Winter Summary + Vic Wave Series

This photo pretty much sums up winter - flippin the world off in frustration.
A whole winter of close to zero wavesailing conditions when we usually get our best wind and swells... It's been really really bad.

At least there has been some wind over the past few days, was nice to get planing powered up for once. Today went to Phillip Island but unfortunately the predicted 3-4ft swell didn't arrive and it was about 1ft. Still better than nothing I guess... It seems as though Spring should be off to a good start in the upcoming days, looks like we will actually get something proper.

Some pics from today trying out the 6cm and 13cm K4 combo - works pretty well in tiny waves.



Anyway the Victorian Wavesailing Series has officially started going from September through to March. Hopefully we will get some better wind this year and get a few decent events in the bag - check it out.
http://www.vicwavesailing.org/
http://www.facebook.com/VicWaveSeries

Surf

Still no wind here but at least it looks like the drought is finally going to break this week! Fingers crossed.

Surf has been really good over the past week.

Bizarre

This winter has been really strange so far. Last week it was 23 degrees, hot and sunny!
It looks like all the low pressure systems keep tracking up Western Australia instead of heading across the Great Australian Bight to Victoria and Tasmania.
Because of this we haven't been getting any significant swell or wind...

Big swell for WA - no swell for us...


Haven't had a really good wavesail for nearly 3 months, looks like we are going to have wait at least another week, when the low pressures hopefully start heading our way.
Had two decent surfs last week, when there was a bit of a pulse so at least I've got in the water...

Tasmania Article + Photos

Got a 6 page article from the Tasmania trip that has been out in the June issue of Windsurf UK and should be out in Australia very soon. Here is a look -






Some higher res images from the trip - Bluff Beach, Green Point Beach and Nettley Bay.

30+ knots and some mast high close outs...

The wind has been good again this week, but Monday was particularly nuts. Ended up down at Woolamai which is a very open beach on Phillip Island, when we got there it looked really fun - about 25 knots and logo high sets. It was good for a while then the wind and waves stepped it up a notch after about half an hour. It just ended up being a survival session combined with lots of swimming! Super maxed out on my 4.2 to the point of not being able to bottom turn. Got smashed quite a few times and lost my gear repeatedly! Good fun...

Few screen shots of Jon and I - Thanks to Rob for coming down.






Before we headed home we had a look at this nice reef break that is high on my list of places to sail next.


Also the new SHQ facebook page is up and running so join that to keep updated with all the local windsurfing, SUP and kite news - www.facebook.com/SHQBoardsports

13th beach and The Island

We have been getting quite a lot of wind over the past week but none of it has eventuated to anything epic. Wind directions have always been not quite right...

The day at 13th ended up being super hard work, very very offshore wind so there was literally zero knots on the inside and 30knots out the back, with a solid swell. On the wave I was totally overpowered and couldn't turn at all. Ended up copping a few hilarious beatings...


13th beach aerial

that one hurt!

joel on a good one.

the kites were struggling in the super offshore wind


Yesterday had a good day at Phillip island. The wind was about 30 knots and the swell was nice with some over logo sets. Unfortunately it stayed dead cross shore all day instead of cross off as predicted, so the waves were a bit wind affected. Still really fun though! Best session I've had since the one really good day at Hookipa nearly two months ago. No photos unfortunately.

Looks like no swell and no wind for the upcoming long weekend, but planning on heading down the far west coast to scope out a few gnarly spots to see if they are sailable when the conditions align. Should be fun.

looking good

looks like we are going to have a good start to winter!

sunday should be pretty sick with signs pointing to about a 4m swell, 30+ knots cross off and sunny. looks like it should be similar to this sick day we had last winter.