Dave and I were hell-men today...Well maybe not hell-men...maybe hell-boys..

Today Dave and I did a mega down-winder..

About 20 kilometers in two hours...in 40+ knots of tail wind..

I have a few pics...and I'm still smiling from it..

DJ

Our plan was to head off from St Kilda beach and head downwind all the way to Rickets Point at Beaumoris..Shown here with the yellow dots..and the red arrow being the wind direction.



My first sight of the water was rounding the corner at Mentone in my car..It was solid whitecaps and at least 30 knots.



I met Dave at Rickets Point and threw his 11'6" C4 on top of my 11'6" Naish.



We drove up to St Kilda beach and got ready to head off..and the wind was getting stronger.



Time check..10 to 12. and we hit the water.



Once on the water the wind was gusting over 40 knots and some gusts were like someone slapping me on the back sending me stepping forward on the board.

The wind graph shows peak gusts going off the chart.



I thought it would be cool to paddle under the St Kilda pier because it was directly on our way..Getting close to those big wood poles and with the water chopping up had me thinking that maybe it was not such a good idea afterall..We made it through..Just.

I thought a strong wind downwinder would be easy going..Wrong again..Jeez I was glad that I had my big board and it was constant moving around the board and non stop paddling to help keep my balance...At about the half hour mark I had my first fall..I had let go of the paddle for a second to wipe my nose and had a wobble moment and not having the paddle in both hands I fell in..Bugger.

Getting back on my board I put my paddle across the board in front of me while I untangled my leggie and woosh..My paddle took off in the wind gust like a feather and landed 20 feet in front of me..Bugger.

Once up and going it seemed that my friend Dave was a little quicker that me..I think because I had less sail area with my skinny legs...I would paddle hard to catch him and not be able to close the 50 feet lead that he had on me and then woosh..I'm surfing a runner and it brings me right along side of him..Beauty.

I had many of these runners and I would often hoot and holler and hold my paddle above my head with arms straight like a victory salute..I found that I was standing a little too far back at first and once I mover forward a bit I was able to maintain a higher speed and glide along some waves that were hardly a wave at all.

We got near Green Point and I could see a few windsurfers out..I looked for people that I knew..I saw cars parked along the cliffs with people watching...and I fell in again..got up hoping no one saw..and fell in again..Bugger.

I got going again and saw a few windsurfers getting flattened in the strong gusts..even tho they had tiny sails..I got a few thumbs up from some of the windsurfers as they sailed past me...Beauty.

The last half hour of paddling was only paddling on the right side due to the wind pushing us slightly off shore..My legs were screaming..I was buggered at the end but I can't wait to do it again.

Time check 10 to 2...It took exactly 2 hours to paddle 20 kilometers (13 miles).



Winter only ended here two weeks ago..Jeez I'm looking forward to Summer..We get heaps of these honking Northerlies in Summer...Hopefully next time I'll have my new Naish Glide...Beauty.

DJ

DJ. Terrific job on the story. You may have to get a waterproof camera to get the off shore shots, though I didn't have more than a fraction of a second to take a photo. also do love the bay wind page, off the chart!

So that's what you really look like !!

I got the call from Dave today..Wha-do-ya-reckon?..it's another great day for another downwinder.

My 50 year old body is saying 'don't even think about it' but how could I not..It's a clear blue sky..Hot Northerly blowing at 20-30 knots and the perfect direction.

We only did a 1 1/2 hour downwinder this time from St Kilda to Sandy..This time on my new 11'4" Naish to compair its speed with the 11'6".

It was great cruising past all the kiters at Kite Beach and windsurfers at Green Point..It was also great that I did not fall in at all this time..

I think I need to lay down now for a nanny-nap..

DJ

Hey Hell-Men, I saw you today at Green Point, I'd just got out after a windsurf. What a great day, roll on summer. It's going to be interesting to try out the sea breezes and more rolling swell for a trip the other way on those summer evenings.

Nice stuff DJ, What was the comparison between the boards mate? Much difference?

Anyhow good to see after all the paddling you've done you still fall in

Hi Toadie..Yeah that would have been me..Did you see us come out from under the Kiosk on St Kilda pier?

My biggest concern was if the wind changed angle slightly to a more off shore direction..That would be a bugger..

How did you go in your comp?

Hi Champ...There wasn't much in it..I was thinking the 11'4" might be quicker but if anything it was slightly slower only because I'm not quite as relaxed on it (yet) and tipping a rail here and there even without falling must slow you down a bit..I also had a little more water flowing over the tail where the 11'6" stays dry.

The 11'4" did seem to pick up some small runners that I don't think the 11'6" would and the thiner nose cuts through the water better when it goes under and the 11'6" bogs down a bit more when it goes under.

I think in flatter water the 11'4" may be slightly faster because I could keep it flatter on the water..and it has slightly less nose rocker..Also on the second day (on the 11'4") I forgot to tie some string between the two straps on my cammelbak across my chest and if I had the straps adjusted loose and comfee the shoulder straps kept slipping off my shoulder..and if I adjusted them tight to stop that they were chaffing under the arms and hurting...So I was constantly fiddling with them and I'm sure this slowed me down.

