I've surfed out there on my SUP once and got smoked. Just got it all wrong. Well done for giving it a go, hopefully I can time it better again next time I give it a run

^^^^^^Pottymullet, I don't know of too many blokes that surf Bare Island - if any.
It is an inconsistent wave and surfing on your pat would make it difficult to know where to sit whilst waiting for a wave. On the shoulder one minute, no mans land the next if you know what I mean.
I can tell you that in 92 I was rowing a surfboat in between heads of Botany Bay and had a visit from a 14ft Bronze Whaler which brushed along our boat. Also saw a 4ft shark off the point at Yarra Bay around same time. Commercial fishing has been banned in Botany for a few years which means lots of baitfish. Take care mate.

Dave, it was really nice for my first ever DW session, particularly on the sweet WOW 14' GSR that i've only had for a week now (Brian mentioned your name while on our 3 hour spending spree at The Sup Shop last sat).

I should have waited untill around 11am to start but had to start at 9am due to a family lunch. The winds were fairly light to start with and then built nicely but only after I had done most of the run. Paddled around the 3rd runway (in restricted zone a little) and eyeballed all the people taking off on holidays in the big Jumbos. I'm sure they were eyeballing me too.

Was a great run and will definitely do it agian. Board is sweet!!!


Potty

Scotty

Thanks for the heads up and I totally agree

"It is an inconsistent wave and surfing on your pat would make it difficult to know where to sit whilst waiting for a wave"

There is a point where it peaks up but does not break a bit wider and to the side of the spot where it dredges so makes it a bit more doable to get on the wave with speed before it really starts to suck. Yes, you seem to have to constantly asses where you are and be on alert to paddle like crazy to get out of the way if one big one pushes wide.

I guess sharks are always on peoples mind in a major or minor way at some point. I don't know whether it is because I competitively spearfished with the Sans Souci Dolphins for 6 years a while back so became comfortable in the water, and the fact that I really did not see that many in those years (up and down east coast NSW), but I only really worry about dirty water and Bull sharks. I guess though that surfers are targeted more by sharks as they are often in the zone where there is more baitfish combined with limited visability (whitewater) which sharks use to stalk prey, and surfers usually are unaware of a sharks presence untill they are right on top of you, as compared to when spearfishing with great visibily from above looking down.

Strangly enough, i never spearfished the bombie despite growing up at kurnell (a stones throw away) diving in many other locations nearby though for years.

Cheers mate, I will stay safe though considering that I am a relatively new dad.

Potty

ShireSUP said...

Hey Potty

Was out at Matraville today for work and took the 4 min drive to Bare is and I think Scotty needs to harden up, he's from Maroubra and all, from what I saw I think it could be a bit off fun on a 14'er and yes probably better at HT than LT (I was there at LT) and next time theres a big swell on I'd be keen to paddle over from Kurnel

Greg

Typical Greg banter. Let me know when you are heading there Greg and I will film from Mission Impoosible Island and send in the footage to Australia's Funniest Home Videos - 10K 1st prize I believe.

Scotty and Greg

Only one way to settle this, we could have a BOB "Battle of the Break" comp alternating between Bare Island bombie (bigger) and Kurnell Point (smaller) waves over a period of time.

Would be nice to get 10k but in reality winner gets a choice of either a devonshire tea at Kurnell or a kebab at La Pa, my shout.

Potty

I am definatly a devonSHIRE tea man.............

Thanks Pete J for the heads up

PottyMullet said...

Scotty and Greg

Only one way to settle this, we could have a BOB "Battle of the Break" comp alternating between Bare Island bombie (bigger) and Kurnell Point (smaller) waves over a period of time.

Would be nice to get 10k but in reality winner gets a choice of either a devonshire tea at Kurnell or a kebab at La Pa, my shout.

Potty

Love a kebab Potty. But unless you want to paddle at 4 o'clock in the a.m. as I only eat kebabs at this time. Which reminds me of a story many moons ago.

Re: sharks in Botany Bay. New years eve 94/95 I took a crew over the Sutherland Shire (or The Shire as most people refer) to attend my regular toga run (think pub crawl except you have to jog and wear toga) which had been running for years. There were on average 40 blokes dressed in toga and joggers and we ran the whole 11k with 18 schooners consumed along the way. The boys were made up of North Cronulla boaties and a few triathlete dickheads who were regularly caught emptying their beers into pot plants. Anyway, as we couldn't decide whether to attend the Bondi B&S or the Toga run on new years, we decided to do both in the same night. So our new years eve went like this:
4pm: Arrive at Sutherland Royal and enjoy 11k toga run with 18 schooners along the way.
8pm: Arrive at Northies - toga run over.
8:30: Catch cab and arrive at Mum's joint at Kurnell.
8:45: Commence 2K paddle across Botany Bay.
9pm: Stop in middle of Botany Bay to watch fireworks in city and p1ss stop.
Approx 9:45: Arrive La Perouse at mates joint, have shower and dressed in suit and ring cab.
11pm: Arrive Bondi B & S in one piece - thank fark.

The moral to the story is, if I was ever going to get eaten by sharks on Botany Bay, it was going to be that night - 5 blokes paddling and p1ssing for an hour paddle across the bay.

I have surfed it a few times on my shortboard in big swells, but found it way too shifty for my liking, getting caught inside all too often.
The right off the Island is fun though wrapping around to under the bridge on the right wave.

Agree Mick.

The bombie was cracking this arvo in good conditions but I left it alone to have some nice waves that were wrapping around the island to the bridge. One in particular walled up very nicely and I managed to really get right back on the 14' and ride the face with good speed and then swing the big girl back to wrap the island in close. A nice 3 footer is better than a munching 6 footer IMO at this place, but i will keep trying the bombie on right tide and swell but more suited to 12' board.

Scotty, interesting story many moons ago, would have been a laugh but spooky at the same time. Do you still have ties to the "Nell"?

Potty

Yeah I don't think it would have been as big as when you've surfed it but yes the wedge really gets the wave going nicely, pretty hollow on the inside but i'm just hanging out a bit outside but the bigger waves creep up on you and taking off in surf stance on the 14' is needed at times.

Nice