It really started on Christmas day. Got back from the festivities to discover 20 to 22 knots at Semaphore. By the time I arrived it was solid. Put up 5.7. Overpowered. Put on 5.3. Overpowered. Put on 5.0. Overpowered. Put on 4.7. Just right but now getting dark. Got home and packed the troopie in the dark.
Off to Esperance at 6am. Ceduna for a late lunch. Madura for dinner. 1650 kms done in one day. To Esperance by midday on day 2. Windy!! On a mission to Arid. Scored an afternoon of awsome waveriding in 1/2 to 3/4 mast high cross off.
One of the features of this trip is the very regular bodily fluid releasing requirements of one of the team. Half way back from Arid this requirement needed to be met. 'No more than two minutes' turned into half an hour when a tyre went down as part of the stop. We have purchased a colostomy bag to prevent future issues.
Next day was BBBBIIIGGG. We went to the 'secret spot to the west of Esperance'. This was a BBBIIIGGGG mistake. After an hour of driving through the bush we hit the beach to witness 1 1/2 to double mast high! Then the beach ran out as we drove to the spot. Abandonment.
Back to fourth and we finally got out near 5pm. Still occasional mast high sets. All fat stuff. Good air out the back off the wind generated waves that were part of the swells. Some wave riding possible on the smaller rides. Ben, Justin and some Swiss sponsored sailor were slaughtering the conditions. I practiced many chicken gybes. Sailed until sunset, at which point I got nailed by an offshore gust while in the air. Slammed in to the mast and winded. Next run out, same again. That was the end of me. Bondy was pushing hard all afternoon and sailed until dark.
Day 3 and it did not look good early. Bit late leaving we turn up at Arid to witness EPIC conditions. Glassy in the spit, windy, good swell and the Ben crew were throwing awsome airs off lips both in and out. Unfortunately the conditions dropped as we hit the water. Still my first wave formed up and I was next to bondy at the top of the spit. By luck I had exactly the right take off spot and scored a fantastic ride right in the pocket with about 10 turns on a near glassy 3/4 mast high wave. One of the best rides off the last few years!
Then it went off-shore. We sailed about 10 kms (maybe more) on down wind runs. Scored a wave ride with a couple of dolphins half way down. They stayed in the wave right to the inside and followed my turns. Love this place!
Jealous as hell!! Hope you guys get many more waves. Also hope no-one out there reminds you that it's still not Margaret River!!!
same goes old cock, v v jealous that your in esperance.
fyi: on the twilight scenic road theres a spot that is way more sideshore than fourth on a seabreeze and is called observation beach?? ![]()
basicaly the next bay around from fourth.
only sailed it a few times many years ago.
chances are you will get it to yourselves as theres rumours of a resident big big big bronzey called grumpy ![]()
lol
another free trip tip mitto on smaller days this spot will get a better wave as its SW facing
enjoy those clear waters
Thanks Pilchard. I know about observations. Most of the spots I go to these days are much better than obs, although a little further to travel (more than an hour)... No wind today, but as always there is still surf!