhhh) but sounds like he is going to get his hair done or something instead now, and apparently they don't take kindly to strangers over there. So looking at options.
Hoping to get to Turner's camp around lunchtime and will be able to sail for a couple of hours at low tide just have to walk out to the sand spit.
Great to read these reports. We have been really nose down bum up with a very taxing work schedule for a month now, and still more coming, but easing. However our windsurfing intentions have again gone awry due to me being injured (again, again, ...)
Last Thursday I went for a dirt bike ride with a friend at another mate's property and while warming up and playing around on some trials-ey obstacles I stalled on top of a tractor tyre and fell off to the right. I'd already been over that tyre about 6 times that day, and fallen off quite a few times too, so I wasn't worried. But as my right shoulder hit the deck I felt a crunch/snap and instantly knew I'd done something bad to my shoulder. Must have just been a bad angle to hit it, and the body armour didn't help.
It's now been a week and my AC joint is really painful, affecting sleep a lot and stopping me doing the more physical side of our work (thanks for good assistants who can step in). So I'm a bit glum that it's the weekend and there won't be any riding OR windsurfing. I have been wanting to get back up to Sandstone and show off our new boards to you guys, check out Jeff's new sails and his apparent gybing prowess, etc etc.
Interesting to hear about the different sailing areas Jonno ... I can't quite work out where you mean but it sounds good. It would be great to get a google earth photo and draw some lines on it ...
Soon!
It's a pedicure alright, I just like being pampered when there's no wind. Anyway, I'm going to buy a beach barge tomorrow morning I reckon and then I'll have the last laugh when I'm cruising past in 5kn winds with a 6m sail and a pina colada with a little umbrella.
I'm ready for more
Turners camp around lunchtime
More FFF BFS. or have a break and just enjoy my bad BFF habits
Miss the Avb collective.
No wind early, so started onto some brownie point accumulation. Hope if you are over there that the breeze kicks in.
See those of you who are going at GB tomorrow.
pleasant light wind sail this arvo at Turners Camp
I had spent afternoon moving straps inboard on the Fanatic Stingray so that I could continue my FFF BFS odyssey in the predicted high winds.
Arrived with the thunder and lightening making its way past - taking the wind with it.
Met up with Brent a Bribie local who is getting back into windsurfing after 12 years away - converting back from Kites.
After storm passed I set up a the Start to get Brent out on the water for some lightwind reintroduction to windsurfing.
Perfect afternoon for it. Brent quickly re-found his old skills and was back in the harness and practicing tacks and gybes.
I was watching and decided he was OK so did some lightwind sailing myself.
cheers Jeff
Mid morning high tide and 0-5kn conditions this morning so a great opportunity to try out part two of my two board quiver, the BIC Windsup. Not exactly the greatest conditions as the wind wasn't constant but it was a cracking morning down the beach at Philip Street. First impressions are that it's not as good performance wise as Jane's Longtail Rio that I used in the September school holidays, it doesn't feel as stiff and feels more like the flex of a Malibu surfboard. But as a general purpose, lightwind board that kids and adults won't be able to destroy, this thing's the bomb. I rigged a 7m sail, cruised the sand banks and just dropped the rig and sat down to enjoy the vista when the wind dropped right out. As usual, it was just me and the jelly fish with a few kayakers down the beach a bit. Adam was having a bit of a sleep in and the WW guys were off to Golden Beach today. I think it's time for the SS crew to drag out the longboards, 6m sail limit, and put a bit of a longboard marathon on the schedule, maybe Beachmere to Bribie or Sandstone? Tomorrow is forecast as 15kn WSW through the morning with a mid morning high again, I might have to beg the boss for a couple of hours off and fire up the Magic.
The boss let me sail again for a few hours this morning instead of working. Got to Philip Street around 8am, rigged a 7.8 and got monstered on the Magic. Gusty 10-15 WSW inshore with 15-20 SSW once you got 400m or so offshore and some good little swells to surf along. Did a couple of runs out and back to the beach having to let off pressure the whole way just to stay under control before coming in and rigging a 7. Did a few runs with the 7 which was perfect before Jeff showed up and the wind started to slowly drop again so ended up back with the 7.8 again for a while before the inshore wind dropped out almost completely other than bomb gusts. Jeff was using his trusty Fanatic Ray which I was glad to see as the conditions were quite testing and I know he's very comfy on that board. I had to head home and so left Jeff a km or so offshore playing around in the wind line, he rang to let me know he made it back in ok and had a couple of ripping runs. After learning to sail in the passage and Sandstone Point over the last 12 months I'm enjoying the more open water out the front of Beachmere it's a bit of a challenge and it's great to have Jeff and Adam coming over to push themselves outside their comfort zones with me too.
Interesting experience today.
Great to go sailing with you John
Posted video in the shortboard thread
SE winds predicted. - hoping to get out to sandstone point over the next few days
Cheers Jeff
Interesting experience today.
Great to go sailing with you John
Posted video in the shortboard thread
SE winds predicted. - hoping to get out to sandstone point over the next few days
Cheers Jeff
Yeah, it's a different spot hey Jeff? A lot more open than Sandstone, I wouldn't want to sail with much more south in the wind than today, it'd be too rough. I've only sailed there a couple of times through winter with a westerly, that's the first good SW blow today and by far the strongest wind I've sailed it. I've sailed it in NE over the last couple of weeks and been pretty happy with how it handles that too as it seems to get more wind than Turner's Camp. I'm impressed how you sailed the wind line right out today when I had to take off home, it looked like the wind changed direction out there and had a lot more west in it. Thanks for coming up, I really enjoyed the sail today.
Got it up to over 65 kg with a long (wet) tie paddles. And a bottle of water. But keep burning it off uncontrollably. Anyone got a weight belt for sail. Or do l just OD iron supplements. Have Wednesday off so for now l,LL just be there with
BELLS ON wed arvo clinging to the 7 trying to hold down the floaty wide JP in that chop. Found the nice flat run up the creek entry worth having big sail up for though. So don,t be alarmed by the bell dings when u turn up later. Its not a shark alarm or mister whippy on water.
People don't realise how quick we lightweights can get overpowered.. I'm usually 63-65kgs but after 6 months off with a broken ankle I'm more like 66-67kgs. I noticed last sail with the extra kilos + a 2 ltre camelback the board hugged the water much better in the stronger winds we had! ( pretty flatwater speedsailing).,I imagine it would also be much easier in chop. No wonder heavyweights like strong winds!
I'm 99kg and learnt to sail on a nice heavy Starboard Express, the extra kg's certainly made things a bit more stable when the wind got up. There have been a few people who were amazed at how well the big Express went in our nasty bay chop considering its 100cm width. Christmas is coming, get stuck into the fruit mince pies and a few rums and you'll be up to 70kg in no time
Adam having a quick test ride of my floaty Rio today at Sandstone Point.
Not much wind but hope for more on Thursday.
Howdy Rio, everyone's getting keen for Thursday so you should have company at Sandstone if you're back up our way.
Great to read the reports while I've been away, so far I've purchased a 370 fin for the jp 65 a 9.0 for those light wind days and am looking for a 490 mast for the new severe ncx 9.0
keep the reports and pics and videos coming!!!