Saturdays White Squall at Wanda

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eightfootplus

NSW

298 posts

eightfootplus

NSW, 298 posts

22 May 2006 7:46am

How was that Southerly Squall at Wanda on Saturday, pretty amazing stuff.

I was out back at Wanda, heard an almighty thunder clap and headed straight in to the beach, not wanting to become a lightning rod. I got caught by the wind and pulled the QR, only to drop the kite and see this wall of white racing towards the beach. Wind must have picked up from 15knts to 25-30 in the space of a minute. I Got hailed on , never seen hail on a beach. I was lucky not to be caught out back and decided to call it a day after that.

Thats the second time I have nearly been caught by Southerly fronts, I much perfer the NE winds, need to remember to look at the clouds more when out in a S wind.

A.

Gone to dark side

NSW

394 posts

Gone to dark side

NSW, 394 posts

22 May 2006 8:24am

Should have gone back out after the Squall Wind was steady 20 knots.It was getting dark when we left Boat harbour the Brighton boys where getting some big jumps that was a good days Kiting

eightfootplus

NSW

298 posts

eightfootplus

NSW, 298 posts

22 May 2006 9:04am

Possibly but had friends coming over, they were already there when I arived home.

not on board

210 posts

not on board

210 posts

22 May 2006 8:28am

Up at Long Reef a good sized waterspout formed. You could see where it was hitting the water about 1k out. There was water being thrown up in a big circle. Lucky no boats were in the area. (2:00)
Better that no kiters out. Could set a record for the highest jump if you got picked up by one of those.

Glad someone got out as the rain came but wind died each time the storms passed.
Laughed at the poor windsurfers trying to paddle them selves back in thru the surf as they got to eager and got caught in the lulls.

Munter

NSW

210 posts

Munter

NSW, 210 posts

22 May 2006 11:25am

What time did the squall hit Wanda? I kited Doll's Pt late on Saturday and I didn't see it from there. We just had a slowly building southerly there from about 3 onwards. Probably didn't get much over 15-17kts. It gets dark so early these days!

eightfootplus

NSW

298 posts

eightfootplus

NSW, 298 posts

22 May 2006 12:49pm

I didnt have a watch but would guess somewhere around 3:30, there was about 30 kites out at Wanda and boat harbour and it grounded them all for about a half hour or so.

GalahOnTheBay

NSW

4188 posts

GalahOnTheBay

NSW, 4188 posts

22 May 2006 4:33pm

lesson for the day - always look behind you...

sarc

NSW

71 posts

sarc

NSW, 71 posts

22 May 2006 5:07pm

Was out on the Venom on Sat... saw the cumulus clouds forming, then the lightning over the National Park and headed straight for shore. Still got pelted by the hail though...
Was at Kitepower later in the arvo, some exotic sounding kiters in the shop were talking about being almost hit by lightning? Steve can you confirm or deny?

GalahOnTheBay

NSW

4188 posts

GalahOnTheBay

NSW, 4188 posts

23 May 2006 7:22am

whats up with all the tourist kiters in sydney in winter? so many euros and it is not even kiting season...

maxim

NSW

84 posts

maxim

NSW, 84 posts

23 May 2006 2:01pm

Ah, yes, that were us in the shop, had an awesome time out at Boat Harbour - Wanda until the storm hit and lightning strike just behind our vehicles on the beach. Foreigners yes we are, but have made Aus our home for a few years now and is part of the furniture in the kite surfing community. Exotic euros only because the accent has prevailed, but rest assured, just as much Australian as you

Hope for a good windy w/e!

sarc

NSW

71 posts

sarc

NSW, 71 posts

23 May 2006 5:48pm

Nice going Gala...

Maxim holycrap... Where'z the spot? did the lightning leave a hole? Crater? Molten sand (glass)?

p.s. Where u from... the accent seemed brazilianfrenchsouthafrikannorwegianchilean.....

Kitepower Australia

NSW

4382 posts

Kitepower Australia

NSW, 4382 posts

24 May 2006 8:59am

G'day Sarc

I can confirm that there were people in the shop, no problem.
I cannot confirm that these people are exotic, I think at least one is a repressed nuerotic erotic, but not paticularly exotic.

Some of the other alleged people, amy or may not have been there, it depnds a lot on whether they were on call, or taking part in a secret mission or not.

Apparently the lightning hit the sign that indicates you must not drive further SW on the beach, and they were parked very close!

They said they did not feel anything but they were very revved up when they were in the shop weren't they!

Cya and

Goodwinds

Steve McCormack

dogsbody

34 posts

dogsbody

WA, 34 posts

24 May 2006 7:11am

Boy they are getting strict about going no further South of that sign. i mean ive been warned, but no lightning bolts or thunder claps!! they dont call the Shire "God's Country" for nothing.

GalahOnTheBay

NSW

4188 posts

GalahOnTheBay

NSW, 4188 posts

24 May 2006 11:22am

I was talking about guys who:

a) dont speak english very well at all
b) dont look at what the locals are doing
c) dont listen to the locals reccomendations like "dode, westerlies suck. Maybe you should tale out your 10m instead of your 18m"

We welcome people from other land who call Australia home. Thier accent gives us a great starting point to take the p155 out of them!

sarc

NSW

71 posts

sarc

NSW, 71 posts

24 May 2006 12:14pm

Hey Steve... can you go over the erotic bit again?

Jeff2231

NSW

416 posts

Jeff2231

NSW, 416 posts

25 May 2006 7:47am

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