Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks. Two more weeks.

One down.. two to go..

Today's down-winder was great but we only got 15-25 knots and lots of lulls.. The K15 was flying in these conditions.

Jonathan, Dave and I swapped boards during the run so Dave could compare the K15 to the Naish 17.

Jonathan's new trailer is a beauty.. It can take 12 boards..

DJ

In these conditions the K15 was able to catch waves effortlessly and that makes it faster. The Pin seemed pretty low in the water with Dave's 105kg so I could pretty easily go faster on the K15 once the waves were catchable, even when we swapped and I was on the Pin he left me for dead on the K15. DJ was recovering from 2 weeks of the flu so really wasn't paddling fit but kept up no worries, it felt like a summers day in Melbourne today, 18 degrees!

The 17 Glide doesn't seem happy in light wind Bay conditions, probably needs a little more wind or bigger ocean swells to come into its own. I think the Bay often favours shorter boards because of the closeness of the waves.

All these downwind boards seem to have a certain conditions 'sweet spot'. Important to keep that in mind if you are demoing, the K15 for example felt super fast today but in a side on wind the area of the high sided bow makes it hard work to keep it tracking any other than straight down wind, you really have to surf it back upwind whenever you can. There is a version with steering that I'd love to try.

It's certainly a surprise package the K15, seemingly designed as a flat water race board it's very fast in the right downwind conditions, has that long thin piercing nose and also enough rocker to let you get way back and surf it. I'm enjoying it much more than I thought I would!

I'm keen to get out in the morning... Yeah, what time?

Due to the surprising west wind that we have right now we've pulled the pin on todays down-winder.. for now..

We'll suss things out at lunchtime and see if the wind goes back to the north like the forcast says and we'll make another decision then.

DJ

DavidJohn said...

Due to the surprising west wind that we have right now we've pulled the pin on todays down-winder.. for now..

I find the seabreeze graphs more accurate for wind direction because you get an estimate for every 90 min. interval.

Where as the 'bom' bay forecast is a bit more general.

It looks like a windy week ahead.

Just looking at ALsUP's post and Monday is looking great for a Flinders to Point Leo run.

Sounds great Oliver.. See you at Pt Leo at 10am.. 40+ knots of the right wind direction and an ocean swell for a change should make for an epic DW'er..

DJ

The swell dropped off to around 3 meters and the wind was blowing S SW at about 20 - 25knotts. It was pretty hard work, as the swell, although quite large was pushing us into shore and the wind was pushing us more straight. Despite that I'd definitely do it again.

Managed to get a good shot of DJ on one of the big fat ocean swell runners.

Thats a great photo.

Great photos guys, is that a life jacket around both bellies,or drinks?
very brave fellows. Well done , looks like a huge adventure!!!
did you see any mad arse fishing vessels doing 20nkts straight at you?
I recon in summer you will need a white flag on your paddle to make your self visable to the moronic moter boat maniacs that are gazing at thier fishfinders instead of looking where they are going.
but guess you could dive deep at the last moment, if required.
hey serious fun and sport there guys, cheers thanks for the pics.

Where did you paddle in at DJ ? looks like second reef would have been interesting with the swell today near shore,
from Flinders to Shoreham kind of a south /southeast direction? ,
like to give this one a go again soon,
cheers.

edit, just google earthed it and is ssw

Great work boys very keen in the cold water

Not sure on the fashion though DJ?? is that a bike helmet and a rashie on top of your wettie?? is that like boardies over wettie

Here's a vid.. .. Shame I didn't get any great runners on film.. One day I wil..

DJ

Ted the Kiwi said...

Nice vid and sounds - thanks for posting. Did i see you driving straight through a stop sign? Surely not........

I'll stop twice next time..

DJ