MAIDEN VOYAGE

Did a maiden voyage downwind SUP paddle from Brunswick Heads to Currumbin Alley total kilometres 50kms. I haven’t paddled that distance since the 2008 Molokai Race. I want to go in the Salt Water Festival 30km downwinder in May, organised by Legendary Trevor Hendy so I’d thought I’d better do some training for the race. Going out through Brunswick Heads was bulk scary - lucky it was high tide I was s##ting myself getting towed out by jet ski holding a 17ft SUP. From Brunswick Heads to Cudgen Reef was very ordinary with two different swell directions, some swells looked in the 6 foot range & some really weird currents - like paddling in a washing machine. But got some all time runners from 50 to 200metres, I fell about 4 times from burying the rails.
This was the Marine Forecast: 28.0ºS/153.75ºE Monday 4/5 Breezy white capping conditions with moderate choppy seas. Moderate long period swell.
Winds: S 15 to 20 knots Seas: SE 9 feet at 10 sec
From Cudgen Reef to Cook Island was all time - I needed a seat belt on my F-16 I was going that fast, again got some all time runners some of the best I‘ve ever had. The runners just kept linking up, thinking to myself how good is this I‘m just surfing my F-16.
From Cook Island to Currumbin Alley was like a mini escalator ride I’m thinking thank f##k for that, because my body felt like Wallaby Ted’s brother Roo Ted. I was cramping up in my obliques & inner quads but my shoulders felt fine. I fell twice around Tugun because my body felt F####d. It took me 5 hours & 5 minutes to paddle the 50kms. I’d like to thank Ray my support boat driver for coming along & staying close by. I’m going to do this course again if anybody is keen to come along you’re quite welcome but you’ll need a support boat though because as soon as we start you’ll be on your own, you may see some big fish out there.
see ya in da ocean
DW

Did a maiden voyage downwind SUP paddle from Brunswick Heads to Currumbin Alley total kilometres 50kms

In a word - Impressed!!!!!!!

Wish I was up to that. I have been a thinking of late that I am really missing something with all the chat re downwinders. Seems everyone is loving them. I am yet to do one. As soon as its windy I am doing work......to make time for when its not. And even then I am only using the SUP when the waves are small or crap - which as of the late (bar the last few weeks) has been a constant. When its good I still prefer the shortboard.

Maybe I shall try out a downwinder board for the arvo's here on the northern beaches. Any ideas DJ? I have a 9'5" which will not cut it I imagine. From the sound of it you love the nash 14 - so is that a good entry level downwinder to try?

DavidJohn said...

Nice.. That's a serious distance for sure... Did the Jet ski follow you?

We did our 60 klm mega down-winder in about 6 hrs so 5 hrs for 50 klms sounds about right.

DJ

Yes DJ the jet ski was close by in some parts your 2-3kms from the coast. Once about 3 years ago I went with a few paddleboarders from Snapper to the Seaway 30kms nuking condition cut a long story short I ended 8kms way out at sea on my way to Fiji I was all by myself I s##t so I had to harden up out there I call it (the Burleigh Bermuda Triangle) when I got back to the beach I just got drunk. the helicopter found Jamie Mitchell 5kms up south Stradbroke island
DW

good work phil, i seen you go past as i was going out at greenmount for a surf.

DavidJohn said...

Nice.. That's a serious distance for sure... Did the Jet ski follow you?

We did our 60 klm mega down-winder in about 6 hrs so 5 hrs for 50 klms sounds about right.

DJ

Hey DJ,

Tell us more about this 60km paddle of yours as I must have missed it. I've been away a bit so don't always keep up to date on the forum. It sounds like it was a great paddle if you did it in 6hrs. Nice work.

G'day Ted the Kiwi
The bigger the Downwind board the better. Remember it takes time just like surfing to be any good at SUP downwind once you learn how to read the runners it becomes bulk fun. When I first got introduced to Downwind paddling in 2003 8kms seemed like for ever. The only reason I'm paddling 50kms because I'm going back to do the Molokai Race in 2012 when I turn 50yo. Other than that 10-20kms is Sufficient (its great fitness you'll see muscles you have'nt see since your early 20's + feel muscles you never thought you had)
DW
PS. save up ya money & get a big 17fter trust me you'll never look back.





Thanks DJ and Phil - apprecaite the advice. I shall try and get my hands on one to see if it is really me. I would love to get a 17 footer but it would not fit in the garage - the joy of living in a unit block!