Windsurfing Learning Curve

Gooday Chris, whereabouts in Brisbane.?

Hi Peter

How are you mate - we are heading up your way this morning to the Free Race. Im going to save someone else from coming last - thats the kind a guy I am lol

Lots of fun -you should come and join in - its at Sandgate

See you out there

Morgan

Hey Chri, did you get out today? I sailed Bongaree again in the light southerly, barely on the plane with an 8.5

Looking good for Bongaree tomorrow

No wind :-(

Was as hopeing for some Sunday afternoon - will have to wait and see.

I will take my beautiful wife Anita to the city shopping and food - I'm feeling some Brownie points coming for me

The Question is should a Novice/Beginner/intermediate windsurfer go out in strong off shore breeze?

Last Windsurfing Free Race for the season at Sandgate – the inaugural ‘Jetty to Jetty’ Let me set the forecast was 20 – 25 knot westerly winds – that is straight off shore breeze. MMM probably not for a novice like myself and Jaye but, we are up for it. Pack the gear in the trailer and off we go. Smallest decent sail we have is a new 6m Naish sprint – Jaye used that and I rigged the Avanti 6.6m. The problem with that was, the really experienced guys were using 7’s. Anyway we registered, got rigged up and watched with much trepidation as some of the experienced guys went out for a test run. Jaye and I were the least experienced of all sailors there and I could sense the organisers were getting nervous about Jaye and I even being in the race. (rightfully so I must say – I have a diploma in OHS and train in safety for a job) They asked us two withdraw from the race – I would have done the same in their place. Oh well, went out for a sail anyway. All ads to the adventure and experiences of windsurfing.

We had a little trick up my sleeve if I was to run into trouble – tell you later.

Jaye and I discussed how far out we will go and what direction we will head and the wind was gusting big time he headed out first and did really well.

The first race was underway and everyone was smashing it out in the water, incoming tide and off shore winds surely made for rough conditions. We on the other had decided to head in the opposite direction and keep in close. Jaye did well at that but Whoa!!!!!!! I found it really difficult to hang on to the 6.6m sail in that wind and took several goes at getting going. I couldn’t even beach start as I kept on getting thrown straight off the other side of the board – uphauling was the only way and even with that I struggled. Had to be done…. – once moving it was sooooo hard to sheet in or do anything in those conditions – wow But once I had hold of it, stayed on the board – hooked in – both feet in the straps and locked in ———->WOO HOO LETS GO the feeling of acceleration was absolutely exhilarating. How much fun was that 20.98 knots for me and 23.5 for Jaye and climbing.

What was the trick I had up my sleeve????? I am glad you asked……..Ben my older son had bought his Jet Ski down to go out with us for a bit of fun and to make sure we were all good. I am glad he did as I was struggling to get back in. He and mate Gavin came out and lucky for Jason from the Goldy who had rigging failure and was heading very quickly towards Morton Island – as I was being collected by Ben, Gavin shot out and grabbed him. Nice

Having the boys there with the Jet Ski’s made for a great opportunity for Jaye and I, as improvers to actually see for ourselves, why they say not to venture out when it is blowing off shore.

NOTE TO SELF (and all other Improvers) – ‘Don’t go out in off shore breeze’

Very interesting the relationship between off shore winds and a learner beginner novice greenhorn intermediate inexperienced – the answer is THEY DON’T MIX.
Had a great day anyway thanks to all the organizers and sponsor

See you out there
Morgan

I will be at Manly after lunch

At least made it on the water


No wind so no windsurfing last week end – doesn’t look like we will be on the water this weekend

Brownie points – I took my beautiful wife Anita to town for the week end.Friday night after work I get home and say no wind so lets hit the town for the week end. Boss says “bad idea” it was like cyclonic conditions outside, Brisbane was in the middle of a massive monsoon so driving anywhere wasn’t the smartest thing I have done but why not. Threw a couple of things in a bag and off we went – the traffic was horrendous but very slow moving which in light of the conditions was good. Finally we made it to the Brisbane inner city and checked in and beer out quick – Nice

Saturday – the day was perfect, sun is shining and not a cloud in the sky – Petal is keen on going to the mall shopping for the day – sounds good to me – there is still no wind hehe. First stop a lovely walk along Eagle st Board walk looking for somewhere to have breakfast – mm stopped and had a look but not so impressed and a bit hard to go passed the smells from a cafe we encountered on the way – so back there it was to be. Yummy breakfast it was too – bonus.From there it was a long walk to the Queen St Mall – which was really quiet when we got there as it was still quite early – that changed by lunch time. Had to set a plan – no shopping too soon don’t want to carry stuff all day – opps had to buy something so yes carrying stuff all day lol. Had to be done.

After an enjoyable morning of window shopping we decided to take a tour of the City Hall – took about an hour and was very interesting after that, we had a look at the current exhibitions held in the city hall and they were great. I remember it when I was young my mother was always doing something there or organising some events and it was nice to go through with a guide and hear about the history etc. We were going to do the clock tower tour as well but it was booked for hours, next time. After the tour we found somewhere for lunch did some shopping and back to our room for some well earned beer and red wine. A very pleasant day finished with an excellent meal at an Indian restaurant the name of which too hard to even attempt – very hard to recommend. But wait – Mr Google has found it for me ‘Indian Mehfil’

Sunday, a day at South Bank awesome – there was a festival going on, Budha’s birthday nice so lots going on good food – good entertainment – great company all the makings of a lot of Brownie points. Seeing a little bit of a breeze on the river from South Bank I started to wondering why no one has set up a demo/race on the river as part of a summertime festival. I remember a few years ago they did a Wake Boarding demo and comp looked very impressive from South Bank and the city.

We like to play tourist a few times a year right here in our own back yard Brisbane – I think people forget to do that – it is such a nice city to poke around in tourist mode – the mall – the river – southbank – great eating – great shopping and perfect weather. And we got to get out on the water on the free ferry – what more would you want. We had a really nice day wandering around finished off by coffee and feet up at apartment as we had late check out at 5pm – never heard of that before we jumped on it.







As all of us I am hoping for wind this week end - lots of chanting to the wind gods here......mmmmm hay yaa yaa yaa let there be wind

Might have a look at RQ Beach on Saturday

See you out there

Cheers Morgan

Hi Clive.

Went out at Victoria point but not enough wind to fly a kite. Literally. There was a bloke teaching his pre-teen son with a small training kite but could not get it to fly until 3:25, yes I checked the time, that's when a slight gust came along. Found that the old fiberglass board can be up-hauled so it was time well spent.
See you out there

Cheers
Pat O

What!!! Another weekend without wind phew - What is an improver to do - I was considering heading out for a light wind sail but you need at least a light wind for that oh well - chores at home then it is today.

Tomorrow, mum (Anita) has put in a request to go for a sup at Currumbin - The Rio will become a Stand Up Paddle board tomoz

I'm starting to feel as if I have forgotten how to sail

I'm going to take a sail just in case

Cheers
Morgan

Sunday - Mothers Day - No wind day - Supping it is then - Currumbin - nice idea

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO ALL THE MUMS

RQ beach after lunch if the wind comes in - I know it will be low tide but not so far to walk when we finished.