Following the success of the "Melbourne Downwinder" www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14316&whichpage=1

The gathering last Thursday at the Gunn Hotel concluded with the idea of a regular social down-winder to be held every Sunday while the season lasts.

Those people interested should gather at StKilda kite-beach at 2:00PM each Sunday.

Depending on numbers on the day, the plan is for a Brighton to StKilda run... not a straight down-winder, but rather a tack-and-play along the bay's edge sticking together as a group. Transport will be arranged on the day; whose car goes, whose car goes, who ferries whom, etc.

A list of possibly interested people is below... if you're wanting to join in, either post here or try contacting people closer to the day.

1. John 0403 153890
2. Mark 0424 920522
3. Aaron 040 7755117
4. Nick 0412 626 006
5. John 0413 653 637
6. Peter 0414 797934
7. Andrew 0400 889991
8. Alex 0409 389424
9. Silvia 0408 121904
10. Fabian 0407 527969
11. Janet 0417 519 988
12. Paul 0418 431031
13. Bernie ?
14. Chris 0411 593 229
15. Paul 0421 984 036
16. Mr Plow 0433 91 33 55
17. Hamish 0404 657 891
18. Lynda 0404 903 631
666. Tony L 0402329360
20. Daniel 0438 424 374
21. Robert B 0432613896
22. Tim 0418 311 217
23. Adam M. 0423452118
24. Nathan 0433254368

Further... Silviu has begun the organisation of a larger downwind event to raise money for the local life saving clubs and to elevate the social standing of kiting. Stay tuned for more on this and prepare to get behind it and have some fun.

May the wind be under your board,
AzzA.


PS Would someone please Feed The Rat!

G'day Mr Plow,

have a great time down there, hope it blows for ya. Don't forget to take some good insect repellent; the march-flies and sand-flies down there are fkn monsters! TRUE. Other than that the place is brilliant.

quote:

---

Originally posted by cp

Hey Azza

Wont make it to St Kilda but will probably be out kiting at Brighton beach anyway. I'll keep an eye out for a bunch of knackered kiters. Hope the wind picks up.. Only 12knots last I checked.

---

Cheers Chris,

if it's anything like yesterday I'll be pumping the 20!

I forgot! Got down to StK about 4pm just in time to see a load of kiters on the far side of the rock wall. Looked like perfect conditions for it.
I'll be there next weekend.

Cheers Folks,

it was a great run. There coulda been a tad more wind for me but, hey, it was a downwinder.

Next week it's on again. I'll look into sending off bulk SMS's on the Sunday morning to remind people and give a heads-up on the weather conditions... so ya's know what gear to pack and don't sleep past the start time.

As a point of interest: We learned that the northern side of the StKilda pier is a "NO KITE ZONE"... no doubt many people knew this already, I didn't, and now more do. What actually is the boundary line for the zone is still a bit of a mystery, maybe someone can shed some light for us.

See ya on a beach somewhere,
AzzA

Yeah, I regularly check KBV and didn't catch wind of that. This is a real bummer and we do need to coordinate with KBV.
I was speaking to Helen of KBV Saturday and she didn't mention it, so I'm not sure when the notice went up.

You will only get an invite to a KBV meet, if you wear your boardshort on the outside of your wetties

Back from Brisbane... hope to see you all Sunday

quote:

---

Originally posted by paildolphin

What if you don't wear a wettie?

---

I thought we weren't going to do the nude run until later... best i work on my tan-line!

Look mummy, there's a worm up in the sky.

well... we did it... and it was quite literally a down wind event. For me at least. (I gotta 5th line that 20m for days like today!)

It was 4... no 3... no 4... no 5... no 4... 4 starters today, and it looked like a couple of like minded fellas left not long after us.

No major dramas, other than a severe lack of wind, and everyone is suitably knackered from the extra (hard) work of making the board and kite work together when there's barely enough wind.

Hopefully next Sunday will bring more blow...

Watch the arrows,
-AzzA-

Looks like marginal weather again for this coming Sunday the 5th.

Drag out ya big kites and boards.

Mind you, the BOM hasn't quite got it right before,
there's a few days to go yet.

yeh, that was us. no worries about the lend of the kite, shame you didnt use it more but then I have found it to be an outstanding kite for long swims....

my 12 waroo arrives next week, of course you'll be more than welcome to take that for a swim as well

Looks like the wind will be sh1te this weekend, I reckon we should postpone until the next decent day. Struggling downwind aint that much fun

Long weekend next weekend boys. Any suggestions. I seem to remember Azza's keen for Inverloch.

Can sense the northerlies starting to kick in as well. THey are only going to get more dominant, but if this heat stays we should have a few more weeks of southerlies. Very unseasonal.

I'm itching to get on board this weekend,especially after the Ikea fiasco last weekend and finidng out later how late you left, I could have got there. NEway good to catch up after you finished and my 12m would have been tight work in the lack of wind

IKEA it's swedish for sh_t you know, or that's what my wife tells me. Still doesn't make us too proud to shop there, must be the swedish meatballs with cranberry sauce...mmmm yummy and they sell beer.
Top place for a quiet little mothers little helper.

Soonee,

Inverloch would be grand... but someone wanted to get married in the middle of a long weekend! Can you believe that?!? (God I hope it doesn't blow that day!) They all thought I was joking when i said I'd have my gear in the car... like I could sit at in the bar at the Brighton Savoy and watch everyone else having fun! Surely there's time for a session between the matrimony and the entree!

Got the bulk SMS thing happening. Please let me know if there is any problems with it; it is Telstra after all. Below is a copy of the first message sent.

"No wind = no downwinder. Next weekend's forecast looks more promising, checkout seabreeze.com.au for details. Altona this evening for diehard wind junkies. AzzA"