Abrolhos Rocks!

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Kitehard
Kitehard
WA
2782 posts
WA, 2782 posts
18 Apr 2007 10:00am
Hi Crew,

Just returned from 7 days in the Abrolhos Islands. Definately a premium kiting/surfing/diving location.

We stopped at one spot (secret) for 4 days which has a 400m long glassy ride for kiting similar to Augusta (Island is only 1m high with wind offshore). Just over the island was premium surf which was awesome to paddle, 400m right hander with easy take off in crystal water. And finally when the wind swung NW it hosts a 500m long kiteable right, over head high and smooth like butter. Guys I was kiting with compared it to Sumbawa.

Finally a wave to equal Gnaraloo but in a super fun right hand version. Kited it for hours in premium conditions and then back to the other side and back to the cat for rums and sunset. Aghhhhh, it sucks to be back Gees Perth looks lame over the next week

Good winds,



waveslave
waveslave
WA
4263 posts
WA, 4263 posts
18 Apr 2007 10:07am
So where and how do you rig and launch the kite ?
On the island or off the boat ??
And where do you land it ?
Details please.
hirschausen
hirschausen
WA
422 posts
WA, 422 posts
18 Apr 2007 11:09am
So,
Now you know why we live in Geraldton.
Maybe you might discover "some" of the great benefits of a fifth line one day too, only that's a bit closer than the Abrolhos
Glad you had a great time mate, looks like you scored some perfect weather.
getfunky
getfunky
WA
4485 posts
WA, 4485 posts
18 Apr 2007 11:19am
Bugger just blew holiday spendies in Grotto...

Any indication of little Johhny didn't get his hands on this outlay? ($$$)

Sounds almost too good to be true... were there hula girls applying suntan lotion and refilling bevvies also?
Kitehard
Kitehard
WA
2782 posts
WA, 2782 posts
18 Apr 2007 12:48pm
Hi Guys,

At Wavey:
We dinghy'd in to the island and rigged on the tiny sand/ground coral beach (had to be extra careful of your kite on the shells and crushed coral sand).

Thought about boat launch but didn't need the headache with the beach so close.

At Gav:
I flew the Flows and also the Vapor (5th Line) and frankly don't see what all the excitement is about apart from the additional hassle when rigging up separating the 5 lines and the 1 time the 5th got caught in a stopper ball 3 inches from full power which depowered the kite significantly enough to need to go back to the boat for a fix. I prefer the ease and simplicity of 4 lines thanks

At getfunky:
Little Johnny didn't miss out on stuff all, I was asked to crew a friends cat for him. He needed someone with ocean yachting experience to help sail the cat through the nights so it was a nil cost trip for me, apart from all the rum . Even food was cheap; the odd cray, coral trout and Baldy's for dinner almost every night. Yum! Only had to pay for other foods. Was the cheapest holiday I think I've ever had.

Good winds,





hirschausen
hirschausen
WA
422 posts
WA, 422 posts
18 Apr 2007 12:59pm
No worries Darren,
All good, look forward to trying the vapor myself. I'll let you know what I think.

But...How beautiful is the islands hey?. Just AWESOME.
k8
k8
WA
10 posts
k8 k8
WA, 10 posts
18 Apr 2007 5:10pm
I just spent an awesome 10 days over there, it was sick! Best time ever. Hoping to get back again in the very near future.
jeremy
jeremy
WA
202 posts
WA, 202 posts
18 Apr 2007 11:51pm
Any pics Darren? Sounds awesome.
NR
NR
WA
517 posts
NR NR
WA, 517 posts
19 Apr 2007 10:33am
Whats the best way and the easiest way to get there ? Are there charter boats do the whole surfer experience thing ? Are there any places to stay over night, or do you head out each day from geraldton, or go on a decent week's charter ?
jeremy
jeremy
WA
202 posts
WA, 202 posts
19 Apr 2007 12:14pm
Poor relative ....never been one for the 19th hole
Kitehard
Kitehard
WA
2782 posts
WA, 2782 posts
19 Apr 2007 12:35pm
Hey y'all,

It's not so much the best way to get there, it's the only way to get there. There are no hotels or resorts, just cray fisho's villages. You cannot camp out on any island unless you get permission first from the "owner". A lot of it is sanctuary zoned.

The only way is to either go by charter boat from Gero and stay on the boat, or fly out to the Islands on a small plane and hook up with a charter or friends who may be out there.

There seems to be a few charter companys who venture out there, mainly fishing and diving but also surfing. It's a kiters paradise really, all of the islands are about 1m high which means glassy conditions on just about ever6y island on the leeward side. Any island SW or west of the group will have good surf.

The islands just "appear" from no where from the bottom so swell comes from deep water and then just hits instant reef. From 100m of water to 50 and then to a couple of metres in the shortest distance. The dives around the abrolhos are mostly along deep "drop offs" that resemble under water cliffs encrusted with coral and infested with sea life.

Locals reckon best time to go is around now as all summer the wind blows it's ya ya's off, crazy windy! We had between 10 and 25 knots mostly as well as three days of total glass off of the entire ocean. Like a friggin mirror.

Do a Google search on Abrolhos Charters. Here's the first one that came up. www.kimberleycharters.com.au/default.asp We saw these guys out there. Looked like a pretty slick setup. No idea of cost. It may be better to contact a boat that does charter and organise a trip purely for kiting and surfing, ie make your own itinerary.

Good winds,

kiterdan
kiterdan
WA
680 posts
WA, 680 posts
19 Apr 2007 1:21pm
From what I've researched, you're looking at around 1200-1500 a day for up to 8 people. It's pretty steep but may be worth it considering you'll have exclusive world class waves in a killer location. Just watch out for those sharks!
gruezi
gruezi
WA
3464 posts
WA, 3464 posts
19 Apr 2007 1:42pm
Sounds like fun and really a pretty darn good deal. I'de certainly be interested

insomniac_alcoholic
insomniac_alcoholic
WA
190 posts
WA, 190 posts
19 Apr 2007 1:54pm
Gday All,

Another option to get and stay there is with Nick and Lorie from Odyseey Expeditions. I went across with them for a 5 day charter in March 2005. We were mainly diving but did some fishing. No kiting at the time because I was just getting into it and everyone else on the boat were avid divers.

Awesome potential over there with the same wind conditions we get here in Gero plus all the flat water and surf you could hope for.

Since our trip, Nick has upgraded the boat to a 24m catamaran that was launched last Feb that will take 20 passengers in brilliant comfort.

I'm not sure if he's done a trip aimed at kiters before but he knows the area well and is very open to suggestions on what to do and will take you to the best spots to do it once he knows what you're after.

Have a look at his site for more info.

http://www.odysseyexpeditions.com.au/default_ai.asp?documentid=46

The other option thrown around by some of the locals here was catching the chopper across for a day trip. Prestige Helicopters have a big amphibious rescue chopper called Nemo that goes across regularly and I think the dive charters they run across there when they get the numbers are about $260 per head so thats another option.

Just a couple of other options anyway.

Cheers
bolgo
bolgo
WA
912 posts
WA, 912 posts
19 Apr 2007 3:47pm
there are some restrictions
cant camp on islands, or use any facilities on the islands without written permission of the owner
need authorisation to go to the islands in summer from fisheries
so if flying in need pre arranged accomodation
ideally you need a smaller boat to get around on

odyssey big, wouldnt be able to get to alot of spots, they did have a smaller boat zipping around thou
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