Had a fantastic paddle today with DJ and Cam. DJ is looking for a Melbourne equivalent to the Molokai and as our prevailing wind is SW we thought we'd give his latest theory a go.
I think his idea is that on a strong SW you depart Flinders and end up around Balnarring or Somers. The strong SW didn't eventuate, the wind was about 10-15kn but was in the right direction, the tide was very full and was coming in, the weather was crap, the water was cold but there was quite a good swell about 2.5m.
Instead of the full paddle we weighed up the conditions and settled on a short paddle from Flinders to Pines, we didn't have high expectations. But I got to say it turned out to be a total blast.
We left Flinders pier headed towards the heads, where earlier we saw some really big waves breaking in the channel, we stumbled across a beautiful protected bay right near the point where we caught some very long rides on some small bumps on our big boards. After a bit of mucking around we headed closer towards where we saw the big waves breaking in the channel. The swell was quite impressive and then we made a straight line towards Pines. The wind wasn't strong enough to catch runners but every so often a big swell would come along and you got little rides as you would go down them. As we approached Pines we stopped off and surfed the spot about a km from Pines. The waves we surfed were waist high non breaking bumps that we could ride all the way in to shore - it really was a lot of fun and perfect for our big downwind boards. Normally these waves are pretty sluggish on a shorter board, but on a big board they were fast and fun. After our toes froze off we headed to Pines where we saw the usual crew of longboarders. Cam made a comment that made me laugh he said that some of them are like those big fat bull seals, just bobbing up and down way out behind the break.
I really love it how a marginal day can actually turn out to be a ripper. I'm sure DJ will post all the photos soon.
I haven't got one of those gps thingos, but if I did I think it looked something like this:
That looks great Oliver, sorry I missed it now. BWDave did that last year with his brother and said it was good too.
Have a look at Bear Gully to Sandy Point in a SW wind as well, big stretch of open water but at least over summer with the marine radio the surf lifesaving kids would be there if anything got out of hand! I've done Walkerville South to Sandy Point in a SW but it was too onshore.
The other beach that is perfectly aligned in a SW is the 90 mile beach, very remote and sharky but with a boat I'm sure it would be fine, and if it was honking you could just keep going and going and going....
Yeah it was a great day and another SUP adventure..
We were hoping for a Melbourne version of the Maliko Run but due to not enough wind we didn't quite get the down-winder that we'd hoped for.
At the Pines we loaded the two 17's and Olivers 14 onto the roof of Cam's car.
We drove up to Flinders and it was nice and sheltered from the sou'west wind.
We saw some nice pealing waves out off the point and Oliver was first to get out there.
Cam and I were on our 17's and wondering how the big boards would go in the waves.
About half way out to the point we spotted some tiny little waves that looked like fun so we mucked around on them for a while.
We decided to head out to where the real waves were.
The waves out on the point were a bit big for these DW boards and we were now getting blasted by the 15-20 knot sou'west wind so we headed off on our DW run.
Every now and then we got some good runs but it was messy and hard work.
There were lots of these black buoys with heaps of ropes floating around them.
We headed more towards the shore and at one time while we were still a fair way out Oliver yelled to me look behind you.. I looked around and there was a wall of water that just popped out of nowhere.. I paddled hard and straightened the big 17 pointing it towards the shore.. Going up the face I was running backwards to the tail of the board and I was off flying and let out a big yaah-hooo.. I look to my left and Oliver had also caught it.. It soon died but it was great while it lasted.
Once closer in we played on some nice little waist high waves.
It seemed like hours that we played on these nice little waves on our big DW boards.
I kept saying.. Just one more wave.. ..and the three of us had the place to ourselves.
Great stuff guys !! The big boards are so much in those conditions !!
Hey Simondo, with all of the SW'ers you guys get have you guys tried a Torquay to Breamlee or wherever or Barwon Heads to Point Lonsdale or part thereof with a bit more West in it? That coast line looks like it runs a SW direction and with the way it hooks around would be OK. Have you guys tried it yet? I have read about your Corio Bay and time trials in the Barwon river. I am curious to know how it would be running past those outer reefs etc along 13th.
Great stuff guys !! The big boards are so much in those conditions !!
Hey Simondo, with all of the SW'ers you guys get have you guys tried a Torquay to Breamlee or wherever or Barwon Heads to Point Lonsdale or part thereof with a bit more West in it? That coast line looks like it runs a SW direction and with the way it hooks around would be OK. Have you guys tried it yet? I have read about your Corio Bay and time trials in the Barwon river. I am curious to know how it would be running past those outer reefs etc along 13th.
Simon's on his way up to Melbourne to join me for a flat water paddle but we often talk about doing down-winders on the west coast.
I think our first one will be from Bells Beach to Torquay on a good sou'wester.. I'm looking forward to it.
Great stuff guys !! The big boards are so much in those conditions !!
Hey Simondo, with all of the SW'ers you guys get have you guys tried a Torquay to Breamlee or wherever or Barwon Heads to Point Lonsdale or part thereof with a bit more West in it? That coast line looks like it runs a SW direction and with the way it hooks around would be OK. Have you guys tried it yet? I have read about your Corio Bay and time trials in the Barwon river. I am curious to know how it would be running past those outer reefs etc along 13th.
