12:00 pm Wanda Thursday offered 12-18knots side/side off SW with clean 2-3 sets peeling down the line into a nice deep water rip. It just looked too good. I was half expecting very little in the way of waves but there must have been a little southerly pulse overnight. Rigged a grunty 5:0, took out a 76 litre and myself and a kiter went out.

A couple of pumps and I was actually fully planing on the way out. Gybing on a wave I could see lines of actual swell following me and even though the wind was gusty it was actually quite sailable. It was looking to be an awesome set up with the bigger waves throwing out a lip and forming decent walls for DTL heaven.

What could have been actually turned out to be.....

I got an hour and bit sailing in. Very off-on planing wise but mostly off with some large holes in the wind and nothing in the impact zone. I got a couple of waves but spent quite a bit of time swimming the rip getting washed in by the sets and sucked back out be rip - super fun. I did get one off the lip chop hop and nice bottom turn - top turn combo on one wave which was quite satisfying.

Then spent another 20 mins watching it as glassy patches got even bigger and the waves dropped off. Got frozen standing in the cold wind.

Can't wait for those Summer NE to return. In the meantime I'm keen to try Shellharbour in August - the "month of winds"

Hope someone has had a decent sail lately!

Tim Williams said...

Then spent another 20 mins watching it as glassy patches got even bigger and the waves dropped off. Got frozen standing in the cold wind.

You should have been SUPsurfing!

BTW Tim, I have a new board being shipped to me as I type. I was going to go for an Australian semi-custom twin fin but just couldn't justify the extra cost. I managed to find a big fat 105ltr wave board Should be ideal for the conditions you described!

It's only been windy when I haven't wanted it to be :(

Same up here at Birubi (yesterday)
Except it went a bit more south as it dropped so instead of cleaning up it just turned into puss.
10 out of 10 for commitment to Pete who got out early and got a couple.

As we stood standing on the beach, wishing waiting, watching.. 6 kites were into it.
No real wave ridding to be seen though... but hey at least they were out there and into it.

Donning flame suit now

I got out last friday for a good session from 2:30 till 4 on my 5.0. backside but still good as the new sand bar from the tsunami scare tide made for some interesting out of the blue waves. was suprised no one else was out -SSW, gusty 20+ yeah 4-5ft - but definately best run IMO this winter......

Tim Williams said...

August is supposed to be the "month of winds" with statistically lots of strong westerlies in Sydney/Central Coast/Woollongong.

I put this up to Karma - my last 3 sessions have not really eventuated. I long swim in from White rock off Long Reef. I rig and de rig session at Newport Reef and one short session at Long Reef in a southerly (but I did get one DTL wave off the Bombora out the back which had a pretty exciting drop). I like the fact that my mind totally switches off and purely concentrate on picking up the next wave or pushing upwind on a gust - even when its marginal.

I think we are all due for some decent conditions soon!

there haven't been any decent conditions on the Northern Beaches since the 80s

Yes you're correct as for NE seabreezes I pretty much gave up on Long Reef/Palm Beach and even Mona Vale about 5 years ago. There has been the odd day every once in a while when a NE has combined with some swell but I haven't been on the spot.

I remember the Sony Surflight International happening at LR in the 80's and watching Mark Paul and Mark Pederson rip it up in 20knt NE's. Something weather wise switched in the mid 90's and the NE just never got into LR and would hang out about 50m offshore from Palm Beach. The theory was that a large heat bubble over Sydney with all the development in the 90's and causing the seabreezes to pass over the top of Nth beaches.

I have great memories of of many summer days up at Palm Beach hanging out and making the best of the onshore wavesailing on offer - it was the whole scene and the crew that made the day worthwhile.I have some great friends from those days. Marriage, work, moving etc just made it too difficult to get a decent day up at Palmie so I switched to Wanda which was a little closer.

Now, anything southerly wind wise I always look to the Nth Beaches. There are 2 great reef breaks when there is a decent SE and swell. Even SW are great Long Reef if you hit it early. I have some magic days picking up waves off Lugga and I have even sailed the Bombie out the back a handful of times DTL in a SW. Last week was the first time I tried Wanda in a SW and I think it will pick up more breeze in a SW than the Nth beaches.

I'm planning a few more journey's this year! Birubi, Windang, Shellharbour and East Corrimal reef are on the agenda!

I have heard of people applying a formula to if, when and where they sail. It's hard to say no to a possible sail but given the options of MTB, surfing and SUPing my plan is to avoid sitting waiting for wind in the future.

At the end of the day we all seek a satisfactory sail in decent conditions, knowing it won't be epic all the time but making the most of it all the same.

see you all on the water.