I am a beginner that learnt several important things today:
1. I have not yet mastered staying upwind in lightwinds.
2. I have not yet mastered staying upwind in strong winds (like 25kts + NE today).
3. As a result of points 1 & 2, I just manage to get me and my kite ashore before going past the 'no kiting' boundary' or putting my kite into the rocks and/or jetty. I notice my board is still drifting, now about 150m out.
4. The board is heading towards the 'no kiting' area boundary, so walking upwind and using the kite to drag is not really an option - but I can see the board from shore, I have a PFD on so I can swim - what can possibly go wrong?
5. I now know that when in the water, with the board fins up it is difficult to spot from 150m in light chop.
6. I have also learned that as the sun gets lower in the sky, the glare off the water looking straight into the sun takes away any last chance I have of seeing my board.
7. It is not as easy as I thought swimming a long way in a PFD.
8. I now know the current at Dolls point is quite strong on an incoming tide, and that 25kts of wind keeps that board moving bloody fast!
After finally dragging my weary, aching body from the water after swimming what feels like 2km just before the sun begins to set, I accept the fact my board is a better swimmer than I.
To rub salt into the wound, as I rolled upmy kite I noticed a small tear on the leading edge.
The board is a Red and Black Cardboard with a white skull on front and back. One fin has been replaced, so it looks different to the other three. In the white text where the board size is written, the word MOJO in small print is also written.
If any one finds it washed up around Taren point, behind Captain Cook Bridge, or anywhere else please either give me a call on 0414227289, drop it into the Sydney water police (have reported it as AWOL)
, or drop it into Steve at Kitepower. Slab to the finder.
Can anyone tell me when that frustrating feeling of being so green and incompetent goes away so I can stop wondering how much I can sell all my kit for second hand ? (minus a board that is)
I also lost my board in the current at Dolls Point yesterday Friday 12 January. Stonker board with plain grey bottom and Dakine footpads. Please call 0402344774 if found.
A few more swims and you'll be right. Once your can get back to the same beach you launched at without swimming/walking/ taking a taxi kiting becomes a whole lot more fun.
The river at Dolls can be a right pain in the arse. I've swum in more than once to somewhere down near the sailing club after a dropping nor-easter and an incoming tide conspire to cause a long swim.
By the way, was it really 25kts yesterday? It didn't feel like it got to 20kts to me. Maybe it picked up after I packed up.
If I see your board I'll drop it in at Kitepower.
Between 4 and 7pm on Friday, the wind at Sydney was mostly 23-27kts with gusts up to 32 (data off seabreeze). Kurnell was even stronger.
It didn't feel that windy to me either - otherwise I would have thought twice before venturing out whilst still very much learning.
