Contemplating windsurfing to Rotto tomorrow from South Beach. Camelback, wallet, mobile, a couple of flares and a lifejacket set for the voyage. set up at 1pm and gone by 1:30. Arrive at Thomson bay or maybe Bickley, grab a feed, some water, recuperate and head home. Will be leaving my vehicle at Freo sailing club next door as it is a fairly safe compound. 
Would strongly advise not to WS to Rotto without a boat. I broke a mast a couple of KMs off scarbs last year and took me 2 hours + to paddle back in.
Rotto is aporox 20kms offshore and the chances of anyone seeing you / your flares in case you have equipmet failure are limited. In particular if the sun is setting...
If no boat, at least have the right safety gear. Add an epirb, and a waterproof VHF radio. Still missing the anchor though. 
Good on you Nugge7, have fun and let us know how you went I've done the Cairns to Green Island run, 27K each way, lots of FNQ'er used to do it years ago.
Select to expand quotefiriebob said..
Good on you Nugge7, have fun and let us know how you went I've done the Cairns to Green Island run, 27K each way, lots of FNQ'er used to do it years ago.
How come you are up at this hour, after last night, one would wonder if you had any energy left 
I don't recommend doing it without a safety boat and in any case my minimum kit would be and in no particular order of priority;
A buddy
PFD1
PLB1(registered)
Wetsuit
4 x flares
Spare fin and bolts(weed fins in any case)
Uphaul
2m spare formuline
Plan for every breakage scenario eg outhaul,boom head, mast/boom snap, downhaul, UJ, harness line, harness/bar, footstrap insert..the list goes on..
Multitool with knife/pliers/hex bit/philips driver bit
Laniard connecting mast base to board(plus spare tendon)
Min 3lt water in camelback or similar and 6lt hydration starting early am.
A good nights sleep before hand
Energy gels or similar
Hat and sunscreen
Epoxy putty
Sail repair tape
Phone fully charged in tested LifeProof case and on a laniard.
Timed check in with family or friend at both ends
Inform Harbourmaster
Safety boat.
I dead set don't mean any disrespect, but the guy was looking for sailing buddies not advise. I had a look at his profile, he likes to jump out of good aeroplanes anyway
I've wondered whether with enough red thumbs the whole box will go red. Shall we see?
Hope you had a successful mission NUGGE7 and let us know how it went!?
Select to expand quoteMan0verBoard said..
I've wondered whether with enough red thumbs the whole box will go red. Shall we see?
Hope you had a successful mission NUGGE7 and let us know how it went!?
I'm not a lover of red thumbs and it's got me buggered why you'd cop them for that, so I gave you a green one
hi Nugge .. if the route is traversed often by either sportsfishermen, sailboats and etc.. I think it should be a fun one.. good to wear a neon rashie that's strikes out out heavily in the sun or against the blue sea
Select to expand quoteMan0verBoard said...
I don't recommend doing it without a safety boat and in any case my minimum kit would be and in no particular order of priority;
A buddy
PFD1
PLB1(registered)
Wetsuit
4 x flares
Spare fin and bolts(weed fins in any case)
Uphaul
2m spare formuline
Plan for every breakage scenario eg outhaul,boom head, mast/boom snap, downhaul, UJ, harness line, harness/bar, footstrap insert..the list goes on..
Multitool with knife/pliers/hex bit/philips driver bit
Laniard connecting mast base to board(plus spare tendon)
Min 3lt water in camelback or similar and 6lt hydration starting early am.
A good nights sleep before hand
Energy gels or similar
Hat and sunscreen
Epoxy putty
Sail repair tape
Phone fully charged in tested LifeProof case and on a laniard.
Timed check in with family or friend at both ends
Inform Harbourmaster
Safety boat.
You can't fit all that gear into a handbag...
Select to expand quote
You can't fit all that gear into a handbag...
True enough RPM.
I'm guessing that's why you don't windsurf
"Would strongly advise not to WS to Rotto without a boat. I broke a mast a couple of KMs off scarbs last year and took me 2 hours + to paddle back in"
If I go out inbetween penguin island and seal island or out into middle of Cockburn sound I place a set of bodyboard fins left hand side of harness (slide them over the hook and off to one side they hang)
Look like a complete Kook but dilligaf makes a long swim back quick. also comes in handy if you come across someone else paddling back or drifting towards a meatworks reef !
Well,
The Freo doc was late and light on. So decided to just stay closer to land as I didn't want to have to rush there and back late arvo. Took Man0verBoard's advise into consideration, he had a few good ideas. Probably wouldn't implement all of it. It was Aus day weekend, so there was plenty of traffic around heading to and from Rotto. Don't think getting assistance would of been too difficult at all, It is good to have bases covered though. Love busterwa's idea of fins. Mast's actual work quite well as paddles, at least on a buoyant formula board :P
Cheers for all the positive feedback. Might try and organise it again soon with more notice. I know a few people would be keen to tag along. Would be a lot more confident with a few mates that is for sure. Can always attempt the Rotto swim if it gets that pear shaped :P
