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mas
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Member#: 1764 Location: Registered: 05-03-2006 Diary Entries: 60
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13th September 2017
Windsurfing: Point Clear Wind Direction: W Wind Stength: 15-30 Surf / Sea State: Flat to choppy Air Temperature: cool Sea Temperature: ok Weather: cloudy rainy sunny Max Speed: 28.45 (knots - unless stated otherwise) Distance Covered: 16.67 (Nautical Miles - unless stated otherwise)
5 star day at Point Clear but arriving an hour late I think at 1.30 ish.
Squiz already there so measured (25/26kts) wind and walked the lagoon view
at low tide, as never seen it be4. Interesting the shallow cos I saw the
spot I lost a fin on my previous visit. Loads of shallows near the breach
area and the kite bits. Also didn't realise the break water was so huge!
Avoid that. Local banter said 5.8 / 6 ish, wind was gusting 28kts so took
it. Squiz Andy Pete Strawbs and severals locals, with loads of kites later
and the place was packed.
Faffing around cost me dear to get best GPS speeds, as the glass water was
in the lagoon. Rigged 6.2 RS slalom 4 hooked to 111 JP Magic ride, nice
combo. Soon as I launched I knew I was under and had the sinking feeling
literally!
The launch was in open near the green so I should have been up to full
power. Wallowed past the danger groin and let rip in the lagoon. Good gusts
were coming thru but the 6 was never going to do it. Had runs of 26/27's
but never powered up. Without the GPS I would have gone out to sea like
Strawbs and enjoyed the lumps. Instead limped back to the green to rig my
7M RRD overdrive, my original choice. That's a sweet sail - but hard to rig
on the wrong mast so will have to allow more time. Andy M, also on 6, did a
Grand prix pit stop to rig 7m in 10mins and hit the water be4 the sea
breach and with the wind high to hit 30kts on the 7.
Alas a slow pit stop of 25 mins cost me. The wind died, I tried to get
going down the lagoon wallowing on the 7. Limped back which took ages and
waited. Loaded 130L Goya with a 44 fin to get some lift and a big dark
cloud came thru with some wind. Strawbs packed up from his open sea sailing
which he enjoyed, but wasn’t going to rig again, and Pete Squiz Andy had
already hit 30kts on their 6.5’s, so had the incentive to wait. In the
lagoon the 130 was wallowing, then the wind filled in but the sand reef was
breach and the tide was now pouring chopping up the water. The 130 was
flying but uncontrollable. Again had to blast back to the green to get the
smaller board - bugger!!
The 7M Severne overdrive was spot on at 28kts!! on the flattish water and
was never over powered, so learn something new, (never rig the same size as
85kgs guys on flat water). I still had 2cm downhaul left if I needed it.
The place was now buzzing with boards and kites everyone flying up / down.
Loaded the JP, although now knackered had to stay out for the odd big gust.
Back in the lagoon I was flying but in control, but the runs remained at
28.1 for a long while. Struggled a little to stay close to the bank and
flat water, and then burn off down wind. That's the best part of the speed
thing, much more fun than waves in my view. Andy spectacularly hit the
marsh mud at speed and face planted, WTF I nearly did the same but laid
down the sail, ripped out one foot strap. The wind was now strong as before
for 10 mins, but the tide breaching chopped up the lagoon. If I was going
to hit 30kts it had to be now. The tedious slow beat to the start point was
frustrating but turned and started hammer time. Tearing down the near side
between kites and land was hairy with most kiters getting the yeeahh!!
Messages I was on it. Now I know what the GP drivers frustrations are when
doing Qualy’s. Hit the chop in the middle still felt fast and bared off
for the broad straight to the marshes gave me 28.43kts. Close but not gone
enough (oh for the earlier glass water)- to keep up with Pete Squiz and
Andy. Started the beat again, but the wind was dropping and would have been
wasted effort so decide to call it a day and just sail back. Andy was
flying towards me for a burn up so gave him one ! yeeahh! Result was
neutral and even, as he gybed off back. Hung around the bank to save energy
and waited 5 mins but it would have been back and forth stuff in the dying
wind and had the spa waiting. Kites were everywhere, loads of windsurfers
so called it a day. Think Andy M has got the speed bug now and is heading
towards some tasty slalom kit. Have to say the JP magic rides are really
nice. At 100kg the 111L is max sail size 7M, as it was sinking in no wind,
so can’t take risks with it cos it would be a long walk of shame. Great
day at PC and to top it all, I left my towel / flipflops / water on a pool
lounger at the spa in the morning and go to hell it was all in place at 7
ish on return for a steam session! Def will do low tide at PC again. Don't
like the open sea though, its rough.
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