Simon's on his way up to Melbourne to join me for a flat water paddle but we often talk about doing down-winders on the west coast.
I think our first one will be from Bells Beach to Torquay on a good sou'wester.. I'm looking forward to it.
DJ
Actually on Google maps that one looks great, Bells sticks out good to get you far enough out to get into some great swell and wind. The way that coast wraps back toward the entrance to the bay means you'd pretty much be heading for land the whole way.
Look forward to that story. Could be some of the best in the country, lots of wind, offshore reefs and deep water. A little chilly in winter though???
That break you had is Zappers isn't it? It's a fairly easy paddle from the Pines and you get nicewaves all to yourself.
I've heard it called Sommerlands, I thought Zappers was the break after it towards Flinders.
Yesterday was a good Supsplore I could imagine on a big swell and a strong southwester the protected bay near Flinders towards the heads would be a good option for a surf.
I surfed is last winter when even Merricks was going off and there were a zillion guys at every break. I think Brendan called it "The Cove" and it's a novelty break. Given that big SUPs are novelty boards it sounds good.
When I was surfing it the local surf boat was rowing out into the big swells and catching runners back into the bay.
Big Boards; They provide so many options, for cruising around, seeking out some nice mellow points. That area on Melbourne's East Coast is perfect for big boards, with a nice swell wrapping in! Even better than the West Coast (Vic). I'm very jealous !
Vic Surf Coast, circa Lorne to Point Lonsdale; Yes, massive untapped Down Wind Potential. My biggest problem is paddling partners down in Torquay. Most of the guys are Melbourne based, and Rich's back is not 100% at the moment.
Potential DW runs are; Lorne Pier to Fairhaven. Bells to Whites Beach, or Point Danger or Torquay Point. Point Addis Cove to Whites Beach Torquay. Torquay to Breamlea, or 13th.
PS - if all else fails, I'm going to try getting dropped off down the coast, and then paddle home to Whites Beach.
Westernport sure gets some good swell running into it and with a bit more wind than we had on Saturday it may work really well, there's always some fun little waves to be had closer to shore along the way if conditions arn't quite right for downwinding,
I think Oliver also told me that Thursday morning's looking good for a Stkilda to Sandy run but I reckon it's still to early to rely on the forecast,will keep an eye on it.
I think Oliver also told me that Thursday morning's looking good for a Stkilda to Sandy run but I reckon it's still to early to rely on the forecast,will keep an eye on it.
Sounds like a plan. Tanzer from ULI Australia has a 14' inflatable coming in on a shipment this week and he is very keen to try it out on a downwind run. Hope it makes it in time for that midweek nor'wester. I'd like to see how an inflatable downwind board works.
Looks like a great paddle guys. The problem with the west coast down winders is the wind is cross shore being SW but the swell wraps and is heading NW. You would need to paddle a long way offshore to get good runners the swell is running a bit more west.
Gorgo said...
I surfed is last winter when even Merricks was going off and there were a zillion guys at every break. I think Brendan called it "The Cove" and it's a novelty break. Given that big SUPs are novelty boards it sounds good.
When I was surfing it the local surf boat was rowing out into the big swells and catching runners back into the bay.
It's all the same spot.
Summers Point - Darel Summers used to own the house on the hill in the photos, might still own it
Dreamlands - Thats what Paul Trigger and the older locals call it
Zappers - Apparently a fence finished in the water that looked like an electric fence
There's a fun left just on the flinders side of the point and a more challenging right just past that. All a bit of a novelty without the popularity that Merricks now has.
Great stuff guys !! The big boards are so much in those conditions !!
Hey Simondo, with all of the SW'ers you guys get have you guys tried a Torquay to Breamlee or wherever or Barwon Heads to Point Lonsdale or part thereof with a bit more West in it? That coast line looks like it runs a SW direction and with the way it hooks around would be OK. Have you guys tried it yet? I have read about your Corio Bay and time trials in the Barwon river. I am curious to know how it would be running past those outer reefs etc along 13th.
Simon's on his way up to Melbourne to join me for a flat water paddle but we often talk about doing down-winders on the west coast.
I think our first one will be from Bells Beach to Torquay on a good sou'wester.. I'm looking forward to it.
DJ
Not so long ago, all I wanted to do was try a SUP, they looked like awesome fun.
I tried a SUP, loved it, bought an all rounder.... love it, surf it, flat water, love it!!!
Keep reading all these DW threads, and it's just killing me, now all I want to do is get myself a board I can join the DW's on.
I mean paddling from Bell's to Torquay, what a hoot. Torquay to Breamlea, Barwon, OG, Flinders into Leo, Cat Bay into Ventnor or Cowes.
The next thread we need to start is how to justify these purchases to the hugs n kisses.
I've been working some crazy hours lately so haven't been able to hit the water. I really enjoyed this thread, thanks guys!!!
..and the three of us had the place to ourselves.
,will keep an eye on it.
