Hello forum!
Just joined the sport and want to share my first experience if you're interested!
Yesterday was my first real taste of proper flat water stand-up paddling. I decided to go all-out and get the best equipment I could afford - Glide carbon, Quickblade carbon - which stung a bit at the time, but in hindsight I realise it was worth it, as yesterday's session was very nice.
Yesterday's conditions seemed good for paddling in Port Phillip Bay (moderate southerly breeze, sunny) so I headed down the cliff at Half-Moon Bay, with Brighton as my destination. Man, it may be carbon but that board gets really heavy really quickly when going down steep stairs...
I set off downwind towards Brighton. Even though I was paddling solidly and working up the heart rate, it was still fun - the sign of a sport to stick with.
The sun was coming down, air was warm, breeze was moderate, and cruising along felt great. The Glide performed as a high-performance board should, and the paddle felt like solid air - incredibly light. I have a 12-foot race paddleboard (where you lie prone), and comparing that sport with stand-up, I think the paddleboard will see more time in the garage than the water. Standing up just feels more natural and comfortable, and is more enjoyable.
Having reached Wellington St beach I checked the GPS (iPhone in an H2O Audio case - recommended!) and was surprised to see that I'd covered 5.5 kms in around 45 minutes. I got the feeling when I was paddling that I wasn't really covering water that quickly, when in actual fact I was. This is probably testament to the high performance of the board and paddle when going downwind. It's all so smooth and fun.
Great sport, and looking forward to my next paddle!
Hi Sam.. Welcome to the Breeze.. 
Did you come to the Coreban Great Melbourne Paddle event last weekend at Green Point?
Did you buy a white 12' Naish Glide?
It's always a good idea to paddle up wind when you can so if the wind picks up you aren't left struggling to get back to where you started from.
Did you have to drive far to get to Half Moon Bay?
I was paddling at St Kilda Marina yesterday and also Sandy Marina would have been a better option for you with yesterdays southerly breeze and wind chop.
Congrats on the new board and paddle.
DJ
Hi David:
Couldn't get to the Sunday event (didn't have my board - 14-foot Glide - at the time).
Got the GF to drop me at Half-Moon Bay and pick up at Wellington St. We live up the road.
SW wind would have been better but it was pretty light on so not really a big deal chop-wise.
Like the idea of downwinders better than going down and up, so I'll try to get as many of them in as possible. Might have to be a bit more schmoozing on my behalf to make the GF drop-offs and pick-ups regular!