Also re the falling in..I think once I fell in once and got my sunnies wet I could not see as good and I think that effects your ballance..Yet it was too glary with them off..I need to get some of that Oakley lens stuff.

Jonathan...Glad you saw us go past..Where were you Friday?...Didn't you have a sail small enough?.. ..I does feel like Winter has gone doesn't it..

Clarky..I've seen guys like that way out swimming on rough days and they sure are hellmen.. ..How long did it take you?..Were you surprised how hard it is?..and did you feel the burn in the thighs?..and did you get some runners?..and what board were you on?

The guys at SHQ are looking at getting a big van that can take us and our boards upwind to our take-off point so we can do group downwinders without the hassle of car shuffling....Great stuff.

Tomorrow is looking like we might be going to do another..Here's tomorrow forcast..

DJ

Warnings
A gale warning is current.

Tonight and Monday
West to northwesterly winds 15 to 25 knots tending more northerly tonight and
increasing to 30 to 40 knots in the morning. Wind shifting west to southwesterly
at a similar strength during the afternoon before easing to 20 to 30 knots at
night. Waves 1 to 1.5 metres increasing 2 to 3 metres in the morning.

DJ

Mate you were a fair way out when I saw you . It never ceases to amaze me how small this world can be , seeing you guys out there caused a major discussion between the guys because they know I SUP, It was question time, all the more thrilling to find out that it was DJ from the forum out there.

Our team went really well with 1 Gold 4 silver and 3 bronze . I didn't have a dig this year but I'm one of the coaches. next year maybe.

Cheers mate take care, you post some great stuff on this forum see you at Mambo.

Good effort Dave,DJ & Clarky , I did a junior version of your effort here on the Gold Coast it was blowing 20 knots but for the first 1/2 and hour I paddled into the wind and tide ....almost killed me , then I turned the bend and sailed home but the punch into it really took it out of me I was on a 11'6 C4.

The course I did was in the river and we call it the "The Vice" (from my old outrigger days) and the currents can be hell in the narrow sections.At one stage I was down to 1 knot with my paddle bending to breaking point on each stroke.Certainly makes you concerntrate on your technique.

Were you wearing ur crocs DJ?

Clarky said...

Hey DJ

With little or no surf and a 30knot nor-easter blowing this weekend your hellman story inspired me to have a crack at the tittle. I teed the missus up to drop me off at Fingal and pick me up at Hastings pt, telling her I,d need about 2 hours to make it. Anyhow after passing Kingscliffe reefs and heading past salt beach I started to think I better move in closer to the beach as I was about 200m out and the place is notorious for sharks. Next minute I see this flash of black and atuomatically think shark. After the next chop I see it's a swimmer, in full length wetsuit and swimming cap. I couldn't believe it, and I told this bloke he was a crazy motherf******, but all he reponded to was "it 's a beautifull day". For the rest of my paddle I felt pretty soft in comparison. This bloke gets my hellman award!

Clarky

Dead right Clarky no matter what you do, there will always be someone doing something more "hellmanish". Last year as Woogie and Chris de Aboitiz attempted the gruelling task of rounding Frazer Is. on sups a bunch of crazies were solo racing 60' tri-marans across the Atlantic, at times even below decks catching some sleep as their massive craft ploughed into the frozen night! Hats off though to anyone who's at least out there doing stuff............Stuey

Just got an email from Rich (Session on this forum) and hats off to him for doing a coast run down past Bells.. I can't wait to join him on one.

DJ

" On your second down winder that you mentioned in Melb I gathered some of the local SUP guy’s and we paddled from Bells to Torquay in 30-35kn WSW---just under 1 hour …..i was pretty scared being so far out to sea off Bells as the swell was well over head high.

Even on my 10’6 Naish you could get runners for over 50m and longer , just off Bird Rock some swell’s were breaking making it more fun. I fell off about 10 times and next one im wearing my camel back . It’s just amazing how fast you move out there with wind behind you" .

Stuey..It's just the handle of my paddle...

I was going for the Ned Flanders look...

DJ

DavidJohn said...

stuey c said...

When you guys get purpose built downwind boards you,re gonna have even more fun doing this stuff. D.J., that partially finished 18' that I posted the pics of the other day is actually going to a bloke in Melbourne so you may finally get to see one of these big beasts, in the flesh so to speak........Stuey

Great stuff... Who is it?

DJ

I'll let you know, I just cant quite remember his details, they're at work, damn getting older and though I'll need glasses soon I knew that was your handle! A carbon mo' would be good though, you would never have to trim it!..........Cheers, Stuey

Piros said...

I must admit DJ I've never met you but when I see a photo of you without the handle moe you really funny.

It was blowing 20 to 25 yesterday arvo when I got home from work , I begged my wife to drop me off up wind but she refused as it was well past wine o'clock so I threw the board in my canal and paddled straight into it I alsmost did'nt get out of my canal , I managed about 1km into it thats all I could handle , about 1/2 an hour I was home 10 mins later I can't wait to get the DC16 out in the ocean with a breeze like that.

Are you coming up next year for the Surf Fest ?

You mean Noosa ?... I hope so.

DJ