Site Designed, Produced and Maintained by
Pixelwave Design.
|
|
| ||||||
| Member Details | Session Description |
Toys Used |
| Owner:
axxis Member Member#: 171 Location: Registered: 12-03-2003 Diary Entries: 18 |
6th July 2003 Windsurfing: Vetch's Beach, Durban Wind Direction: E Wind Stength: 16-19knots Surf / Sea State: Flat, clear Air Temperature: 19 Sea Temperature: 21 Weather: Not a cloud Max Speed: Distance Covered: This gets a 4-star rating because of the combination of awesome conditions, not the usual raw adrenaline inducing pump. NE/E was building all day. Wind phone is still out of commission so we had to rely on our rather subjective judgement. After a pleasant surf / paddle-ski at 101 we arrived at Vetch's around mid day. We'd been watching some fellow slog around most of the morning from 101 and he was still there having another go when we arrived. Initially thought he had a huge formula sail but when he came closer it looked possibly in the 6's. Ummed and Ahhed about rigging. Sea was fantastic but the wind seemed a knot or two off minimum. Were just about to head for Thirsty's for a drink and bite when we had another look and noticed the sand being picked up a little on the beach. That was it. Rigged my 7.0 (the one that had it's absolutely-last-sail-ever two weeks ago) and borrowwed Hal's boom. My new one was a little short but fitted his Naish 6.5 fine. Launched in knee to thigh deep shore break. Hal went off immediately on the plane. I slogged upwind a bit and used a gust and some downwind time to get on. We sailed for about 45min in very marginal conditions. Just needed another knot or two to get into consistent planing. Hal had more of it than I, possibly due to his lighter weight and the power of that cambered Naish. (not skill, of course !) Despite the slogging time at the beginning of each reach, the sailing was inspiring. Clean, clear water, beautiful crisp clear air and the golden mile stretched out to the North. And then it built just enough. A couple of extra knots and we were in business. Easy pump / swell ride onto a plane and then into the straps and both-hands-off-type reaching with clean enough wind to comfortably hold it the whole way with as many chop-hops as the swell could provide. Generally SE swell was being blocked by the bluff and North harbour breakwater but occasionally some nice ones would come through and make for pleasant gybes and short rides next to the breakwater. My jumps were small but in control and most nicely landed. Did a beautiful unintended cut back off the lip of a small wave and got my first aerial??. Was looking for a nice steep piece to gybe on and it got steeper than expected. Hit it as it was about to break and used the power to float neatly down in front of the foam. Unfortunately had taken the back foot out to do the carve so the landing compromised what might have been a lovely maneuver. Still a fantastic feeling. We packed up when the sun had set behind the beachfront blocks. What a feeling. Am still smiling. All the Sunday drivers passed by wrapped up against the chilly wind while we derigged on the grass with shirts off still basking in the glow of superb physical activity. It almost makes one feel guilty to have access to such pleasures. |
Toys Used:
Statsbar:
| ||||||||||||
  |
|
|
||||||||||||
|
Web Design in Wales, UK by 
Pixelwave Design.
© Alan R Cole 2000...