On Friday after work i was bored so I called up me mate Teka and told him to be expecting me at scabs "in a bit", i then began a downwinder from fromm dutch inn to scabs. was good fun.
I used a Tabou Manta 64, NP RSSMKIII 7.0, JP freeride weed 31.

Here is my track

http://www.ka72.com/viewge.aspx?fid=3171&tid=0

I wasnt planing the whole way and the last couple of legs the wind picked up and was "lit up" nicely.

I'm planning to do a few more downwinders and Jet will be joining me as well. If your keen PM me your mobile number and we can start a phone list for our LOC downwinder training! Justbring ya GPS,a mobile to stick in ya waterproof pack and ya life-jacket!

Might try and do another one on Thursday with a bit more swell about. that should make things interesting!

looks like we will have about 10 odd starters so far. looks like its gunna be sweet.

Garry might empty out some stuff from the box to help bring a few ppls gear back to cott.

looks like i have secured a van to transport more gear back to cott, and prolly my sister in a little hatchback to bring a few ppls back aswell.
I will be promoting this at the wednesday night slalom.
Everyone is welcome :)

As someone whos been doing coast runs since before kiters invented downwinders (since the 90s) I would mention we always try and have a "buddy" system a bit like scuba divers. Keep an eye on where the others are so when someone breaks something you know where to look for them. If its a big group pairing off so you are each responsible for one other would make it simpler.

I have had a few over the years where you loose track and think someones lost only to have them turn up at the end. It takes some of the fun out of the rest of the sail thinking about what you are going to tell his wife when you ring her and then call the search and rescue to try and find him.

We have also had a few injuries where you have to help the injured sailor to shore or at least keep and eye on him so you know he got there ok. A broken foot was the worst I can recall any of us getting. Equipment breakages are probably more likely and again knowing someone knows you are out there makes the swim in a bit less taxing.

Have fun and keep safe.

PS: FYI tracks of my recent runs at funstuff.nanotera.com.au

PPS: Any photos of your sister ? just to keep troppo happy (Im enjoying the 5.8 you sold me but it was too big yesterday)

Another vote for pics

Start minus 1.5 hours -> pumped to meet Bertie's sister (and the test run)

Great photos there Lao Shi!

Thanks to Bertie for organising this, Garry and Benny for their support (do you guys ever NOT help out?) and Lao Shi for keeping an eye on me as I trundled my way to the finish

Great to test the iSonic out in ocean swell, never any hint of tripping a rail, no chance of nose diving, I was quite surprised how well it went. Think my combo for this year's LOC is locked in

Bertie said...

thanks for coming and keeping me company guys.
I need to work on my fittness more still, and get my front harness lines forward more to avoid arm pump. maybe some adjustable lines are the go??

here is my track. is it possible to overlay everyones tracks and see where they went?? (ben :) )

http://www.ka72.com/viewge.aspx?fid=3222&tid=1

Think you started something here Alex, well done mate

Alex - thanks for organising this. It was heaps of fun (and HARD work). Would be happpy to join you in a practice run from L to L..!

See PM for my mobile number

cant see berties sister in the photos!

more photos from Thursday night

So far I have ONE track - Jespers.

Bertie, if you want to send me yours then I'll put them together.

Red = Jesper
Yellow = Bertie
Blue = Jet






PM me your email address if you want the entire race as GPX files.

ok i didnt do the downwinder on tuesday. Looked way too windy, but 30 min later it started to trough out and the wind dropped. Prolly would have been perfect.

Good session with James and Slowie yesterday at Leighton beach doing some downwind runs and some speed runs near the sausages.
I must admit the more time i spent sailing into the chop i began to get more settled. I might need to tighten my rear straps for more control while airborne. I had one big faceplant when the board rolled over mid flight
It was the first time I'd used the Tabou Manta 59 in the ocean and it was much nicer than expected.

I'm thinking of setting some goals to get some slalom gear for next years LOC. What kind of board would you use? I noticed Dunkabeck and Bongwater were one some pretty short and wide boards, wouldn't you want something with a thinner profile to cut thru the ocean chop? I'm 80kg, thinking maybe a 111L iSonic and a 7.5m Code Red. That way I can pull the sail down if its windy or should be ok if its light. I'm pretty new to ocean racing though. What do you reckon?