10am meet at Sandy for those who want to join in the fun..

Saturday 4 October

Winds.. Northerly 15 to 20 knots increasing to 20 to 25 knots

Then shifting west to northwesterly 15 to 20 knots during the evening.

Seas around 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning.

Sounds fun. Can I meet you at St Kilda?

Love to be there but have an appointment - bugger!

Enjoy DJ et al.

Hi and thanks for your question because I'm sure there are others thinking the same thing.. It's great that you're showing an interest in downwinders because IMO it's the best thing about stand up paddling.. So much fun.. So much to learn.. and so good for your fitness..

I don't mean to be rude or put you off the whole idea.. but.. asking about joining in on a downwinder on any type of wave board or anything smaller than a 12'6" flat water board is a bit like asking to join in on a long'ish road ride with a bunch of roadies (racing bicycles/triathletes etc) and saying that you only have BMX bike but would it be ok to join in on the ride... For sure its do'able.. But not only hard work.. not much fun.. but a little bit NQR..

There are some people that can do it.. (DW a wave board).. But it depends on the person.. skill and fitness level.. the conditions.. and the type of wave board.. (some work.. some don't) .. But.. In saying that we all started on big wave boards just like yours.. This was before there were flat water boards or race boards.. and we had fun.. Heaps of fun.. But if you asked me now to do a downwinder on my old 11'6" Nalu now I'd probably say no.. Too slow.. too much hard work.. and the board shape is one of those wave board shapes that don't really work.. If the nose goes under (like it will) the board will stop and you will fall off.. Again and again..

You are still more than welcome to join us tomorrow.. The forcast has changed to only 15-20 knots but the weather can be sooooo unpredictable.. We might get 10 knots.. We might even get 30 knots ( fingers crossed ) I'm happy to talk to you more and offer you as much advise as I can.. The best advise now regarding your main question is to pick a seabreeze day.. Like we get all the time in summer.. Go down to St Kilda marina.. Paddle off the end of the breakwater wall at the end and you will see wind swells going past the end and heading towards the shore (about four hundred meters away) .. Paddle hard and try and catch them.. btw.. You can also do this off other places like Sandy marina.. There is an art and skill in doing this... It's nothing like catching a wave in the surf.. Once you get near the shore.. Paddle across towards the marina where there's a wind shadow and flat water.. Head back out to the end of the breakwater wall and do it again.. I often do this in summer.. It's great fun and great practice for doing downwinders.

Hope we see you down there tomorrow anyway.. (hope I haven't put you off)

Here's the new forecast..

Saturday 4 October
WindsNortheasterly below 10 knots tending northerly 15 to 20 knots before dawn.
SeasBelow 1 metre, increasing to around 1 metre during the morning.

GPdomestique said..

I have been flat water paddling at both Sandy and StKilda; so will definitely try the spots you mentioned; just gotta wait for a S or SW wind...Is there anywhere similar to St Kilda or Sandy that you can do with a N or NW wind?

Maybe Point Ormond/Elwood or Half Moon Bay on a NW but you don't really have any protection for paddling out, you just have to put your head down and paddle hard until you get a couple hundred metres out and then enjoy the waves coming in.

GPdomestique said..


I am normally the type of guy that likes to teach himself; but getting older and can see the benefit in being taught correct technique. Is there an instructor or someone you know that could provide lessons/tips ?

DJ (DavidJohn) is the man - he has taught most of us in Melbourne how to DW. He does not do it professionally, but you won't find an accredited coach in this part of the bay who knows more or has more patience. After DJ, the next best option is to link up with Jeff and Linda at Peninsula SUP.

Casso said..
Anyone want to lend a board, paddle, seat in a car to a brother from over the border?

I can get to anywhere a tram goes.

Sure Andrew.. are you in town.

DavidJohn said...

Casso said..
Anyone want to lend a board, paddle, seat in a car to a brother from over the border?

I can get to anywhere a tram goes.

Sure Andrew.. are you in town.

All sorted mate. See you there.

GPdomestique said..
Hi, melbourne based newbie learning on nalu11'6. Really want to try DW. any tips or recommendations as to where and with who I do my first run?

Have a look at this video, most of it on race/downwinder boards, but right at the end after the credits is the same guy on a much shorter board - gives a good comparison.

Yep that was a surprisingly good DWer, the wind picked up enough at the right time and the sun shone brightly to show young Casso the delights of a Melbourne DWer .....

Looks like we all had fun...and isn't that the beauty of SUP?
Wind was really up and down, would blow 20 knots for 10 mins then 5 knots for 10 minutes and then repeat. Just back home from 3/1/2hr session at Big Left - definitely worth the drive!

It's on again tomorrow late morning with 30 knots forcast..

Probably meet at Sandy at 10.30am

Monday 6 October
Gale Warning for Monday for Port Phillip
Winds
Easterly 10 to 15 knots turning northerly 20 to 30 knots in the late morning and early afternoon, then shifting westerly 25 to 35 knots in the evening.
Seas
Below 1 metre, increasing to 1 to 1.5 metres during the morning, then increasing to 1.5 to 2.5 metres during the afternoon.
Weather
Isolated thunderstorms in the evening.

Helmy said..
Dang! Back at work

ditto

4.30 at Sandy is our latest plan..

Winds Monday 6th..

Variable 10 to 15 knots turning north to northeasterly by early afternoon at 15 to 25 knots then strengthening to 20 to 30 knots later this afternoon and reaching up to 35 knots during the evening.

Winds shifting northwest to westerly at 25 to 35 knots late this evening.

Helmy said..
Aaaaaauuuggghhhh!!

Don't worry Mark you didn't miss anything..

At 5.30 we pulled the pin on the DWer due to lack of wind..

15 minutes later while stuck in traffic driving home the wind suddenly hit at 30-40 knots..

Aaaaaauuuggghhhh!!

Anyone ever done a night downwinder, there would be a big scare factor in that? It's howling pure north now.

Proud owner of a Wood Panel Chrysler and supporting member of the Victorian Nanny State Water Authority said..

Would anyone try a downwinder blindfolded?

Blindfolded you see nothing.

Night time you have the moon, the lights of the city, all the lights of the bayside homes along the shore, the yacht clubs it would be enough to guide you.

Besides, your eyes adjust.